Patent · US Expired

Horn switch for air bag module

US5934702A · kind A · utility

7Cited by
7References
4Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateMar 4, 1997
Grant dateAug 10, 1999
Priority date
Expiry dateMar 4, 2017

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
  • CPC primaryB60R21/21658
  • WIPO fieldTransport
  • WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

A vehicle safety apparatus (10) includes an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device (40) and an inflator (30). A cover (70) includes first and second cover parts (78, 80) releasably interconnected by a rupturable portion (82) of the cover. The cover (70) is movable from a closed condition to an open condition in which the rupturable portion (82) of the cover is ruptured and the first and second cover parts (78, 80) are spaced apart from each other to enable inflation of the inflatable device. An electric current carrying structure (100) is operable to actuate an electrically actuatable device (102) of the vehicle. The structure (100) includes first and second parts (140, 142) releasably interconnected by a rupturable portion (144) of the structure. The structure (100) is molded into the cover (70). The rupturable portion (82) of the cover overlies the rupturable portion (144) of the structure. The structure (100) comprises a substrate (120) and an electrically conductive, variable resistance material (110) on the substrate. The resistance of the variable resistance material (110) is variable in response to force applied to the cover (70) by the vehicle occupant to deform the …

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.