Horn switch including a trapezoidal shaped membrane switch and support

Abstract

A horn switch support plate for use with a membrane horn switch as part of a horn switch assembly for insertion into a horn switch pocket of a driver side airbag module. The horn switch support plate includes a generally flat, rigid base supporting the horn switch. A substantially continuous peripheral wall extends upwardly from the base, and peripherally encircles the membrane horn switch. The height of the peripheral wall is sized to be greater than the thickness of the horn switch to ensure that the horn switch will not be compressed prior to actuation by a vehicle driver. The horn switch support plate also includes four tabs extending inwardly from and generally perpendicular to four corners of the peripheral wall, each tab extending over, respectively, a corner of the horn switch to retain the horn switch within the horn switch support plate. A plurality of spaced-apart force concentrators extend upwardly from the base to ease actuation of the horn switch, and the height of each force concentrator is less than the difference between the height of the peripheral wall and the thickness of the horn switch. Alternatively, in place of the four tabs, the horn switch support plate can include four slots defined by the peripheral wall receiving the four corners of the horn switch.