The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Apr. 28, 1998
Filed:
Jun. 25, 1996
Sheryar Durrani, Canton, MI (US);
Breed Automotive Technology, Inc., Lakeland, FL (US);
Abstract
A vehicle steering wheel assembly includes a steering wheel body having a hole and a flexible outer cover. The cover and steering wheel body defines an air chamber. A diaphragm is disposed in line with the hole and includes an electrically conductive film on an opposed face. In an off position, the electrically conductive material is spaced from a pair of circuit traces in the clockspring. The circuit traces control a horn function. An operator may apply a force to the outer cover which drives the diaphragm and the electrically conductive material into contact with the circuit traces. An electrical circuit is closed and actuates the horn function. When the force is removed from the outer cover, the electrically conductive material moves out of contact with the circuit traces and into an off position.