JP4046643B2 - Steering wheel horn switch device - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a horn switch device provided on a steering wheel.
[0002]
[Prior art]
A horn switch device for sounding a horn is provided on a steering wheel constituting one configuration of a vehicle steering device. The horn switch device is a metal fixed-side contact provided at the base of the steering wheel and a metal-made contactable contact with the fixed-side contact. And a movable member having a movable side contact. The movable member is given movement behavior by a biasing means such as a spring in a direction away from the base of the steering wheel. Therefore, in the horn switch device, when the switch is not operated, the movable side contact is held at a position separated from the fixed side contact, and the switch is operated to push the movable member toward the base of the steering wheel. Then, it makes a horn sound in contact with the fixed side contact. In the horn switch device, the fixed-side contact and the movable-side contact are directly provided on the steering wheel base and the movable member, respectively. There exists patent document 1 as such a horn switch apparatus.
[0003]
[Patent Document 1]
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2001-187576
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
In a conventional horn switch device provided on a steering wheel, a metal fixed side contact is directly attached to the base of the steering wheel, and the movable side contact is brought into contact with the fixed side contact. When they touch each other, a metal sound is generated due to a metal touch. In particular, when the base portion of the steering wheel is made of metal, an impact at the time of contact between the fixed side contact and the movable side contact is directly transmitted to the base portion, so that a sound generated at the time of contact tends to increase. An object of the present invention is to propose a horn switch device for a steering wheel that can reduce noise generated when a horn switch is operated and can improve quietness in a passenger compartment.
[0005]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to set the above object, according to the present invention, the fixed side contact provided at the base of the steering wheel and the movable contact in the direction of contact with and away from the base of the steering wheel can be contacted with the fixed side contact. In a horn switch device for a steering wheel, which has a movable member having a movable side contact and makes a horn sound by contacting the fixed side contact and the movable side contact, at least between the base of the steering wheel and the fixed side contact A buffer means for absorbing an impact when the contact and the movable contact are in contact is provided. For this reason, when the switch operation is performed and the movable member moves in the direction approaching the base of the steering wheel, the shock when the movable contact and the fixed contact come into contact with each other is absorbed by the buffer means. Sound generation is reduced.
[0006]
The buffer means is interposed between the base of the steering wheel and the fixed side contact, and is disposed at the base of the steering wheel so as to form a space between the base of the steering wheel and between the fixed side contact. Since the elastically deformable buffer member is provided, the movable contact contacts the fixed contact. At this time, since a space is formed between the base portion of the steering wheel and the buffer member, when the fixed side contact is pushed by the movable side contact, the buffer member is elastically deformed in the space. Is done. In addition, since a space is formed between the fixed contact and the buffer member, when the fixed contact is pushed by the movable contact, the fixed contact moves toward the buffer member by the space between the buffer member and the buffer member. Therefore, the impact is absorbed by this movement. When the stationary contact comes into contact with the buffer member, the buffer member is elastically deformed, and the impact is further absorbed by this deformation.
Furthermore, if the fixed side contact is formed of a flexible metal member, the fixed side contact is more easily moved to the buffer member side in the space with the buffer member. Become effective.
[0007]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a steering 1 that is mounted on a driver's seat of a vehicle so as to be able to rotate. In the center 1a of the steering 1 is formed a storage space 1b whose upper part is covered with a module cover 2 made of a constituent resin. A horn switch device 3 is provided in the storage space 1b. In this embodiment, the steering 1 is a so-called four-spoke type, and a horn switch device 3 is disposed at the base of each spoke so as to surround the rotating shaft 30 of the steering 1.
[0008]
As shown in FIG. 2, the horn switch device 3 is a fixed contact formed by a conductive member provided on an aluminum cored bar 5 serving as a base of the steering wheel 1 disposed in the storage space 1 b. 8 and a movable member formed of a conductive member that is movable in the contact / separation direction indicated by an arrow F (hereinafter referred to as “contact / separation direction F”) with respect to the metal core 5 and that can contact the fixed contact 8. A contact plate 9 as a movable member having the side contact 11 and a buffer means 15 for absorbing an impact when the fixed side contact 8 and the movable contact 11 are in contact with each other are provided. The horn switch device 3 is configured to sound a horn sound when the stationary contact 8 and the movable contact 11 come into contact with each other and both terminals are conductive. Reference numeral 4 denotes a lower cover that covers the storage space 1b from below.
[0009]
The core metal 5 of each switch device 3 is detachably fixed to the base plate 6 constituting the lower part of the storage space 1b with bolts 7 respectively. A pedestal portion 5 c having a substantially flat surface is formed at the center of the cored bar 5. A terminal mounting portion 5a that protrudes upward from the pedestal portion 5c is formed from the outer periphery of the steering wheel 1 to the pedestal portion 5c. The upper surface 5b of the terminal mounting portion 5a is formed in a substantially flat surface like the pedestal portion.
[0010]
The fixed terminal 8 is formed of a thin copper plate and has flexibility so as to follow the general shape from the base portion 5c of the base portion 5 to the terminal mounting portion 5a, and covers the terminal mounting portion 5a from the base portion 5c. As described above, the stepped bolt 10 is screwed into the pedestal portion 5c and is fixed to the pedestal portion 5c.
[0011]
The contact plate 9 is formed with an insertion hole 9b penetrating in the contact / separation direction F. A stepped bolt 10 that is screwed into the pedestal portion 5c and is substantially perpendicular to the pedestal portion 5c is inserted into the insertion hole 9b from above via the insulator 12, and the contact plate 9 is slidable in the contact / separation direction F. To support. Between the contact plate 9 and the fixed side terminal 8 positioned on the pedestal portion 5c, the contact plate 9 is urged in a direction away from the cored bar 5 indicated by an arrow F2 (hereinafter referred to as “separation direction F2”). A coil spring 14 as an urging means for giving the plate 9 movement behavior in the separation direction F <b> 2 is wound around the stepped bolt 10. A washer 13 is interposed between the head 10 a of the stepped bolt 10 and the insulator 12.
[0012]
The movable terminal 11 is composed of a rivet member mounted on the outer side 9a of the contact plate 9, and comes into contact with the terminal end portion 8a of the fixed terminal 8 positioned on the terminal mounting portion 5a. The distal end portion 11a of the movable terminal 11 facing the terminal end portion 8a is formed in a hemispherical shape so that the contact with the terminal end portion 8a is a point contact.
[0013]
The buffer means 15 is formed so as to follow the general shape of the terminal mounting portion 5a, and is mounted on the terminal mounting portion 5a from above so that the terminal end portion 8a of the fixed contact 8 and the upper surface 5b of the terminal mounting portion 5a. It is comprised by the buffer member 16 interposed between. The buffer member 16 is made of an elastically deformable member. Examples of the material used for the buffer member 16 include a resin material and hard rubber. In this embodiment, a resin molded product is used. The buffer member 16 has a terminal end portion 8a and a terminal so as to form spaces 20 and 21 between the upper surface 16a and the terminal end portion 8a and between the lower surface 16b and the upper surface 5b of the terminal mounting portion 5a. It is interposed between the upper surface 5b of the mounting portion 5a.
[0014]
According to the switch device 3 having such a configuration, when the module cover 2 is pushed in the proximity direction indicated by the arrow F1 in FIG. 3 (hereinafter referred to as “proximity direction F1”), the contact plate 9 is integrated with the module cover 2 in the same manner. The tip part 11a of the movable contact 11 contacts the terminal end part 8a of the fixed contact 8, and the terminals are electrically connected, and a horn sound is emitted.
[0015]
When the movement of the module cover 2 in the proximity direction F1 further proceeds, as shown in FIG. 4, the terminal end 8a is formed on the upper surface 16a of the buffer member 16 in a space 20 formed between the upper surface 16a of the buffer member 16 and the terminal end portion 8a. It moves toward and bends in a state where the upper surface 16a is formed. This movement and deflection absorb the impact at the initial stage of movement. Further, since the buffer member 16 is formed of a member that can be elastically deformed, even when a strong force is applied such that the terminal end 8a and the upper surface 16a are not in contact with each other and a collision is applied, the shock is sufficiently absorbed. can do. Shock absorption by the operation shown in FIG.
[0016]
When the terminal end 8a and the upper surface 16a are in contact with each other and the movement of the module cover 2 in the proximity direction F1 further proceeds, as shown in FIG. Is moved while being elastically deformed toward the upper surface 5b of the terminal mounting portion 5a, and the upper surface 5b of the terminal mounting portion 5a and the lower surface 16b of the buffer member 16 come into contact with each other to stop the movement. The impact is further absorbed by the movement caused by the deformation of the buffer member 16 at this time. The shock absorption by the operation shown in FIG.
[0017]
Due to such multiple stages of buffering action, the impact when the tip 11a of the movable contact 11 and the terminal end 8a of the fixed contact 8 come into contact with each other is absorbed. Thus, it is possible to reduce the sound generated when the horn switch is operated, and to improve the quietness in the passenger compartment.
[0018]
In this embodiment, between the upper surface 16a of the buffer member 16 and the terminal end portion 8a of the fixed-side terminal 8 positioned above the buffer member 16, the lower surface 16b of the buffer member 16 and the upper surface 5b of the terminal mounting portion 5a positioned therebelow. The spaces 20 and 21 are formed at two locations between the two, but the spaces 20 and 21 are not necessarily limited to those formed between the two, and only one of the space 20 or the space 21 may be formed. The impact when the tip 11a of the movable contact 11 and the terminal end 8a of the fixed contact 8 come into contact with each other can be absorbed, and the generation of sound when the two terminals are in contact can be reduced. When either the space 20 or the space 21 is used, the buffer member 16 is made of a material that is somewhat more elastic than the case of the present embodiment, for example, hard rubber or hard sponge material, thereby obtaining a larger buffer force. Is preferable.
[0019]
In this embodiment, the buffer member 16 is disposed on the fixed terminal 8 side. However, when there is a sufficient installation space on the movable terminal 11 side, the buffer means is provided between the contact plate 9 and the movable terminal 11. It is good also as a form which interposes the buffer member 16 used as 15. Alternatively, it is possible to assume a mode in which the buffer member 16 is disposed on both the fixed side terminal 8 and the movable side terminal 11, but considering cost and space restrictions, either one is sufficient, and from the viewpoint of installation properties As shown in the drawing, it is preferable to interpose between the fixed terminal 8 and the cored bar 5. In particular, when a known airbag device is stored in the storage space 1b of the steering 1, this tendency is assumed to be remarkable.
[0020]
【The invention's effect】
According to the present invention, when the switch is operated and the movable member moves toward the base of the steering wheel, the shock when the movable contact and the fixed contact come into contact is absorbed by the buffer means, Since the generation of sound at the time of contact is reduced, it is possible to reduce the sound generated when the horn switch is operated and to improve the quietness in the passenger compartment.
According to the present invention, since a space is formed and between the buffer member between the base of the elastically deformable cushioning member and the steering wheel constituting the buffer means and the fixed contact, the fixed-side by the movable side contact by contact is pressed, the buffer member is absorbed impact is elastically deformed in the space Rutotomoni, since the fixed contact point move to the impact is absorbed into the space by the buffer member side between the cushioning member, The generation of sound at the time of contact is reduced, and the sound generated when the horn switch is operated can be reduced to improve the quietness in the passenger compartment. Furthermore, if the fixed side contact forms a flexible metal member, the fixed side contact is more easily moved to the buffer member side in the space with the buffer member, so that the generation of sound at the initial contact stage is effectively suppressed. can do.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a plan view showing a configuration of a steering wheel equipped with a horn switch device according to the present invention.
FIG. 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing a configuration of a horn switch device of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is an enlarged sectional view showing a state when the horn switch device is operated.
FIG. 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing a first buffering action by the buffering means at the time of contact between the movable contact and the fixed contact.
FIG. 5 is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing a second buffering action by the buffering means at the time of contact between the movable contact and the fixed contact.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Steering wheel 3 Horn switch apparatus 5 Steering wheel base 8 Fixed side contact 9 Movable member 11 Movable side contact 15 Buffering means 16 Buffering member 20, 21 Space F Contacting / separating direction

Claims (2)

A fixed side contact provided at the base of the steering wheel; and a movable member having a movable side contact provided so as to be movable toward and away from the base of the steering wheel and capable of contacting the fixed side contact. In the horn switch device of the steering wheel that sounds a horn sound by contacting the fixed side contact and the movable side contact,
At least between the base of the steering wheel and the fixed contact, a buffer means for absorbing an impact at the time of contact between the fixed contact and the movable contact ,
The buffer means is interposed between the base portion of the steering wheel and the fixed-side contact, and forms a space between the base portion of the steering wheel and the fixed-side contact. A steering wheel horn switch device comprising an elastically deformable buffer member disposed at a base . The horn switch device for a steering wheel according to claim 1,
A horn switch device for a steering wheel, wherein the stationary contact is formed of a flexible metal member .

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