A steering wheel having a steering wheel body (10) having a first force transmitting component, and a horn actuation element. The horn actuation element having a horn actuation surface (23) and having a second force transmitting component. A load cell (30) is provided having a sensitive element that changes at least one of its electrical properties in response to a compression force. The sensitive element placed between the first and second force transmitting components. At least one elastically deformable element is provided between the steering wheel body (10) and the horn actuation element. When a pushing force is applied to the horn actuation surface (23) the force applied to the sensitive element changes. In a resting state of the steering wheel a compression force is applied to the sensitive element by the first and second force transmitting components by a preload and in that the compression force applied to the sensitive element is reduced when a pushing force is applied to the horn actuation surface (23).

A horn plate assembly for a vehicle includes: a horn plate having a plurality of fastening holes; and fasteners fastened to a hub of a steering wheel through the fastening holes. Seating grooves having stepped cross-sections to the fastening holes are formed at the fastening holes, and portions of the fasteners are seated in the seating grooves when the fasteners are fastened to the hub of the steering wheel.

The present invention relates to an airbag module (1), comprising a housing (2), a cover (3) connected to the housing (2) for forming a receiving space, a gas generator (4) arranged in the receiving space, an airbag arranged in the receiving space and a plate (5) for securing the airbag module (1) on a steering wheel, characterized in that the housing (2), the cover (3), the gas generator (4) and the airbag form an assembly, which is connected to the plate (5) via at least one releasable securing device (6), wherein at least the cover (3) of the assembly and the plate (5) can be moved relative to one another in a parallel direction (7) in relation to the plate (5) when the securing device (6) is partially released, and are secured relative to one another in a parallel direction (7) in relation to the plate (5) when the securing device (6) is tightened.

Various implementations of a horn system include one or more force sensors disposed on a first portion of a driver air bag module and one or more actuators disposed on a second portion of the driver air bag module. For example, the force sensors may be disposed adjacent a perimeter of a base plate of the driver air bag module, and the actuators may extend inwardly toward the force sensors from an inner surface of a cover of the driver air bag module, or vice versa. To actuate the horn, the cover is moved axially toward the base plate, causing the actuators to apply force to the force sensors. Force signals received from the force sensors are used by one or more processors to determine characteristics of the force received and/or select a control message for communicating to the horn system based on the force signal characteristics.

A steering wheel assembly (10) contains a dampening system for mitigating vibrations transferred from a vehicle to the steering wheel assembly (10). A plurality of damper spring elements or grommets or damper spring elements (22) are each retained within a corresponding steering wheel support member (330). An air bag module (14) is fixed to a steering wheel (18) while resting upon the damper spring elements (22) for eliminating and/or reducing lateral displacement/vibrations normally attendant to vehicle operation. A horn switch (16) containing a plurality of annular support members (76, 176) may be positioned over the damper spring elements (22), wherein each annular support member (76, 176) is coaxially aligned and positioned over a corresponding grommet (22) to also manage vertical displacement; the air bag module (14) is then fixed over the horn switch 16 and to the steering wheel (18). Movement of the airbag module can actuate the horn switch.

A steering wheel includes a steering wheel body and a base. The base carrying an inflator and an airbag package, such that the base, the inflator and the airbag package form a first sub-assembly. The base is connected to the steering wheel body at least indirectly via at least one elastic element, such that the sub-assembly can move relative to the steering wheel body in at least one direction so that the whole sub-assembly serves as a vibration damping mass. The steering wheel also includes a cover element with a roof extending over the airbag package, and at least one horn sensor generating a signal when a pressing force exceeding a predefined value is applied to the roof. The cover element is not rigidly connected to the base, such that the sub-assembly can move relative to the steering wheel body under deformation of the elastic element while the cover element does not move relative to the steering wheel body.

A mobile device comprising: (a) an antenna, and (b) a software application; wherein the mobile device is a transmitting mobile device, a receiving mobile device, or both; wherein the software application directs the transmitting mobile device to transmit a signal, comprising an audio file, to the receiving mobile device running the same software application: wherein the signal is converted to an audible signal, a message, or a combination thereof by the software application of the receiving mobile device; wherein the audible signal, converted by the receiving mobile device, is used in lieu of an audible signal produced by an OEM horn.

A mobile device comprising: (a) an antenna, and (b) a software application; wherein the mobile device is a transmitting mobile device, a receiving mobile device, or both; wherein the software application directs the transmitting mobile device to transmit a signal, comprising an audio file, to the receiving mobile device running the same software application; wherein the signal is converted to an audible signal, a message, or a combination thereof by the software application of the receiving mobile device; wherein the audible signal, converted by the receiving mobile device, is used in lieu of an audible signal produced by an OEM hom.

A horn actuating device of a motor vehicle is provided to enhance operating feeling of a horn actuating cover installed on a steering wheel. The horn actuating device prevents shaking of a horn actuating cover and prevents deterioration of operating feeling of the horn actuating cover by adopting a structural elastic member configured such that after the horn actuating cover for actuating a horn is actuated, the elastic member for returning the horn actuating cover back to an original position restrains shaking of the horn actuating cover and then installing the elastic member between the horn actuating cover and a horn mounting portion.

A steering wheel horn assembly having two sections with an annular electrical circuit board member interposed and disposed between the sections and electrically coupled to a power source, an electrical ground, and an electrical horn. Also disposed within the two sections is an annular button membrane with a plurality of deformably resilient horn buttons, wherein each of the plurality of deformably resilient horn buttons have a terminal front surface and a rear surface opposing the terminal front surface and that is disposed adjacent to the annular electrical circuit board member, have a static position along a button translation path projecting through one of the plurality enclosed apertures, and have a depressed position with the rear surface directly coupled to the annular electrical circuit board member and electrically completing a circuit on the annular electrical circuit board member and causing the electrical horn to generate the audible sound.