A courtesy horn for an automotive vehicle, wherein the courtesy horn is configured to enable to the driver to send an alternate, gentler horn sound, and wherein the courtesy horn is provided in addition to the standard automotive vehicular horn.

A steering wheel horn assembly operates the horn of a vehicle through driver initiated application of pressure on a steering wheel body. The assembly permits a driver to activate a vehicle horn without the driver having to remove one or more hands from the steering wheel. A circular steering wheel body is bifurcated into first and second steering wheel body sections having cooperating first and second electrical contact members. The steering wheel body sections are pressed together through application of pressure from the driver's hands to an active position. In the active position, the electrical contact members engage to complete a circuit; thereby actuating an audible sound from the horn. Springs bias the steering wheel body sections apart to disengage the electrical contact members to an inactive position. Applying pressure to create the active position also actuates illumination from vehicle lights, simultaneously with the audible sound from the horn.

A connector component (1) for fastening an airbag module (50) to a steering wheel (40) includes a steering wheel-side part (10) and a module-side part (20) movable relative to each other and biased against each other so that the module-side part is spaced apart from the steering wheel-side part in an idle position and is movable into a hooting position in which the module-side part contacts the steering wheel-side part. The module-side part (20) and the steering wheel-side part (10) are interconnected and form a multifunctional component including a guiding device for guided movement of the module-side part from the idle position into the hooting position and electric contacts for an electric horn circuit that contact each other in the hooting position. The invention also relates to a connector component and a positioning sleeve, a steering wheel, an airbag module, a steering wheel assembly and a manufacturing method.

An air bag system includes: a pad including a ceiling wall portion which covers an air bag and a side wall portion which extends into a cylindrical shape; a mounting base which holds the pad and holds the air bag by causing an annular retainer; and switch members which make up a horn switch mechanism so that the mounting base is mounted on a steering wheel main body, wherein: the switch members are provided below the air bag; and movable-side members are provided so that a portion at a side facing the inlet opening on an upper side thereof is brought into abutment with the retainer via a circumferential edge of the inlet opening of the air bag and a portion at a side thereof is brought into abutment with a lower surface of the side wall portion of the pad.

A device for operating a horn of a vehicle includes: a horn operation cover covering a top portion and a circumference of an airbag module mounted on a frame of a steering wheel of the vehicle, the horn operation cover configured to be moved downward or upward; a conductive plate spring having one end fixed to the frame and another end in contact with the horn operation cover; and a conductive contact terminal disposed under the plate spring such that a contact between the contact terminal and the plate spring is possible. When the horn operation cover is moved downward so as to press the other end of the plate spring, the plate spring electrically contacts the contact terminal, thereby operating the horn.

The present disclosure relates to a vehicle steering wheel, including: a steering wheel body with a hub region for attachment to a steering shaft, with a steering wheel rim and with at least one spoke for attaching the steering wheel rim to the hub region; an airbag initiation device; wherein an electromechanical triggering device has at least one force transducer, which is disposed between a projection and the steering wheel body and via which the impact absorber cover is supported on the steering wheel body, for measuring a force value that can be associated with an actuating force acting on the actuating surface of the impact absorber cover; wherein the electromechanical triggering device has at least one electronic evaluation unit connected in an electrically conductive manner to the force transducer to determine an actuating force value by a force value measured by the at least one force transducer.

A horn adaptive electrical connection unit for quick-release steering wheel assembly is provided. A horn adaptive electrical connection unit is composed of a horn contact pole, a contact pole holder, and a horn spring. The horn adaptive electrical connection unit is installed in the quick-release steering wheel assembly. The horn spring may provide support for the contact pole holder as well as the horn contact pole, thus, a floating electrical connection between the horn button and the automotive horn circuit and adapting to different thicknesses of horn buttons is created. The floating electrical connection setup simplifies operation by eliminating the need for using tools to wire or remove wires when installing or replacing the steering wheel. Compared to traditional horn electrical connection units, the present horn adaptive electrical connection unit is easier to use, more reliable, and much faster to be installed and detached.

A connector component (1) for fastening an airbag module (50) to a steering wheel (40) includes a steering wheel-side part (10) and a module-side part (20) movable relative to each other and biased against each other so that the module-side part is spaced apart from the steering wheel-side part in an idle position and is movable into a hooting position in which the module-side part contacts the steering wheel-side part. The module-side part (20) and the steering wheel-side part (10) are interconnected and form a multifunctional component including a guiding device for guided movement of the module-side part from the idle position into the hooting position and electric contacts for an electric horn circuit that contact each other in the hooting position. The invention also relates to a connector component and a positioning sleeve, a steering wheel, an airbag module, a steering wheel assembly and a manufacturing method.

A steering switch device, which is mounted on a steering wheel, includes a linear switch that includes a hollow insulator having restorability and two electrode wires arranged spirally along an inner surface of a hollow part in the hollow insulator while being kept not in contact with each other, wherein a winding pitch coiling spirally the electrode wires is at least not more than 10 mm, and a detecting device that detects a press of the linear switch by sensing a contact of the electrode wires. The linear switch is arranged so as to be along at least part of a surface of the steering wheel.

The present invention provides a horn circuit (15) for activating a horn of a vehicle which is adapted to be integrated in an airbag module (3) of a vehicle or in ah attachment member (5) for connecting the airbag module (3) to the steering wheel, comprising at least two contact elements (17, 19), wherein a horn signal is produced when the at least two contact elements (17, 19) electrically contact with each other. The horn circuit (15) according to the present invention is characterized in that the at least two contact elements (17, 19) are adapted to electrically connect with each other by means of at least one conductive spring element (9) for fixing an airbag module (3) to a steering wheel.