Airbag-equipped steering wheel device

Abstract

In an airbag-equipped steering wheel, a plurality of horn switch mechanisms assembled to a bag holder each have a securing pin, which is inserted into a corresponding one of through holes formed in a metal core. A clip is engaged with a locking groove of each securing pin, so that each horn switch mechanism is fastened to the metal core. The through holes include one or more normal through holes that restrict inclination of the corresponding securing pins, and a special through hole that has an inclination permitting portion. The inclination permitting portion permits the corresponding securing pin to be inclined about the corresponding clip 13 serving as a fulcrum. In the special through hole, the securing pin is permitted to be inclined about the clip serving as a fulcrum only when the clips are disengaged from the securing pin in all the normal through holes.

1 . An airbag-equipped steering wheel, comprising:
 a metal core forming a framework of the steering wheel, the metal core having a plurality of through holes;   an airbag device located at a position higher than the through holes, the airbag device having a bag holder, a pad portion assembled to the bag holder, an airbag, and an inflator;   a plurality of elastic members each of which is located substantially below and in the vicinity of one of the through holes; and   a plurality of horn switch mechanisms located between the airbag device and the metal core, each horn switch mechanism corresponding to one of the through holes, wherein, when the airbag device is pressed down, any of the horn switch mechanisms activates a horn device,   wherein each horn switch mechanism includes a support member that supports the bag holder so as to allow the bag holder to move substantially in an up-down direction,   wherein a recess is formed at the lower end of each support member, the corresponding elastic member being engaged with the recess,   wherein the horn switch mechanisms are fastened to the metal core by inserting the support members attached to the bag holder into the through holes and engaging the elastic members with the recesses of the support members,   wherein the through holes include one or more normal through holes each restricting inclination of the corresponding support member and a special through hole having an inclination permitting portion, the inclination permitting portion permitting the corresponding support member to be inclined about the corresponding elastic member serving as a fulcrum, and   wherein the inclination permitting portion permits the inclination of the corresponding support member about the corresponding elastic member serving as a fulcrum only when the elastic members are disengaged from the support members in all the normal through holes.   
     
     
         2 . The airbag-equipped steering wheel according to  claim 1 , wherein all the horn switch mechanisms are attached to the same surface of the bag holder. 
     
     
         3 . The airbag-equipped steering wheel according to  claim 1 , wherein a fixed contact portion is provided at the upper end of each support member, and
 wherein each horn switch mechanism further includes an urging member that urges the bag holder away from the metal core and a movable contact portion that moves together with the bag holder and contacts the fixed contact portion to activates the horn device.   
     
     
         4 . The airbag-equipped steering wheel according to  claim 3 , wherein each support member has a pressure receiving portion that receives a substantially upward urging force of the corresponding urging member. 
     
     
         5 . The airbag-equipped steering wheel according to  claim 1 , wherein the special through hole includes a main portion into which the corresponding support member is inserted and an inclination permitting portion connected to the main portion, wherein the elastic member is engaged with the recess of the support member in the main portion at a side further away from the normal through holes. 
     
     
         6 . The airbag-equipped steering wheel according to  claim 5 , wherein the inclination permitting portion extends from the main portion to an inclination range of the support member, which is inclined about the elastic member serving as a fulcrum. 
     
     
         7 . The airbag-equipped steering wheel according to  claim 5 , wherein the normal through holes and the main portion of the special through hole are each tapered so that the diameter decreases toward the lower end. 
     
     
         8 . The airbag-equipped steering wheel according to  claim 1 , wherein the elastic members are made of metal, and a resin member is disposed between a wall surface of the special through hole and the corresponding support member. 
     
     
         9 . The airbag-equipped steering wheel according to  claim 8 , wherein, in the special through hole, the support member is locked to the metal core by the elastic member after the resin member is attached to the support member and the support member is inserted into the special through hole. 
     
     
         10 . The airbag-equipped steering wheel according to  claim 8 , wherein the elastic members are made of metal, and wherein the elastic member enters the recess of the support member in each normal through hole, and the elastic member and the resin member enter the recess in the special through hole. 
     
     
         11 . The airbag-equipped steering wheel according to  claim 10 , wherein, in the special through hole, the resin member enters a position higher than the elastic member and has a second pressure receiving portion, and wherein the second pressure receiving portion contacts the urging member and receives a downward urging force of the urging member. 
     
     
         12 . The airbag-equipped steering wheel according to  claim 11 , wherein each through hole has a tapered wall surface that widens toward the upper end, and the resin member has a tapered outer side surface that widens toward the upper end, and wherein the wall surface of the special through hole contacts the outer side surface of the resin member.