Abstract: An improved electrical commutator which is particularly useful in a vehicle steering wheel system, includes sets of wire brushes or fingers on a first plate. The wire brushes or fingers contact plural co-planar rings on a second plate. The two plates rotate relative to each other. The wire brushes or fingers decrease the likelihood that any one of the sets will have a short circuit. Should any one of the wires bend, break, or come out of contact with its associated contact ring, there is a likelihood that at least several of the other wires will remain in contact. In addition, there are plural sets of wire brushes or fingers associated with each of the contact rings, again increasing the likelihood that the circuit will remain intact. In other features, the plural sets may be mounted such that circumferentially spaced ones of the sets face opposed directions.

Abstract: A horn or other electrical sccessory is actuated by a flexible, pressure sensitive electric signal generating means such as a piezoelectric element, provided in the soft, flexible cover of a vehicle driver's side supplemental restraint system.

Abstract: Electrical connections between a motor vehicle wire harness (32) and an air bag module (65) are made by a unitary switching module (55) provided with accessory switches (57) therein and electrical connectors (112) which receive mating connectors from the wire harness and electrical accessory controls (35 and 40) disposed on the steering wheel.