STEERING WHEEL INFLATABLE CUSHION DEVICE

• US 3,752,501 A
• Filed: 10/20/1971
• Issued: 08/14/1973
• Est. Priority Date: 10/20/1971
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Alex Rhodes, Roger P. Daniel
• Original Assignee: Alex Rhodes, Roger P. Daniel
• Inventors: Daniel, Roger P., Rhodes, Alex
• Primary Examiner(s): Betts, Kenneth H.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Carroll, John A.
• Application Number:
  US05/190,846
• Time in Patent Office: 664 Days
• Field of Search: 280/15AB,15B,87R
• US Class Current: 280/729
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/0009 Oblique collision
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23332 using independent bags, one within the other
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/203 in steering wheels or steering columns
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/233 comprising a plurality of individual compartments; comprising two or more bag-like members, one within the other B60R21/232 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/261 with means other than bag structure to diffuse or guide inflation fluid

Abstract

An inflatable cushion device for protective interposition between a vehicle operator and the rim and hub of a vehicle steering wheel assembly. The cushion is compartmented to provide, when inflated, peripheral ring compartmentation in juxtaposition to the steering wheel rim and center compartmentation in overlying juxtaposition to the steering wheel hub. The peripheral ring compartmentation when pressurized provides greater resistance to collapse than the center compartmentation, whereby the peripheral ring compartmentation is adapted to guide the vehicle operator upon contact of the latter with the cushion toward the center compartmentation thereby to maintain the vehicle operator in substantially centered cushioned relationship to the steering wheel assembly under vehicle impact conditions.

Claims

1. An inflatable cushion device for protective interposition between a vehicle operator and the rim and hub of a vehicle steering wheel assembly under vehicle collision conditions, comprising:

a gas diffuser mounted on the hub and adapted to be connected to a pressurized gas source, and an inflatable cushion mounted on the diffuser and when in collapsed condition being housed within the confines of the steering wheel rim, the cushion being compartmented to provide, when inflated, peripheral ring compartmentation in juxtaposition to the steering wheel rim and center compartmentation in overlying juxtaposition to the steering wheel hub, the peripheral ring compartmentation being substantially toroidal in shape, the center compartmentation, when inflated, projecting upwardly above the steering wheel rim to a greater degree than the peripheral ring compartmentation, the center compartmentation being of greater volume than the peripheral ring compartmentation, the peripheral ring compartmentation being in direct communication with the diffuser and inflated by gas discharged therefrom, and the center compartmentation being solely in direct communication with the peripheral ring compartmentation and inflated by gas received from the latter through orifices in a common wall therebetween, the peripheral ring compartmentation being pressurized by the gas received from the diffuser to provide greater resistance to collapse than the center compartmentation whereby the peripheral ring compartmentation is adapted to guide the vehicle operator upon contact with the cushion toward the center compartmentation thereby to maintain the vehicle operator in substantially centered cushioned relationship to the steering wheel assembly.

2. An inflatable cushion device for protective interposition between a vehicle operator and the rim and hub of a vehicle steering wheel assembly under vehicle collision conditions, comprising:

a gas diffuser mounted on the hub and adapted to be connected to a pressurized gas source, and an inflatable cushion mounted on the diffuser and when in collapsed condition being housed within the confines of the steering wheel rim, the cushion being compartmented to provide, when inflated, peripheral ring compartmentation in juxtaposition to the steering wheel rim and center compartmentation in overlying juxtaposition to the steering wheel hub, the center compartmentation, when inflated, projecting upwardly above the steering wheel rim to a greater degree than the peripheral ring compartmentation, the peripheral ring compartmentation being pressurized by gas received from the diffuser to provide greater resistance to collapse than the center compartmentation whereby the peripheral ring compartmentation is adapted to guide the vehicle operator upon contact with the cushion toward the center compartmentation thereby to maintain the vehicle operator in substantially centered cushioned relationship to the steering wheel assembly.

3. An inflatable cushion device according to claim 2, in which:

the center compartmentation is of greater volume than the peripheral ring compartmentation.

4. An inflatable cushion device, according to claim 3, in which:

the Peripheral ring compartmentation is in direct communication with the diffuser and is inflated by gas discharged from the latter, and the center compartmentation is solely in direct communication with the peripheral ring compartmentation and is inflated by gas received from the latter through orifices in a common wall therebetween.

5. An inflatable cushion device for protective interposition between a vehicle operator and the rim and hub of a vehicle steering wheel assembly under vehicle collision conditions, comprising:

a gas diffuser mounted on the hub and adapted to be connected to a pressurized gas source, and an inflatable cushion mounted on the diffuser and when in collapsed condition being housed within the confines of the steering wheel rim, the cushion being compartmented to provide, when inflated, peripheral ring compartmentation in juxtaposition to the steering wheel rim and center compartmentation in overlying juxtaposition to the steering wheel hub, the center compartmentation being of greater volume than the peripheral ring compartmentation, the peripheral ring compartmentation being pressurized by gas received from the diffuser to provide greater resistance to collapse than the center compartmentation whereby the peripheral ring compartmentation is adapted to guide the vehicle operator upon contact with the cushion toward the center compartmentation thereby to maintain the vehicle operator in substantially centered cushioned relationship to the steering wheel assembly.

6. An inflatable cushion device according to claim 5, in which:

the peripheral ring compartmentation is in direct communication with the diffuser and is inflated by gas discharged therefrom, and the center compartmentation is in direct communication with the peripheral ring compartmentation and is inflated by gas received from the latter through orifices in a common wall therebetween.

7. An inflatable cushion device for protective interposition between a vehicle operator and the rim and hub of a vehicle steering wheel assembly under vehicle collison conditions, comprising:

a gas diffuser mounted on the hub and adapted to be connected to a pressurized gas source, and an inflatable cushion mounted on the diffuser and when in collapsed condition being housed within the confines of the steering wheel rim, the cushion being compartmented to provide, when inflated, peripheral ring compartmentation in juxtaposition to the steering wheel rim and center compartmentation in overlying juxtaposition to the steering wheel hub, the peripheral ring compartmentation being in direct communication with the diffuser and inflated by gas discharged therefrom, and the center compartmentation being in direct communication with the peripheral ring compartmentation and inflated by gas discharged through orifices in a common wall therebetween, the peripheral ring compartmentation being pressurized by gas received from the diffuser to provide greater resistance to collapse than the center compartmentation whereby the peripheral ring compartmentation is adapted to guide the vehicle operator upon contact with the cushion toward the center compartmentation thereby to maintain the vehicle operator in substantially centered cushioned relationship to the steering wheel assembly.

8. An inflatable cushion device for protective interposition between a vehicle operator and the hub of a vehicle steering wheel assembly, comprising:

a gas distribution manifold mounted on the hub and adapted to be connected to a source of gas for inflation of the cushion under vehicle collision conditions, and an inflatable cushion mounted on the manifold, the cushion having a peripheral compartment of a predetermined volume and a separate center compartment of larger volume, the peripheral compartment being in direct communication with the manifold, and the center compartment being in direct communication with the peripheral compartment thrOugh orifices in a wall therebetween, the air from the high pressure source being utilized to first inflate the peripheral compartment to a comparatively high pressure and then the larger volume center compartment to a pressure lower than that of the peripheral compartment, the high pressure peripheral compartment of the than being effective to guide the operator upon impact therewith toward the lower pressure center of the bag to maintain the operator in substantially centered cushioned relationship to the steering wheel.

9. An inflatable cushion device according to claim 8, in which:

the center compartment when inflated projects upwardly toward the vehicle operator to a greater degree than the peripheral ring compartment.

10. An inflatable cushion device according to claim 9, in which:

the peripheral compartment is of substantially toroidal shape.

11. An inflatable cushion apparatus adapted under vehicle collision conditions to be protectably interposed between a vehicle operator and the vehicle steering wheel assembly, the steering wheel assembly having at least a rim and a hub means supporting the rim, the cushion apparatus comprising:

inflation medium distribution means mounted on the hub means and adapted to be connected to an inflation medium source, and an inflatable cushion coupled to the inflation medium distribution means and when in deflated condition being housed within the confines of the steering wheel assembly, the cushion having a peripheral ring compartment surrounding a central compartment, the peripheral and central compartments having a common wall therebetween and being in communication with each other through orifices in the common wall, the cushion when inflated having its peripheral ring compartment substantially overlying the steering wheel rim and its center compartment in overlying juxtaposition to the steering wheel hub, the sequence of inflation of the cushion being first the peripheral ring compartment and then the center compartment, the peripheral ring compartment achieving higher pressurization than the center compartment whereby the peripheral ring compartment is adapted to guide the vehicle operator upon contact with the cushion toward the center compartment thereby to maintain the operator in substantially centered cushion relationship to the steering wheel assembly.

12. An inflatable cushion apparatus according to claim 11, in which:

the peripheral ring compartment is substantially toroidal in shape.

13. An inflatable cushion apparatus according to claim 12, in which:

the center compartment, when inflated, projects upwardly above the steering wheel rim to a greater degree than the peripheral ring compartment.

14. An inflatable cushion apparatus according to claim 13, in which:

the center compartment is of greater volume then the peripheral ring compartment.