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Safety apparatus for steering wheel assembly

  • US 3,888,508 A
  • Filed: 04/13/1973
  • Issued: 06/10/1975
  • Est. Priority Date: 04/19/1972
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
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1. A safety apparatus for a steering wheel assembly of a vehicle having a collision sensor and a fluid pressure source for activating said safety apparatus in response to a signal generated from said sensor, comprising:

  • a pad member including a core cushion on spokes of said steering wheel assembly, said pad member including means defining a chamber in substantially the central portion thereof, a bag container made of synthetic resin in the shape corresponding to said chamber, said bag container being within said chamber and having, on its bottom portion, an inlet port connected to said pressure source through the steering column assembly for said steering wheel assembly, an inflatable bag confined air-tightly within said bag container;

    said inflatable bag being inflated by pressurized fluid from said pressure source through said inlet port in case of vehicle collision, said bag container further having drain valve means formed by at least one breakable portion normally integral with said bottom portion of said bag container whereby when the pressure in the bag upon inflation reaches a predetermined inner pressure a portion of the breakable portion breaks to let any exceeding pressure, above the predetermined pressure, escape out of the inflated bag, and a cover member having a core cushion formed in the shape corresponding to the opening of said bag container and a cover which overlies integrally said cover member core cushion;

    said cover member being mounted on said bag container to move from a position closing the opening thereof to a position lateral of said bag container opening in response to inflation of said bag.

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