Vehicle occupant restraint apparatus
First Claim
1. Apparatus for use with a vehicle steering column, said apparatus comprising:
- a steering wheel unit comprising a plurality of parts which are attached to each other separately from the steering column, said parts including a vehicle steering wheel structure, an inflatable vehicle occupant restraint, inflator means for inflating said restraint, and cover means for covering said restraint and said inflator means on said steering wheel structure; and
fastener means for fastening said steering wheel unit in an installed position on the steering column, said fastener means snapping into a locked condition to establish a mechanical interlock between said steering wheel unit and the steering column upon movement of said steering wheel unit to said installed position.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A vehicle occupant restraint apparatus (10) includes a vehicle steering wheel unit (12) and fasteners (16) which fasten the steering wheel unit (12) in an installed position on a vehicle steering column (14). The steering wheel unit (12) includes parts which are attached to each other separately from the steering column (14). The attached parts of the steering wheel unit (12) include a steering wheel armature (50), an inflatable vehicle occupant restraint (22), an inflator (20) for inflating the restraint (22), and a cover (40) for covering the restraint (22) and the inflator (20) on the armature (50). The fasteners (16) snap into a locked condition to establish a mechanical interlock between the steering wheel unit (12) and the steering column (14) when the steering wheel unit (12) is moved to its installed position on the steering column (14).
65 Citations
15 Claims
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1. Apparatus for use with a vehicle steering column, said apparatus comprising:
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a steering wheel unit comprising a plurality of parts which are attached to each other separately from the steering column, said parts including a vehicle steering wheel structure, an inflatable vehicle occupant restraint, inflator means for inflating said restraint, and cover means for covering said restraint and said inflator means on said steering wheel structure; and fastener means for fastening said steering wheel unit in an installed position on the steering column, said fastener means snapping into a locked condition to establish a mechanical interlock between said steering wheel unit and the steering column upon movement of said steering wheel unit to said installed position. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. Apparatus for use with a vehicle steering column, said apparatus comprising:
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a vehicle steering wheel structure including a rim and spokes; an inflatable vehicle occupant restraint; inflator means for inflating said restraint; first fastener means for fastening said restraint and said inflator means to said steering wheel structure; plastic cover means for extending over said restraint to cover said restraint and said inflator means on said steering wheel structure, said plastic cover means consisting of a single, continuous piece of plastic material which extends over said restraint to cover said restraint and said inflator means, said piece of plastic material further extending along and around said rim and said spokes to cover said rim and said spokes; and second fastener means for fastening said steering wheel structure in an installed position on the steering column, said second fastener means snapping into a locked condition to establish a mechanical interlock between said steering wheel structure and the steering column upon movement of said steering wheel structure to said installed position. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15)
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Specification