Apparatus for restraining a driver of a vehicle
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 interconnected separately from the steering column, said parts including a vehicle steering wheel structure, an inflatable vehicle occupant restraint, an inflator housing, and cover means for covering said restraint and said inflator housing on said steering wheel structure;
said steering wheel structure comprising a rim, at least one spoke, and a hub plate, said hub plate comprising means for supporting said rim and said spoke for rotation about an axis, said hub plate further comprising reaction plate means for supporting said inflator housing on said steering wheel structure;
said cover means comprising inner and outer cover parts which respectively include inner and outer deployment door layers extending over said restraint, each of said cover parts being connected directly to said steering wheel structure.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A vehicle occupant restraint apparatus (10) includes a vehicle steering wheel unit (12) for use with a vehicle steering column (14). The steering wheel unit (12) has parts which are interconnected separately from the steering column (14). The interconnected parts of the steering wheel unit (12) include a steering wheel structure (40,190), an inflatable vehicle occupant restraint (22), an inflator housing (160), and a cover (30) for covering the restraint (22) and the inflator housing (160) on the steering wheel structure (40,190). The steering wheel structure (40,190) includes a rim (42), at least one spoke (44), and a hub plate (190) which supports the rim (42) and the spoke (44) for rotation about an axis (45). The hub plate (190) further functions as a reaction plate for supporting the inflator housing (160) on the steering wheel structure (40). The cover (30) includes inner and outer cover parts (56,58) which respectively include inner and outer deployment door layers (80,82; 90,92) extending over the restraint. Each of the cover parts (56,58) is connected directly to the steering wheel structure (40,190).
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Citations
25 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 interconnected separately from the steering column, said parts including a vehicle steering wheel structure, an inflatable vehicle occupant restraint, an inflator housing, and cover means for covering said restraint and said inflator housing on said steering wheel structure; said steering wheel structure comprising a rim, at least one spoke, and a hub plate, said hub plate comprising means for supporting said rim and said spoke for rotation about an axis, said hub plate further comprising reaction plate means for supporting said inflator housing on said steering wheel structure; said cover means comprising inner and outer cover parts which respectively include inner and outer deployment door layers extending over said restraint, each of said cover parts being connected directly to said steering wheel structure. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. Apparatus for use with a vehicle steering column, said apparatus comprising:
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a steering wheel structure comprising a hub plate, a rim, and at least one spoke extending from said hub plate to said rim; an inflatable vehicle occupant restraint; an inflator having a housing with a mounting flange; a retainer extending around said housing; fastener means for fastening said retainer to said hub plate so as to clamp said restraint and said mounting flange between said retainer and said hub plate; and cover means for covering said restraint on said steering wheel structure, said cover means comprising inner and outer cover parts which respectively include inner and outer deployment door layers extending over said restraint; said outer cover part being a continuous body of plastic material which extends over said rim, said spoke, and at least a portion of said inner cover part to conceal said rim, said spoke, and said portion of said inner cover part from view; said inner cover part being a continuous body of plastic material which is bonded to said outer cover part and fastened to said hub plate. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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Specification