Steering wheel with integrated airbag unit

• US 6,206,413 B1
• Filed: 03/05/1999
• Issued: 03/27/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 04/27/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Autoliv Development AB (Autoliv Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Autoliv Development AB (Autoliv Incorporated)
• Inventors: de Clercq, Stephani
• Primary Examiner(s): Mai, Lanna
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ilan, Ruth
• Application Number:
  US09/171,995
• Time in Patent Office: 753 Days
• Field of Search: 280/731, 280/728.2, 280/728.3
• US Class Current: 280/731
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/203 in steering wheels or steering columns
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 1/04 Hand wheels

Abstract

A steering wheel assembly has a container having a bottom and an upper end. The upper end has an opening delimited by a rim. A gas generator is mounted at the bottom in the container. A gas bag has a mouth with an edge portion. The gas bag is folded into the container so as to be positioned between the gas generator and the opening. the edge portion is placed onto the container rim. A steering wheel member is placed onto the edge portion and secured to the upper end of the container by clamping the edge portion of the gas bag between the container rim and the steering wheel member.

Claims

1. A steering wheel assembly comprising:

a container (11) having a bottom and an upper end;

said upper end having an opening (16) delimited by a rim (18);

a gas generator (14) mounted at said bottom in said container (11);

a gas air bag (15) having a mouth with an edge portion (17);

said gas bag (15) folded into said container (11) so as to be positioned between said gas generator (14) and said opening (16);

said edge portion (17) placed onto said rim (18) of said container (11);

a steering wheel member (12) placed onto said edge portion (17) and secured to said upper end of said container (11) so as to clamp said edge portion (17) of said gas bag (15) between said rim (18) of said container (11) and said steering wheel member (12);

wherein said rim (18) of said container (11) has an outwardly proiecting flange (18) and wherein said steering wheel member (12) is connected to said outwardly projecting flange (18); and

a cover (13) having snap-in means (22), wherein said steering wheel member (12) has throughbores (19) and wherein said outwardly projecting flange (18) has through openings (20) aligned with said throughbores (18), wherein said cover (13) is connected to said steering wheel member (12) and said container (11) by said snap-in means (22) penetrating said throughbores (19) and said through openings (20).

2. A steering wheel assembly according to claim 1,

wherein said steering wheel member (12) is connected to said outwardly projecting flange (18) by circumferentially arranged threaded connections (21), wherein said snap-in means are snap-in pins (22), and

wherein said snap-in pins (22)and said threaded connections (21) alternate in a circumferential direction of said outwardly projecting flange (18).

3. A steering wheel assembly according to claim 1,

wherein said steering wheel member (12) is connected to said outwardly projecting flange (18) by circumferentially arranged threaded connections (21), wherein said snap-in means are snap-in pins (22), and

wherein said snap-in pins (22) and said threaded connections (21) penetrate said edge portion (17) of said gas bag (15).

4. A steering wheel assembly according to claim 1, wherein said container (11) has a deformable container wall and functions as a crumple part.

5. A steering wheel assembly according to claim 1, further comprising an adapter (24) connected to said bottom of said container (11), wherein said adapter (24) is designed to connect said steering wheel assembly to a steering column of a vehicle, said adapter (24) having a receiving space (25) for a coil spring.