Steering wheel with an airbag module

• US 6,354,622 B1
• Filed: 01/12/2000
• Issued: 03/12/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 07/16/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Takata-Petri AG
• Original Assignee: Takata-Petri AG
• Inventors: Ulbrich, Christian, Laue, Andreas
• Primary Examiner(s): Mai, Lanna
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ilan, Ruth
• Application Number:
  US09/462,788
• Time in Patent Office: 790 Days
• Field of Search: 280/728.2, 280/728.3, 280/731, 745/52, 200/61.55, 200/61.54
• US Class Current: 280/731
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/2037 the module or a major component thereof being yieldably mounted, e.g. for actuating the horn switch or for protecting the driver in a non-deployment situation horn switches integrated in steering wheel covers with tear lines B60R21/21658
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/20834 Hand wheels

Abstract

A steering wheel has an airbag module and a separate cap covering the airbag module. The airbag module is connected to a skeleton or hub of the steering wheel using a plurality of vibration damping elements to isolate the airbag module from the hub. The cap, on the other hand has no vibration damping element. As the cap is directly linked to the hub, it oscillates with the hub and the components attached thereto so that no relative movement therebetween exists.

Claims

1. A steering wheel assembly comprising:

a steering wheel having an upper side and a contact bridge;

an airbag module;

a cap covering the airbag module from the upper side of the steering wheel; and

at least one vibration damping element;

wherein the cap is separate from the steering wheel and not connected on the upper side thereof;

wherein the airbag module and the cap are mounted on the contact bridge of the steering wheel; and

wherein only the airbag module is connected to the contact bridge of the steering wheel through the at least one vibration damping element.

2. A steering wheel assembly according to claim 1, wherein the airbag module includes a gas generator, a gasbag retaining plate, a gasbag, and a folding chamber restricting plate, and a gasbag cover.

3. A steering wheel assembly according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising a connecting plate between the steering wheel and the vibration damping element.

4. A steering wheel assembly according to claim 1, wherein the airbag module is connected to the steering wheel with a plurality of vibration damping elements, each of which is ring-shaped.

5. A steering wheel assembly according to claim 4, wherein the steering wheel has a hub and at least one connecting plate secured to the hub, the connecting plate has a hook-shaped upper end, the cap has a projection projecting toward the hub, and projection has an aperture through which the hook-shaped upper end extends.

6. A steering wheel assembly according to claim 5, wherein the contact bridge secures the connecting plate to the hub.

7. A steering wheel assembly according to claim 5, further including at least one support plate secured to the airbag module, wherein three equally spaced vibration damping elements are arranged between the support plate and the connecting plate.

8. A steering wheel assembly according to claim 1, wherein the damping value of the vibration damping element is selected based on the mass of the vibrating airbag module.

9. A steering wheel assembly according to claim 1, wherein the vibration damping element comprises an elastomer.

10. A steering wheel assembly according to claim 7, wherein the support plate has three openings seating the vibrating damping elements.

11. A steering wheel assembly according to claim 1, wherein the steering wheel has a steering wheel hub and the airbag module is suspendedly mounted to the hub via the vibration damping element to isolate the airbag assembly from the hub.

12. A steering wheel assembly according to claim 11, wherein the steering wheel has at least one support plate secured to the airbag module and at least one connecting plate secured to the hub, wherein the support plate is secured to the connecting plate via a plurality of vibrating damping elements.

13. A steering wheel assembly according to claim 12, wherein the cap is secured to the connection plate.

14. A steering wheel assembly comprising:

a steering wheel having an upper side and a hub;

an airbag module;

a cap covering the airbag module from the upper side of the steering wheel; and

at least one vibration damping element;

wherein the cap is separate from the steering wheel and not connected on the upper side thereof;

wherein the hub has a plurality of upright webs;

wherein the airbag module is mounted on the hub and the cap is mounted on the webs; and

wherein only the airbag module is connected to the hub through the vibration damping element.

15. A steering wheel assembly according to claim 14, wherein the vibration damping element is ring-shaped and positioned between the airbag module and the hub.