Steering wheel air bag module

• US 6,394,489 B1
• Filed: 06/22/2000
• Issued: 05/28/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 06/22/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: TRW Occupant Restraint Systems GmbH & Co. KG
• Original Assignee: TRW Occupant Restraint Systems GmbH & Co. KG, TRW Vehicle Safety Systems Incorporated (Zeppelin - Stiftung der Stadt Friedrichshafen)
• Inventors: Heilig, Alexander, Faigle, Ernst M.
• Primary Examiner(s): English, Peter C.
• Application Number:
  US09/599,932
• Time in Patent Office: 705 Days
• Field of Search: 280/731,728.2,730.1,728.3
• US Class Current: 280/731
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/2035 using modules containing inflator, bag and cover attachable to the steering wheel as a complete sub-unit steering wheel covers with tear lines B60R21/21656; assembling of modules B60R21/217

Abstract

A vehicle occupant protection apparatus (10) comprises a steering column (18) of a vehicle (12) and a vehicle steering wheel (14). The steering wheel (14) comprises a hub (16), a rim (22), and at least one spoke (24) extending from the hub to the rim. The steering wheel hub (16) supports the steering wheel (14) on the steering column (18) for rotation about an axis (20). The spoke (24) moves through a path of movement (30) as the steering wheel (14) rotates about the axis (20). The apparatus (10) further comprises an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device (44) having a deflated condition and an inflated condition. The protection device (44) is supported below the spoke (24) and for rotation with the steering wheel (14) about the axis (20). The protection device (44) is inflatable through the path of movement (30) of the spoke (24) to an inflated condition to help protect a driver of the vehicle (12).

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

a steering column of a vehicle;

a vehicle steering wheel comprising a hub, a rim, and at least one spoke extending from said hub to said rim, said steering wheel hub supporting said steering wheel on said steering column for rotation about an axis, said at least one spoke moving through a path of movement as said steering wheel rotates about said axis;

an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device having a deflated condition and an inflated condition, said protection device being supported below said spoke and for rotation with said steering wheel about said axis, said protection device being inflatable through the path of movement of said at least one spoke to an inflated condition to help protect a driver of the vehicle; and

a door having a closed condition covering said protection device when said protection device is in the deflated condition, said door being movable from the closed condition to an open condition in response to inflation of said protection device, said door being supported below said and below the path of movement of said spoke.

2. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said inflatable vehicle occupant protection device has a mounting portion connected with said steering wheel and an occupant contact portion extending from said mounting portion;

said protection device having a deflated, stored condition in which said mounting portion and said occupant contact portion of said protection device are both located on a first side of the path of movement of said spoke;

said mounting portion of said protection device being located on said first side of the path of movement of said spoke, and said occupant contact portion being located on a second side of the path of movement of said spoke, when said protection device is in the inflated condition.

3. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said protection device is supported on said steering wheel for rotation with said steering wheel.

4. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said door when in the open condition is below said spoke and below the path of movement of said spoke.

5. An apparatus as set forth in claim 4 wherein said door is supported for pivotal movement.

6. An apparatus comprising:

a steering column of a vehicle;

a vehicle steering wheel comprising a hub, a rim, and at least one spoke extending from said hub to said rim;

said steering wheel hub supporting said steering wheel on said steering column for rotation about an axis, said at least one spoke moving through a path of movement as said steering wheel rotates about said axis; and

an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device having a deflated condition and an inflated condition, said protection device being supported below said spoke on said steering column for rotation with said steering wheel about said axis;

said protection device being inflatable through the path of movement of said at least one spoke to an inflated condition to help protect a driver of the vehicle.