Steering wheel assembly featuring the elimination of a contact coil
First Claim
1. A steering wheel assembly comprising:
- a flange (17) adapted to receive a steering shaft (15);
a gas deflector (19) attached to the flange (17) for directing a flow of inflation gas in a desired direction, wherein an upper edge around the gas deflector (19) and the flange form a flexible lip (38);
an inflator (18) for providing inflation gas, the inflator (18) being off-set mounted relative to the steering shaft (15);
an armature (20) comprising a hub portion (34) having a channel that receives the flexible lip (38), wherein the flexible lip flexes toward an outer wall of the channel of the hub portion (34) to reduce gas leakage during airbag deployment.
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A steering wheel assembly including an inflator subassembly, a steering wheel armature, and a cushion subassembly. The inflator subassembly and the cushion subassembly are located on opposite sides of the steering wheel armature. The inflator subassembly comprises an inflator. The inflator subassembly has a lip, which fits into a circular channel on the bottom portion of the steering wheel armature. The cushion subassembly includes an airbag, a retainer, and an airbag cover. Upon detection of a crash from a crash sensor, the inflator begins to generate gas. The gas flows through the inflator subassembly and then is forced to flow through the hub portion of the steering wheel and into the cushion.
32 Citations
14 Claims
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1. A steering wheel assembly comprising:
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a flange (17) adapted to receive a steering shaft (15);
a gas deflector (19) attached to the flange (17) for directing a flow of inflation gas in a desired direction, wherein an upper edge around the gas deflector (19) and the flange form a flexible lip (38);
an inflator (18) for providing inflation gas, the inflator (18) being off-set mounted relative to the steering shaft (15);
an armature (20) comprising a hub portion (34) having a channel that receives the flexible lip (38), wherein the flexible lip flexes toward an outer wall of the channel of the hub portion (34) to reduce gas leakage during airbag deployment. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A steering wheel assembly comprising:
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an inflator subassembly (26) having an inflator (18), a flange (17) with a pan (28) for holding the inflator (18), and an aperture (30) therethrough that receives a steering shaft (15);
an armature (20) comprising a hub portion (34) that receives a flexible lip of the inflator subassembly (26);
a cushion subassembly (27) comprising a retainer ring (23) for securing an airbag (24) to the armature (20) and an airbag cover (25) for covering the airbag (24), wherein the cushion subassembly (27) and inflator subassembly (26) are arranged on opposite sides of the armature;
wherein the flexible lip (38) of the inflator subassembly fits into a channel in the hub portion (34), the flexible lip (38) flexes toward an outer wall of the channel in the hub portion (34) to reduce gas leakage during airbag deployment. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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Specification