Driver side air bag module with annular air bag and centrally disposed control module

• US 6,863,301 B2
• Filed: 10/25/2002
• Issued: 03/08/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 02/23/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Key Safety Systems, Inc. (Ningbo Junsheng Investment Group Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Key Safety Systems, Inc. (Ningbo Junsheng Investment Group Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Ford, Brian C., Langbeen, Lawrence R., Almasri, Hossam, Gosk, Randal, Burdock, John M., Murad, Mohannad F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ilan, Ruth
• Application Number:
  US10/280,150
• Publication Number:
  US 20030047922A1
• Time in Patent Office: 865 Days
• Field of Search: 280/743.1, 280/728.3, 280/731, 260/61.54, 260/61.55, 260/61.57, 745/52, 744/84.H
• US Class Current: 280/731
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/23576 Sewing
• 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
• 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: B60R 21/216 comprising tether means for limitation of cover motion during deployment
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/21658 with integrated switches, e.g. horn switches
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/231 characterised by their shape, construction or spatial configuration
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/00 Fittings or systems for preventing or indicating unauthorised use or theft of vehicles locks for vehicles E05B77/00-E05B85/00

Abstract

An air bag module (20) having a base plate (30) and a toroidal air bag (80) is disclosed. The toroidal air bag (80) defines a pocket (120). The toroidal air bag (80) is coupled to the base plate (30). A control module (40) having a base plate portion (82) and a generally cylindrical portion (86) is coupled to the base and located within the toroidal air bag (80). The control module (40) has a control module cover (90) coupled to said generally cylindrical portion (86) disposed within said pocket (120).

Claims

1. An air bag module (20) comprising:

a base plate (30);

a toroidal air bag (80) having a pocket (120), said toroidal air bag (80) being coupled to the base plate (30); and

a control module (40) disposed within said pocket (120), the control module (40) including a base (82) and a control module cover (90) coupled to said generally cylindrical portion (86);

wherein said base (82) includes an anti-rotation mechanism (102), said anti-rotation mechanism (102) comprises a retractable member (103) which is configured to couple with a notch (83) defined in the cover.

2. The module according to claim 1 wherein the notch (83) is configured as a ramp.

3. The module according to claim 1 wherein the retractable member (103) is spring biased in a locking position.

4. The module according to claim 1 wherein the cylindrical portion (86) includes a locking mechanism configured to couple the control module cover (90) to the cylindrical portion (86).

5. The module according to claim 1 including an inflator (62) disposed between the control module (40) and the base plate (30).

6. The module according to claim 1 further comprising a module cover (140), the module cover (140) having an aperture (146), said aperture being configured to receive the control module cover (90).

7. The module according to claim 1 wherein the control module cover includes a generally cylindrical portion (86) coupled to the base (82).

8. An air bag module (20) comprising:

a base plate (30);

a toroidal air bag (80) defining a pocket (120), said toroidal air bag (80) being coupled to the base plate (30); and

a control module (40) disposed within said pocket (120), the control module (40) including a base (82) and generally cylindrical portion (86) coupled to the base (82), the control module (40) having a control module cover (90) coupled to said generally cylindrical portion (86);

the cylindrical portion (86) including a locking mechanism configured to couple the control module cover (90) to the cylindrical portion (86);

wherein the locking mechanism comprises a locking flange (92), said locking flange (92) being configured to couple to a slot (94) defined in the cover (90).

9. The module according to claim 8 wherein the locking slot (94) is L-shaped.

10. An air bag module comprising:

a base plate (30);

a toroidal air bag (80) defining a pocket, said toroidal air bag (80) being coupled to the base plate (30);

a control module (40) having a base plate portion (82) and a generally cylindrical portion (86) coupled to the base plate portion (92), the control module (40) having a control module cover (90) coupled to said generally cylindrical portion (86), wherein the control module (40) defines an anti-rotation mechanism (102), said anti-rotation mechanism (102) comprises a retractable flange (103) which functions to prevent rotation of the control module cover (90), wherein the cylindrical portion (86) defines a locking mechanism configured to couple the control module cover (90) to the cylindrical portion (86);

wherein the locking mechanism comprises a locking flange (92), said locking flange (92) being configured to couple to a locking slot (94) defined in the cover (90).

11. The module according to claim 10 wherein the locking slot (94) is L-shaped.

12. The module according to claim 10 further comprising an electronics module (105) disposed within the control module.

13. The module defined in claim 12 wherein the electronics module (105) is selected from the group consisting of:

a horn switch, a visual display, lights, a GPS, a cellular phone, vehicle gages, a radio, radio controls, an occupant sensor and an anti-theft device.