Air bag cover with articulated tear seam
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A steering wheel assembly comprising:
- a housing (12) having a plurality of retaining flanges (26);
a steering wheel armature (14) having side walls (20) defining a plurality of slots (24) for receipt of the flanges (26); and
a cover (16) including a plurality of retaining apertures (34) for receipt of the plurality of flanges (26) therethrough;
wherein said cover (16) is at least partially between said housing (12) and said steering wheel armature (14) and wherein the side wails (20) are configured to restrain bell mouthing of the housing during deployment.
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Abstract
A steering wheel assembly having a fastenerless air bag module assembly is disclosed. This assembly employs a housing with a projection and a steering wheel armature configured to receive the projection. The cover is retained between the housing and the steering wheel armature. Furthermore, the present invention provides a steering wheel cover with a tear seam that permits the air bag to deploy more efficiently with less damage to the occupants.
27 Citations
13 Claims
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1. A steering wheel assembly comprising:
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a housing (12) having a plurality of retaining flanges (26); a steering wheel armature (14) having side walls (20) defining a plurality of slots (24) for receipt of the flanges (26); and a cover (16) including a plurality of retaining apertures (34) for receipt of the plurality of flanges (26) therethrough; wherein said cover (16) is at least partially between said housing (12) and said steering wheel armature (14) and wherein the side wails (20) are configured to restrain bell mouthing of the housing during deployment. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A steering wheel assembly comprising:
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a housing (12) at least partially disposed about an air bag cushion, said housing having at least one functional flange; a steering wheel armature having side walls (20), the functional flange being adjacent to and received in one of the side walls (20); a cover (16) retained between the housing (12) and the armature; and wherein, the cover (16) has a circumferential portion defined by a central radius (38) with at least one tear seam (36) radiating from the circumference portion and wherein at least one of the side walls is configured to reduce displacement of the functional flange during an airbag deployment wherein the steering wheel armature has at least one slot (24) for receipt of the functional flange (26). - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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Specification