Assembly structure of airbag case

• US 7,374,202 B2
• Filed: 08/29/2003
• Issued: 05/20/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 08/14/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hyundai Mobis Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Hyundai Mobis Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Lim, Gyu Sung
• Primary Examiner(s): Ilan; Ruth
• Assistant Examiner(s): Spisich; George D.
• Application Number:
  US10/650,750
• Publication Number:
  US 20050035576A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,726 Days
• Field of Search: 280/731, 280/728.2, 280/728.3
• US Class Current: 280/731
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/21656 Steering wheel covers or similar cup-shaped covers
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/217 Inflation fluid source retainers, e.g. reaction canisters; Connection of bags, covers, diffusers or inflation fluid sources therewith or together

Abstract

An assembly structure of an airbag case includes a steering wheel core mounted to a hub of a steering wheel, the hub having an open top part and a retainer attached to the steering wheel core that retains an airbag and an inflator supplying a high-pressure gas to the airbag. An airbag cover is disposed on the hub of the steering wheel so that the airbag cover covers the open top part of the hub of the steering wheel and has a tear line formed thereat, the airbag cover being severed along the tear line when the airbag is expanded, and a plurality of hooks are formed at the edge of the airbag cover.

Claims

1. An assembly structure of an airbag case, comprising:

a steering wheel core mounted to a hub of a steering wheel, the hub having an open top part;

a retainer attached to the steering wheel core that retains an airbag and an inflator supplying a high-pressure gas to the airbag;

a generally planar airbag cover disposed on the hub of the steering wheel so that the airbag cover covers the open top part of the hub of the steering wheel and having a tear line formed thereat, the airbag cover being severed along the tear line when the airbag is expanded; and

a plurality of hooks formed adjacent an outer edge of the airbag cover, wherein the airbag cover is securely fixed to the steering wheel by the hooks,

wherein the steering wheel includes a rim having a plurality hook holes and the hooks are confugired to be secured to the hook holes.

2. The structure as set forth in claim 1, wherein the tear line is formed at the airbag cover between the center of the airbag cover and the edge of the airbag cover where the hooks are formed.

3. The structure as set forth in claim 1, further comprising a horn switch mounted to the airbag cover within the edge of the airbag cover where the hooks are formed.

4. The structure as set forth in claim 1, wherein the hooks are made of a plastic material with an elastic force so that the hooks are inserted through the plurality of corresponding hook holes by the elastic force, and the airbag cover is made of a plastic material with an elastic force.

5. The structure as set forth in claim 1, wherein each of the hooks comprises:

a protrusion vertically extended from the edge of the airbag cover toward the hub of the steering wheel; and

a hooking end formed at the end of the protrusion, the hooking end being inserted through a corresponding hook hole.

6. The structure as set forth in claim 1, wherein each of the hooks is protruded from the edge of the airbag cover toward a rim of the steering wheel in the lateral direction of the airbag, and the hook holes being opened in the protruded direction of the hooks so that the hooks are inserted into the hook holes, respectively.