Assembly for retaining an airbag module to a steering wheel

• US 7,398,994 B2
• Filed: 03/29/2005
• Issued: 07/15/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 05/10/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• 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: Anselmi, Andrea, Ridolfi, Roberto, Poli, Valerio
• Primary Examiner(s): To; Toan C
• Application Number:
  US11/092,279
• Publication Number:
  US 20050248135A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,204 Days
• Field of Search: 280/728.2, 280/731, 200/61.54, 200/61.55, 200/61.57
• US Class Current: 280/731
• 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

Abstract

An assembly of an airbag module and a steering wheel of a vehicle has the airbag module moveable between a resting position and a working position, corresponding to the actuation of the horn of the vehicle. Advantageously, the retaining assembly drives the airbag module exclusively along parallel to the axis of rotation of the steering wheel, providing constant horn activation loads.

Claims

1. An assembly of an airbag module and a steering wheel, the steering wheel having a frame, the assembly comprising:

a means for coupling the airbag module to the steering wheel frame, the airbag module being moveable between a resting position and a working position corresponding to the actuation of a horn of the vehicle;

at least one resilient member interposed between the airbag module and the steering wheel frame for returning the airbag module to the resting position upon activation of the horn;

the means for coupling comprising a first bracket and a second bracket that is mounted in a crossing or intersecting orientation with respect to the first bracket, each bracket having a pair of ends, the first bracket engaging only a hub of the steering wheel frame or a support plate that joins the means for coupling to the hub of the steering wheel frame via a first pair of hinges, the second bracket engaging only a hub of the steering wheel frame or a support plate that joins the means for coupling to the hub of the steering wheel frame via a second pair of hinges, for pivoting of the brackets for engaging the steering wheel frame with the airbag module, wherein the airbag module can be driven exclusively in a direction parallel to the axis of rotation of the steering wheel;

and a means for securing the airbag module to the means for coupling.

2. The assembly of an airbag module and a steering wheel according to claim 1, wherein the hinges are located at the ends of the brackets.

3. The assembly of an airbag module and a steering wheel according to claim 2, wherein the brackets are connected by a resilient element that retains the ends of the brackets in position.

4. The assembly of an airbag module and a steering wheel according to claim 1, wherein the brackets are connected by a resilient element that retains the ends of the brackets in position.

5. The assembly of an airbag module and a steering wheel according to claim 1, wherein the two brackets are arranged substantially perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the steering wheel and are hinged at their ends.

6. The assembly of an airbag module and a steering wheel according to claim 5, wherein the brackets are connected by a resilient element that retains the ends of the brackets in position.

7. An assembly of an airbag module and a steering wheel, the steering wheel having a frame, the assembly comprising:

a means for coupling the airbag module to the steering wheel frame, the airbag module being moveable between a resting position and a working position corresponding to the actuation of a horn of the vehicle, the airbag module having a bottom with a plurality of legs extending therefrom, the legs provided with grooves;

at least one resilient member interposed between the airbag module and the steering wheel frame for returning the airbag module to the resting position upon activation of the horn;

the means for coupling comprising a first bracket and a second bracket that is mounted in a crossing or intersecting orientation with respect to the first bracket, each bracket having an end with a tab, each tab engaging the groove of one of the legs extending from the bottom of the airbag module thereby engaging the steering wheel frame with the airbag module, wherein the airbag module can be driven exclusively in a direction parallel to the axis of rotation of the steering wheel.

8. The assembly of an airbag module and a steering wheel according to claim 7, wherein the brackets are connected by a resilient element that retains the ends of the brackets in position.