# US 12,179,682 B2 · Biased bag wrap for rimless steering wheel

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- Number: US 12,179,682 B2
- Document ID: US12179682B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 18/687,455
- Filed: 2021-09-02
- Published: 2024-10-24
- Granted: 2024-12-31
- Earliest claimed: 2021-09-02
- Assignees: Zf Passive Safety Systems US Inc.; Tesla, Inc.
- Applicants: Zf Passive Safety Systems US Inc.; Tesla, Inc.
- Inventors: Kurt Fischer; Aditya Mohanty; Clark Trusty; Christopher Baucher; Miguel Carlon; Scott Bentley
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12179682B2

## CPC

- B60R 21/203: in steering wheels or steering columns
- B60R 21/201: Packaging straps or envelopes for inflatable members
- 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)}
- B60R 21/21656: {Steering wheel covers or similar cup-shaped covers}
- B60R 2021/161: {characterised by additional means for controlling deployment trajectory}
- B60R: VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR

## Abstract

An apparatus for helping to protect a driver side occupant of a vehicle having a steering yoke includes an airbag mounted to the steering yoke. The airbag is inflatable from a stored condition concealed in the steering yoke to a deployed condition in which the airbag is positioned between the steering yoke and the occupant. The apparatus also includes an airbag wrap for packaging the airbag in the stored condition. The airbag wrap is configured to bias the airbag to deploy initially in an initial deployment direction transverse to a steering axis of the steering yoke through a deployment opening defined by the airbag wrap and a pleat formed in the airbag wrap and secured with a tear stitch. The pleat is configured to initially reduce the size of the deployment opening, which limits initial deployment of the airbag through the deployment opening. The pleat is further configured to rupture in response to increasing airbag deployment forces to increase the size of the deployment opening for further deployment of the airbag therethrough.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An apparatus for helping to protect a driver side occupant of a vehicle having a steering yoke, comprising:
an airbag mounted to the steering yoke; and
an airbag wrap surrounding the airbag mounted to the steering yoke and configured to bias the airbag to deploy in a direction transverse to a steering axis of the steering yoke.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The apparatus recited in claim 1, wherein the airbag wrap comprises a deployment opening and a pleat formed in the airbag wrap.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The apparatus recited in claim 2, wherein the pleat is secured with a tear stitch.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The apparatus recited in claim 3, wherein the tear stitch is configured to rupture in response to deployment of the airbag.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The apparatus recited in claim 4, wherein the pleat is configured to unfold in response to rupture of the tear stitch.

### Claim 6 (depends on 4)

The apparatus recited in claim 4, wherein the deployment opening is configured to increase in size in response to rupture of the tear stitch.

### Claim 7 (depends on 2)

The apparatus recited in claim 2, wherein the airbag wrap is configured so that the bias exerted on the deploying airbag diminishes as the airbag deploys in an initial deployment direction through the deployment opening to a point where pressurization of the airbag overcomes the bias and the airbag moves back toward the steering axis to a normally deployed condition.

### Claim 8 (depends on 2)

The apparatus recited in claim 2, wherein the airbag wrap is further configured to restrict airbag movement in directions other than an initial deployment direction so that the airbag wrap biases the airbag to deploy through the deployment opening in the initial deployment direction.

### Claim 9 (depends on 2)

The apparatus recited in claim 2, wherein the airbag wrap is configured so that the deployment opening is at least partially defined by an edge of the wrap configured to distribute at least a portion of initial airbag deployment forces away from an edge of a cover behind which the airbag and airbag wrap are stored.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The apparatus recited in claim 9, wherein the edge of the wrap at least partially defining the deployment opening comprises a scalloped edge.

### Claim 11 (depends on 9)

The apparatus recited in claim 9, wherein the scalloped edge comprises an edge that is curved inward toward a center portion of the cover.

### Claim 12 (depends on 2)

The apparatus recited in claim 2, wherein the airbag and airbag wrap are components of an airbag module, wherein the airbag module further comprises an inflator for inflating the airbag, and a retainer to which the inflator, airbag, and airbag wrap are secured, wherein the retainer is configured to be connected to the steering yoke to mount the airbag module on the steering yoke.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The apparatus recited in claim 12, wherein the airbag wrap comprises:
a central portion configured to cover the airbag;
a first wrap portion that extends from the central portion in a first direction, wraps around the airbag, inflator, and retainer, and is secured to a rear of the retainer;
a second wrap portion that extends from the central portion in a second direction, opposite the first direction, wraps around the airbag, inflator, and retainer, and is secured to the rear of the retainer;
a third wrap portion that extends from the central portion in a third direction, transverse to both the first and second directions, wraps around the airbag, inflator, and retainer, and is secured to the rear of the retainer.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The apparatus recited in claim 13, wherein the third direction is opposite an initial deployment direction of the airbag.

### Claim 15 (depends on 13)

The apparatus recited in claim 13, wherein the central portion and the first, second, and third wrap portions define the deployment opening and restrict airbag movement in directions other than an initial deployment direction due to their respective connections to the rear of the retainer.

### Claim 16 (depends on 13)

The apparatus recited in claim 13, wherein the second wrap portion is folded to form the pleat, and wherein the tear stitching extends through the pleat and connects the folded portions of the second wrap portion to the central portion.

### Claim 17 (depends on 13)

The apparatus recited in claim 13, further comprising fastener studs that extend through the retainer and through fastener receiving openings in end portions of the first, second, and third wrap portions to secure the first, second, and third wrap portions to the retainer.

### Claim 18 (depends on 17)

The apparatus recited in claim 17, wherein the fastener studs also secure the airbag and the inflator to the retainer.

### Claim 19 (depends on 1)

The apparatus recited in claim 1, wherein the airbag has a generally circular, pillow shaped configuration, wherein the airbag, in a normally deployed position, is generally centered on the steering axis.

### Claim 20 (depends on 1)

The apparatus recited in claim 1, wherein an initial deployment direction of the airbag is configured to be a lateral direction with respect to the vehicle.

### Claim 21 (depends on 1)

The apparatus recited in claim 1, wherein an initial deployment direction of the airbag is configured to be a laterally inboard direction with respect to the vehicle.

### Claim 22 (depends on 1)

The apparatus recited in claim 1, wherein an initial deployment direction of the airbag is configured to be lateral of an area on the steering yoke where an out-of-position occupant's head can rest.

### Claim 23 (depends on 22)

The apparatus recited in claim 22, wherein the airbag is configured so that deployment in the initial deployment direction directs deployment energy of the airbag away from an area on the steering yoke where an out-of-position occupant's head can rest.

### Claim 24 (depends on 23)

The apparatus recited in claim 23, wherein the airbag is configured so that deployment in the initial deployment direction causes an initially low deployment energy to be applied to the OOP occupant's head, causing an initial low energy movement of the OOP occupant's head away from the steering yoke.

### Claim 25 (depends on 23)

The apparatus recited in claim 23, wherein the airbag is configured to move back toward the steering axis to a normally deployed condition, which further moves the OOP occupant's head away from the steering yoke after the initial deployment energy is expended.

### Claim 26 (depends on 12)

A vehicle safety system comprising the airbag module recited in claim 12.