Steering wheel with integrated gas bag
AssigneeTRW Automotive Safety Systems GmbH
InventorsStephen Bohn, Ralph Frisch
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A steering wheel has a skeleton with a foamed sheathing, a hub, spokes and a steering wheel rim. A gas bag module is inserted in a central recess of the steering wheel. The gas bag module has a cover cap at the side facing the driver. For actuating a horn switch the module is movable in the direction of the steering wheel axis relative to the steering wheel. A movement gap is formed between the cover cap and the foamed sheathing. Mounting studs on the skeleton extend parallel to the steering wheel axis. The positioning of the mounting studs is defined by the foamed sheathing. The mounting studs have free ends which are slidingly accommodated in guide recesses provided in the cover cap.
Claims17
A steering wheel having a skeleton comprised of a hub, spokes and a steering wheel rim, at least said steering wheel rim and part of said spokes being provided with a foamed sheathing, and including a gas bag module accommodated in said steering wheel and comprising a cover cap, said gas bag module being movable relative to the skeleton for actuation of a horn switch, an apparent gap being formed between said cover cap and said foamed sheathing, one of said skeleton and said cover cap being provided with a plurality of mounting studs which have free ends projecting towards the other of said skeleton and cover cap, the other of said skeleton and cover cap having recesses aligned with said mounting studs for accommodation of the free ends of said mounting studs, and the positional relationship between said skeleton, said mounting studs and said recesses being determined by said foamed sheathing.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.