Slide-in and snap-fit air bag mounting arrangement

A system for a sliding, snap-fit engagement of a pair of components together, said components comprising an air bag module and a steering wheel hub, said system comprising:

• said components;
• at least one fastener member attached to one of said components and having a pilot end portion;
• at least one holding member provided on the other of said components and having a portion which can be deflected relative to said component to which said holding member is mounted and a double-radiused aperture therein for engaging an associated fastener member when said air bag module is engaged with said steering wheel hub, said double radiused aperture having a smaller radiused portion and a larger radiused portion;
• and
• resilient mounting members provided on one of said components for engagement with the other of said components, said resilient mounting members compressing during attachment of said air bag module to said steering wheel hub and relaxing after said at least one fastener member is engaged with said associated holding member to move the pilot end portion of said fastener member from said larger radiused portion of said aperture into said smaller radiused portion of said aperture in said associated holding member to secure the engagement of said fastener member to said associated holding member.

A method of providing a system for a sliding, snap-fit engagement of a pair of components together comprising the steps of:

• providing said pair of components, said components comprising an air bag module and a steering wheel hub;
• providing at least one fastener member attached to one of said components, said at least one fastener member including a pilot end portion;
• providing at least one holding member on the other of said components, said at least one holding member having a portion which can be deflected and a double-radiused aperture therein, said double radiused aperture having a smaller radiused portion and a larger radiused portion;
• providing resilient mounting members on one of said components;
• applying force to said air bag module to cause said air bag module to move laterally of said steering wheel hub to bring the pilot end portion of said at least one fastener members into engagement with an associated holding member;
• continuing the application of force and said lateral movement to compress said resilient mounting members and to deflect the resilient portion of said associated holding member, until each said pilot end portion is aligned with each said larger radiused portion whereupon said pilot end portion will enter said larger radiused portion and said resilient portion of the associated holding member will snap back to its undeflected position with said pilot end portion disposed in said larger radiused portion;
• discontinuing the application of said lateral force to permit said resilient mounting members to relax thereby moving said air bag module in an opposite direction to said steering wheel hub and disposing said pilot end portion in said smaller radiused portion to maintain said air bag module and said steering wheel hub in assembly.