Method of manufacturing an integrated steering wheel

Abstract

The invention relates to a simplified integrated steering wheel assembly and a simplified method for forming the integrated steering wheel assembly. The integrated steering wheel assembly has a one-piece steering wheel armature and an airbag scrim. A cover is molded over a portion of the steering wheel armature and a portion of the airbag scrim. The airbag scrim forms a cavity for placement of an airbag and an airbag inflator between the airbag scrim and a hub portion of the steering wheel armature. The method of the invention includes use of a plurality of positioning pins and a vacuum force to position the airbag scrim relative to the steering wheel armature and mold during the possess of molding the cover over a portion of the steering wheel armature and a portion of the airbag scrim.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.