Back to results
US 6,672,613 B2Granted
Vehicle steering wheel
AssigneeTRW Automotive Safety Systems GmbH
InventorPatrik Schuler
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The invention relates to a vehicle steering wheel including a longitudinal axis, a steering wheel hub, a holding member, and at least one latching connection. The steering wheel further includes a gas bag module which is connected via the at least one latching connection with the holding member and which is displaceably mounted in a direction of the longitudinal axis for actuation of a horn. The latching connection includes a one-piece spring element and a recess, which spring element snaps into the recess and connects the gas bag module and the holding member with each other to form a snap-in connection. In addition, the spring element moves the gas bag module back into a basic position on actuation of a horn.
Claims19
A vehicle steering wheel comprising:
- a longitudinal axis;
- a steering wheel hub;
- a holding member;
- at least one latching connection;
- and
- a gas bag module which is connected via said at least one latching connection with said holding member, said gas bag module being displaceably mounted in a direction of said longitudinal axis for actuation of a horn,
- said latching connection including a one-piece spring element and a recess, said spring element snapping into said recess and connecting said gas bag module and said holding member with each other to form a snap-in connection,
- said spring element moving said gas bag module back into a basic position upon actuation of the horn,
- said spring element having a first section providing said latching connection and a second section providing a restoring force upon actuation of the horn,
- said spring element having an H-shaped recess through which two sheet metal tongues are defined, said two sheet metal tongues extending into said recess and forming said first and second sections.
7 more elements
A vehicle steering wheel comprising:
- a longitudinal axis;
- a steering wheel hub;
- a holding member;
- at least one latching connection;
- and
- a gas bag module connected via said at least one latching connection with said holding member, said gas bag module being displaceably mounted in a direction of said longitudinal axis for actuation of a horn,
- said latching connection including a one-piece spring element and a recess, said spring element having a surrounding plastic sheathing,
- said spring element snapping into said recess and connecting said gas bag module and said holding member with each other to form a snap-in connection, said spring element in addition moving said gas bag module back into a basic position upon actuation of a horn.
5 more elements
A vehicle steering wheel comprising:
- a longitudinal axis;
- a steering wheel hub;
- a holding member;
- at least one latching connection;
- and
- a gas bag module connected via said at least one latching connection with said holding member, said gas bag module being displaceably mounted in a direction of said longitudinal axis for actuation of a horn,
- said latching connection including a one-piece spring element and a recess, said spring element snapping into said recess and connecting said gas bag module and said holding member with each other to form a snap-in connection, said spring element moving said gas bag module back into a basic position upon actuation of a horn,
- said holding member being constructed in the form of a cylinder and at least one window recess being provided on a periphery of said holding member,
- said spring element being part of a separate insert pressed into said window recess of said holding member.
6 more elements
A vehicle steering wheel comprising:
- a longitudinal axis;
- a steering wheel hub;
- a holding member;
- at least one latching connection;
- and
- a gas bag module connected via said at least one latching connection with said holding member, said gas bag module being displaceably mounted in a direction of said longitudinal axis for actuation of a horn,
- said latching connection including a one-piece spring element and a recess, said spring element snapping into said recess and connecting said gas bag module and said holding member with each other to form a snap-in connection, said spring element moving said gas bag module back into a basic position upon actuation of a horn,
- said holding member having an axially extending guide groove formed in a wall of said holding member, said guide groove facilitating insertion of said gas bag module into said holding member.
5 more elements
A vehicle steering wheel comprising:
- a holding member for fastening to a steering wheel hub, said holding member having a longitudinal axis;
- and
- a gas bag module connected to said holding member by a latching connection, said gas bag module being displaceably mounted for movement from a basic position in an axial direction for actuating a vehicle horn,
- the latching connection comprising a one-piece spring element, said spring element snapping into a recess of said holding member, said spring element moving said gas bag module into the basic position subsequent to actuating the vehicle horn,
- said spring element having a first section and a second section, said first section providing the latching connection between said gas bag module and said holding member, said second section providing a force for moving said gas bag module to the basic position subsequent to actuating the vehicle horn,
- said spring element having an H-shaped recess defining said first section and said second section, said first section and said second section being sheet metal tongues of said spring element.
3 more elements
A vehicle steering wheel comprising:
- a holding member for fastening to a steering wheel hub, said holding member having a longitudinal axis;
- and
- a gas bag module connected to said holding member by a latching connection, said gas bag module being displaceably mounted for movement from a basic position in an axial direction for actuating a vehicle horn,
- the latching connection comprising a one-piece spring element, said spring element snapping into a recess of said holding member, said spring element moving said gas bag module into the basic position subsequent to actuating the vehicle horn,
- said spring element having a first section and a second section, said first section providing the latching connection between said gas bag module and said holding member, said second section providing a force for moving said gas bag module to the basic position subsequent to actuating the vehicle horn,
- said spring element having a plastic sheathing surrounding said spring element.
3 more elements
A vehicle steering wheel comprising:
- a holding member for fastening to a steering wheel hub, said holding member having a longitudinal axis;
- and
- a gas bag module connected to said holding member by a latching connection, said gas bag module being displaceably mounted for movement from a basic position in an axial direction for actuating a vehicle horn,
- the latching connection comprising a one-piece spring element, said spring element snapping into a window recess of said holding member, said spring element moving said gas bag module into the basic position subsequent to actuating the vehicle horn,
- said spring element having a first section and a second section, said first section providing the latching connection between said gas bag module and said holding member, said second section providing a force for moving said gas bag module to the basic position subsequent to actuating the vehicle horn,
- said spring element being part of a separate insert pressed into said window recess of the holding member.
3 more elements
A vehicle steering wheel comprising:
- a holding member for fastening to a steering wheel hub, said holding member having a longitudinal axis;
- and
- a gas bag module connected to said holding member by a latching connection, said gas bag module being displaceably mounted for movement from a basic position in an axial direction for actuating a vehicle horn,
- the latching connection comprising a one-piece spring element, said spring element snapping into a recess of said holding member, said spring element moving said gas bag module into the basic position subsequent to actuating the vehicle horn,
- said spring element having a first section and a second section, said first section providing the latching connection between said gas bag module and said holding member, said second section providing a force for moving said gas bag module to the basic position subsequent to actuating the vehicle horn,
- said holding member having an axially extending guide groove formed in a wall of said holding member, said guide groove facilitating insertion of said gas bag module into said holding member.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.