US 7,118,124 B2Granted

Motor vehicle subassembly

AssigneeTakata-Petri AG

InventorsPeter Weis, Bernd Hasselbacher, Gunter Maierhofer, Frank Sauer, Gabor Palincas

Life of this patent

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Abstract

A motor vehicle subassembly including a steering wheel body and an airbag module is provided with the airbag module secured to the steering wheel via latching structure at spaced fastening points that allows removal of the module from the steering wheel body by releasing it at one of the fastening points. In this manner, the latching structureneed not be actuated at the other fastening points as well for airbag module removal. In a preferred form, an actuating element such as a spring member is provided for forming part of the latching connection between the steering wheel body and the airbag module. The latching structure can include latching elements at each fastening point having associated elastic elements such as helical springs for securing the airbag module with a prestress to the steering wheel body.

Claims19

Dependent claims

Motor vehicle subassembly comprising:

a steering wheel body having a main body portion including latching openings and generally extending in a lateral direction, and a hub portion generally extending in an axial direction transverse to the lateral direction,
an airbag module subassembly which can be fastened to the steering wheel body by means of a latching connection, and
latching means including the latching opening for fastening the module subassembly to the steering wheel body at at least two spaced apart fastening points,
wherein the latching means are arranged and designed in such a manner that release of the latching means at one fastening point enables the module subassembly to be removed from the steering wheel body, each latching means includes a portion that engages into a corresponding one of the latching openings of the steering wheel body in a direction of insertion which is generally parallel to or aligned with the axial direction, and
the fastening points other than the one fastening point are designed in such a manner that the latching connection can be cancelled there by a predetermined movement of the module subassembly relative to the steering wheel body if the latching connection at the one fastening point has been released.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 10/417,402Filed 16 Apr 2003
Priority: DE 202 06 310 U16 Apr 2002
Published: US 2004/0017068 A129 Jan 2004
Granted: 10 Oct 2006
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification4 codes

B60R 21/2035
In steering wheels or steering columns: using modules containing inflator, bag and cover attachable to the steering wheel as a complete sub-unit
B60R 21/2037
Using modules containing inflator, bag and cover attachable to the steering wheel as a complete sub-unit: the module or a major component thereof…
B60R 21/05
Padded linings for the vehicle interior ; Energy absorbing structures associated with padded or non-padded linings: associated with the steering…
B60R
Vehicle fittings and parts