Non-circular steering wheel assembly and airbag module
AssigneeAutoliv ASP, Inc.
InventorsMark L. Enders, Richard Welford
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The application provides non-circular steering wheel designs and steering wheel-mounted airbag housings, cushions, and modules for use in vehicles using non-circular steering wheels. The airbag housings and modules of the invention provide supplemental reaction surfaces to support an airbag cushion mounted on a non-circular steering wheel. Airbag cushions of the invention utilize the steering wheel, steering column or steering wheel shroud as a partial reaction surface to support an airbag cushion.
Claims16
A steering wheel assembly for a vehicle comprising:
- a non-circular steering wheel;
- an airbag module mounted to the steering wheel, the airbag module including an airbag inflator, an inflatable airbag cushion, and an airbag module housing;
- and
- a deployable reaction surface for providing or receiving a reaction force for the airbag cushion when deployed and inflated, wherein the deployable reaction surface is a component of the steering wheel, and wherein the steering wheel includes a flexible sheet for deployment about the steering wheel to provide a reaction force to an airbag cushion.
A non-circular steering wheel comprising a deployable reaction surface for a steering wheel mounted airbag cushion, wherein the airbag cushion is housed within a housing, wherein the airbag module housing comprises moveable plates, wherein the non-circular steering wheel includes two handles comprised of first and second handle portions that separate to deploy the deployable reaction surface.
A non-circular steering wheel comprising two handles comprising first and second handle portions that separate to deploy two deployable reaction surfaces.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.