Autoliv Development Ab

Autoliv Asp, Incorporated

David Palm

Richard Lawrence Matsu

Akira Ueki

Raimund Nebel

Remi Baillivet

Yutaka Tsuchida

Jean-Bernard Tessier

Vern Phillips

A steering wheel unit for a motor vehicle. The steering wheel unit has a steering wheel and an airbag module () located in the hub area of the steering wheel. This airbag module forms a housing (), an airbag () folded into the housing, and a gas generator (). The airbag module can be pushed down against the force of at least one spring element to activate a horn, whereby positioning means are present which define the position of the airbag module in relation to the steering wheel. In order to achieve a high degree of operational reliability and a very exact positioning of the airbag module in the steering wheel, at least one retaining means () is present which acts between the airbag module and the steering wheel (). This retaining means is ineffective in the absence of outer forces and when the airbag module () is pressed down to activate a horn.

Steering wheel unit

An airbag module assembly is provided which may be used with a steering wheel unit that controls the gap between a driver airbag cover and adjacent steering wheel features. The airbag module assembly includes an airbag housing for enclosing an airbag in communication with an inflator. The airbag module assembly also includes an airbag cover that is coupled to a cover suspension module, which in turn is coupled to the steering wheel unit. The cover suspension module includes a biasing element disposed within a housing and a locating feature extending from the housing.

Airbag module assembly to control gap adjacent airbag cover

Growing community of inventors

Davisburg, MI, United States of America

David Palm