T K Holdings, Inc.

Rivian IP Holdings, LLC

Gary Andrew Card

John Paul Ruterbusch

Jaime Fermin Perez

Thomas Wayne Messner

Spencer William Chavez

Jonathan McDonnell

Dennis R Rogers

Jeffrey William Morrell

Kristin Stephani Harma

A steering wheel assembly includes a steering wheel and an airbag module. The steering wheel includes a hub portion that has a hook member and a first bracket opposed to the hook member and having an access hole. The airbag module is pivotably attached to the hub portion of the steering wheel and includes a latch member and a second bracket opposed to the latch member and having an access hole. The latch member is pivotably attached to the hook member, and the first bracket and the second bracket overlap with each other such that the access holes form a port that receives a fastener.

Steering wheel assembly having pivotable airbag module

The present disclosure provides a steering wheel that includes a core assembly defining a body, at least one functional element wrapped about the body, and a cover arranged over the functional element. The cover includes a first end portion and a second end portion opposite the first end portion. The first and second end portions are joined and superimposed on the functional element at a notch such that the second end portion is positioned between the functional element and the first end portion. The functional element may be a heating element or a touch sensor. The steering wheel may include both a heating element and a touch sensor. In one form, the cover includes two zones and the notch extends along a diameter of the rim and/or along at least a portion of a front face of the steering wheel.

Steering wheel having a cover with a layered seam

A fastener for mounting an airbag to a vehicle includes a first fastening element and a second fastening element. The first and second fastening elements are configured to be positioned on opposite sides of an airbag panel. The first fastening element includes a protrusion configured to be positioned within an opening located in the second fastening element. The fastener has a locked condition in which the first and second fastening elements are locked together. A wall of the second fastening element forming the opening includes a recess configured to receive the protrusion when the fastener is in the locked condition. The second fastening element is configured to be rotated relative to the first fastening element in order to change the condition of the fastener to locked.

Fastener and fastening system for an airbag assembly

An airbag system including an airbag having a first section and a second section coupled to the first section. The airbag further includes an inlet coupled to an inflatable portion. The first section is configured to inflate between a trim member and a vehicle frame; and the second section is configured to inflate into a vehicle cabin.

Airbag with sections of different deployment lengths

An airbag module for protecting the knees of an occupant located in an occupant compartment of a vehicle, the airbag module configured to be mounted behind an instrument panel of the vehicle and including a housing; and an airbag configured to be filled with an inflation gas. The housing may surround the airbag. The housing may include two connected portions. The housing may also be configured so that when the airbag is inflated and deploys the two portions of the housing disconnect and the first housing portion bends downward into a position where the first portion forms a ramp to guide the airbag from a stored position into the occupant compartment. The airbag module may also include a mounting mechanism configured to mount the housing to the instrument panel.

Knee airbag module

A part of a distal end portion of an airbag is tucked into an interior thereof. A plurality of overlapping longitudinal folds are formed in first and second halves of the airbag, and the folded distal and proximal portions of the airbag are each folded substantially transverse to the longitudinal folds so as to form two compact fold bodies.

Airbag folding method

An airbag module assemblycomprises a module housingclosed by an airbag module door assembly. A panelforms an airbag module door' for release of an airbagupon activation of the airbag module assembly. Attachment membersare connected to opposing peripheral edgesandof the panel. In another aspect, a tear seammay be incorporated on an attachment memberadjacent the peripheral edgeof the door&#x2032;, rather than on the panel. In yet another aspect, slotswithin the attachment memberwith upwardly angled surfacesadjacent the edgeinterface with corresponding armsprotruding from the edgeof the instrument panel, which provides enhanced leverage for a smooth tear along the attachment memberand a smooth deployment of the airbag

Growing community of inventors

Macomb, MI, United States of America

Gary Andrew Card