Trw Automotive Safety Systems Gmbh & Co. Kg

Trw Automotive Safety Systems Gmbh

John-Oliver Derrick

Ralph Frisch

Udo Bieber

Christian Lorenz

Ralph Neupert

Dominik Sch&uuml;tz

Dao-Xuan Phon

Volker Schuhmacher

Ralph Heindl

The invention relates to a method of producing a steering wheel that comprises a closed annular steering wheel rim and spokes, and further comprises a steering wheel skeleton as well as a sheathing therefore, the sheathing being one of a foam covering and a leather covering that surrounds the steering wheel skeleton. The method comprises the following steps: a) the one-piece steering wheel skeleton is produced, it having, in order to form the steering wheel rim, a closed annular portion the cross-section of which has an open hollow profile; b) a body that serves as a spacer is placed in the open hollow profile in order to almost completely fill the hollow profile, and; c) the steering wheel skeleton is provided with the sheathing at least in an area of the steering wheel rim. The invention further relates to a steering wheel produced by such method.

Method of producing a steering wheel and steering wheel

An assembly unit comprises an airbag module, a vehicle part, in particular a steering wheel, and a removable latching connection for attaching the airbag module to the vehicle part. The latching device has a journal provided with a recess and a locking element that can be moved crosswise, preferably perpendicular, to a longitudinal axis of the journal. The locking element is radially displaced towards the longitudinal axis of the journal when it latches in place in the recess. In the locked position, the locking element is prestressed towards a release position so as to move out of the recess.

Assembly unit including an airbag module

The invention relates to a gas bag restraining device comprising a gas bag module which has a gas bag with a front wall upon which an occupant to be restrained can impact in a case of restraint. The front wall has a depression which is produced in that a center portion of the front wall is attached to the module and is prevented from moving when the gas bag is inflated. The gas bag restraining device further comprises a module cover closing a ring-shaped outlet opening of the gas bag module. The module cover has a central hole which is covered by a cap which is stationary during opening of said gas bag module. The module cover has an edge defining the central hole and opens, preferably tears, towards outside starting from the edge. A holding connection is provided between the edge and the cap which is released when said gas bag module is opened.

Gas bag restraining device

The invention relates to a vehicle steering device comprising a steering wheel which has a gas bag module with a gas bag and a covering cap on a front side. The covering cap closes an outlet opening for the gas bag up to its unfolding. At least one of a display- and operating device is arrange in the covering cap. The outlet opening runs around at least one of the display- and operating device.

Vehicle steering device

The invention relates to a vehicle steering wheel, including comprising a skeleton, a gas bag module which is axially movably coupled with the skeleton in such a way that by pressing against the gas bag module a contact is closed for actuating a horn, and a resilient return element for the gas bag module. The gas bag module includes a gas bag with an opening edge defining an inflation opening as well as includes a flange clamping the opening edge on an inside of the gas bag for fastening the gas bag. Bearing pins are provided which directly engage the flange and which are attached to one of the skeleton and a part stationarily mounted directly to the skeleton.

Vehicle steering wheel

A method for manufacturing a cover cap for a gas bag restraint module, which cover cap tears open for deployment of a gas bag, contains the step of treating the cap at least region-wise physically and/or chemically such that its material in a treated region has a lower strength than in an untreated state. The treated region is a predetermined tear-open region for allowing the gas bag to unfold. A cover cap made of plastic for a gas bag restraint module has a predetermined tear region. The cap has a higher brittleness at said tear region than in a remainder of said cap.

Method for manufacturing a cover cap for a gas bag restraint module and cover cap

A gas bag covering for a vehicle occupant restraint system comprises a plurality of tear lines of which all are oriented towards one point.

Covering for a gas bag of a vehicle occupant restraint system

A gas bag module cover assembly, comprising a cover with a front side externally visible in an installed state of the cover and a rear side and comprising at least one emblem designed as a separate part and visible on the front side. The emblem is designed such that it can be mounted from the rear side, the cover having at least one opening through which a section of the emblem protrudes. The section is visible on the front side, and the emblem has a rear holding projection protruding laterally with respect to the opening and being attached to the cover. The invention further relates to a gas bag module equipped with such a module cover assembly.

Gas bag module cover assembly and gas bag module

A gas bag cover for a vehicle occupant restraint system has an inner side facing a gas bag to be covered and a wall thickness. The gas bag cover comprises at least one burst line being grooved into the cover from the inner side up to a predefined remaining wall thickness. The burst line comprises an initial point at which the remaining wall thickness has its minimum. The gas bag cover further comprises reinforcement ribs formed on the inner side of the cover, extending along a line which is tangent to the initial point of the burst line.

Gas bag cover with burst line

The invention relates to a vehicle steering wheel, with a switch movably mounted on the steering wheel. The steering wheel comprises a bearing for the switch, the bearing having a guide piece and a bearing piece that encloses the guide piece. The guide piece has a free end with a cone widening outwards towards the free end and transversely to a direction of movement of the switch. The free end forms an end stop in a non-actuated switch position and rests against the bearing piece.

A detent connection comprises two retaining parts, one of which is provided with at least one detent nose. The detent nose is designed such that on shifting of the two retaining parts relative to each other one of the retaining parts is arched by a force acting substantially perpendicular to a shifting direction before the detent nose latches in place. Further, a gas bag module is proposed which comprises such a detent connection.

Detent connection

The invention relates to a gas bag module, comprising at least one mounting part and at least one piece of fabric material which is stressed on activation of the gas bag module and which is provided with at least one opening. The gas bag module further comprises a force-transmitting device by which the piece of fabric material is fastened to the mounting part. The device comprises a first rivet reinforcing the opening in the piece of fabric material, and a second rivet penetrating the first rivet and connecting the piece of fabric material with the mounting part.

Gas bag module

An air bag module includes a gas bag with an inlet opening, an inflator having a pyrotechnic propellant and a flame protection. To provide an effective flame protection which is simply and cost-efficiently achievable and applicable to the various methods of folding the gas bag, the flame protection consists of a pot-shaped textile part of a heat-proof material, the bottom of which comprises a central recess corresponding to the inlet opening of the gas bag, and the rim of the central recess surrounds the inlet opening.

Flame protection for a gas bag

A steering wheel unit includes a steering wheel defining an x-y plane. The steering wheel includes a steering wheel carcass (,), on which at least two mounting surface areas (,), at least two guide pegs (,), and at least two interlocking openings (,) having rims and guiding surface areas (,) are provided. The steering wheel unit further comprises an air bag module (,) with an inflator mount (,) being fitted to the steering wheel in a z direction perpendicular to the x-y plane. The air bag module (,) is secured immovable relative to the x-y plane and relative to the z direction. The inflator mount (,) has recesses (,) and interlocking tabs (,) made of an elastic material with latching protuberances (,). The mounting surface areas (,) extend parallel to the x-y plane.

Growing community of inventors

Hettstadt, Germany

John-Oliver Derrick