Mazda Motor Corporation

Ashimori Industry Co., Ltd.

Mazda Motor Corporat Ion

Kengo Nakamura

Daisuke Hirata

Kou Sasaki

Akihiro Kobayashi

Yoshio Shimazaki

Satoshi Nishikaji

Hiroyuki Taniyama

There is provided an airbag device being excellent in performance of protection of an occupant wherein a folded airbag () undergoes sequential and orderly expansion starting from a region where the expansion ought to be started. It is characterized in that a gas rectification member () for rectifying and guiding a gas generated from an inflator () up to the vicinity of a part of the airbag (), inflating in the initial expansion thereof, is provided substantially at the central part of the airbag ().

Airbag device

A steering wheel assembly includes an airbag module having an airbag; and a centrally-located steering pad housing said airbag module and includes; a deployment segment located around a peripheral region and adapted to be forcibly displaced by inflation of the airbag; and a stationary segment located in a central region and kept in its fixed state even when the inflation of said airbag. The stationary segment is provided with a manual operation section adapted to be manually operated based on rotational or sliding movements to control an in-vehicle device, wherein said steering pad has a concave portion formed on a surface of the stationary segment; and said manual operation section is disposed within said concave portion in such a manner that a lateral surface of said manual operation section is spaced apart from a lateral wall surface of said concave portion.

Steering wheel assembly with airbag module

The illuminator constituting an indirect illumination is provided on the driver side of the switch cover of the horn switch provided at the fixed portion. Specifically, the clear acryl plate is provided on the driver side of the switch cover. On the driver side of the acryl plate is provided the mask portion coated with black paint, while on its vehicle-front-side surface is provided the reflecting portion with coated white paint. The LEDs are provided behind the mask portion and inside the acryl plate. The mask portion constitutes the emblem of vehicle makers, and the emblem portion shines when the LEDs are tuned on. Thus, the visible function of the operational portion (switch cover), which is provided at the fixed portion can be improved.

Steering wheel equipped with airbag device

Growing community of inventors

Hiroshima, Japan

Kengo Nakamura