Morton International, Inc.

Autoliv Asp, Incorporated

Avibank Mfg., Inc.

Avibank Mfg. Co., Inc.

Tg North America Corporation

Merle K Ricks

Janiel Sorenson

John A Duran

Kevin W Booth

Roger T Lee

Javier Vargas

Jeffrey L Scharret

Peter L Vigeant

Gary V Adams

Howard W Hambleton, Jr

David A Stites

Kristen K Boyd

Scott K Osborn

Joseph J Mannino

Matt D Malone

This invention relates to a horn switch which is encapsulated in an airbag module cover by use of a reinforcing fabric attached to the horn switch. The encapsulation results in a firm retention of the horn switch when the airbag inflates, enhances actuation and feel when the horn switch is pressed by the driver, and simplifies manufacturing of the airbag module cover and horn switch assembly.

Encapsulation of horn switch in airbag module cover with reinforcing

A snap-on mounting attachment is provided for securing an airbag inflator module having a base plate to the steering wheel of a motor vehicle. The mounting attachment includes two fastener studs extending rearwardly from the base plate, each fastener stud having a yieldable holding barb. Two capture brackets are mounted to the spokes of the steering wheel, and each capture bracket holds a snap receptor in floating encapturement therein, i.e., with a limited range of lateral and vertical movement. The snap receptors each have a metal ring embedded in a polymer shell and define a stud receiving opening therethrough with the metal ring defining a lip engaged by the holding barb of the fastener stud. Bias stops between the base plate and the steering wheel take up slack in the mounting attachment and eliminate rattles, and the polymer shell of the snap receptors also minimizes rattles. The steering wheel and airbag inflator module have complementary covers, and the floating encapturement permits alignment of the covers.

Airbag inflator with snap-on mounting attachment

Snap-on mounting attachment and fastener stud for mounting an airbag

Apparatus for mounting a housing for an inflatable vehicle occupant restraint module to a vehicle steering wheel armature includes at least two snap-in fasteners for holding the housing in assembled relation with the armature. A resiliently compressible member is interposed intermediate the steering wheel armature and the housing to permit overtravel of the snap-in fasteners relative to the armature during assembly with the housing and to thereafter exert a force upon the housing to maintain a firm engagement of the snap-in fasteners with the housing and with the armature, and thereby maintain engagement between the housing and the armature.

Apparatus for mounting an inflatable vehicle occupant restraint module

The rim and spoke armatures of an automotive steering wheel are molded into a plastic body which presents to the driver an unbroken front surface. The plastic body of the steering wheel includes a cavity in its back surface which is closed by a hub plate attached to the steering column. The cavity and the hub plate serve as an airbag module and house the inflator and the folded airbag therein. The front surface of the steering wheel body may be scored, preferably on its hidden side, to form tear lines to release the expanding airbag.

Integral steering wheel and airbag module

A horn switch support plate for use with a membrane horn switch as part of a horn switch assembly for insertion into a horn switch pocket of a driver side airbag module. The horn switch support plate includes a generally flat, rigid base supporting the horn switch. A substantially continuous peripheral wall extends upwardly from the base, and peripherally encircles the membrane horn switch. The height of the peripheral wall is sized to be greater than the thickness of the horn switch to ensure that the horn switch will not be compressed prior to actuation by a vehicle driver. The horn switch support plate also includes four tabs extending inwardly from and generally perpendicular to four corners of the peripheral wall, each tab extending over, respectively, a corner of the horn switch to retain the horn switch within the horn switch support plate. A plurality of spaced-apart force concentrators extend upwardly from the base to ease actuation of the horn switch, and the height of each force concentrator is less than the difference between the height of the peripheral wall and the thickness of the horn switch. Alternatively, in place of the four tabs, the horn switch support plate can include four slots defined by the peripheral wall receiving the four corners of the horn switch.

Horn switch including a trapezoidal shaped membrane switch and support

A membrane horn switch wherein the two membranes sheets of the horn switch have first and second relatively large areas connected by a rupturable, strain relieving bridge member. The bridge members provide an area that is readily rupturable from a force provided by an inflating airbag cushion such that the bridge members can be appropriately placed over a tear seam of a cover of an airbag module in a motor vehicle. Each bridge member of the horn switch has a non-straight path so as to lessen strain fatigue and prolong the durability of the bridge member.

Rupturable strain relieving horn switch bridging member

A driver's side airbag module of reduced thickness includes a housing, a cylindrical inflator, and a folded airbag. The airbag is first folded into a rectangle and the ends of the rectangle are thereafter folded or rolled to lie between the periphery of the inflator and the side walls of the housing. The thickness of the resulting module is not substantially greater than the height of the inflator.

Compact airbag installation

An airbag module cover mounting arrangement. The module includes an inflator having a cushion mounted thereto. A cover partially surrounds and protects the cushion and inflator, and includes a decorative main panel and a hidden skirt. The skirt includes a plurality of mounting flaps extending therefrom. An inflator bracket is retained by the flaps, with the inflator held between the bracket and the cover main panel. A mounting flange is placed over the mounting bracket, and the flange includes flap hooks which hold the cover flaps in the mounted position, locked together with the inflator bracket. The flap hooks and mounting flaps include mating angled sections which force the flaps further into the locked position by camming action during normal assembly.

Cover mounting arrangement for airbag module

A horn switch pocket for use with a bend sensor horn switch as part of a horn switch assembly for mounting in a horn switch pocket of an airbag module. The bend sensor horn switch has a variable resistance circuit that is connectable to a horn control circuit and has a plurality of spaced-apart resistive elements. The horn switch jacket substantially encloses the bend sensor horn switch and includes a jacket front cover having a rear inner surface positioned in front of the bend sensor horn switch. A plurality of parallel, spaced-apart, elongated force concentration ribs extend from the rear inner surface with each resistive element positioned behind a force concentration rib. A jacket back cover has a front inner surface positioned behind the bend sensor horn switch. A plurality of parallel spaced-apart elongated support ribs extend from the front inner surface parallel to and offset from the force concentration ribs, so that each resistive element is positioned between two adjacent support ribs, whereby pressure applied to the front cover causes at least one force concentration rib to bend at least one resistive element about two adjacent support ribs. According to another embodiment of the invention, the horn switch assembly includes a membrane horn switch in place of the bend sensor horn switch, and the horn switch jacket simply includes a plurality of spaced-apart cylindrical force concentrators extending from a rear inner surface of a jacket front cover.

Horn switch jacket

An airbag cushion assembly including an airbag cushion, a cushion strap and a horn switch pocket for use with a driver side airbag module. The horn switch pocket is for mounting a horn switch assembly and is secured to a tether of the cushion strap. The cushion strap retains the airbag cushion in a deflated, folded position prior to mounting the airbag cushion assembly within an airbag module and prior to inflation of the airbag cushion. The horn switch pocket is positioned on the tether so as to be tightly located between the tether and a horn activation face of an airbag module cover of the airbag module. The horn switch pocket can be made from the same material as the tether and the airbag cushion, and the horn switch pocket is sewn to the tether. According to one variation of the present invention, an airbag cushion assembly is provided having an airbag cushion and a horn pocket sewn directly to the airbag cushion.

Airbag cushion assembly with horn switch pocket

An air bag inflator module adapted for quick action, snap-action, permanent attachment onto a support in a motor vehicle, such as a steering wheel. Installation of the module on the support requires the use of no tools. The module has a base facing and movable toward the support. A fastening system is provided including a plurality of quick action, snap-action type fasteners extending between the base and the support. Either the base or the support includes openings for receiving a first portion of the fasteners extended therethrough as the module is pushed into place on the support with a unidirectional thrust. Each fastener also includes a second portion permanently mounted on the other of the base or the support opposite the opening for supporting the first portion projecting outwardly thereof. A snapaction expandable holding device is provided on the first portion of each fastener for engaging an opposite surface on the base or support after insertion through the opening. Each fastener is releasable using an ordinary hand tool such as a screw driver for disconnection of the threaded first and second portions for permitting the inflator module to be bodily removed or detached from the support. Thereafter, the module can be reattached or remounted on the support again using an ordinary hand tool after reassembly of the disconnected first and second portions of each fastener and then pushing the module again into place on the support.

Air bag inflator for snap-action attachment to a steering wheel

A removable, snap-in airbag module mounting system for mounting an airbag module within a mounting recess of a motor vehicle. The system comprises a module housing of the airbag module and a hub plate in the mounting recess for supporting the module housing. A first mounting latch mechanism is secured to the module housing and has a biased, retractable latch that retracts to slide along a first upright of the hub plate and bias outwardly again to engage a first slot defined by the first upright. A second mounting latch mechanism is also secured to the module housing and has a biased, retractable latch that retracts to slide along a second upright of the hub plate and bias outwardly again to engage a second slot defined by the second upright. The engagements between the biased, retractable latches and the slots, in combination, secure the module housing within the mounting recess. According to another embodiment of the present invention, a mounting hook for engaging the second slot is secured to the module housing in place of the second mounting latch mechanism. According to an additional embodiment of the present invention, the first and second mounting latch mechanisms are secured to the hub plate and the first and second slots are defined by the module housing.

Removable, snap-in mounting system for airbag module

An airbag module electric component attachment includes protruding studs existing on the airbag module and typically fastening the inflator, housing, cushion and cushion retainer together, and stud reception openings provided in the electric component in which the studs are secured when the electric component is pressed thereon.

Airbag module electric component attachment using studs

An air bag mounting system for mounting an air bag module in the preexisting steering wheel air bag receiving pocket of a vehicle. The system includes a mounting plate having a plurality of spaced bolt assemblies extending therefrom receivable in a like plurality of aligned spaced holes in the pocket. The bolt assemblies are non-rotational with respect to the mounting plate and snap into the holes in a locking relationship. The module can be thus mounted from the access side of the pocket, automatically locked thereto, then released by unthreading of a threaded lock portion of the bolt assemblies from the blind side of the pocket.

Growing community of inventors

Layton, UT, United States of America

Merle K Ricks