Toyoda Gosei Co., Ltd.

Michael A Schorle

Peter L Vigeant

David Laird Geyer

Bryan H Stover

Joseph Mannino

Michael J Olesko

Darrell A Kellogg

Ronald J Misetich

A steering wheel assembly includes an armature having spokes over which a spoke ends of a steering wheel are molded. A back cover connects to the armature and the steering wheel. A trim plate snap-fits directly to the spoke ends of the steering wheel and to the back cover, without connecting directly to the armature. Because the trim plates are directly connected to the same two components with which the trim plates must provide proper fit and finish, proper fit and finish is ensured.

Trim plate for steering wheel

An example airbag housing assembly includes a base and an end cap. The end cap is positioned at a lateral end of the base. The end cap is configured to be fastened directly to a vehicle.

Airbag housing

An example airbag inflator manifold assembly includes a cap portion establishing a plurality of apertures that are operative to communicate flow from an inflator to an airbag interior. A baffle portion redirects at least some of the flow from the plurality of apertures. A mounting face extends radially from the cap portion and is securable to a flange extending radially from the inflator to hold the cap portion and the baffle portion relative to the inflator.

Airbag inflator manifold

An air bag module including a canister and a cover coupled to said canister. One of the cover and canister has a projection and the other of the cover and canister has an opening. The projection is disposed in the opening and engages the other of the cover and canister to restrict movement of the cover relative to the canister and create a frictional force acting to resist movement of the cover relative to the canister.

Air bag module with adjustable cover

A steering wheel subassembly with an armature and a clip. The clip has a first leg disposed in a first slot of the armature, a bend extending from the first leg, and a second leg extending from the bend. The second leg is disposed in a second slot on the armature and the clip is movable between a rest and displaced position. The clip partially obstructs a hole in the armature configured to receive a connecting part such as a pin. The clip legs exert a preload on armature engagement surfaces. The invention is further directed to a method for coupling the clip to the steering wheel armature as well as a steering wheel assembly having the steering wheel subassembly described above. The invention is still further directed to a configuration of a mounting bracket with an airbag subassembly adapted to be coupled to the steering wheel subassembly. The invention is also directed to a cover for the steering wheel subassembly wherein the cover and armature cooperate to define an access passage aligned with one of the clip legs.

Growing community of inventors

Saint Clair Shores, MI, United States of America

Michael A Schorle