Gm Global Technolgoy Operations, Inc.

Robert E Bowser

Janice L Woolley

Scott David Thomas

John Paul Sparkman

David P Schenck

John E Gordon

Peggy M Gossiaux

Robert E Huffman

Steven W Stukenborg

A common air bag module for the different spoke patterns of a vehicle steering wheel. The cover is configured with a cavity to fit over multiple steering wheel configurations. The common air bag module has common internals including a common cushion pack with chamfered corners on one side and a rounded side opposite the side with the chamfered corners and a common tear seam approach to enable styling flexibility with a plurality of cover show surface options.

Styling flexible driver air bag module and method of making same

An air bag module includes an inflator with a deployment side through which gas is expelled to fill an air bag. The inflator and bag are positioned in a canister having a deep recess. The air bag is folded in a configuration with a plurality of folded portions of the air bag stacked adjacent a side of the inflator and having perpendicularly bended portions of the folded bag in a bottom portion of the canister recess. The folded portions deploy sequentially so that only filled portions of the bag are deployed for interaction with a vehicle occupant.

Air bag module and method of folding an air bag

An air bag that includes a fold indicator to indicate whether the air bag has been properly folded within an air bag module. The indicator includes a plurality of marks disposed and spaced on an outer surface of the air bag in a predetermined pattern. The predetermined pattern is arranged such that when the air bag is properly folded the plurality of marks forms a folded pattern indicative of a properly folded air bag. The plurality of marks may be made from a material that is exposable by an x-ray such as a metallic coating. With such a construction, the air bag module, after it as been assembled, may be sent through an x-ray machine and examined as to whether the folded pattern of the marks of the air bag conforms to a standard pattern indicative that the air bag has been folded properly.

Air bag fold indicator

An air bag restraint system includes an instrument panel having an upper pad having a rearward edge and a lower pad having an upper edge. The upper edge of the lower pad is releasably connected to the rearward edge of the upper pad. The air bag restraint system also includes an air bag module mounted forward of the lower pad and including an air bag deployable in a generally rearward direction. Upon air bag deployment, the force of the deploying air bag releases the upper edge of the lower pad from the rearward edge of the upper pad such that the lower pad bends generally rearwardly and downwardly for permitting deployment of the air bag rearward of the lower pad.

Air bag restraint system

A driver-side air bag module is mounted to a steering wheel assembly mounting bracket having three mounting apertures. The module comprises a cover, an inflator and a base plate, which are assembled without using fasteners. The base plate has a plurality of arcuately-spaced mounting apertures and mounts three studs. The cover includes a plurality of mating flexible tangs having locking shoulders. The inflator has a peripheral mounting flange which includes three arcuately-spaced locking blades and a plurality of locking tabs projecting from its surface. The base plate has three mating openings each having an adjacent locking abutment. The studs are first staked to the base plate. The cover is assembled by inserting the tangs through the base plate mounting apertures so that the shoulders snap over to engage the base plate. The inflator locking blades are pushed through the base plate mating openings and twisted to pass them over the locking abutments. This traps the base plate between the blades and the mounting flange and abuts the locking tabs with the cover tangs, preventing their removal. Three inflator mounting flange slots receive the studs during assembly. The air bag module is installed by projecting the studs through the steering wheel assembly mounting bracket apertures, where the spring fingers snap into the stud grooves to prevent removal. The locking tangs, tabs and base plate apertures are unequally spaced, and the studs and apertures are unequally spaced to assure a predetermined orientation of the module when installed.

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Brighton, MI, United States of America

Robert E Bowser