Key Safety Systems, Inc.

Valerio Poli

Roberto Ridolfi

Adolfo Ridolfi

Lorenzo Menaldo

Andrea Amselmi

Andrea Anselmi

Luigino Gugole

A system () and a method provide for detecting the presence or the absence of a hand on a steering wheel () that is provided with one or more conductive wires (), and the system () includes a detection device () with an input circuit () providing an input signal () to at least one conductive wire (). The input signal () is an RF frequency electrical signal and an output circuit () is configured for sensing the impedance of the at least one conductive wire () or for sensing the inductive coupling between the at least one conductive wire () and at least one second conductive wire () in response to the input signal. The detection device () is configured for detecting a change in impedance of the at least one conductive wire () or for detecting a change the inductive coupling between the at least one conductive wire () and the at least one second conductive wire (), to indicate the presence or the absence of a hand on said steering wheel ().

Steering wheel hands on/off detection system

An assembly of an airbag module and a steering wheel of a vehicle has the airbag module moveable between a resting position and a working position, corresponding to the actuation of the horn of the vehicle. Advantageously, the retaining assembly drives the airbag module exclusively along parallel to the axis of rotation of the steering wheel, providing constant horn activation loads.

Assembly for retaining an airbag module to a steering wheel

The present invention relates to a steering wheel having a stationary hub mounted portion. The steering wheel has an armature with a hub and is coupled to a vehicle steering shaft. The hub is provided with an opening through which a coiled element passes. A non-rotating housing is assembled with the hub. The coiled element connects the non-rotating housing to a stationary component of the vehicle. The coiled element screwing or unscrewing itself to or from the hub via the opening when the steering wheel is rotated.

Steering wheel with non-rotating airbag

As improved airbag module retention assembly for attachment to a steering wheel has an airbag module housing having an airbag cover, an internally stored airbag. The airbag module housing has two pairs of attachment legs. A base plate assembly has a base plate with a pair of mounting brackets pivotally attached at ends of the mounting brackets to the hinge supports projecting from the base plate and being linearly movable relative to the hinge supports. A resilient member such as a spring returns the airbag module housing to a resting position upon activation of a horn. The resilient member is interposed between one mounting bracket and the base plate. The pair of mounting brackets are connected by a pin and a slot. Each end of a mounting bracket is attached to an attachment leg of the airbag module housing. Movement of the airbag module housing assembly is constrained to a displacement parallel to the axis of rotation of the steering wheel.

An assembly of a steering wheel with static airbag module has a rotor portion and a stator portion. A first gear and a second gear are at least partially superimposed. An intermediate supporting element is located between first and second gears with the gears directly axially coupled. An intermediate element has a portion that defines a path for the means for axially coupling said first and second gear to temporarily disengage them from the gears when a relative rotation between the intermediate element and the first and second gears occurs.

Growing community of inventors

Villa Bartolomea, Italy

Valerio Poli