The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
May. 26, 1998
Filed:
Apr. 02, 1997
Steven P Donovan, Roscoe, IL (US);
Textron Inc., Providence, RI (US);
Abstract
A novel system and method are presented for slide-fitting an air bag module with a steering wheel hub by a snap-fit connection to quickly and easily assemble the components together. One of the components has fastener members releasably attached thereto and the other has holding members, which may be formed of U-shaped clip members or extensions, on opposite sides thereof, which fastener members and holding members are joined together to secure the air bag module to the steering wheel hub. Each holding member has a resilient portion which can be deflected and a double-radiused aperture therein for respectively engaging a pilot end on the fastener members when the air bag module is engaged with the steering wheel hub. Resilient mounting members are provided on one of the components. The resilient mounting members compress during attachment of the air bag module to the steering wheel hub and relax after initial engagement of the fastener members with the holding members to move the pilot end points of the fastener members into the smaller radiused portion of the double radiused aperture in the respective holding members to secure the engagement of the fastener members to the holding members, and correspondingly mount the air bag module to the steering wheel hub. The air bag module can be easily and quickly disassembled from the steering wheel hub by a qualified technician with the proper tool for service or replacement.