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:
Mar. 14, 2000
Filed:
Jan. 12, 1998
Barry Christian Worrell, Centerville, OH (US);
James Jeffrey Simpson, Fairborn, OH (US);
General Motors Corpoartion, Detroit, MI (US);
Abstract
An electrical connector assembly is provided for an air bag module mounted to a steering wheel. The air bag module includes an inflator and an air bag mounted to a base plate. The electrical connector assembly includes a first connector and second connector for interconnecting the inflator to an actuation control circuit. The first connector is attached to the air bag module and the second connector is attached to the steering wheel. Each of the connectors include a channel and a throughbore extending longitudinally therethrough. An electrical terminal is disposed in each of the channels to provide an electrical connection between the connectors when mated together. The electrical connector assembly further includes a fastener, preferably a stud, extending through the throughbores for locking the first and second connectors together and attaching the air bag module to the steering wheel. The stud also guides and aligns the connectors of the connector assembly to permit hands free mating of the connector assembly during the assembly of the air bag module to the steering wheel. The first connector includes a plurality of legs that slidably engage the air bag module and a spring member for urging the first connector away from the air bag module to insure full engagement with the second connector which is mounted firmly to the steering wheel.