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:
Apr. 02, 2002
Filed:
Jan. 05, 2001
Ford Global Technologies, Inc., Dearborn, MI (US);
Abstract
A steering wheel airbag assembly ( ) for a motor vehicle with a driver airbag module ( ), in which the module snaps into an aligned engagement with the steering wheel during manufacture of the steering wheel. The assembly ( ) includes an airbag supporting portion ( ) with a plurality of apertures therein ( ) and a driver airbag module ( ) attached to the supporting portion ( ) and having a plurality of legs ( ), each of which extends slidingly into a corresponding aperture ( ) being movable towards and away from the supporting portion ( ). Engagement barbs ( ) between each leg ( ) and aperture ( ) limits said movement and keeps the module ( ) and supporting portion ( ) attached. A spring ( ) between the module ( ) and the supporting portion ( ) spring biases the module away from the supporting portion ( ). A leg ( ) has a first pair of outwardly opposed surfaces ( ) that form a loose sliding fit with the aperture ( ), and a second pair of outwardly opposed surfaces ( ) that form a tight sliding fit with corresponding surfaces ( ) of said aperture in order to locate the module ( ) transversely on the supporting portion ( ) as the module ( ) is moved relatively towards and away from the supporting portion ( ).