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. 07, 2002
Filed:
Nov. 20, 2000
Daniel R. Sutherland, Eastpointe, MI (US);
TRW Vehicle Safety Systems Inc., Lyndhurst, OH (US);
Abstract
An apparatus ( ) for helping to protect a vehicle occupant in the event of a vehicle collision comprises a steering wheel ( ) including a steering wheel armature ( ). The steering wheel armature ( ) has a centrally located hub portion ( ), a circumferentially extending rim portion ( ), and at least one spoke ( ) extending between the rim portion and the hub portion. At least one inflatable vehicle occupant protection device ( ) is mounted on the steering wheel armature ( ). An actuatable inflator ( ), when actuated, inflates the inflatable vehicle occupant protection device ( ). The inflator ( ) forms at least a portion of the at least one spoke ( ) of the steering wheel armature ( ).