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:
Feb. 24, 2004
Filed:
Nov. 20, 2000
Kirk W. Christiansen, Tempe, AZ (US);
Paul A. Bowers, Ray, MI (US);
TRW Vehicle Safety Systems Inc., Lyndhurst, OH (US);
Abstract
An apparatus comprises a vehicle steering wheel ( ) including an armature ( ). The armature ( ) has a base portion ( ), a circumferentially extending rim portion ( ), and at least one spoke ( ) extending between the rim portion and the base portion. The base portion ( ) includes oppositely disposed first and second surfaces ( and ) and a plurality of openings ( ) extending between the first and second surfaces. An inflatable vehicle occupant protection device ( ) abuts the first surface ( ). The inflatable vehicle occupant protection device ( ) comprises an inflatable air bag ( ) and an actuatable inflator ( ) for, when actuated, inflating the air bag. The inflator ( ) has a radially outwardly extending flange ( ). The flange ( ) includes a plurality of apertures ( ). A plurality of one-piece locking members ( ) secure the inflatable vehicle occupant protection device ( ) to the armature ( ). Each of the locking members ( ) has a compressible end portion ( ) that compresses radially inward to permit the end portion to pass through a respective one of the openings ( ) in the flange ( ) and through a respective one of the apertures ( ) in the base portion ( ). The end portion ( ) of each of the locking members ( ) includes a radially outwardly extending stop surface ( ) that engages the second surface ( ) of the base portion ( ) to secure the inflatable vehicle occupant protection device ( ) to the armature ( ).