Steering wheel unit including air bag module

{
  "publication_number": "US5356173A",
  "country": "US",
  "kind": "A",
  "title": "Steering wheel unit including air bag module",
  "abstract": "A steering wheel unit is provided which includes an air bag module and a steering wheel having a metal core, and in which the rigidity of the posterior spoke portions is not reinforced because the module is fastened to the anterior spoke portions of the core. The steering wheel unit W according to the present invention includes a steering wheel 1 having three or more spokes S, and an air bag module M fastened to the fastening parts 8 of the right and left anterior spoke portions 3s(f) of the core and disposed over the boss B of the wheel.",
  "claims": [
    "1. A steering wheel unit comprising: a boss portion; a ring portion surrounding said boss portion; at least three spoke members for connecting said boss portion and said ring portion, said spoke members including right and left anterior spoke members which are disposed anteriorly with respect to the other spoke members, each of said spoke members having a metal core, the metal core of each of said right and left anterior spoke members including fastening parts, said fastening parts being provided solely on said metal cores of said right and left anterior spoke members; an air bag module fastened solely to said fastening parts of said metal cores of said anterior spoke members, said air bag module being disposed over said boss portion, said air bag module including: a bag holder made of a rigid material for holding an air bag, said bag holder having a bottom portion, and right and left brackets secured to said bottom portion, each said bracket having a fastening portion which is coupled with a respective said fastening part; said metal core of each of said anterior spoke members having a seat surface for contacting said bottom portion of said bag holder; said seat surfaces of said anterior spoke members being disposed over said fastening parts; and each said fastening part of said anterior spoke members having an opening comprising an open ended slot.",
    "2. A steering wheel unit comprising: an air bag module, including a main body and right and left fastening portions which extend downwardly from the main body, said fastening portions having fastening holes defined therein extending substantially horizontally therethrough; a steering wheel having a die-cast metal core defining right and left anterior spoke members, said core having fastening openings defined solely in the metal core of said right and left anterior spoke members, corresponding to said fastening holes and extending substantially horizontally therethrough; wherein said module is fastened to said wheel solely by bolts fitted in said holes and said openings, said core having seat surfaces disposed above said openings so that a peripheral surface of a bottom portion of the body of said module, which is located outside said fastening portions, is in contact with said seat surfaces; and said openings comprise open ended slots."
  ],
  "description_excerpt": "1. Field of the Invention\n\nThe present invention relates to a steering wheel for a motor vehicle and, more particularly, to a steering wheel unit including an air bag module.\n\n2. Description of the Related Art\n\nAn air bag module for a conventional steering wheel unit of the type having four spokes fastened to spoke portions of its metal core, is described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,819,205. Although the plane P on which the rim R of the steering wheel extends as shown in FIG. 4, it is desireable for the top of the inflated air bag 12 of the module to extend substantially vertically at the time of actuation so as to maximize the cushioning action of the bag. It is also desireable for the inflated air bag 12 to be controlled so as to move backward, not forward (toward the driver), while rotating about the axis of the boss B of the steering wheel.\n\nFor that reason, it is desireable for the rigidity of the anterior spoke portions 3s(f) of the metal core of the wheel, which support the ring R at the front portion thereof, to be relatively high and for the rigidity of the posterior spoke portion 3s(r) which support the ring R at the wheel portion thereof to be relatively low, to appropriately determine the rigidity of the ring, which supports the inflated air bag 12 along nearly the entire circumference of the ring.\n\nThe air bag is normally folded in the module. A cover made of a soft synthetic resin covers the folded air bag and an inflater is provided for supplying a prescribed gas into the bag to inflate it. A box-shaped holder made of a metal plate holds the bag, the cover, and the inflater.",
  "cpc": [
    "B60R 21/2035",
    "Y10T 74/20834"
  ],
  "ipc": [
    "B60R 21/20",
    "B60R 21/203"
  ],
  "assignees": [
    "Toyoda Gosei Co Ltd"
  ],
  "inventors": [
    "Suzuaki Hongou",
    "Shinichi Goto"
  ],
  "filing_date": "1992-10-28",
  "publication_date": "1994-10-18",
  "grant_date": "1994-10-18",
  "priority_date": "1991-10-28",
  "application_number": "US-96787392-A",
  "family_id": "26429700",
  "cited_by_count": 23,
  "citations": [
    "US3819205A",
    "GB2192841A",
    "US4974873A",
    "JPS63219449A",
    "GB2216477A",
    "US5024464A",
    "US5149127A",
    "US5056814A",
    "JPH02306847A",
    "JPH02310141A",
    "US5039125A",
    "DE4008960A1",
    "DE4111883A1",
    "US5066038A",
    "US5188000A",
    "EP0488618A1"
  ]
}