A modular steering wheel and airbag combination includes an airbag assembly, a steering wheel assembly and a separate hub plate. The combination is preassembled as a unitary component which can easily be attached to a steering column shaft. A taper or wedge lock is formed between the steering wheel armature and hub plate. The steering wheel assembly includes a plurality of ribs or spokes extending from an upper rim portion of the steering wheel assembly and a ring portion connecting the spokes to provide structural integrity and support to the steering wheel assembly. The airbag assembly includes a retaining ring as part of an airbag component which provides easy and secure attachment of the airbag component to the hub plate. The inventive steering wheel and airbag combination comprises a structure for securing the combination to a steering column shaft. One embodiment of the structure includes a worm gear and complementary gear. The complementary gear may be a helical gear. In other embodiments, the combination is secured to a steering column shaft by rotating the combination to a predetermined stop position and inserting the locking bolt into the threaded bore and tightly securing the bolt. A method of securing the combination to a steering column shaft is disclosed. A method of forming and assembling a steering wheel and airbag combination is also disclosed.
申请公布号
US5692770(A)
申请公布日期
1997.12.02
申请号
US19950547493
申请日期
1995.10.24
申请人
BREED AUTOMOTIVE TECHNOLOGY, INC.
发明人
SCHARBONEAU, MARK E.;EXNER, GREGORY F.;DURRANI, SHERYAR;SHERMETARO, MARK R.;LECZNAR, MARK T.;DERSHEM, E. SCOTT