Abstract: An assembly includes a housing (12) and a cover (20) that define a cavity (15). An air bag (22) is positioned in the cavity (15), and the cover (20) has hooks (46) that engage with the housing (12) to secure the cover (20) to the housing (12). The air bag (22) expands to absorb kinetic energy of a driver. The hooks (46) are energized into engagement with the housing (12) directly or indirectly by the air bag (22) as it expands.

Abstract: A climate-controlled hand grip assembly that uses one or more air jets or air channels directed at a tangent to an outer surface of the hand grip assembly. The outer surface may be curved and the air flow path may bend with the curve to provide a film of conditioned air along the outer surface that spreads beyond the point of origin of the air flow path. An exemplary embodiment of a steering wheel device with a rim and spokes is disclosed wherein the outer surface of the rim, spokes or both can be enveloped with conditioned air using a Coanda Effect.

Abstract: An information processing and display system comprising steering wheel (10) having a rim (12) and at least one spoke (14), and a plurality of sensors (102, 106, 108) placed about one or both of the rim and the spoke, each sensor selectively actuable due to the proximity of a finger, fingers, a hand or hands of a driver; and a processor, logic device or computer (120) in communication with each sensor and capable of detecting specific hand or finger movements corresponding to specific desirable functions.

Abstract: A steering wheel assembly (10) contains a dampening system for mitigating vibrations transferred from a vehicle to the steering wheel assembly (10). A plurality of damper spring elements or grommets or damper spring elements (22) are each retained within a corresponding steering wheel support member (330). An air bag module (14) is fixed to a steering wheel (18) while resting upon the damper spring elements (22) for eliminating and/or reducing lateral displacement/vibrations normally attendant to vehicle operation. A horn switch (16) containing a plurality of annular support members (76, 176) may be positioned over the damper spring elements (22), wherein each annular support member (76, 176) is coaxially aligned and positioned over a corresponding grommet (22) to also manage vertical displacement; the air bag module (14) is then fixed over the horn switch 16 and to the steering wheel (18). Movement of the airbag module can actuate the horn switch.

Abstract: A steering wheel assembly (10) contains a dampening system for mitigating vibrations transferred from a vehicle to the steering wheel assembly (10). A plurality of damper spring elements or grommets or damper spring elements (22) are each retained within a corresponding steering wheel support member (330). An air bag module (14) is fixed to a steering wheel (18) while resting upon the damper spring elements (22) for eliminating and/or reducing lateral displacement/vibrations normally attendant to vehicle operation. A horn switch (16) containing a plurality of annular support members (76, 176) may be positioned over the damper spring elements (22), wherein each annular support member (76, 176) is coaxially aligned and positioned over a corresponding grommet (22) to also manage vertical displacement; the air bag module (14) is then fixed over the horn switch 16 and to the steering wheel (18). Movement of the airbag module can actuate the horn switch.

Abstract: A climate-controlled hand grip assembly that uses one or more air jets or air channels directed at a tangent to an outer surface of the hand grip assembly. The outer surface may be curved and the air flow path may bend with the curve to provide a film of conditioned air along the outer surface that spreads beyond the point of origin of the air flow path. An exemplary embodiment of a steering wheel device with a rim and spokes is disclosed wherein the outer surface of the rim, spokes or both can be enveloped with conditioned air using a Coanda Effect.

Abstract: An assembly includes a housing (12) and a cover (20) that define a cavity (15). An air bag (22) is positioned in the cavity (15), and the cover (20) has hooks (46) that engage with the housing (12) to secure the cover (20) to the housing (12). The air bag (22) expands to absorb kinetic energy of a driver. The hooks (46) are energized into engagement with the housing (12) directly or indirectly by the air bag (22) as it expands.

Abstract: A system 300 for controlling vibratory motion in a vehicle steering wheel 20 prone to oscillate in a given direction due to extraneous inputs at one or more frequencies. The system 300 has a steering wheel 20 of the type exhibiting a vibratory motion along a defined axis at one or more frequencies, at least one sensor for sensing the acceleration of the steering wheel 20 along the defined axis and an active control mechanism responsive to the output of the at least one sensor. The sensor is an accelerometer having a movable first mass 70 and a solenoid coil 56 which when activated moves the mass 70 in a direction opposite to the motion of the steering wheel 20 and at the frequency of motion of the steering wheel 20.

Abstract: A steering wheel (102) having a hub portion (118), a rim (112) and at least one spoke (114) connected to the hub portion (118) and to the rim (112), the rim (112) having a groove and a surface of the steering wheel (102); a number of actuatable light sources located in or under the groove; light diffuser or lens (140) positioned in the groove above the light sources.

Abstract: A climate controlled steering device (10) for a vehicle including a hand control assembly (12) with air ducting (34), the climate controlled steering device (10) including a clock spring assembly (18) combined with a plenum (36) to guide HVAC air into the hand control assembly ducting (34) at a plurality of angular positions of the hand control assembly (12).

Abstract: A steering wheel (102) having a hub portion (118), a rim (112) and at least one spoke (114) connected to the hub portion (118) and to the rim (112), the rim (112) having a groove and a surface of the steering wheel (102); a number of actuatable light sources located in or under the groove; light diffuser or lens (140) positioned in the groove above the light sources.

Abstract: An information processing and display system comprising steering wheel (10) having a rim (12) and at least one spoke (14), and a plurality of sensors (102, 106, 108) placed about one or both of the rim and the spoke, each sensor selectively actuable due to the proximity of a finger, fingers, a hand or hands of a driver; and a processor, logic device or computer (120) in communication with each sensor and capable of detecting specific hand or finger movements corresponding to specific desirable functions.

Abstract: A system 300 for controlling vibratory motion in a vehicle steering wheel 20 prone to oscillate in a given direction due to extraneous inputs at one or more frequencies. The system 300 has a steering wheel 20 of the type exhibiting a vibratory motion along a defined axis at one or more frequencies, at least one sensor for sensing the acceleration of the steering wheel 20 along the defined axis and an active control mechanism responsive to the output of the at least one sensor. The sensor is an accelerometer having a movable first mass 70 and a solenoid coil 56 which when activated moves the mass 70 in a direction opposite to the motion of the steering wheel 20 and at the frequency of motion of the steering wheel 20.

Abstract: An airbag inflator (10) has an inflator housing (20) with an internal chamber (11); a pyrotechnic gas generant (8) stored in the internal chamber inside the housing (20) for generating inflation gases upon ignition; a strainer (50) with openings through which the inflation gases pass prior to inflating the airbag; a primary nozzle wall (40) positioned between the strainer and the gas generator; a plenum chamber (12) between the primary nozzle wall (40) and the strainer (50). The primary nozzle wall (40) has a plurality of nozzles (40a, 40b) with nozzle openings (42, 44) oriented radially about the wall which directs gas flow tangentially spiraling laterally onto the strainer while preventing the inflation gas from flowing radially.

Abstract: An assembly of a driver airbag module (102) and a steering wheel (104) having an airbag module including a housing (106) and a plurality of loop members (108) extending from the housing (106) and a steering wheel (104) having an armature (120) with a center or hub portion (122) onto which the airbag module (102) is attached. The armature (120) has hook members (110a, 110b, 110c), each hook member having a hook void (190). The hook void (190) is defined by a space above one or two base members (160a, 160b) and below a retaining member (180). The base member (160a, 160b) has a shallow ramped surface extending upwardly to an end wall and the retaining member (180) has a hook surface above the ramped surface and extending to the end wall. The loop member (108) is retained in the hook void (190) between the hook surface (186) and the ramped surface (168).

Abstract: An assembly of a driver airbag module (102) and a steering wheel (104) having an airbag module including a housing (106) and a plurality of loop members (108) extending from the housing (106) and a steering wheel (104) having an armature (120) with a center or hub portion (122) onto which the airbag module (102) is attached. The armature (120) has hook members (110a, 110b, 110c), each hook member having a hook void (190). The hook void (190) is defined by a space above one or two base members (160a, 160b) and below a retaining member (180). The base member (160a, 160b) has a shallow ramped surface extending upwardly to an end wall and the retaining member (180) has a hook surface above the ramped surface and extending to the end wall. The loop member (108) is retained in the hook void (190) between the hook surface (186) and the ramped surface (168).

Abstract: An airbag inflator (10) has an inflator housing (20) with an internal chamber (11); a pyrotechnic gas generant (8) stored in the internal chamber inside the housing (20) for generating inflation gases upon ignition; a strainer (50) with openings through which the inflation gases pass prior to inflating the airbag; a primary nozzle wall (40) positioned between the strainer and the gas generator; a plenum chamber (12) between the primary nozzle wall (40) and the strainer (50). The primary nozzle wall (40) has a plurality of nozzles (40a, 40b) with nozzle openings (42, 44) oriented radially about the wall which directs gas flow tangentially spiraling laterally onto the strainer while preventing the inflation gas from flowing radially.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a novel way of attaching two elements together to preclude free play between these elements. The invention finds specific application in securing a shift knob to a shift lever as well as securing a steering wheel to a steering shaft. The invention is applicable to many other product combinations.

Abstract: An assembly is provided for steering a vehicle including a steering wheel (18) with an armature (300); an air bag module (14) is coupled to the steering wheel and is operable to expand to absorb the kinetic energy of the driver. A horn switch (16) is coupled to the steering wheel and the air bag module. The horn switch is operable to generate an electrical signal based on an input from the driver. The horn switch includes a pair of electrically conductive elements (40, 42) operable to generate the signal.

Abstract: An assembly is provided for steering a vehicle including a driver interface operable to enable a driver to steer the vehicle and at least one control member operable to couple the driver interface to the vehicle. An air bag module is coupled to the driver interface and is operable to expand to absorb the kinetic energy of the driver. A horn switch is coupled to the driver interface and the air bag module. The horn switch is operable to generate an electrical signal based on an input from the driver. An attachment mechanism is operable to couple the air bag module and horn switch to the driver interface, and includes at least one retaining member operable to engage the air bag module and armature. The retaining member is operable to release the air bag module and horn switch from the driver interface upon the application of a retractive force.