Abstract: An electric power steering device provided with two belleville springs for suppressing the axial movement of a worm rotated by a steering-assisting electric motor and having shaft portions at its both end portions, and limiting members for limiting the deflection amounts of the two belleville springs. The limiting members are respectively disposed at portions along the outer circumferences of the shaft portions at both end portions of the worm, the respective inner circumferential portions of the two belleville springs are formed into flat portions, the outer circumferential portions thereof are respectively formed into tapered portions having a taper shape, and the limiting members are made contact with the flat portions, thereby limiting the deflection amounts of the tapered portions. Hence, the limiting members can be provided without increasing the size of the worm serving as a small gear.

Abstract: A vehicular steering apparatus includes a column bracket secured to a steering column; and a fixing bracket secured to a vehicle body. The column bracket includes a top plate and a pair of side plates. The fixing bracket supports the column bracket via a support shaft. A support-shaft through hole formed in each of the side plates of the column bracket includes a slot extended along a longitudinal direction of the steering column. A resilient member is interposed between the top plate of the column bracket and a confronting portion of the support shaft. The resilient member biases the support shaft along a predetermined biasing direction to restrict play of the support shaft in the slot.

Abstract: A vehicular steering apparatus includes a column bracket secured to a steering column; and a fixing bracket secured to a vehicle body. The column bracket includes a top plate and a pair of side plates. The fixing bracket supports the column bracket via a support shaft. A support-shaft through hole formed in each of the side plates of the column bracket includes a slot extended along a longitudinal direction of the steering column. A resilient member is interposed between the top plate of the column bracket and a confronting portion of the support shaft. The resilient member biases the support shaft along a predetermined biasing direction to restrict play of the support shaft in the slot.

Abstract: An electric power steering device provided with two belleville springs for suppressing the axial movement of a worm rotated by a steering-assisting electric motor and having shaft portions at its both end portions, and limiting members for limiting the deflection amounts of the two belleville springs. The limiting members are respectively disposed at portions along the outer circumferences of the shaft portions at both end portions of the worm, the respective inner circumferential portions of the two belleville springs are formed into flat portions, the outer circumferential portions thereof are respectively formed into tapered portions having a taper shape, and the limiting members are made contact with the flat portions, thereby limiting the deflection amounts of the tapered portions. Hence, the limiting members can be provided without increasing the size of the worm serving as a small gear.

Abstract: A vehicular steering apparatus includes a column bracket secured to a steering column; and a fixing bracket secured to a vehicle body. The column bracket includes a top plate and a pair of side plates. The fixing bracket supports the column bracket via a support shaft. A support-shaft through hole formed in each of the side plates of the column bracket includes a slot extended along a longitudinal direction of the steering column. A resilient member is interposed between the top plate of the column bracket and a confronting portion of the support shaft. The resilient member biases the support shaft along a predetermined biasing direction to restrict play of the support shaft in the slot.

Abstract: A vehicular steering apparatus includes a column bracket secured to a steering column; and a fixing bracket secured to a vehicle body. The column bracket includes a top plate and a pair of side plates. The fixing bracket supports the column bracket via a support shaft. A support-shaft through hole formed in each of the side plates of the column bracket includes a slot extended along a longitudinal direction of the steering column. A resilient member is interposed between the top plate of the column bracket and a confronting portion of the support shaft. The resilient member biases the support shaft along a predetermined biasing direction to restrict play of the support shaft in the slot.

Abstract: A collapsible telescopic steering apparatus comprises a steering column having an inner tube and an outer tube which are engaged with each other. The engagement state of the tubes is switchable between a press-fit state and a loose-fit state. Upon vehicle collision, the tubes in the press-fit state are slid relative to each other for shock absorption. For telescopic adjustment, the tubes in the loose-fit state are slid relative to each other to adjust the fore-and-aft position of a steering wheel.

Abstract: A vehicular steering apparatus includes a column bracket secured to a steering column; and a fixing bracket secured to a vehicle body. The column bracket includes a top plate and a pair of side plates. The fixing bracket supports the column bracket via a support shaft. A support-shaft through hole formed in each of the side plates of the column bracket includes a slot extended along a longitudinal direction of the steering column. A resilient member is interposed between the top plate of the column bracket and a confronting portion of the support shaft. The resilient member biases the support shaft along a predetermined biasing direction to restrict play of the support shaft in the slot.

Abstract: A vehicular steering apparatus includes a column bracket secured to a steering column; and a fixing bracket secured to a vehicle body. The column bracket includes a top plate and a pair of side plates. The fixing bracket supports the column bracket via a support shaft. A support-shaft through hole formed in each of the side plates of the column bracket includes a slot extended along a longitudinal direction of the steering column. A resilient member is interposed between the top plate of the column bracket and a confronting portion of the support shaft. The resilient member biases the support shaft along a predetermined biasing direction to restrict play of the support shaft in the slot.

Abstract: A collapsible telescopic steering apparatus comprises a steering column having an inner tube and an outer tube which are engaged with each other. The engagement state of the tubes is switchable between a press-fit state and a loose-fit state. Upon vehicle collision, the tubes in the press-fit state are slid relative to each other for shock absorption. For telescopic adjustment, the tubes in the loose-fit state are slid relative to each other to adjust the fore-and-aft position of a steering wheel.

Abstract: The present invention is a small, light-weight gas generator for a passenger air bag. The gas generator includes a housing having a diffuser shell and a closure shell. The diffuser shell includes a round portion, a center cylindrical portion extending concentrically from inside a peripheral portion of the round portion, and an inner cylindrical portion. The center cylindrical portion is disposed at the center of the round portion for storing therein a squib-enhancer. The inner cylindrical portion is disposed outside the center cylindrical portion to provide a combustion chamber. The closure shell includes an annular portion equipped with a center hole for receiving the center cylindrical portion, and a peripheral wall portion extending from the peripheral portion of the annular portion to the peripheral portion of the round portion of the diffuser shell. This peripheral wall portion defines a coolant-filter chamber and includes a gas discharge port and a flange portion extending in a radial direction.

Abstract: A small, light-weight gas generator is provided for an air bag for protecting a passenger from impact by introducing a generated gas into an air bag. The gas generator includes a housing having a diffuser shell and a closure shell. The diffuser shell includes a round portion, a cylindrical portion extending concentrically from the round portion and an inner cylindrical portion extending about the center cylindrical portion and extending from the round portion. The closure shell includes an annular portion having a center hole for receiving the center cylindrical portion and a peripheral wall portion extending from the peripheral portion of the annular portion. This peripheral wall portion extends to the peripheral portion of the round portion of the diffuser.

Abstract: An insert plate is formed by a base portion, a coupling portion and a mesh material. Notches are formed on both sides of a connecting position at which the coupling portion and the base portion are connected. Accordingly, a line which connects bottoms of the respective notches is defined as a position of a center of unfolding of an unfolding portion of an air bag cover. Since a plurality of slits are formed in the coupling portion to weaken the coupling portion, the unfolding portion can be reliably unfolded about the line for which connects the bottoms of the respective notches. Further, ends of adjacent slits are staggered to prevent a crack from spreading along the entire coupling portion even if the coupling portion is cracked.

Abstract: A horn switch for a steering wheel having an air bag device. The steering wheel includes a multilayer membrane switch as the horn switch in which spacers in one layer are not aligned with the spacers in the other layers. Accordingly, even when the membrane switch is depressed just over one of the spacers in one layer, the electrode plates in the other layers can make contact with each other. Thus the operable area of the membrane switch is enlarged. Further, the membrane switch is supported on its lower surface by a number of ribs which define a number of spaces between the pad lower surface and air bag device. As a result of this space, the operation on the membrane switch can be made resilient in spite of the provision of the air bag device directly under the steering wheel pad. Further, because each part of the pad separated by the air bag device upon impact, each part must be provided with a membrane switch.

Abstract: In a mechanical ignition type gas generator including a housing which consists of an upper outer shell container (diffuser) and a lower outer shell container (closure) fitted to each other in such a manner as to define an annular space for storing therein a gas generating agent, a priming charge, a cooling material and a filter, and in which said closure has a cylindrical space capable of fitting to, and storing, a cylindrical mechanical igniter on its lower surface and a plurality of caps ignited by an ignition pin of said igniter are disposed on the top wall of said space, a hole for communicating a priming charge room with the front surface of said caps is disposed inside said closure of said housing besides a cap hole for communicating the back surface of said caps with said priming charge room so as to prevent delayed ignition of said caps.

Abstract: An air bag apparatus is disclosed having a locking device which is adapted to prevent the inflation of a bag accommodated in an air bag body before the air bag body is mounted on a chassis, the bag being adapted to be inflated in front of a seat occupant when a predetermined acceleration has acted on the air bag body. This locking device is arranged such that an actuating member is driven by an operator's operation after mounting the air bag body on the chassis to release the locking device, thereby canceling a locked state and making the air bag body operable.

Abstract: An air bag device is equipped with a restricting member for preventing an air bag accommodated in an air bag main body from being inflated erroneously upon impact before the air bag main body is attached to a body of a vehicle inclusive of a steering wheel. This restricting member, only when a deactivating member for deactivating the operation of an acceleration sensor is in operation, allows the air bag main body to approach a designated attaching area of the body of a vehicle. After the air bag main body is secured, the operation of the deactivating member is released to the put the acceleration sensor in an operation activating condition.

Abstract: A pad covering an inflatable air bag for use in an air bag device provided with an upper wall which is broken by inflation of the air bag, and side walls which extend downward from the peripheral edges of the upper wall. A base insert made of metal is disposed next to the side walls, and a flexible net insert is connected to the inner surface side of the upper side of the base insert through the attaching plate. The base insert, the net insert and the attaching plate are covered by the coating layer made of soft synthetic resin. The net insert is connected to the attaching plate by means of sewing, and the attaching plate is fixed to the base insert preferably by rivets.

Abstract: An air bag device in which an internal acceleration sensor is prevented from operating a main body of an air bag device is mounted on a vehicle. The device is provided with a stopper for interlinking a fixing bolt for mounting the main body of the air bag device on the vehicle with a canceling screw for canceling the state of preventing the actuation of the acceleration sensor. Before the main body of the air bag device is threadingly inserted into the vehicle by means of the fixing screw and is thereby secure, the stopper keeps the canceling screw from being threadingly inserted.

Abstract: A mechanism for mounting an air bag assembly on a steering wheel. Before the air bag assembly is firmly screwed to the steering wheel, claws projecting from the air bag assembly engage with claws of the steering wheel so as to temporarily fix the air bag assembly to the steering wheel. Subsequently, the air bag assembly is screwed to the steering wheel, and the air bag assembly does not move inadvertently without being manually pressed firmly at the time of screwing, thereby rendering the mounting operation speedy and accurate.