Abstract: A connection between a shaft and a hub includes a straight bore in the hub, a plunger bore in the hub intersecting the straight bore, a straight end on the shaft matching the straight bore in the hub, a longitudinal notch in the straight end of the shaft which faces and cooperates with the plunger bore in defining a plunger chamber between the shaft and the hub, a plunger moveable back and forth in the plunger bore, and a spring urging the plunger toward the shaft. A hub side of the plunger chamber defined by the plunger bore converges with a shaft side of plunger chamber defined by the longitudinal notch. The spring biases an enlarged head of the plunger toward the apex of the plunger chamber.

Abstract: A motor vehicle steering wheel having a horn switch assembly including a module mounting plate on the steering wheel, a pair of horn contact plates attached to the module mounting plate in plug-in fashion, an occupant restraint module including a module base plate, and a plurality of electrically insulating plastic retainers. Each of the plastic retainers has a plurality of short legs received in keyhole slots in the module base plate and a plurality of long legs received in keyhole slots in the horn contact plates. When the retainers are twisted to locked positions, hooks on the short legs clamp the retainers to the module base plate. In the locked positions of the plastic retainers, the long legs cooperate with the keyhole slots in the horn contact plates in supporting the module base plate on the horn contact plates for in and out movement through a horn sounding stroke. Springs nested in the plastic retainers urge relative separation between the module base plate and the horn contact plates.

Abstract: A motor vehicle steering wheel having a structural frame including a metal hub, a metal rim, a hollow, thin-walled metal tube having opposite distal ends rigidly connected to the rim, and a thick-walled metal sleeve disposed around a center portion of the metal tube. The metal sleeve and the center portion of the metal tube are squeezed concurrently such that each defines an oval shape in cross section in a plane perpendicular to a longitudinal centerline of the metal tube and the metal tube is mechanically interlocked with the metal sleeve. The metal sleeve is resistance welded to the metal hub whereby the metal tube on opposite sides of the metal sleeve defines a pair of low mass, hollow spokes of the structural frame and the sleeve defines a pair of spoke bases whereat the spokes are rigidly connected to the hub.

Abstract: An inflatable restraint module mounting mechanism is disclosed for use in mounting an inflatable restraint module to a support structure such as the hub portion of a steering wheel. The inflatable restraint module is provided with a plurality of mounting members which are adapted to pass through and be retained within apertures in a support plate. The mounting members each include a slot for receiving a spring which traverses across the apertures of the support plate. The slots are preferably sized such that the mounting members are supported for limited movement in a direction longitudinal of the mounting members to permit actuation of a horn circuit. In addition, the springs are movable in a lateral direction to facilitate insertion of the mounting members through the apertures in the support plate.

Abstract: An inflatable restraint module mounting mechanism is disclosed for use in mounting an inflatable restraint module to a support structure such as the hub portion of a steering wheel or a dashboard, on a vehicle. The inflatable restraint module is provided with a plurality of pin members which are adapted to pass through and be retained within apertures in a support plate. The pin members are slidable through the apertures and include clip members for engaging the support plate to thereby retain the restraint module on the support plate. The clip members are formed of a resilient material whereby the clip members are adapted to bias locking members radially outwardly for engaging the support plate and to prevent the pin members from separating from the apertures.