Deflated Confinement Located Within Or On Steering Column Patents (Class 280/731)
  • Patent number: 8376398
    Abstract: An airbag and horn switch module, for use in a vehicle, is provided and includes an inflatable airbag cushion configured to provide restraint to the occupant, an inflator configured to inflate the airbag cushion, and a housing having a base and a plurality of walls extending from the base thereby forming a cavity configured to house the airbag cushion. At least one wall of the housing has at least one tab protruding therefrom. The module also includes a switch assembly including an electronic switch and an actuator, and a cover having a wall with at least one opening configured to receive the tab of the housing to thereby slideably couple the cover to the housing. The cover is configured to slideably couple to the housing prior to installation of the electronic switch by aligning the tab of the housing with the opening in the cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2013
    Assignee: TK Holdings Inc.
    Inventors: Timothy Michael Ullrey, James Ryan Fletcher, Sara Roberson, Patrick O'Leary, Joshua Thompson
  • Patent number: 8380363
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a remote control system for controlling a railway vehicle. The remote control system including a remote control device for transmitting signals to a first controller module. The first controller is mounted to the railway vehicle and controls and monitors the functions of the railway vehicle. The first controller module also relays information to the remote control device. The remote control system can also include a portable safety switch allowing any individual in proximity to the railway vehicle to send a stop signal to the first controller module to stop the railway vehicle if any unsafe conditions exist.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2013
    Assignee: Hetronic International, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark Ecton, Torsten Rempe, Max Heckl
  • Publication number: 20130038044
    Abstract: There is provided a steering device. The steering device has an airbag module that is disposed inside a steering wheel for steering a vehicle and that protects a vehicle occupant during a collision of the vehicle with another object by deploying an airbag body toward the vehicle occupant. The steering device includes a detecting unit that detects the collision of the vehicle with another object in advance; and an adjusting unit that positionally adjusts the steering wheel to a neutral position when the collision of the vehicle with another object is detected by the detecting unit, the neutral position of the steering wheel being a position of the steering wheel when the vehicle is traveling straight.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 19, 2012
    Publication date: February 14, 2013
    Applicant: Fuji Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Isamu NAGASAWA, Noriyoshi BABA, Tetsuya NAKASE
  • Publication number: 20130033023
    Abstract: A motor vehicle with an interior covering is provided, which is movable and/or deformable relative to a vehicle body, and with a safety device, which includes, but is not limited to an expansion body with an elastic diaphragm, which delimits a hollow space. The filled expansion body is arranged between the interior covering and the vehicle body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 3, 2012
    Publication date: February 7, 2013
    Applicant: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventor: Ulrich RICK
  • Publication number: 20130026741
    Abstract: Provided is a steering wheel in which, even in the case where a moving part of a horn switch exists in a space formed between a pad and a main body, harness can be prevented from getting caught in a gap. The steering wheel includes a first horn plate secured to the main body, a second horn plate secured to the pad, guide pins arranged vertically on the second horn plate and inserted through openings of the first horn plate, flange-shaped stoppers formed on the guide pins, an insulators disposed so as to be slidable along the guide pins, and coil springs that urge the insulators toward the stoppers. The insulator covers an outer periphery of the stopper and has a wall surface portion, the height of which is substantially equal to an offset distance between a fixed contact and a moving contact.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 18, 2012
    Publication date: January 31, 2013
    Inventor: Keisuke ONOHARA
  • Publication number: 20130015645
    Abstract: An airbag and horn switch module, for use in a vehicle, is provided and includes an inflatable airbag cushion configured to provide restraint to the occupant, an inflator configured to inflate the airbag cushion, and a housing having a base and a plurality of walls extending from the base thereby forming a cavity configured to house the airbag cushion. At least one wall of the housing has at least one tab protruding therefrom. The module also includes a switch assembly including an electronic switch and an actuator, and a cover having a wall with at least one opening configured to receive the tab of the housing to thereby slideably couple the cover to the housing. The cover is configured to slideably couple to the housing prior to installation of the electronic switch by aligning the tab of the housing with the opening in the cover.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 12, 2011
    Publication date: January 17, 2013
    Inventors: Timothy Michael Ullrey, James Ryan Fletcher, Sara Roberson, Patrick O'Leary, Joshua Thompson
  • Publication number: 20130001936
    Abstract: There is provided an occupant protection device. An air bag device according to the present invention protects an occupant against an impact caused by a collision of a vehicle by inflating and expanding an air bag body upon the collision, which is housed in a center pad of a steering wheel, the center pad being provided so as not to rotate along with the steering wheel, the air bag body having a first chamber and a second chamber which is configured to be expanded between the occupant and the lower edge of the steering wheel in the vertical direction of the vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 15, 2012
    Publication date: January 3, 2013
    Applicant: Fuji Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Isamu NAGASAWA, Noriyoshi Baba, Tetsuya Nakase
  • Publication number: 20130001935
    Abstract: There is provided an occupant protection device. An air bag device according to the present invention protects an occupant against an impact caused by a collision of a vehicle by inflating and expanding a head protection air bag body and a chest protection air bag body upon the impact which are housed in a center pad of a steering wheel, the occupant protection device including an inflation and expansion mode control unit configured to inflate and expand the head protection air bag body and the chest protection air bag body mutually independently in accordance with a collision mode of the vehicle, and to control inflation and expansion modes of the head protection air bag body and the chest protection air bag body when inflated and expanded.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 15, 2012
    Publication date: January 3, 2013
    Applicant: Fuji Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Isamu NAGASAWA, Noriyoshi BABA, Tetsuya NAKASE
  • Publication number: 20130001934
    Abstract: There is provided an occupant protection device. An airbag device includes an airbag that is stored in a center pad of a steering wheel of a vehicle and is expandable toward an occupant side upon a collision of the vehicle. The center pad is disposed to have a non-rotating structure independent from the steering wheel. The airbag includes a first extension portion and a second extension portion which are disposed at opposing edges of the airbag in a width direction of the vehicle and are expandable to extend toward a rear side of the vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 15, 2012
    Publication date: January 3, 2013
    Applicant: Fuji Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Isamu NAGASAWA, Noriyoshi Baba, Tetsuya Nakase
  • Patent number: 8342567
    Abstract: In an airbag-equipped steering wheel, a plurality of horn switch mechanisms assembled to a bag holder each have a securing pin, which is inserted into a corresponding one of through holes formed in a metal core. A clip is engaged with a locking groove of each securing pin, so that each horn switch mechanism is fastened to the metal core. The through holes include one or more normal through holes that restrict inclination of the corresponding securing pins, and a special through hole that has an inclination permitting portion. The inclination permitting portion permits the corresponding securing pin to be inclined about the corresponding clip 13 serving as a fulcrum. In the special through hole, the securing pin is permitted to be inclined about the clip serving as a fulcrum only when the clips are disengaged from the securing pin in all the normal through holes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2013
    Assignee: Toyoda Gosei Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kenji Sasaki, Osamu Hirose, Norio Suzuki, Hitoshi Iida, Yoshiteru Banno, Tomoki Okada, Masakazu Asano
  • Patent number: 8342570
    Abstract: An air bag system for a vehicle includes an air bag body formed by stitching base fabric material, an inflator that charges the air bag body with gas, and a vent hole that is a through hole provided in the air bag body so as to communicate the inside with the outside of the air bag body. The vent hole of the air bag body is formed to be slit-like and longer in a longitudinal direction thereof. The air bag body includes two base fabric pieces having overlapping side ends that are joined together, a tensile-force applying mechanism that applies tensile-force in the longitudinal direction of the vent hole, including a pair of V-shaped stitched lines bent in a sharply angled V-shape and formed on the side ends of the two base fabric pieces with a predetermined distance therebetween that defines the slit-like vent hole, and portions of the side ends aligned with vent hole along the gas discharge direction form a flow-passage restriction membrane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2013
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hitoshi Higuchi
  • Publication number: 20120326419
    Abstract: A knee airbag device includes a column cover that covers a rear end portion of a steering column from below; and an airbag module. The airbag module is disposed in a column lower cover and includes a gas generation portion that generates gas and a knee airbag that is housed in the airbag module in a folded state, and is inflated and deployed by the gas supplied by the gas generation portion. The airbag module is connected to the steering column by a snap-fit action.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 5, 2012
    Publication date: December 27, 2012
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Osamu FUKAWATASE, Kenji IMAMURA, Akiyoshi SANADA, Yuichi ADACHI, Kazuaki BITO
  • Patent number: 8336911
    Abstract: The invention relates to a safety arrangement comprising a module support (1, 10) for an airbag module (2) and an airbag module (2) to be installed in a steering wheel in a vehicle with at least two first and second horn contacts (3, 3?, 4) which are electrically isolated from one another in the installed state and can be electrically contact-connected to one another in the activation state in order to trigger an acoustic horn signal, with at least one of the first or second horn contacts comprising a plurality of horn contact sections (3, 3?) and the airbag module (2) being electrically conductively connected to the horn contact sections (3, 3?) when the airbag module is installed in order to complete the horn contact.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: Autoliv Development AB
    Inventor: Thierry Hondier
  • Publication number: 20120313357
    Abstract: An airbag device includes a mounting plate, a locking body formed of a linear material configured to be elastically deformed into a shape in which an intermediate wire portion and a pair of side wire portions are continuous so as to form a U-like shape, and a holding member holding the locking body on the mounting plate. Each of end portions of the pair of side wire portions is formed as an inclined portion for biasing, and a pair of auxiliary biasing members respectively configured to abut against the pair of inclined portions for biasing are provided in the mounting plate. The locking body is held on the mounting plate in a state in which the pair of inclined portions for biasing respectively abut against the pair of auxiliary biasing members to bias the intermediate wire portion toward a direction of being locked with the first mounting member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 17, 2011
    Publication date: December 13, 2012
    Applicant: ASHIMORI INDUSTRY CO., LTD
    Inventors: Naoki Yamaji, Nobuhiko Yoshii, Keita Yamauchi
  • Publication number: 20120306183
    Abstract: Provided is an airbag device mounted to a steering wheel in which a mounting member is provided in a protruding manner. The airbag device includes an airbag, an inflator configured to inflate and deploy the airbag, a cover that covers the airbag, and a mounting plate. A locking body configured to be locked with the mounting member is held on the mounting plate via the holding member. The mounting plate includes a recess that is recessed from a portion for mounting the inflator. The locking body is provided in the recess of the mounting plate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 17, 2011
    Publication date: December 6, 2012
    Applicant: Ashimori Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Naoki Yamaji, Nobuhiko Yoshii, Keita Yamauchi
  • Publication number: 20120306184
    Abstract: An airbag device includes an airbag, an inflator, and a mounting plate. A steering wheel includes a wheel main body and a core member as a central member. A mounting member is provided to any one of the mounting plate side and the core member side, and a locking body is provided to the other thereof. The mounting member includes a column part and a locking protrusion provided in a protruding manner to a distal end portion of the column part. The locking body is locked with an inner corner portion between the column part and the locking protrusion, whereby the airbag device is mounted to the steering wheel. A locking abutment surface of the locking protrusion, which faces a proximal end portion of the column part, includes a slip-off prevention protrusion that holds the locking body on the proximal-end-portion side of the locking protrusion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 17, 2011
    Publication date: December 6, 2012
    Applicant: ASHIMORI INDUSTRY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Naoki Yamaji, Nobuhiko Yoshii, Keita Yamauchi
  • Publication number: 20120292896
    Abstract: An airbag including first and second sheets joined along outer peripheral parts. The second sheet includes a plurality of base cloths. The plurality of base cloths are arrayed around the circumferential direction, and include overlapping parts where adjacent ends are overlapping. At least one of the overlapping parts includes unjoined sections that are not joined together, and the gas inside the airbag can be ejected through the unjoined sections.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 11, 2010
    Publication date: November 22, 2012
    Applicant: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Hitoshi Higuchi
  • Publication number: 20120292895
    Abstract: A steering wheel for an automotive vehicle comprising an airbag module and a detachable snap-fit connection for fastening the airbag module to the steering wheel includes a detent pin that is positively embedded in the foamed steering wheel cover of the steering wheel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 18, 2011
    Publication date: November 22, 2012
    Inventor: Dominik Schütz
  • Patent number: 8286766
    Abstract: A slider 24 is supported on a holder 19 of a steering wheel 11 via a coil spring 25 so as to be movable in a direction of an axis while an air bag module 20 is supported on a slider 24 via a damper spring 26 so as to be movable in a direction perpendicular to the axis. Since the coil spring 25 does not affect vibration of the air bag module 20 in the direction perpendicular to the axis, it is possible to set a spring constant of the coil spring 25 at a value appropriate for the operation of a horn switch 37, and to set a spring constant of the damper spring 26 at a value appropriate for the operation of the dynamic damper. As a result, it is possible to effectively reduce the vibration of the steering wheel 11 in the direction perpendicular to the axis with the dynamic damper without affecting the operability of the horn switch 37.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2012
    Assignees: Honda Motor Co., Ltd., Nihon Plast Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masashi Terada, Takashi Kondou, Takahiro Uesaka, Yukihiro Kunitake, Morimasa Asai, Hideaki Saitou
  • Patent number: 8267422
    Abstract: An airbag module for a vehicle occupant restraint system is provided. The airbag module comprises an airbag, a gas generator, a gas generator support, and a visible surface facing the vehicle interior in the installed state formed by different segments of the airbag module. At least two of the segments comprise optically and/or haptically different surfaces and are mechanically connected to each other by means of mechanical interfaces such that the mechanical connection between the segments is at least partially released when triggered by opening the interfaces so that an opening is formed in the visible surface through which the airbag can exit the airbag module. All segments contributing to the formation of the opening for the airbag by opening the interfaces when triggered are thereby directly fastened to the gas generator support.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2012
    Assignee: Takata AG
    Inventors: Frank Sauer, Steffen Weigand
  • Patent number: 8267425
    Abstract: An air bag system for a vehicle including an air bag in a folded state and installed in a vehicle. The air bag is inflated and expanded by gas from an inflator, which introduces gas into the air bag. A vent hole is formed in at least one base fabric piece of the air bag so as to establish a communication path between an inside and an outside of the air bag through which gas may be discharged from the inside toward the outside of the air bag. A blocking member is supported on the base fabric piece to block up the vent hole. A guide portion is provided to slidably support the blocking member and to restrict the position of the blocking member relative to the vent hole. A sliding resistance increasing portion is provided on at least either one of the guide portion and the blocking member, so as to increase a sliding resistance between the guide portion and the blocking member when the blocking member slides.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2012
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yusuke Chida, Makoto Nagai, Hiroyuki Nozaki
  • Publication number: 20120228855
    Abstract: A horn switch device installed in a steering wheel includes: an ornament including a biasing projection provided to project on a back surface side thereof; a covering in which a recessed portion and a through hole are formed, the recessed portion being configured such that the ornament is mounted so as to move to be pushed thereinto and return therefrom, the through hole being configured in a bottom of the recessed portion; and a switch mechanism turned on and off in response to press and return movements of the ornament. The biasing projection penetrates the bottom of the recessed portion and projects from a back surface side thereof. The back-surface-side projecting part of the biasing projection is engaged with a biasing member on the back surface side of the covering. The biasing member receives a pressing force of the ornament and biases the ornament in the return direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2010
    Publication date: September 13, 2012
    Applicant: ASHIMORI INDUSTRY CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Naoki Yamaji
  • Patent number: 8262127
    Abstract: An occupant protection device is provided for a vehicle, with at least one airbag module, which is entirely or partially covered by a fiber material, wherein the airbag module includes, but is not limited to at least one opening line. The at least one opening line is suitable for and/or designed for providing an opening function. The at least one opening line is covered with a tear-open region of the fiber material. The tear-open region in transverse extension over the opening line is designed homogenously.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2012
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Ulrich Rick, Thomas Jenny
  • Patent number: 8256797
    Abstract: A folded airbag is accommodated between a bag holder, to which horn switch mechanisms are secured, and a pad secured to the bag holder. The horn switch mechanisms are installed by being inserted in attachment holes formed in the bag holder. The pad has switch support portions for supporting the horn switch mechanisms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2012
    Assignee: Toyoda Gosei Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Koji Sakurai, Osamu Hirose, Hitoshi Iida, Kenji Sasaki, Norio Suzuki
  • Patent number: 8246075
    Abstract: An airbag module for a vehicle occupant restraint system is provided. The airbag module comprising an airbag and having a visible surface, facing the vehicle interior when installed, which is formed by different segments of the airbag module, wherein at least two of the segments have optically and/or haptically different surfaces. At least two of the segments each have at least one mechanical interface by means of which they can be mechanically connected to at least one of the other segments, forming a connecting area, and at least one of the segments forms at least one tear line, wherein upon tearing open the tear line in the event of deployment an opening is produced in the visible surface through which the airbag can exit the airbag module. Here the mechanical interfaces are designed in such a way that upon tearing open the tear line they endure and do not open.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2012
    Assignee: Takata AG
    Inventors: Udo Gaumann, Frank Sauer, Steffen Weigand
  • Patent number: 8235413
    Abstract: An airbag assembly for use within a vehicle includes an airbag, an inflator configured to provide gas to the airbag, and a housing configured to retain the inflator and the airbag in position. The housing includes first and second portions configured to be separably coupled together. The second housing portion includes a second snap mechanism for engaging with a first snap mechanism located on the first housing portion. The engaged housing portions surround and retain the inflator and the airbag in position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2012
    Assignee: TK Holdings Inc.
    Inventor: Stephen Lee Chapman
  • Patent number: 8215663
    Abstract: The operation efficiency is improved by enabling a gas rectifying member of an airbag device to be easily disposed in a folded airbag. An airbag in a folded state is accommodated around an inflator of an airbag device, and a gas rectifying member (12) for guiding gas is disposed between the airbag and the inflator surrounded by the airbag. The gas rectifying member (12) includes a retained portion (12A) retained, together with the airbag, around the inflator and a free-standing tubular gas-flow guide portion (12B) standing upright from the retained portion (12A), which are formed as a single part from a base fabric. The airbag is folded in a state in which the retained portion (12A) is retained inside the airbag. At this time, the gas-flow guide portion (12B) is less likely to be sandwiched between the airbag, because it is standing in the airbag.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2012
    Assignee: Ashimori Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshio Shimazaki, Kou Sasaki
  • Publication number: 20120169032
    Abstract: In an airbag-equipped steering wheel, a plurality of horn switch mechanisms assembled to a bag holder each have a securing pin, which is inserted into a corresponding one of through holes formed in a metal core. A clip is engaged with a locking groove of each securing pin, so that each horn switch mechanism is fastened to the metal core. The through holes include one or more normal through holes that restrict inclination of the corresponding securing pins, and a special through hole that has an inclination permitting portion. The inclination permitting portion permits the corresponding securing pin to be inclined about the corresponding clip 13 serving as a fulcrum. In the special through hole, the securing pin is permitted to be inclined about the clip serving as a fulcrum only when the clips are disengaged from the securing pin in all the normal through holes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2012
    Publication date: July 5, 2012
    Applicant: TOYODA GOSEI CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kenji SASAKI, Osamu HIROSE, Norio SUZUKI, Hitoshi IIDA, Yoshiteru BANNO, Tomoki OKADA, Masakazu ASANO
  • Patent number: 8210565
    Abstract: A decorative member can be readily attached to an airbag cover of an airbag device and attaching workability is enhanced. A decorative member 10 is attached to an attaching part 3 of an airbag cover 1, and engaging projections 13 of the decorative member 10 pass through through-holes in the airbag cover 1 to the back face 1B of the airbag cover 1. A holding member 20 is bent and pressed against the airbag cover 1 side, so that the engaging sections 21 are moved from a state where they are approached to each other between the engaging projections 13, to the direction in which the engaging sections 21 separate from each other. Consequently, the engaging sections 21 are inserted to engaging holes 13K to be engaged with the engaging projections 13. The holding member 20 allows the decorative member 10 to be attached to the airbag cover 1 through the engaging projections 13.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2012
    Assignee: Ashimori Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Naoya Hayashi
  • Patent number: 8205908
    Abstract: Inflatable airbag assemblies can be mounted on a driver's side of a vehicle within a steering wheel. A gap is formed between the airbag assembly cover and the steering wheel. Maintaining a consistent width of the gap can be accomplished with an airbag assembly that is bolted to the steering wheel by minimizing the number of components used to attach the airbag assembly to the steering wheel. A flexible airbag housing mounting bracket can be used to allow the housing and cover to be positioned and oriented within the steering wheel so that the gap between the airbag cover and the steering wheel is maintained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2012
    Assignee: Autoliv ASP, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard L. Matsu, Matthew D. Sneary
  • Patent number: 8201847
    Abstract: A safety arrangement includes an airbag housing, a cover and pair of horn contacts for actuating a vehicle horn. The airbag housing mounts to a steering wheel frame. The cover is resiliently mounted on the housing and spaced therefrom such that the cover may be depressed towards the housing to close the horn contacts. The housing and cover are hooked to one another for preventing subsequent disconnection of the cover from the housing upon release of the cover to open the horn contacts. A stop is mounted to one of the cover and the housing for movement between a operable position, in which the stop arrests relative movement of the cover and housing towards one another so as to prevent un-hooking of the cover from the housing, and an assembly position, in which the cover may be depressed sufficiently far towards the housing to allow un-hooking of the cover from the housing and consequent disconnection of the housing and cover upon release of the cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2012
    Assignee: Autoliv Development AB
    Inventors: Thierry Hondier, Rémi Baillivet, Fréderic Langlois, Samuel Vanzieleghem, Jérome Bertrand
  • Patent number: 8196953
    Abstract: A film plate for an airbag cover is provided. The film plate is pre-formed by deep-drawing or embossing and is directly, without reinforcing elements, attachable to the airbag cover by mechanical connecting elements. The airbag cover has, at the location of the film plate, at least a partial support for the film plate and the film plate has an embossed structure on its lower side, which is visible on the upper side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2012
    Assignee: Takata-Petri AG
    Inventors: Steffen Weigand, Frank Sauer
  • Publication number: 20120104736
    Abstract: A driver airbag apparatus for a vehicle may include a housing having a portion configured to be open when a vehicle collision occurs, a retainer ring installed in the housing, an inflator fastened to the retainer ring, an airbag cushion to be deployed towards a driver by a gas supplied from the inflator thereinto when the vehicle collision occurs, and a control unit guiding the airbag cushion such that when the vehicle collision occurs while the driver may be in a chin-on-rim position, some of a force of deploying the airbag cushion may be applied to the airbag cushion in a direction opposite to a direction in which the airbag cushion may be deployed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2011
    Publication date: May 3, 2012
    Applicant: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventor: Eung Joo Kim
  • Publication number: 20120080870
    Abstract: A steering wheel for a motor vehicle having an airbag module arranged thereon as well as horn contacts arranged on the steering wheel and/or on the airbag module, which can be brought into electric contact with each other in order to activate an acoustic horn signal with the steering wheel installed in a motor vehicle . The horn contacts (13) consist of a conducting sheet (15), which can be mounted by means of an adhesive layer (16) on a substrate formed by the airbag module (10) or the steering wheel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 27, 2010
    Publication date: April 5, 2012
    Inventors: Raimund Nebel, Jürgen MacKensen, Karl Binknus
  • Patent number: 8140227
    Abstract: A vehicle airbag device provided in a steering apparatus, wherein the steering apparatus is configured with grips positioned on the right and left sides but are not positioned on an upper side. An airbag, installed at the center of the steering apparatus, is configured to deploy toward the driver when a vehicle collision occurs. An electronic control unit controls an inflation pressure of the airbag to be increased when the steering angle detected by a steering angle sensor is less than or equal to a predetermined reference angle, as compared to when the steering angle detected by the steering angle sensor exceeds the predetermined reference angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2012
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kenji Imamura, Etsuo Shimizu, Shigeru Washino
  • Patent number: 8132826
    Abstract: An airbag is disclosed that comprises a first fabric layer, a second fabric layer, and an adhesive. The first and second fabric layers are coated with silicone elastomer coatings. The adhesive is a heat-cured silicone adhesive, and forms a seam-bond between the first and second layers such that a bag-like structure is created.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2012
    Assignee: Highland Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael Schindzielorz
  • Patent number: 8128124
    Abstract: There is provided an airbag cushion which is configured to allow the joint between a distal end portion of a lid member and the airbag cushion by a separable joint member to be released easily and rapidly as a whole, and is able to be inflatable rapidly and substantially uniformly as a whole, and an airbag apparatus having the airbag cushion. A rear panel 14 of an airbag cushion 10 is provided with a vent hole 18 which communicates the interior and the exterior of the airbag cushion 10, and the vent hole 18 is covered with a lid member 60 from the inside of the airbag cushion 10. A distal end portion of the lid member 60 and portions of the front panel 12 and the rear panel 14 of the airbag cushion 10 overlapped with the distal end portion of the lid member 60 are releasably joined by a tear seam 70.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2012
    Assignee: Takata Corporation
    Inventor: Kazuhiro Abe
  • Patent number: 8128122
    Abstract: A knee airbag device and a drive motor for an electric power steering device are mounted to a steering column so as to achieve improved mass balance about an instrument panel reinforcement member. A drive motor for an electric power steering device is mounted at a position at the vehicle front direction side with respect to an instrument panel reinforcement member, the opposite side to the side of a knee airbag device. Namely, the knee airbag device is mounted at the vehicle rear direction side with respect to the instrument panel reinforcement member, and the electric power steering device is mounted at the vehicle front direction side of the instrument panel reinforcement member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2012
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Osamu Fukawatase, Kenji Imamura, Akiyoshi Sanada
  • Patent number: 8113540
    Abstract: A driver airbag assembly may include an airbag cover including a switch insert hole, a cushion module provided in back of the airbag cover and engaged with the airbag cover, a mounting plate coupled to the airbag cover in the back thereof to support a rear end portion of the cushion module between the airbag cover and the mounting plate, and having a wing which extends laterally, and a remote control switch unit having a main body disposed between the airbag cover and the mounting plate, a switch part disposed in the main body and exposed to outside of the airbag cover through the switch insert hole, and a subsidiary body interposed and secured between the main body and the wing of the mounting plate and slidable laterally along the main body to be removable from a predetermined position of the main body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2012
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventor: Byung Woo No
  • Patent number: 8104792
    Abstract: There is provided an airbag device being excellent in performance of protection of an occupant wherein a folded airbag (10) undergoes sequential and orderly expansion starting from a region where the expansion ought to be started. It is characterized in that a gas rectification member (12?) for rectifying and guiding a gas generated from an inflator (30) up to the vicinity of a part of the airbag (10), inflating in the initial stage of the expansion thereof, is provided substantially at the central part of the airbag (10).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2012
    Assignee: Ashimori Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Taniyama, Yoshio Shimazaki, Kou Sasaki
  • Patent number: 8091919
    Abstract: A cover for an airbag module includes at least a first layer, a second layer, and a third layer. The first layer includes a predefined tear line and the third layer is configured to face into a passenger compartment of a vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2012
    Assignee: TK Holdings Inc.
    Inventor: Paul George Maertens
  • Patent number: 8087691
    Abstract: A steering wheel unit for a motor vehicle. The steering wheel unit has a steering wheel and an airbag module (30) located in the hub area of the steering wheel. This airbag module forms a housing (32), an airbag (52) folded into the housing, and a gas generator (54). The airbag module can be pushed down against the force of at least one spring element to activate a horn, whereby positioning means are present which define the position of the airbag module in relation to the steering wheel. In order to achieve a high degree of operational reliability and a very exact positioning of the airbag module in the steering wheel, at least one retaining means (28;38,68) is present which acts between the airbag module and the steering wheel (28;38,68). This retaining means is ineffective in the absence of outer forces and when the airbag module (30) is pressed down to activate a horn.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2012
    Assignee: Autoliv Development AB
    Inventors: Raimund Nebel, Remi Baillivet, David Palm, Yutaka Tsuchida, Akira Ueki, Richard Lawrence Matsu, Jean-Bernard Tessier
  • Patent number: 8079615
    Abstract: A vehicle steering device includes a rotatable steering handle including grips lying on left and right sides of the steering handle in a straight-ahead driving position with a non-grip space left on at least one of upper and lower sides of the steering handle; and an airbag provided in the steering handle that is deployed between the steering handle and a driver to restrain the driver in the event of a collision. The steering handle includes a support unit movable from a stowed position to an operative position on the vehicle's forward side from a reference plane including a rotating trajectory of a portion of the steering handle normally facing the driver. The support unit supports the rear surface of the airbag deployed in the non-grip space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2011
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Seiji Tanaka
  • Publication number: 20110285118
    Abstract: A front airbag for a road vehicle; the front airbag having: a stowage compartment formed in a front portion of the dashboard of the road vehicle; a bag normally deflated and folded inside the stowage compartment; and a generator which is housed inside the stowage compartment, is connected to the bag, and inflates the bag in the event of collision; the inflated bag has a longitudinal depth that decreases substantially in a thrust direction perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the road vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 28, 2008
    Publication date: November 24, 2011
    Applicant: Ferrari S.p.A.
    Inventors: Michela Bruzzone, Veniero Pizzagalli
  • Patent number: 8056922
    Abstract: The invention has the object of increasing workability of an attachment operation of a knee airbag module of a column-mounted knee airbag device. When fixing a knee airbag module to a lower portion outer peripheral surface of a steering column, it is possible to perform the fixing from a vehicle upper side and a vehicle rear side of the steering column, using a space between an instrument panel (interior member) at a vehicle upper side of the steering column and a combination switch provided at a rear end side of the steering column. Accordingly, when performing an attachment operation of the knee airbag module to the steering column, an operator does not have to enter from a lower side of the steering column.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2011
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tetsu Mitsuo, Akiyoshi Sanada
  • Patent number: 8056925
    Abstract: Rapidly constraining the knees of a driver, even for a steering column structure with plural obstructions projecting below the rear end side of the steering column, while also suppressing or preventing any detriment to column collapse operation during a frontal collision; the steering column is fixed to the vehicle body side with a lower bracket, an upper bracket and a housing, and a combination switch is disposed at the rear end side of an inner tube; lower portions are disposed in a state so as to protrude below a column tube and face each other, so that an airbag module is installed in an installation space between the two portions; a module case is manufactured from a fabric, and the airbag module is attached at a position in the vicinity of the combination switch through a rear attachment bracket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2011
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Osamu Fukawatase, Kenji Imamura, Akiyoshi Sanada
  • Publication number: 20110272930
    Abstract: A steering system for allowing an operator to control the direction of travel of a vehicle propelled on wheels. The steering system comprises a steering input device configured to include a handle pivotally coupled to a linkage assembly configured to swivel, wherein the handle is configured to move in the fore and aft direction, wherein the steering input device generates input data based on the position of the linkage assembly and/or the handle. The steering system further comprises a communication device to communicate the input data received by the steering input device to a lower steering system, wherein the lower steering system is configured to receive the input data from the steering input device and control the direction of the wheels based on the input data received.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 6, 2011
    Publication date: November 10, 2011
    Inventors: Jason Carl LISSEMAN, Steve Pasteiner, Jerome Bosch, Valerie Gardner
  • Patent number: 8047561
    Abstract: A cover for an inflatable airbag that is configured to restrain a vehicle occupant in a motor vehicle. The airbag cover is arranged to cover the airbag on a side facing a vehicle interior. The airbag has an opening region configured to form an orifice during deployment of the airbag so that the airbag is deployed through the orifice of the airbag cover and into the vehicle interior. The airbag cover includes a first portion and a second portion. The first portion includes a more dimensionally stable material than the second portion. The second portion includes the opening region, which is configured to tear open and form the orifice for the airbag during deployment. The first portion includes the orifice, which is delimited by a sidewall and is covered by the opening region of the second portion. The sidewall is configured to guide the deploying airbag to the opening region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2011
    Assignee: Takata-Petri AG
    Inventors: Günter Kraus, Wolfgang Guretzki, Stefan Bahmer
  • Patent number: 8047563
    Abstract: First and second panels of air bag material are secured to one another with at least one seam defining a portion of a perimeter of a cavity bounded by the first and second panels, which is open along at least one unseamed portion extending along the first and second panels between endpoints of at least one seam. An opening in the second panel receives an end portion of an air bag inflator. Inflation gas generated by the air bag inflator is discharged into the air bag through the at least one unseamed portion, at least one of which is oriented downwards when installed in a vehicle. An air bag module cover incorporates first and second laterally opening door portions and a lower downward opening door portion that provide for a downward and outward initial deployment of the air bag.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2011
    Assignee: TK Holdings Inc.
    Inventor: Vivekananda S. Maripudi
  • Patent number: RE43413
    Abstract: A steering device is configured for a vehicle, which includes a steering column, a steering-wheel hub and a steering wheel, the steering-wheel hub including an openable cover, behind which an airbag module containing a gas generator and an airbag is disposed. In the activated state of the airbag module, the cover unblocking an airbag outlet, through which the airbag can be inflated in front of the steering wheel. The cover is coupled to at least one pulling device, which can be operated by a pyrotechnic actuator in the form of a cylinder-piston unit, the gas generator forming the piston, which is supported so as to be moveable from a neutral position into a working position, in a cylinder region of the steering-wheel hub and/or of the steering column, which acts as a cylinder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2012
    Assignee: Volkswagen AG
    Inventor: Ruprecht Sinnhuber