Connector component for securing an airbag module to a steering wheel, positioning sleeve for the connector component, set comprising such a connector component and a positioning sleeve, steering wheel, airbag module, steering wheel assembly, and method for producing same

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10434968-B2
Application number	US-201816133761-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 18, 2018
Priority date	Mar 13, 2014
Publication date	Oct 8, 2019
Grant date	Oct 8, 2019

Abstract

A connector component ( 1 ) for fastening an airbag module ( 50 ) to a steering wheel ( 40 ) includes a steering wheel-side part ( 10 ) and a module-side part ( 20 ) movable relative to each other and biased against each other so that the module-side part is spaced apart from the steering wheel-side part in an idle position and is movable into a hooting position in which the module-side part contacts the steering wheel-side part. The module-side part ( 20 ) and the steering wheel-side part ( 10 ) are interconnected and form a multifunctional component including a guiding device for guided movement of the module-side part from the idle position into the hooting position and electric contacts for an electric horn circuit that contact each other in the hooting position. The invention also relates to a connector component and a positioning sleeve, a steering wheel, an airbag module, a steering wheel assembly and a manufacturing method.

First claim

I claim:

1. A connector component for fastening an airbag module to a steering wheel, the connector component comprising:
a steering wheel-side part and a module-side part that are interconnected, movable relative to each other, and biased against each other such that the module-side part in an idle position is spaced apart from the steering wheel-side part in a hooting direction and such that the module-side part is movable against the bias into a hooting position in which the module-side part contacts the steering wheel-side part,
wherein the module-side part and the steering wheel-side part form a multifunctional component including a guiding device for guided movement of the module-side part from the idle position into the hooting position and electric contacts for an electric horn circuit in which the electric contacts contact each other in the hooting position, and
wherein the module-side part includes a profile lug for positioning the connector component relative to the airbag module, wherein the profile lug has a four-sided prism shape including a first two opposite sides and a second two opposite sides, the profile lug having a tapered configuration such that the width of the first two opposite sides of the prism is larger in the region of a base of the prism than in the region of a tip defined at a free end of the prism.

2. The connector component according to claim 1 , wherein the second two opposite sides of the profile lug have a constant width from the region of the base of the prism to the region of the tip of the prism.

3. The connector component according to claim 1 , wherein the width of the second two opposite sides of the profile lug is larger in the region of the base of the prism than in the region of the tip of the prism.

4. The connector component according to claim 1 , wherein the tip of the profile lug is remote from the steering wheel-side part and has a rounded configuration where the first two opposite sides and the second two opposite sides meet.

5. The connector component according to claim 1 , wherein the profile lug is configured to receive and form a snap-fit with a positioning sleeve portion of the airbag module.

6. The connector component according to claim 1 , wherein the tip of the profile lug is configured to receive a positioning sleeve portion of the airbag module and guide the positioning sleeve onto the profile lug as the airbag module is installed on the steering wheel, and wherein the profile lug comprises at least one projection formed along the base of the prism that engages corresponding lock receptacles of the positioning sleeve to retain the airbag module on the steering wheel.

7. The connector component according to claim 1 , wherein the steering wheel-side part includes at least one anchoring element comprising barbed hooks for fixation in a steering wheel foam coating, wherein the at least one anchoring element includes two anchoring sub-elements, each anchoring sub-element including barbed hooks being provided at outer faces that are not orientated towards each other.

8. The connector component according to claim 1 , wherein the electric contacts include a first horn contact and a second horn contact, the first horn contact being arranged at the steering wheel-side part and the second horn contact being arranged at the module-side part, at least one of the two horn contacts being displaceable by a distance at least long enough to allow a snap-fit between the module-side part and the steering wheel-side part, the distance being at least 1 mm longer than the stretch of way required for an electrical contact between the two horn contacts, wherein at least one of the two horn contacts includes a horn contact plate that is displaceable or movable in the hooting direction by this distance.

9. The connector component according to claim 1 , wherein one part of the module-side part and the steering wheel-side part includes snap hooks and the other part includes corresponding snap recesses in order to create a snap-fit connection between the module-side part and the steering wheel-side part, the snap-fit connection being movable in the hooting direction.

10. The connector component according to claim 1 , wherein the guiding device includes a positioning pin formed integrally with the steering wheel-side part and extending through the module-side part, wherein the positioning pin extends through a biasing means disposed in a tensioning means seat of the steering wheel-side part.

11. The connector component according to claim 1 , wherein the electric contacts are arranged between side walls of the module-side part.

12. The connector component according to claim 1 , wherein the guiding device comprises the side walls of the module-side part, wherein in the idle position the side walls at least partially overlap or encompass the steering wheel-side part so that the steering wheel-side part is guided between the side walls.

13. The connector component according to claim 1 , wherein the module-side part and the steering wheel-side part are connected by snap-fit, the steering wheel-side part including snap hooks engaging in snap recesses of the module-side part, especially of the side walls of the module-side part.

14. A mounting assembly for mounting an airbag module on a steering wheel, comprising:
the connector component according to claim 1 ; and
a positioning sleeve, wherein the tip of the profile lug is configured to receive the positioning sleeve and the first two opposite sides and second two opposite sides cooperate to guide the positioning sleeve onto the profile lug, wherein the profile lug comprises at least one projection formed along the base of the prism that engage lock receptacles of the positioning sleeve to retain the positioning sleeve on the connector component.

15. The mounting assembly according to claim 14 , wherein the positioning sleeve has an inner contour which is shaped and dimensioned for engagement at least partially free from play with the profile lug of the connector component.

16. A steering wheel assembly comprising:
the mounting assembly of claim 14 ;
a steering wheel comprising a steering wheel armature and a steering wheel foam coating; and
an airbag module,
wherein the steering wheel-side part of the connector component comprises an anchoring element is embedded at least partially in the steering wheel foam coating, and
wherein the positioning sleeve is connected to the airbag module or integrated into the airbag module, the engagement between the at least one projection and the lock receptacles connecting the airbag module to the steering wheel.

17. The steering wheel assembly according to claim 16 , wherein the airbag module includes at least two positioning sleeves that are connected to corresponding ones of at least connector components fixed to the steering wheel.

18. The steering wheel assembly according to claim 17 , wherein the at least two positioning sleeves are twisted relative to each other by 90 degrees.

19. A steering wheel comprising:
a connector component according to claim 1 ;
a steering wheel armature; and
a steering wheel foam coating, wherein the steering wheel-side part is at least partially embedded in the steering wheel foam coating.

20. A method of manufacturing a steering wheel assembly comprising the steps of:
providing a steering wheel armature;
applying a steering wheel foam-coating to at least a portion of the steering wheel armature;
fixing to the steering wheel foam coating at least of the connector compo

Assignees

• Dalphi Metal Espana Sa

Inventors

• Collazo Gomez Angel

Classifications

• B60R21/2037 Primary

  the module or a major component thereof being yieldably mounted, e.g. for actuating the horn switch or for protecting the driver in a non-deployment situation (horn switches integrated in steering wheel covers with tear lines B60R21/21658) · CPC title

• B60Q5/003

  mounted on the steering wheel · CPC title

• F16B21/06

  Releasable fastening devices with snap-action {(quickly-detachable or mountable nuts to threaded bolts F16B37/0842)} · CPC title