Steering wheel with vibration damping mass

US11414038B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• Autoliv Development AB · SE

Inventors

• Knut Schmeier · Fürstenfeldbruck, DE
• Tomasz Skoneczny · Dachau, DE
• Dominik Zelmanski · Neustadt an der Donau, DE
• Felix Pollatschek · Munich, DE
• Klaus Massanetz · Moosburg an der Isar, DE
• Marcus Weber · Forchheim, DE
• Holger Zang · Dachau, DE
• Sven Hoffmann · Dachau, DE
• Thomas Reiter · Dachau, DE
• Wolfram Engelhardt · Dachau, DE
• Alexander Feicht · Sigmertshausen, DE
• Michael Gruhne · Augsburg, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Oct 29, 2019
• Grant date: Aug 16, 2022
• Expiry date: Jan 31, 2040

Classification

• Technology area (CPC B): Performing Operations; Transporting
• CPC primary: B60R21/21658
• WIPO field: Transport
• WIPO sector: Mechanical engineering

Abstract

A steering wheel includes a steering wheel body and a base. The base carrying an inflator and an airbag package, such that the base, the inflator and the airbag package form a first sub-assembly. The base is connected to the steering wheel body at least indirectly via at least one elastic element, such that the sub-assembly can move relative to the steering wheel body in at least one direction so that the whole sub-assembly serves as a vibration damping mass. The steering wheel also includes a cover element with a roof extending over the airbag package, and at least one horn sensor generating a signal when a pressing force exceeding a predefined value is applied to the roof. The cover element is not rigidly connected to the base, such that the sub-assembly can move relative to the steering wheel body under deformation of the elastic element while the cover element does not move relative to the steering wheel body.