An assembly is disclosed, in which a rigid ramp is rigidly connected to a tubular upper part of a steering column for interaction with a displaceable part of an instrument panel. Interaction between the tubular upper part and the displaceable part moves the displaceable part in a reliable manner out of the way during an impact scenario, during which a steering wheel is displaced towards the instrument panel. Displacement of the displaceable part by the rigid ramp permits the steering wheel to be fully displaced without the instrument panel hindering such motion.

An assembly is disclosed, in which a rigid ramp is rigidly connected to a tubular upper part of a steering column for interaction with a displaceable part of an instrument panel. Interaction between the tubular upper part and the displaceable part moves the displaceable part in a reliable manner out of the way during an impact scenario, during which a steering wheel is displaced towards the instrument panel. Displacement of the displaceable part by the rigid ramp permits the steering wheel to be fully displaced without the instrument panel hindering such motion.

The present disclosure provides a steering wheel that includes a core assembly defining a body, at least one functional element wrapped about the body, and a cover arranged over the functional element. The cover includes a first end portion and a second end portion opposite the first end portion. The first and second end portions are joined and superimposed on the functional element at a notch such that the second end portion is positioned between the functional element and the first end portion. The functional element may be a heating element or a touch sensor. The steering wheel may include both a heating element and a touch sensor. In one form, the cover includes two zones and the notch extends along a diameter of the rim and/or along at least a portion of a front face of the steering wheel.

The present disclosure provides a steering wheel that includes a core assembly defining a body, at least one functional element wrapped about the body, and a cover arranged over the functional element. The cover includes a first end portion and a second end portion opposite the first end portion. The first and second end portions are joined and superimposed on the functional element at a notch such that the second end portion is positioned between the functional element and the first end portion. The functional element may be a heating element or a touch sensor. The steering wheel may include both a heating element and a touch sensor. In one form, the cover includes two zones and the notch extends along a diameter of the rim and/or along at least a portion of a front face of the steering wheel.

A knee airbag for vehicles is provided. The knee airbag includes a lower crash pad that has a panel shape to block a steering column to prevent exposure of the steering column to an indoor space of a vehicle, and includes a housing unit having recesses dented toward the steering column such that the housing unit is spaced apart from the steering column by a designated distance. An airbag module of the knee airbag includes an inflator and a cushion and contained in the housing unit of the lower crash pad to deploy the cushion toward a driver's knee outside the lower crash pad when the cushion is deployed by explosion of the inflator.

A knee airbag for vehicles is provided. The knee airbag includes a lower crash pad that has a panel shape to block a steering column to prevent exposure of the steering column to an indoor space of a vehicle, and includes a housing unit having recesses dented toward the steering column such that the housing unit is spaced apart from the steering column by a designated distance. An airbag module of the knee airbag includes an inflator and a cushion and contained in the housing unit of the lower crash pad to deploy the cushion toward a driver's knee outside the lower crash pad when the cushion is deployed by explosion of the inflator.

A new type of vehicles is disclosed that equipped with a steering wheel which can be located and operated either in side location or in central location. The information display panel, the brake pedal, and the acceleration pedal can be moved along with the steering wheel, the central convenient cabin can be moved to side also. When the steering wheel is located at the central position, additional about 1 foot or more collision cushion space is created which will substantially reduce the injuries and fatal casualties caused by side collisions. The new type of the vehicles disclosed here can also be equipped with collision-retreat vehicle seats, such collision-retreat seats can be pushed backward through proper mechanism when the front-end collisions happen; such seat backward retreat will create additional collision cushion space between the front occupants and the frontal elements such as steering wheel, dashboard and windshield glass, the severity of the injuries and fatal casualties will be substantially reduced, lives will be saved.

A new type of vehicles is disclosed that equipped with a steering wheel which can be located and operated either in side location or in central location. The information display panel, the brake pedal, and the acceleration pedal can be moved along with the steering wheel, the central convenient cabin can be moved to side also. When the steering wheel is located at the central position, additional about 1 foot or more collision cushion space is created which will substantially reduce the injuries and fatal casualties caused by side collisions. The new type of the vehicles disclosed here can also be equipped with collision-retreat vehicle seats, such collision-retreat seats can be pushed backward through proper mechanism when the front-end collisions happen; such seat backward retreat will create additional collision cushion space between the front occupants and the frontal elements such as steering wheel, dashboard and windshield glass, the severity of the injuries and fatal casualties will be substantially reduced, lives will be saved.

A vehicle occupant protection device includes a vehicle seat, a steering wheel, a steering moving mechanism, and a control unit. The vehicle seat includes a seat back and a headrest, the vehicle seat being con gored to turn between a position where the vehicle seat is directed toward a vehicle front side and a position where the vehicle seat is directed toward a vehicle rear side. The steering wheel is provided ahead of the vehicle seat in a vehicle front-rear direction. The steering moving mechanism is configured to change a position of the steering wheel. The control unit is configured to move the steering wheel to a support position where the seat back and the headrest are supported by the steering wheel from the vehicle front side, by the steering moving mechanism, when the vehicle seat is directed toward the vehicle rear side.

The present disclosure provides a steering wheel that includes a core assembly defining a body, at least one functional element wrapped about the body, and a cover arranged over the functional element. The cover includes a first end portion and a second end portion opposite the first end portion. The first and second end portions are joined and superimposed on the functional element at a notch such that the second end portion is positioned between the functional element and the first end portion. The functional element may be a heating element or a touch sensor. The steering wheel may include both a heating element and a touch sensor. In one form, the cover includes two zones and the notch extends along a diameter of the rim and/or along at least a portion of a front face of the steering wheel.