An apparatus for helping to protect an occupant of a vehicle includes an airbag configured to be mounted on a vehicle steering wheel. The airbag includes an inflatable main chamber configured to cover the steering wheel, and an inflatable lateral chamber configured to cover a vehicle A-pillar. The apparatus also includes a tether actuation unit and a tether connected to the tether actuation unit and to a portion of the airbag that helps define the lateral chamber. The tether actuation unit has an unactuated condition maintaining a connection with the tether that restricts deployment of the lateral chamber. The tether actuation unit also has an actuated condition releasing its connection with the tether and causing the lateral chamber to fully deploy.

An apparatus for helping to protect an occupant of a vehicle includes an airbag configured to be mounted on a vehicle steering wheel. The airbag includes an inflatable main chamber configured to cover the steering wheel, and an inflatable lateral chamber configured to cover a vehicle A-pillar. The apparatus also includes a tether actuation unit and a tether connected to the tether actuation unit and to a portion of the airbag that helps define the lateral chamber. The tether actuation unit has an unactuated condition maintaining a connection with the tether that restricts deployment of the lateral chamber. The tether actuation unit also has an actuated condition releasing its connection with the tether and causing the lateral chamber to fully deploy.

The invention relates to an airbag (14) for unfolding between a vehicle part (10) and a vehicle occupant (18), comprising an impact wall (20) which, in the installed and unfolded state of the airbag (14), faces a vehicle occupant (18) and a circumferential wall (22) which is connected to the impact wall (20) and, in the installed and unfolded state of the airbag (14), extends between the impact wall (20) and the vehicle part (10), wherein the circumferential wall (22) is made with multiple layers, at least in some sections, and forms at least one annular tube (23) which delimits an annular inflatable first airbag volume (V1), and wherein a radially inner layer (26) of the circumferential wall (22), together with the impact wall (20), delimits an inflatable second airbag volume (V2) that is separate from the first airbag volume (V1). The invention further relates to an airbag module (12) having such an airbag (14).

The invention relates to an airbag (14) for unfolding between a vehicle part (10) and a vehicle occupant (18), comprising an impact wall (20) which, in the installed and unfolded state of the airbag (14), faces a vehicle occupant (18) and a circumferential wall (22) which is connected to the impact wall (20) and, in the installed and unfolded state of the airbag (14), extends between the impact wall (20) and the vehicle part (10), wherein the circumferential wall (22) is made with multiple layers, at least in some sections, and forms at least one annular tube (23) which delimits an annular inflatable first airbag volume (V1), and wherein a radially inner layer (26) of the circumferential wall (22), together with the impact wall (20), delimits an inflatable second airbag volume (V2) that is separate from the first airbag volume (V1). The invention further relates to an airbag module (12) having such an airbag (14).

[Problem] To provide a steering wheel including a damper unit with an excellent vibration absorbing effect. [Resolution Means] The steering wheel according to the present invention includes: a cored bar member; an airbag module which houses an airbag cushion and an inflator and is coupled to the cored bar member; and a damper unit arranged between the cored bar member and the airbag module. Here, the damper unit includes: a buffer member including an elastic material; an upper support member supporting the buffer member from above; and a lower support member supporting the buffer member from below. Moreover, the buffer member includes a laterally protruding flange part configured so as to be sandwiched between the upper support member and the lower support member. In addition, a gap is formed between the flange and at least one of the upper support member or the lower support member.

Various implementations include a steering assembly including a hub assembly and airbag module. The hub assembly includes one or more hub assembly attachment tabs each defining a fastener opening. The airbag module includes one or more airbag module attachment tabs each defining a fastener opening. One of the hub assembly or the airbag module includes one or more temporary fasteners, and each of the temporary fasteners is couplable to a portion of the other of the hub assembly or the airbag module. One of the hub assembly or the airbag module includes one or more alignment portions structured to align each fastener opening in the hub assembly attachment tabs with a respective fastener opening in one of the airbag module attachment tabs when the temporary fasteners of the hub assembly or the airbag module are coupled to the portion of the other of the hub assembly or the airbag module.

A vehicle steering system including a yoke type steering wheel. An airbag module located in the steering wheel and including an inflator and an airbag. The airbag is configured to inflate into two configurations. In the first configuration the airbag is fully inflated into a circular configuration and in the second configuration the airbag inflates into a u-shaped configuration. The u-shaped configuration is formed by a tether connected at a first end to the airbag and at a second end to a tether release device. The tether release device is configured to stay connected to the tether when the driver is determined to be in an out of position (OOP) condition.

A driver seat airbag device, provided with a steering wheel and an airbag module. The steering wheel includes a variant rim with a central upper part thereof omitted, and a cover member that covers the module installation surface at the center of the rim and the airbag module. The cover member includes a frontal region on an occupant side of the airbag module, an upper region on the upper side of the airbag module, and a tear line that enables the frontal region and the upper region to open up as cover doors. The tear line extends continuously from at least the center of the frontal region to at least the center of the upper region. The cover doors open to the left and right respectively from near the center of the frontal region and upper region.

A driver seat airbag device, provided with a steering wheel and an airbag module. The steering wheel includes a variant rim with a central upper part thereof omitted, and a cover member that covers the module installation surface at the center of the rim and the airbag module. The cover member includes a frontal region on an occupant side of the airbag module, an upper region on the upper side of the airbag module, and a tear line that enables the frontal region and the upper region to open up as cover doors. The tear line extends continuously from at least the center of the frontal region to at least the center of the upper region. The cover doors open to the left and right respectively from near the center of the frontal region and upper region.

A retaining cover that encapsulates a cushion which is stowed in a bulk stowed form in front of the regular seating position of the vehicle having a side surface retaining part wound around a side surface of the cushion in stowed form, a cloth-like part provided in a manner traversing vertically across the upper surface of the cushion in stowed form, and a weak part provided at a prescribed location on the cloth-like part that divides the cloth-like part to an upper piece and lower piece due to the expansion pressure of the cushion. If the cushion expands and deploys with the occupant in close proximity, the upper piece of the cloth-like part is sandwiched in between the cushion and the occupant, such that the upper piece restrains the upward deployment of the cushion.