Embodiments disclose systems and methods associated with safety devices for vehicles. Specifically, embodiments are directed towards a user operated, manually controlled, inflatable safety device for off-road vehicles, which may reduce, eliminate, or lessen upper body and head injuries.

An airbag system includes a center airbag, a first side-wing airbag, a second side-wing airbag, and a tether. The center airbag is disposed in a steering wheel of a vehicle. The first side-wing airbag is disposed on a first side of a support housing disposed between the steering wheel and an instrument panel of the vehicle. The second side-wing airbag is disposed on a second side of the support housing. The tether connects the side-wing airbags and is disposed above the support housing.

A damper unit for use in a vibration-reducing assembly for a steering wheel is disclosed. An elastomeric damper element is molded on an inner sleeve and includes a plurality of elastomeric ribs forming a radially outer engagement surface, and a plurality of elastomeric support studs, which are mutually spaced in a circumferential direction are flexible in all directions transverse to said axis. Methods for making a damper unit and a damper assembly are also disclosed.

A steering wheel includes a metal core earthed to a body of a vehicle, an airbag device, an insulator, and a connector. The airbag device includes a bag holder supported by the metal core, wherein the bag holder forms part of a positive electric path connected to a horn device, an airbag coupled to the bag holder by a fastener, and an inflator including a circumferential portion that forms a flange, wherein the flange of the inflator is coupled by the fastener to the bag holder. The insulator insulates the bag holder from at least the flange and the fastener among elements of the airbag device. The connector electrically connects at least the flange, among the flange and the fastener, to the metal core.

A driver seat airbag may include: a mounting plate seated on a wheel armature; a cover coupled to the mounting plate so as to be lifted and lowered; an elastic member installed between the mounting plate and the cover to apply an elastic force to the cover; an electrode unit installed in the mounting plate; and a connector installed on the cover and connected to the electrode unit when the cover is lowered.

An airbag apparatus includes an airbag and an inflator. The airbag is configured to be deployed and inflated by the inflation gas at a position forward of a vehicle seat. The airbag includes a main bag member, an auxiliary bag member, and a tether. The main bag member is configured to be attached to a base member located at a position forward of the vehicle seat in the vehicle. The inflation gas is supplied from the inflator to the main bag member. The auxiliary bag member has a smaller volume than the main bag member and projects rearward from the main bag member. The tether extends across a boundary portion between the main bag member and the auxiliary bag member. A communicating portion, which allows communication between the main bag member and the auxiliary bag member, is provided around the tether in the boundary portion.

An airbag includes: an airbag body formed in a bag shape with an occupant-side panel facing an occupant and an opposite-side panel facing a steering wheel in a deployed state; and a flow regulator arranged inside the airbag body and configured to regulate a direction of flow of gas supplied from an inflator. The flow regulator includes: a flow-regulator body arranged such that at least part of the flow-regulator body faces the inflator; fixed portions provided at mutually separated positions on the flow-regulator body and fixed to the opposite-side panel; and a notch provided between the fixed portions in a recessed shape toward a center of the flow-regulator body and forming a gas passage port between the notch and the opposite-side panel, the gas passage port being a port through which the gas supplied from the inflator flows.

A driver seat airbag apparatus includes a steering wheel and an airbag module. The steering wheel has a central hub and a rim. The rim has a shape in which a portion of the upper portion of the rim is omitted. The hub includes: a module housing part which houses the airbag module; and a cover which covers the module housing and is cleavable at the expansion pressure of the cushion. The cover includes cover doors which open at the expansion pressure of the cushion. When the cover is cleaved, the cover doors are open in the right and left diagonal upward directions when viewed from the center of the hub, while a space portion without the cover doors is formed in the direction directly above the center of the hub when viewed from the center of the hub.

A steering wheel of a vehicle includes a steering wheel armature made of metal, a steering wheel rear cover made of plastic, and an airbag module. The steering wheel rear cover is located on a bottom of the steering wheel armature and the airbag module is mounted above the steering wheel armature. An spring assembles the airbag module onto the armature. At least a supporting rib extends from the steering wheel rear cover and is located between the spring and the steering wheel armature for supporting the spring. The supporting rib erases a gap between the spring and the steering wheel armature and it is formed by plastic, thereby reducing noise efficiently.

An airbag device includes: an airbag having an inflow opening for introducing an inflation gas and being formed in a folded body; a bag holder attached to a peripheral edge of the inflow opening; an airbag cover attached to the bag holder; and an inflator disposed by inserting an upper side in the folded body from the inflow opening, wherein: the airbag cover has a ceiling wall that covers an upper surface remote from the inflow opening of the folded body; the folded body is equipped with a housing recess that is capable of housing a top of a main body unit of the inflator; a part around the housing recess is supported by the bag holder; and a ceiling surface of the housing recess is formed as a shape in which a clearance is provided between the top of the main body unit of the inserted inflator.