A frequency-tuned vibration damper device and assembly which may be used in steering wheels for motor vehicles is provided. Elastomeric stiffening bridges or connectors, integrally formed in elastomeric damper bodies, are used to obtain different damping frequencies in different spatial directions (y, z). Stiffening in specific direction(s) (y) allows larger frequency differences to be achieved. Asymmetric elastomeric damper bodies are arranged to operate with a combination of compression-mode damping and shear-mode damping along a first axis (y), and dominantly with a shear-mode damping along a different, second direction (z).

An airbag device includes a gas generator including a first gas generating agent and an ignition unit, and an airbag configured to inflate upon receiving a combustion gas from the gas generator, the airbag including an inlet being configured to cause the combustion gas supplied from the gas generator to flow into an internal space of the airbag, a bag-shaped portion configured to separate, from an outside, the internal space into which the combustion gas flows from the inlet, the bag-shaped portion being configured to be in a folded state and to be in an inflated state by receiving the supply of the combustion gas, and a second gas generating agent that is disposed at a predetermined position on an inner surface of the bag-shaped portion and generates gas by using thermal energy of the combustion gas without accompanying a combustion reaction.

An airbag fastening structure and an airbag fastening system for a vehicle are provided. The airbag fastening structure includes a first assembly part provided in an airbag module, a second assembly part provided in a steering wheel and fastened to the first assembly part by a snap-fit fastening structure, a protective rib provided in an inclined pressing area where the first assembly part and the second assembly part are pressed for the snap-fit fastening, and a pad to absorb a fastening shock of the first assembly part and the second assembly part. The pad is provided in an inclined pressing area that does not overlap with the protective rib and in an engaging area where the first assembly part and the second assembly part are engaged with and supported by each other by the snap-fit fastening.

[Problem]

To provide a driver seat airbag device with a simple configuration and that enables suppressing injury value of the driver.

Resolution Means

An airbag cushion 108 of the airbag device 100 for a vehicle includes a rear panel 122 positioned on the steering wheel 106 side, a front panel 120 positioned on the driver 104 side for restraining the driver 166, and a side panel 124 that connects an edge of the rear panel 122 and an edge of the front panel 120 and constitutes a side part of the airbag cushion 108. The front panel 120 is a combination of sub-panels 120a to 120d that gradually narrow from the outer edge of the front panel 120 toward the center thereof. The airbag cushion 108 further includes an internal tether 144 inside the airbag cushion 108 that pulls the center region of the front panel 120 toward the rear panel 122.

A steering-wheel assembly includes a steering-wheel base including a plurality of catches, a horn electrical circuit extending along the steering-wheel base and electrically connected to a vehicle horn, and an airbag assembly including a plurality of hooks arranged to engage with respective ones of the catches. The horn electrical circuit includes a plurality of gaps across the respective ones of the catches. Each hook includes an electrical connector positioned to close the respective gap when the hook is fully engaged with the respective catch and to leave the respective gap open when the hook is disengaged from the respective catch. The horn electrical circuit is closable to activate the vehicle horn when the electrical connectors close the gaps. The horn electrical circuit is open when at least one of the electrical connectors is not closing the respective gap.

The invention relates to an airbag module (22) for mounting on a steering control element (10) of a motor vehicle, the steering control element being rotatable about an axis (A), and the airbag module comprising: a module housing (24) for holding a folded airbag (26), the module housing comprising a module bottom (30); and a metal spring (28) for locking the airbag module (22) on the steering control element (10), the metal spring being pre-mounted on the module bottom (30) and having a locking portion (32) which can be elastically deflected perpendicularly to the axis (A); wherein, on the module bottom (30), a spacer (34) is provided, which axially adjoins the locking portion (32) of the metal spring on a side of the metal spring (28) facing the folded airbag (26) and which can be elastically deflected together with said locking portion (32) of the metal spring (28) in a deflection direction (x) perpendicular to the axis (A). The invention also relates to a vehicle steering unit (12) having an airbag module (22) of this type.

A steering wheel (10) includes a steering wheel rim (16) and an airbag module (18) accommodated in a hub region (12) of the steering wheel (10) and comprising an airbag (26), wherein an exit opening of the airbag module (18) is located at a position different from an upper side of the steering wheel (10) and beneath the steering wheel rim (16) and the airbag module (18) is disposed so that the airbag (26) deploys through a clearance (22) between the hub region (12) and the steering wheel rim (16) toward the upper side of the steering wheel (10). The airbag (26) comprises a cushion-type restraint chamber (32) and a connecting chamber (34), wherein the restraint chamber (32) covers, in the completely filled state, the steering wheel rim (16) on the occupant side, while the connecting chamber (34) connects the restraint chamber (32) via an inflation orifice disposed on a rear wall (50) of the restraint chamber (32) to a gas generator accommodated in the airbag module (18), wherein the connecting chamber (34) of the airbag (26) includes at least one vent opening (72) to allow filling gas to flow out of the airbag (26) even before it reaches the restraint chamber (32).

A tether protection panel configured to help protect a tether for tailor deployment of an airbag includes a first portion configured to be secured to an outer surface of the airbag and to at least partially extend along an inflator opening of the airbag, and a second portion configured to be folded over to at least partially overlie the first portion and form a first fold. The first portion is configured to be positioned on a first side of an inflator flange of the inflator and the second portion is configured to be positioned on a second side of the inflator flange. The first fold is configured to be positioned adjacent an edge of the inflator flange and extend from the first side of the inflator flange to the second side of the inflator flange. The first fold is configured to be positioned between the inflator flange and the tether so that the fold blocks inflation fluid from damaging the tether.