Coupling device for the attachment of an airbag module to a vehicle steering wheel in an oscillatory manner
The invention relates to a coupling device ( 16 ) for mounting an airbag module ( 14 ) to be oscillating on a steering wheel structure ( 12 ) of a vehicle steering wheel ( 10 ), comprising a mounting member ( 18 ) which includes, relative to a steering wheel axis (A), an axial bottom side ( 20 ) which in the assembled state of the vehicle steering wheel ( 10 ) faces the steering wheel structure ( 12 ) as well as an opposite axial top side ( 22 ) which in the assembled state of the vehicle steering wheel ( 10 ) faces the airbag module ( 14 ), a contact face ( 24 ) for a damping element ( 26 ) provided on the axial bottom side ( 20 ) for oscillating coupling of the mounting member ( 18 ) to the steering wheel structure ( 12 ), and comprising a locking element ( 28 ) disposed on the top side ( 22 ) of the mounting member ( 18 ) for locking with the prefabricated airbag module ( 14 ), wherein the locking element ( 28 ) is configured so that the airbag module ( 14 ) can be coupled to the mounting member ( 18 ) by a locking connection substantially in an axially fixed manner or in an axially restrictedly movable manner.
1. A coupling device for mounting an airbag module ( 14 ) to be oscillating on a steering wheel structure ( 12 ) of a vehicle steering wheel ( 10 ), comprising:
a mounting member ( 18 ) having an axial bottom side ( 20 ) relative to a steering wheel axis (A) which in the assembled state of the vehicle steering wheel ( 10 ) faces the steering wheel structure ( 12 ) as well as an opposite axial top side ( 22 ) which in the assembled state of the vehicle steering wheel ( 10 ) faces the airbag module ( 14 ),
a contact face ( 24 ) provided on the axial bottom side ( 20 ) for a damping element ( 26 ) for oscillating coupling of the mounting member ( 18 ) to the steering wheel structure ( 12 ), as well as
a locking element ( 28 ) disposed on the top side ( 22 ) of the mounting member ( 18 ) for locking with the airbag module ( 14 ),
wherein the locking element ( 28 ) is configured so that the airbag module ( 14 ) can be coupled to the mounting member ( 18 ) by a locking connection substantially in an axially fixed manner or in an axially restrictedly movable manner.
2. The coupling device according to claim 1 , wherein the mounting member ( 18 ) is a mounting plate which extends substantially perpendicularly to the steering wheel axis (A) and includes plural locking elements ( 28 ).
3. The coupling device according to claim 1 , wherein plural locking elements ( 28 ) are provided and a damping element ( 26 ) is associated with each locking element ( 28 ), wherein the locking elements ( 28 ) and the associated damping elements ( 26 ) are arranged axially in series.
4. The coupling device according to claim 1 , wherein the axial top side ( 22 ) of the mounting member a horn contact ( 50 ) or an actuating element ( 53 ) for activating a beep is arranged and the locking element ( 28 ) is configured so that the airbag module ( 14 ) can be coupled to the mounting member ( 18 ) by the locking connection in an axially restrictedly movable manner.
5. The coupling device according to claim 1 , wherein the coupling device ( 16 ) includes a damping element ( 26 ) which contacts the contact face ( 24 ) on the axial bottom side ( 20 ) of the mounting member ( 18 ) and couples the mounting member ( 18 ) to the steering wheel structure ( 12 ) in an oscillating manner so that the mounting member ( 18 ) and the steering wheel structure ( 12 ) are movable relative to each other at least transversely to the steering wheel axis (A), wherein the damping element ( 26 ) is preassembled on the axial bottom side ( 20 ) of the mounting member ( 28 ).
6. The coupling device according to claim 5 , wherein the damping element ( 26 ) extends through an opening ( 58 ) of the mounting member ( 18 ).
7. The coupling device according to claim 6 , wherein the damping element ( 26 ) comprises an annular vibration-damping material ( 27 ) having a radial shoulder, wherein an edge of the opening ( 58 ) forms a contact face ( 24 ) and acts on the radial shoulder of the vibration-damping material ( 27 ).
8. The coupling device according to claim 7 , wherein the radial shoulder is configured as a groove ( 64 ) in the vibration-damping material ( 27 ), wherein the edge of the mounting member opening ( 58 ) at least in portions engages in the groove ( 64 ).
9. A subassembly comprising:
a steering wheel structure ( 12 ), a coupling device ( 16 ) according to claim 7 , and
a screw ( 66 ) for mounting the coupling device ( 16 ) on the steering wheel structure ( 12 ) which screw extends through the annular vibration-damping material ( 27 ), wherein the vibration-damping material ( 27 ) with an axial end face is adjacent at least in portions to a screw head ( 68 ) of the screw ( 66 ) and/or with an opposite axial end face is adjacent at least in portions to the steering wheel structure ( 12 ).
10. A subassembly comprising:
a steering wheel structure ( 12 ),
a coupling device ( 16 ) according to claim 1 , and
a damping element ( 26 ) for oscillating coupling of the mounting member ( 18 ) to the steering wheel structure ( 12 ),
wherein the damping element ( 26 ) is arranged on the axial bottom side ( 20 ) of the mounting member ( 18 ) and is preassembled together with the mounting member ( 18 ) on the steering wheel structure ( 12 ).
11. A subassembly comprising:
a prefabricated airbag module ( 14 ) and
a coupling device ( 16 ) according to claim 1 ,
wherein the prefabricated airbag module ( 14 ) includes a module cover ( 54 ) including a horn contact ( 50 ) as well as another module component ( 56 ) including a mating contact ( 52 ) axially abutting on the horn contact ( 50 ), with the module cover ( 54 ) being supported to be axially movable relative to the further module component ( 56 ) for activating a beep.
12. A subassembly comprising
a prefabricated airbag module ( 14 ) and
a coupling device ( 16 ) according to claim 4 ,
wherein the prefabricated airbag module ( 14 ) includes a mating contact ( 52 ) axially abutting on the horn contact ( 50 ), with the airbag module ( 14 ) being supported to be axially movable relative to the mounting member ( 18 ) for activating a beep.
13. A vehicle steering wheel of an automotive vehicle, comprising
a steering wheel structure ( 12 ),
a prefabricated airbag module ( 14 ),
a coupling device ( 16 ) according to claim 1 and a damping element ( 26 ) for oscillating coupling of the mounting member ( 18 ) to the steering wheel structure ( 12 ),
wherein the vehicle steering wheel ( 10 ) includes a horn contact ( 50 ) as well as a mating contact ( 52 ) axially abutting on the horn contact ( 50 ), and wherein both the horn contact ( 50 ) and the mating contact ( 52 ) are formed on components of the vehicle steering wheel ( 10 ) that are supported so as to be oscillating.
14. The vehicle steering wheel according to claim 13 , wherein the airbag module ( 14 ) is secured to the steering wheel structure ( 12 ) exclusively by the locking connection to the coupling device ( 16 ).
15. The vehicle steering wheel according to claim 13 , wherein the airbag module ( 14 ) is secured to the steering wheel structure ( 12 ) by means of the coupling device ( 16 ), wherein moreover another connection independent of the coupling device ( 16 ) is provided between the airbag module ( 14 ) and the steering wheel structure ( 12 ).