IP Library › Granted Patent US 11,220,230
Granted Patent B1
US 11,220,230 · App. 16/907,672 · Granted Jan 11, 2022

Bowl-shaped driver airbag

Inventors: Mohammad Omar Faruque (Ann Arbor, MI); S.M. Iskander Farooq (Novi, MI); Dean M. Jaradi (Macomb, MI)
Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
B60R21/203B60R21/2338B60R2021/23382B60R2021/23386
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,220,230
App. No.
16/907,672
Granted
Jan 11, 2022
Kind
B1
Abstract

An assembly for a vehicle includes an instrument panel. The assembly includes a steering wheel having a hub and a rim spaced from and supported by the hub, and an airbag supported by the hub and inflatable to an inflated position. The airbag in the inflated position has a rear panel extending from the hub to the instrument panel. The rear panel has a bowl shape that extends endlessly around the rim.

Claims (36)

1. An assembly comprising:

an instrument panel;

a steering wheel having a hub and a rim spaced from and supported by the hub; and

an airbag supported by the hub and inflatable to an inflated position, the airbag in the inflated position having a rear panel extending from the hub to the instrument panel, the rear panel having a bowl shape that extends endlessly around the rim;

the airbag having a lip abutting the instrument panel, the rear panel extending from the hub to the lip, and the airbag including external tethers extending from the hub to the lip.

2. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the rear panel defines a cavity and the rim is in the cavity in the inflated position.

3. The assembly of claim 2 , wherein the cavity expands from the hub to the instrument panel.

4. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the rear panel is spaced from the rim in the inflated position.

5. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the airbag includes a front panel extending from the lip, the front panel including a depression opposite the rear panel.

6. The assembly of claim 5 , wherein the airbag includes internal tethers connected to the depression and to the rear panel.

7. The assembly of claim 6 , wherein the rear panel includes a concave portion and the internal tethers are connected to the concave portion of the rear panel.

8. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the airbag includes a front panel extending from the lip, the front panel including a depression opposite the rear panel.

9. The assembly of claim 8 , wherein the airbag includes internal tethers connected to the depression and to the rear panel.

10. The assembly of claim 9 , wherein the rear panel includes a concave portion and the internal tethers are connected to the concave portion of the rear panel.

11. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the rear panel defines a cavity and the airbag includes a front panel defining a depression opposite the cavity.

12. The assembly of claim 11 , wherein the airbag includes internal tethers connected to the depression and to the rear panel.

13. The assembly of claim 12 , wherein the rear panel includes a concave portion and the internal tethers are connected to the concave portion of the rear panel.

14. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the rim is non-circular.

15. An assembly comprising:

an instrument panel;

a steering wheel having a hub and a rim spaced from and supported by the hub; and

an airbag supported by the hub and inflatable to an inflated position, the airbag in the inflated position having a rear panel extending from the hub to the instrument panel, the rear panel having a bowl shape that extends endlessly around the rim;

the rear panel defining a cavity and the airbag including a front panel defining a depression opposite the cavity;

the airbag including internal tethers connected to the depression and to the rear panel; and

the rear panel including a concave portion and the internal tethers being connected to the concave portion of the rear panel.

16. The assembly of claim 15 , wherein the cavity expands from the hub to the instrument panel.

17. The assembly of claim 15 , wherein the rear panel is spaced from the rim in the inflated position.

18. An assembly comprising:

an instrument panel;

a steering wheel having a hub and a rim spaced from and supported by the hub; and

an airbag supported by the hub and inflatable to an inflated position, the airbag in the inflated position having a rear panel extending from the hub to the instrument panel, the rear panel having a bowl shape that extends endlessly around the rim;

the airbag having a lip abutting the instrument panel;

the airbag including a front panel extending from the lip, the front panel including a depression opposite the rear panel;

the airbag including internal tethers connected to the depression and to the rear panel; and

the rear panel including a concave portion and the internal tethers being connected to the concave portion of the rear panel.

19. The assembly of claim 18 , wherein the rear panel is spaced from the rim in the inflated position.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 22, 2020
From: FARUQUE, MOHAMMAD OMAR; FAROOQ, S.M. ISKANDER; JARADI, DEAN M.
To: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
Reel/Frame 053000/0518 →
Cited By (1)
US 12,534,040