US 11,718,257 B2
Coupling device for mounting an airbag module to be oscillating on a vehicle steering wheel
AnnMarie McMillan, Washington, MI (US); Jeffrey M. Ruprecht, Rochester Hills, MI (US); James Steele, Macomb, MI (US); and Dominik Schuetz, Heimbuchenthal (DE)
Assigned to ZF Passive Safety Systems US Inc, Washington, MI (US); and ZF AUTOMOTIVE SAFETY GERMANY GMBH, Aschaffenburg (DE)
Filed by ZF PASSIVE SAFETY SYSTEMS US INC., Washington, MI (US); and ZF AUTOMOTIVE SAFETY GERMANY GMBH, Aschaffenburg (DE)
Filed on Oct. 19, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/968,900.
Application 17/968,900 is a division of application No. 16/360,120, filed on Mar. 21, 2019, granted, now 11,498,506.
Application 16/360,120 is a continuation in part of application No. PCT/EP2017/070144, filed on Aug. 9, 2017.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/647,115, filed on Mar. 23, 2018.
Prior Publication US 2023/0044002 A1, Feb. 9, 2023
Int. Cl. B60R 21/203 (2006.01); B60Q 5/00 (2006.01); B60R 21/235 (2006.01); B62D 1/11 (2006.01)
CPC B60R 21/203 (2013.01) [B60Q 5/003 (2013.01); B60R 21/2037 (2013.01); B60R 21/235 (2013.01); B62D 1/11 (2013.01); B60R 2021/23504 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A coupling device for mounting an airbag module to be oscillating on a steering wheel structure of a vehicle steering wheel, comprising:
a mounting member comprising a cylindrical wall having a cylindrical inner surface and a cylindrical outer surface, an annular flange that extends radially outward from an upper end of the cylindrical wall, and an annular projection that extends radially inward from the inner surface of the cylindrical wall;
a damping element comprising a cylindrical body of damping material having a cylindrical inner surface and a cylindrical outer surface, an annular recess extending radially inward into the outer surface of the damping element, the damping element being positioned inside the mounting member so that the outer surface of the damping element engages the inner surface of the mounting member, and so that the annular projection of the mounting member is received in the annular recess of the damping element so that the damping element is retained in the mounting member;
a fastener configured to extend through the damping element and to connect the coupling device to the steering wheel structure; and
a spring fitted over the outer surface of the mounting member, the spring configured to bias the airbag module away from the steering wheel structure;
wherein the damping member is configured to support the mounting member on the steering wheel structure and space the mounting member from direct engagement with the steering wheel structure in order to isolate the mounting member from vibrations in the steering wheel structure.