Inflatable safety apparatus

Claim 2

Safety apparatus for protecting a driver of a vehicle having a rotatable steering wheel with an outer rim adapted to be manually grasped and rotated by a driver of the vehicle, said safety apparatus comprising a confinement havinG a collapsed condition and an expanded condition, said confinement in said expanded condition being effective to engage the driver''s torso to restrain movement of the driver during a collision, means for supporting said confinement in said collapsed condition for rotation with the steering wheel of the vehicle, and means for providing a flow of fluid to effect expansion of said confinement into engagement with the rim of the steering wheel and then into engagement with the torso of the driver, said confinement in said expanded condition having a symmetrical configuration with respect to an axis of rotation of the steering wheel whereby said confinement has the same relationship relative to the driver and steering wheel upon operation of said confinement to the expanded condition with the steering wheel in any one of a plurality of rotational positions relative to the driver of the vehicle.

Claim 3

Safety apparatus for protecting a driver of a vehicle having a steering wheel, said apparatus comprising a confinement means having a collapsed condition and an expanded condition, said confinement means in said expanded condition being located between the driver and the steering wheel of the vehicle and having a base portion adapted to engage the steering wheel and a circular conical portion adapted to be engaged by the torso of the driver of the vehicle and by the head of the driver of the vehicle to thereby restrain movement of the driver in a collision, and means or providing a flow of fluid to inflate said confinement means to said expanded condition, said means for providing a flow of fluid including flow-directing means for directing the flow of fluid to inflate said confinement means in such a manner as to substantially expand said confinement means before engagement occurs between said conical portion and the torso of the driver.

Claim 4

Safety apparatus for protecting a driver of a vehicle having a steering wheel, said apparatus comprising a confinement means having a collapsed condition and an expanded condition, said confinement means in said expanded condition being located between the driver and the steering wheel of the vehicle and having a base portion adapted to engage the steering wheel and a circular conical portion adapted to be engaged by the torso of the driver of the vehicle and by the head of the driver of the vehicle to thereby restrain movement of the driver in a collision, and means or providing a flow of fluid to inflate said confinement means to said expanded condition, said means for providing a flow of fluid including flow-directing means for directing the flow of fluid to inflate said confinement means in such a manner as to substantially expand said confinement means before engagement occurs between said conical portion and the torso of the driver.

Claim 5

Safety apparatus as set forth in claim 2 wherein said confinement means further includes a cylindrical portion interconnecting said base portion and said conical portion, said cylindrical and conical portions of said confinement means being positioned relative to the steering wheel so as to have their central axes substantially coincident with an axis of rotation of the steering wheel.

Claim 6

Safety apparatus as set forth in claim 2 wherein said means for providing a flow of fluid includes reservoir means mounted on the steering column of the vehicle and connected in fluid communication with said confinement means and said means for directing the flow of fluid by a passage means extending longitudinally along the steering column of the vehicle.

Claim 7

Safety apparatus as set forth in claim 2 wherein an included angle between an outer surface of said conical portion and the base of said conical portion is approximately equal to the angle of elevation of the steering column of the vehicle.

Claim 8

Safety apparatus for protecting a driver of a vehicle having a steering wheel and a steering column housing, said safety apparatus comprising a confinement having a collapsed condition and an expanded condition, said confinement when in said expanded condition being effective to restrain movement of the driver during a collision, means supporting said confinement when in said collapsed condition immediately adjacent the steering wheel of the vehicle, and means for providing a flow of fluid to inflate said confinement from said collapsed condition to said expanded condition wherein said confinement is located between the steering wheel and the driver of the vehicle, said means for providing a flow of fluid including a reservoir containing a supply of fluid under pressure, an annular chamber formed by the steering column housing adjacent to a central portion of the steering wheel, passage means extending for a part of its length in a generally axial direction along the steering column housing and connecting said chamber in fluid communication with said reservoir for conducting fluid from said reservoir to said chamber, and a plurality of apertures formed in a ceNtral portion of said steering wheel for directing a flow of fluid from said chamber to effect substantial expansion of said confinement before said confinement engages the driver of the vehicle.

Claim 9

Safety apparatus for protecting a driver of a vehicle having a steering wheel and a steering column housing, said safety apparatus comprising a confinement having a collapsed condition and an expanded condition, said confinement when in said expanded condition being effective to restrain movement of the driver during a collision, means supporting said confinement when in said collapsed condition immediately adjacent the steering wheel of the vehicle, and means for providing a flow of fluid to inflate said confinement from said collapsed condition to said expanded condition wherein said confinement is located between the steering wheel and the driver of the vehicle, said means for providing a flow of fluid including a reservoir containing a supply of fluid under pressure, an annular chamber formed by the steering column housing adjacent to a central portion of the steering wheel, passage means extending for a part of its length in a generally axial direction along the steering column housing and connecting said chamber in fluid communication with said reservoir for conducting fluid from said reservoir to said chamber, and a plurality of apertures formed in a ceNtral portion of said steering wheel for directing a flow of fluid from said chamber to effect substantial expansion of said confinement before said confinement engages the driver of the vehicle.

Claim 10

Safety apparatus for protecting a driver of a vehicle having steering means, said safety apparatus comprising a confinement having a collapsed condition and an expanded condition, said confinement in said expanded condition being effective to restrain movement of the driver during a collision, means for supporting said confinement in said collapsed condition adjacent to the steering means of the vehicle, and means for providing a flow of fluid to effect expansion of said confinement into engagement with a part of the steering means, said confinement including a portion having the general configuration of a circular cone having its vertex at a level lower than the head of the driver and its arcuate outer surface positioned for engagement with the torso of the driver when said confinement is in said expanded condition.

Claim 11

Safety apparatus for protecting a driver of a vehicle having steering means, said safety apparatus comprising a confinement having a collapsed condition and an expanded condition, said confinement in said expanded condition being effective to restrain movement of the driver during a collision, means for supporting said confinement in said collapsed condition adjacent to the steering means of the vehicle, and means for providing a flow of fluid to effect expansion of said confinement into engagement with a part of the steering means, said confinement including a portion having the general configuration of a circular cone having its vertex at a level lower than the head of the driver and its arcuate outer surface positioned for engagement with the torso of the driver when said confinement is in said expanded condition.

Claim 12

Safety apparatus as set forth in claim 7 wherein said steering means is rotatable and the included angle between the base and side of the conical portion is approximately equal to the angle of elevation of the steering column of the vehicle and the central axis of said confinement is coincident with the axis of rotation of the steering means to thereby maintain a portion of the outer surface of said conical portion in a generally parallel relationship with the torso of the driver for all positions of rotation of the steering means.

Claim 13

Safety apparatus as set forth in claim 7 wherein said confinement further includes a base portion which engages the part of the steering means and a generally cylindrical portion interconnecting said base portion and said conical portion.

Claim 14

Safety apparatus for protecting a driver of a vehicle having steering means, said safety apparatus comprising a confinement having a collapsed condition and an expanded condition, said confinement in said expanded condition being effective to restrain movement of the driver during a collision, means for supporting said confinement in said collapsed condition adjacent to the steering means of the vehicle, and means for providing a flow of fluid to effect expansion of said confinement into engagement with a part of the steering means, said confinement when in the expanded condition having a continuous arcuate outer surface in the general configuration of a circular cone with one portion adapted to be engaged by the torso of the driver and another portion adapted to be engaged by the head of the driver, said other portion of said surface being located in a spaced-apart relationship with the head of the driver and at a level which is lower than the head of the driver when said confinement is in said expanded condition and the driver is seated in an upright position in the vehicle.

Claim 15

Safety apparatus for protecting a driver of a vehicle having steering means, said safety apparatus comprising a confinement having a collapsed condition and an expanded condition, said confinement in said expanded condition being effective to restrain movement of the driver during a collision, means for supporting said confinement in said collapsed condition adjacent to the steering means of the vehicle, and means for providing a flow of fluid to effect expansion of said confinement into engagement with a part of the steering means, said confinement when in the expanded condition having a continuous arcuate outer surface in the general configuration of a circular cone with one portion adapted to be engaged by the torso of the driver and another portion adapted to be engaged by the head of the driver, said other portion of said surface being located in a spaced-apart relationship with the head of the driver and at a level which is lower than the head of the driver when said confinement is in said expanded condition and the driver is seated in an upright position in the vehicle.

Claim 16

Safety apparatus as set forth in claim 10 said confinement further includes pressure-responsive means for enabling fluid to flow out of said confinement when a predetermined pressure is present in said confinement.

Claim 17

Safety apparatus for protecting a driver of a vehicle having a steering wheel, said safety apparatus comprising a confinement adapted to be mounted on the steering wheel of the vehicle for rotation therewith and having a collapsed condition and an expanded condition in which said confinement engages at least a part of the rim of the steering wheel and is located between the steering wheel and the driver, said confinement having a first portion for engaging the torso of the driver of the vehicle when said confinement is in said expanded condition to restrain movement of the torso and a second portion extending at an angle to said first portion and located in such an orientation relative to the driver as to be spaced apart from the head of the driver when the driver is in an upright position and to be engaged by the head of the driver when the torso of the driver is in a forward position, said confinement including a conical portion having its central axis substantially coincident with the axis of rotation of the steering wheel and having an outer surface forming said first and second portions of said confinement, and means for providing a flow of fluid to effect expansion of said confinement.

Claim 18

Safety apparatus for protecting a driver of a vehicle having a steering wheel, said safety apparatus comprising a confinement adapted to be mounted on the steering wheel of the vehicle for rotation therewith and having a collapsed condition and an expanded condition in which said confinement engages at least a part of the rim of the steering wheel and is located between the steering wheel and the driver, said confinement having a first portion for engaging the torso of the driver of the vehicle when said confinement is in said expanded condition to restrain movement of the torso and a second portion extending at an angle to said first portion and located in such an orientation relative to the driver as to be spaced apart from the head of the driver when the driver is in an upright position and to be engaged by the head of the driver when the torso of the driver is in a forward position, said confinement including a conical portion having its central axis substantially coincident with the axis of rotation of the steering wheel and having an outer surface forming said first and second portions of said confinement, and means for providing a flow of fluid to effect expansion of said confinement.

Claim 19

Safety apparatus as set forth in claim 12 wherein said confinement further includes a base portion which engages the steering wheel and cylindrical portion interconnecting said base portion and said conical portion, said cylindrical portion having its central axis substantially coincident with the central axis of said conical portion and the axis of rotation of the steering wheel.

Claim 20

Safety apparatus as set forth in claim 12 wherein the included angle between the base and outer surface of said conical portion is approximately equal to the angle of elevation of the axis of rotation of the steering wheel to thereby locate the portion of the outer surface of said conical portion which is adjacent to the torso of the driver when said confinement is in said expanded condition in a generally parallel relationship with the torso of the driver.

Claim 21

Safety apparatus as set forth in claim 12 further including pressure-responsive means mounted on said confinement for enabling fluid to flow out of said confinement when a predetermined pressure is present in said confinement to thereby minimize rebound of the driver under the influence of fluid pressure within the confinement.

Claim 22

Safety apparatus for protecting a driver of a vehicle having a steering wheel, said safety apparatus comprising a confinement adapted to be mounted on the steering wheel of the vehicle for rotation therewith and having a collapsed condition and an expanded condition in which said confinement engages at least a part of the rim of the steering wheel and is located between the steering wheel and the driver, said confinement having a first portion for engaging the torso of the driver of the vehicle when said confinement is in said expanded condition to restrain movement of the torso and a second portion extending at an angle to said first portion and located in such an orientation relative to the driver as to be spaced apart from the head of the driver when the driver is in an upright position and to be engaged by the head of the driver when the torso of the driver is in a forward position, and means for providing a flow of fluid to effect expansion of said confinement, said means for providing a flow of fluid including a reservoir mounted in a spaced-apart relationship with the steering wheel, diffuser means associated with said steering wheel and having a plurality of apertures to direct a flow of fluid in such a manner as to inflate said confinement to a substantially expanded condition before said confinement engages the torso of the driver, and passage means extending between said reservoir and said diffuser means to connect said diffuser means in fluid communication with said reservoir.

Claim 23

Safety apparatus for protecting a driver of a vehicle having a steering wheel, said safety apparatus comprising a confinement adapted to be mounted on the steering wheel of the vehicle for rotation therewith and having a collapsed condition and an expanded condition in which said confinement engages at least a part of the rim of the steering wheel and is located between the steering wheel and the driver, said confinement having a first portion for engaging the torso of the driver of the vehicle when said confinement is in said expanded condition to restrain movement of the torso and a second portion extending at an angle to said first portion and located in such an orientation relative to the driver as to be spaced apart from the head of the driver when the driver is in an upright position and to be engaged by the head of the driver when the torso of the driver is in a forward position, and means for providing a flow of fluid to effect expansion of said confinement, said means for providing a flow of fluid including a reservoir mounted in a spaced-apart relationship with the steering wheel, diffuser means associated with said steering wheel and having a plurality of apertures to direct a flow of fluid in such a manner as to inflate said confinement to a substantially expanded condition before said confinement engages the torso of the driver, and passage means extending between said reservoir and said diffuser means to connect said diffuser means in fluid communication with said reservoir.

Claim 24

Safety apparatus for protecting a driver of a vehicle having a steering wheel and steering shaft member connected with the steering wheel for rotation therewith and a steering column housing, said safety apparatus comprising a confinement having a collapsed condition and an expanded condition, means supporting said confinement when in said collapsed condition immediately adjacent the steering wheel of the vehicle, said confinement including a circular cone portion which is located with its central axis substantially coincident with the axis of rotation of the steering wheel when said confinement is in said expanded condition, said conical portion having an outer surface which is adapted for engagement with the torso of the driver of the vehicle to restrain movement of the driver during a collision, and means for providing a flow of fluid to inflate said confinement from said collapsed condition to said expanded condition wherein said confinement is located between the steering wheel and the driver of the vehicLe, said means for providing a flow of fluid including a reservoir supported on the steering column housing of the vehicle and containing a supply of fluid under pressure, passage means formed between the steering shaft member and the steering column housing for connecting said reservoir in fluid communication with said confinement, flow-directing means for directing the flow of fluid to effect substantial expansion of said confinement before engagement occurs between said conical portion of said confinement and the torso of the driver of the vehicle.

Claim 25

Safety apparatus for protecting a driver of a vehicle having a steering wheel and steering shaft member connected with the steering wheel for rotation therewith and a steering column housing, said safety apparatus comprising a confinement having a collapsed condition and an expanded condition, means supporting said confinement when in said collapsed condition immediately adjacent the steering wheel of the vehicle, said confinement including a circular cone portion which is located with its central axis substantially coincident with the axis of rotation of the steering wheel when said confinement is in said expanded condition, said conical portion having an outer surface which is adapted for engagement with the torso of the driver of the vehicle to restrain movement of the driver during a collision, and means for providing a flow of fluid to inflate said confinement from said collapsed condition to said expanded condition wherein said confinement is located between the steering wheel and the driver of the vehicLe, said means for providing a flow of fluid including a reservoir supported on the steering column housing of the vehicle and containing a supply of fluid under pressure, passage means formed between the steering shaft member and the steering column housing for connecting said reservoir in fluid communication with said confinement, flow-directing means for directing the flow of fluid to effect substantial expansion of said confinement before engagement occurs between said conical portion of said confinement and the torso of the driver of the vehicle.

Claim 26

Safety apparatus for protecting a driver of a vehicle having a rotatable steering wheel, said safety apparatus comprising a confinement adapted to be mounted on the steering wheel of the vehicle for rotation therewith and having a collapsed condition and an expanded condition in which said confinement engages at least a part of the rim of the steering wheel and is located between the steering wheel and the driver, said confinement including a first portion disposed on a lower side of the axis of rotation of the steering wheel for engaging the torso of the driver of the vehicle when said confinement is in said expanded condition to restrain movement of the torso and a second portion disposed on an upper side of the axis of rotation of the steering wheel and extending at an angle to said first portion and located in such an orientation relative to the driver as to be spaced apart from the head of the driver when the driver is in an upright position and to be engaged by the head of the driver when the torso of the driver is in a forward position, said confinement when in the expanded condition having a symmetrical configuration with respect to the axis of rotation of the steering wheel and a generally annular cross-sectional configuration in a plane extending through said first and second portions in a direction at right angles to the axis of rotation of the steering wheel whereby said confinement has the same relationship to the driver upon operation of the confinement to the expanded condition with the steering wheel in any one of a plurality of rotational positions relative to the driver of the vehicle, and means for providing a flow of fluid to effect expansion of said confinement from the collapsed condition to the expanded condition.

Claim 27

Safety apparatus for protecting a driver of a vehicle having a rotatable steering wheel, said safety apparatus comprising a confinement adapted to be mounted on the steering wheel of the vehicle for rotation therewith and having a collapsed condition and an expanded condition in which said confinement engages at least a part of the rim of the steering wheel and is located between the steering wheel and the driver, said confinement including a first portion disposed on a lower side of the axis of rotation of the steering wheel for engaging the torso of the driver of the vehicle when said confinement is in said expanded condition to restrain movement of the torso and a second portion disposed on an upper side of the axis of rotation of the steering wheel and extending at an angle to said first portion and located in such an orientation relative to the driver as to be spaced apart from the head of the driver when the driver is in an upright position and to be engaged by the head of the driver when the torso of the driver is in a forward position, said confinement when in the expanded condition having a symmetrical configuration with respect to the axis of rotation of the steering wheel and a generally annular cross-sectional configuration in a plane extending through said first and second portions in a direction at right angles to the axis of rotation of the steering wheel whereby said confinement has the same relationship to the driver upon operation of the confinement to the expanded condition with the steering wheel in any one of a plurality of rotational positions relative to the driver of the vehicle, and means for providing a flow of fluid to effect expansion of said confinement from the collapsed condition to the expanded condition.

Claim 28

Safety apparatus as set forth in claim 18 wherein said means for providing a flow of fluid includes a source of fluid, said safety apparatus further including axially expandable and contractable conduit means for connecting said source of fluid in fluid communication with said confinement and for enabling relative movement to occur between said confinement and said source of fluid.

Claim 29

Safety apparatus as set forth in claim 19 wherein said axially expandable and contractable fluid conduit means includes a first section of conduit operatively connected with said source of fluid and a second section of conduit operatively connected with said confinement, said sections of fluid conduit being disposed in a telescopic relationship with each other.

Claim 30

Safety apparatus as set forth in claim 18 wherein said means for providing a flow of fluid includes means for directing the flow of fluid into said confinement to effect expansion of said confinement into engagement with the rim of the steering wheel and then into engagement with the torso of the driver.

Claim 31

Safety apparatus for protecting an occupant of a vehicle during a collision, said safety apparatus comprising a confinement having collapsed condition in which said confinement is located on a member in the vehicle and an expanded condition in which said confinement is located between the member and an occupant of the vehicle, said confinement in said expanded condition being effective to restrain movement of an occupant of the vehicle relative to the member during a collision, and means for providing a flow of fluid under pressure to said confinement upon the occurrence of a collision, said means for providing a flow of fluiD including a source of fluid and fluid conduit means for connecting said source of fluid in fluid communication with said confinement, said fluid conduit means including flow-directing means for directing the flow of fluid into said confinement to effect expansion of said confinement in a predetermined manner, a first section of fluid conduit connected with said flow-directing means and connected in continuous fluid communication with said confinement through said flow-directing means, a second section of fluid conduit connected continuous fluid communication with said confinement through said first section of fluid conduit and said flow-directing means, and expansion joint means for connecting said first and second sections of fluid conduit in continuous fluid communication and for enabling said first section of fluid conduit to move relative to said second section of fluid conduit upon movement of the member toward said second section of fluid conduit under the influence of forces transmitted from the confinement to the member during a collision.

Claim 32

Safety apparatus for protecting an occupant of a vehicle during a collision, said safety apparatus comprising a confinement having collapsed condition in which said confinement is located on a member in the vehicle and an expanded condition in which said confinement is located between the member and an occupant of the vehicle, said confinement in said expanded condition being effective to restrain movement of an occupant of the vehicle relative to the member during a collision, and means for providing a flow of fluid under pressure to said confinement upon the occurrence of a collision, said means for providing a flow of fluiD including a source of fluid and fluid conduit means for connecting said source of fluid in fluid communication with said confinement, said fluid conduit means including flow-directing means for directing the flow of fluid into said confinement to effect expansion of said confinement in a predetermined manner, a first section of fluid conduit connected with said flow-directing means and connected in continuous fluid communication with said confinement through said flow-directing means, a second section of fluid conduit connected continuous fluid communication with said confinement through said first section of fluid conduit and said flow-directing means, and expansion joint means for connecting said first and second sections of fluid conduit in continuous fluid communication and for enabling said first section of fluid conduit to move relative to said second section of fluid conduit upon movement of the member toward said second section of fluid conduit under the influence of forces transmitted from the confinement to the member during a collision.

Claim 33

Safety apparatus as set forth in claim 22 wherein said fluid conduit means further includes joint means for enabling said flow directing means to move in a direction transverse to the longitudinal axes of said first and second sections of fluid conduit.

Claim 34

Safety apparatus for protecting said driver of a vehicle having a steering wheel, said safety apparatus comprising a confinement mounted adjacent to the steering wheel of the vehicle and having a collapsed condition and an expanded condition in which said confinement engages at least a part of the steering wheel and is located between the steering wheel and the driver, said confinement including a first portion disposed on a lower side of the axis of rotation of the steering wheel for engaging the torso of the driver of the vehicle when said confinement is in said expanded condition to restrain movement of the torso and a second portion disposed on an upper side of the axis of rotation of the steering wheel and extending upwardly away from the driver and located in such an orientation relative to the driver as to be spaced apart from the head of the driver when the driver is in an upright position and to be engaged by the head of the driver when the torso of the driver is in a forward position, and means for providing a flow of fluid to effect expansion of said confinement from the collapsed condition to the expanded condition.

Claim 35

Safety apparatus for protecting said driver of a vehicle having a steering wheel, said safety apparatus comprising a confinement mounted adjacent to the steering wheel of the vehicle and having a collapsed condition and an expanded condition in which said confinement engages at least a part of the steering wheel and is located between the steering wheel and the driver, said confinement including a first portion disposed on a lower side of the axis of rotation of the steering wheel for engaging the torso of the driver of the vehicle when said confinement is in said expanded condition to restrain movement of the torso and a second portion disposed on an upper side of the axis of rotation of the steering wheel and extending upwardly away from the driver and located in such an orientation relative to the driver as to be spaced apart from the head of the driver when the driver is in an upright position and to be engaged by the head of the driver when the torso of the driver is in a forward position, and means for providing a flow of fluid to effect expansion of said confinement from the collapsed condition to the expanded condition.

Claim 36

Safety apparatus as set forth in claim 24 further including diffuser means for directing a flow of fluid in such a way as to inflate said confinement to a substantially expanded condition before said confinement engages the torso of the driver.

Claim 37

Safety apparatus for protecting a driver of a vehicle having a steering wheel with an outer rim adapted to be manually grasped by a driver of the vehicle and a steering column, said safety apparatus comprising a confinement having a collapsed condition and an expanded condition, said confinement in said expanded condition being effective to engage the driver''s torso to restrain movement of the driver during a collision, means for supporting said confinement in said collapsed condition adjacent to the steering wheel of the vehicle, and means for providing a flow of fluid to effect expansion of said confinement into engagement with the rim of the steering wheel and then into engagement with the torso of the driver, said last-mentioned means for providing a flow of fluid being supported on the steering column of the vehicle and connected in fluid communication with said confinement by a longitudinally extending passageway formed by a pair of members mounted in a telescopic relationship on the steering column, said members being movable relative to each other to vary their telescopic relationship upon nonrotational movement of the steering wheel relative to a longitudinal axis of the steering column.

Claim 38

Safety apparatus for protecting a driver of a vehicle having a steering wheel with an outer rim adapted to be manually grasped by a driver of the vehicle and a steering column, said safety apparatus comprising a confinement having a collapsed condition and an expanded condition, said confinement in said expanded condition being effective to engage the driver''s torso to restrain movement of the driver during a collision, means for supporting said confinement in said collapsed condition adjacent to the steering wheel of the vehicle, and means for providing a flow of fluid to effect expansion of said confinement into engagement with the rim of the steering wheel and then into engagement with the torso of the driver, said last-mentioned means for providing a flow of fluid being supported on the steering column of the vehicle and connected in fluid communication with said confinement by a longitudinally extending passageway formed by a pair of members mounted in a telescopic relationship on the steering column, said members being movable relative to each other to vary their telescopic relationship upon nonrotational movement of the steering wheel relative to a longitudinal axis of the steering column.

Claim 39

Safety apparatus for protecting a driver of a vehicle having a steering wheel with An outer rim adapted to be manually grasped by a driver of the vehicle and a steering column, said safety apparatus comprising a confinement having a collapsed condition and an expanded condition, said confinement in said expanded condition being effective to engage the driver''s torso to restrain movement of the driver during a collision, means for supporting said confinement in said collapsed condition adjacent to the steering wheel of the vehicle, and means for providing a flow of fluid to effect expansion of said confinement into engagement with the rim of the steering wheel and then into engagement with the torso of the driver, said means for providing a flow of fluid including diffuser means mounted on the steering wheel adjacent to an end portion of a passageway extending along the steering column to a source of fluid under pressure for directing a flow of fluid from said source of fluid under pressure in such a way as to inflate said confinement to a substantially expanded condition before said confinement engages the torso of the driver.

Claim 40

Safety apparatus for protecting a driver of a vehicle having a steering wheel with An outer rim adapted to be manually grasped by a driver of the vehicle and a steering column, said safety apparatus comprising a confinement having a collapsed condition and an expanded condition, said confinement in said expanded condition being effective to engage the driver''s torso to restrain movement of the driver during a collision, means for supporting said confinement in said collapsed condition adjacent to the steering wheel of the vehicle, and means for providing a flow of fluid to effect expansion of said confinement into engagement with the rim of the steering wheel and then into engagement with the torso of the driver, said means for providing a flow of fluid including diffuser means mounted on the steering wheel adjacent to an end portion of a passageway extending along the steering column to a source of fluid under pressure for directing a flow of fluid from said source of fluid under pressure in such a way as to inflate said confinement to a substantially expanded condition before said confinement engages the torso of the driver.