Apparatus for mounting an inflatable vehicle occupant restraint module to a vehicle steering wheel

Claim 2

Apparatus for mounting a housing for an inflatable vehicle occupant restraint module to a vehicle steering wheel armature, said apparatus comprising: at least two snap-in fasteners for holding the housing in assembled relation with the armature; and a resiliently compressible member interposed intermediate said steering wheel armature and said housing to permit overtravel of said snap-in fasteners during assembly with said housing and to thereafter exert a force upon said housing to maintain a firm engagement of said snap-in fasteners with said housing and with said armature and thereby maintain engagement between said housing and said armature; wherein said resiliently compressible member is constructed of an electrically conductive elastomeric material so as to complete an electrically conductive path between said housing and said steering wheel armature.

Claim 3

Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said resiliently compressible member is interposed intermediate said housing and a projecting portion of said steering wheel armature which extends said housing.

Claim 4

Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said resiliently compressible member comprises a body having a frusto-conical lead-in surface followed by a reduced diameter surface and an increased diameter head at a side of said reduced diameter surface opposite said lead-in surface, for snap-in engagement with an aperture in said armature which has complementary dimensions, such that said module housing engages said head.

Claim 5

Apparatus according to claim 3 wherein said head defines an internal bore sized to obtain a desired compressibility and resiliency of said head for assembly of said housing therewith.

Claim 6

A combination of an inflatable vehicle occupant restraint module and apparatus for mounting said module to a steering wheel armature, said module comprising a housing and said mounting apparatus comprising a pair of snap-in fasteners coupled with the housing and aligned with mounting means for mounting said fasteners to said steering wheel armature; and a resiliently compressible member interposed intermediate said steering wheel armature and said housing to permit overtravel of said snap-in fasteners relative to said mounting means and to thereafter exert a force upon said housing to maintain a firm engagement of said snap-in fasteners relative to said housing and said armature, and thereby maintain engagement between said housing and said armature; wherein said resiliently compressible member is constructed of an electrically conductive elastomeric material so as to complete an electrically conductive path between said housing and said steering wheel armature.

Claim 7

A combination of an inflatable vehicle occupant restraint module and apparatus for mounting said module to a steering wheel armature, said module comprising a housing and said mounting apparatus comprising a pair of snap-in fasteners coupled with the housing and aligned with mounting means for mounting said fasteners to said steering wheel armature; and a resiliently compressible member interposed intermediate said steering wheel armature and said housing to permit overtravel of said snap-in fasteners relative to said mounting means and to thereafter exert a force upon said housing to maintain a firm engagement of said snap-in fasteners relative to said housing and said armature, and thereby maintain engagement between said housing and said armature; wherein said resiliently compressible member is constructed of an electrically conductive elastomeric material so as to complete an electrically conductive path between said housing and said steering wheel armature.

Claim 8

The combination according to claim 5 and further including a cover portion and a cover retainer plate assembled with said housing, and wherein said module further includes an inflatable cushion mounted beneath said cover and a membrane horn switch interposed intermediate said inflatable cushion and said cover for activation in response to a compressive force applied thereto by and between said cover and said inflatable cushion; said horn switch having a lead electrically coupled to said cover retainer plate.

Claim 9

The combination according to claim 5 wherein said resiliently compressible member is interposed intermediate said housing and a projecting portion of said steering wheel armature which extends toward said housing.

Claim 10

The combination according to claim 5 wherein said resiliently compressible member comprises a body having a frusto-conical lead-in surface followed by a reduced diameter surface and an increased diameter head at a side of said reduced diameter surface opposite said lead-in surface, for snap-in engagement with an aperture in said armature which has complementary dimensions, such that said module housing engages said head.

Claim 11

Apparatus according to claim 8 wherein said head defines an internal bore sized to obtain a desired compressibility and resiliency of said head for assembly of said housing therewith.

Claim 12

A resiliently compressible member for use in an assembly for mounting a housing for an inflatable vehicle occupant restraint module to a vehicle steering wheel armature, comprising: a resiliently compressible, electrically conductive body having a frusto-conical lead-in surface followed by a reduced diameter surface and an increased diameter dome-shaped head at a side of said reduced diameter surface opposite said lead-in surface, said body for engagement between said armature and said module housing, such that said module housing engages said head.

Claim 13

A resiliently compressible member for use in an assembly for mounting a housing for an inflatable vehicle occupant restraint module to a vehicle steering wheel armature, comprising: a resiliently compressible, electrically conductive body having a frusto-conical lead-in surface followed by a reduced diameter surface and an increased diameter dome-shaped head at a side of said reduced diameter surface opposite said lead-in surface, said body for engagement between said armature and said module housing, such that said module housing engages said head.