Vehicular impact protection device

Claim 1

Vehicular impact protection apparatus comprising: a steering wheel of a truck vehicle having a steering wheel rim located in a plane inclined at an angle of less than 45° to a horizontal plane; an inflatable gas bag mounted in a folded condition on said steering wheel; means activatable as a function of vehicle deceleration for providing inflation gas to inflate said inflatable gas bag; said gas bag, in an inflated condition, having the shape of a mushroom with an annular outer edge portion surrounding said steering wheel rim and extending beyond a plane defined by said steering wheel rim in a generally axial direction parallel to a steering column and perpendicular to the plane of the steering wheel rim; an abutment member instantly movable from a retracted position into an activated position toward said gas bag to restrict displacement of said gas bag parallel to said steering wheel rim; and a drive means, other than said inflation gas and said means activatable as a function of vehicle deceleration, for moving said abutment member.