Air bag apparatus for driver's seat

Abstract

An air bag apparatus with a steering wheel is formed of a steering wheel section having a wheel center portion, wheel spoke portions extending radially outwardly from the wheel center portion and a wheel section attached to the wheel spoke portions; a retainer attached to the steering wheel section; an air bag mounted on the retainer and disposed in the wheel center portion and the wheel spoke portions; an inflator connected to the retainer for inflating the air bag; and a module cover connected to the retainer for covering the air bag. The module cover has a cover center portion and cover spoke portions extending from the cover center portion corresponding to the wheel center portion and the wheel spoke portions. The air bag apparatus for the driver's seat is made compact and has a slim appearance.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . An air bag apparatus with a steering wheel, comprising: 
 steering wheel section having a wheel center portion, wheel spoke portions extending radially outwardly from the wheel center portion, and a wheel section attached to the wheel spoke portions,    a retainer attached to the steering wheel section,    an air bag mounted on the retainer and disposed on the wheel center portion and the wheel spoke portions,    an inflator connected to the retainer for inflating the air bag, and    a module cover connected to the retainer for covering the air bag, said module cover having a cover center portion and cover spoke portions extending from the cover center portion corresponding to the wheel center portion and the wheel spoke portions.    
     
     
         2 . An air bag apparatus according to    claim 1   , wherein said module cover has at least one linear weakened portion to be torn extending from the cover center portion to the cover spoke portions.  
     
     
         3 . An air bag apparatus according to    claim 2   , wherein said wheel center portion and the wheel spoke portions include concaves communicating with each other to receive the air bag therein.  
     
     
         4 . An air bag apparatus according to    claim 3   , wherein said wheel center portion and the wheel spoke portions have upper surfaces dented from the wheel section, said module cover covering the upper surfaces of the wheel center portion and the wheel spoke portions so that an upper surface of the module cover is substantially flush with an upper surface of the wheel section.  
     
     
         5 . An air bag apparatus according to    claim 4   , wherein said at least one linear weakened portion includes a plurality of tear lines communicating each other and extending radially outwardly from the cover center portion to the cover spoke portions.  
     
     
         6 . An air bag apparatus according to    claim 1   , wherein said air bag, when disposed in the wheel center portion and wheel spoke portions, has elongated arm portions to be disposed in the wheel spoke portions.  
     
     
         7 . An air bag apparatus according to    claim 6   , wherein a number of the arm portions of the air bag corresponds to a number of the wheel spoke portions.  
     
     
         8 . An air bag apparatus adapted to be attached to a steering wheel having a wheel center portion, wheel spoke portions extending radially outwardly from the wheel center portion, and a wheel section attached to the wheel spoke portions, said air bag apparatus comprising: 
 a retainer to be attached to the steering wheel section,    an air bag mounted on the retainer to be disposed on the wheel center portion and the wheel spoke portions,    an inflator connected to the retainer for inflating the air bag, and    a module cover connected to the retainer for covering the air bag, said module cover having a cover center portion and cover spoke portions extending from the cover center portion corresponding to the wheel center portion and the wheel spoke portions.    
     
     
         9 . An air bag apparatus according to    claim 8   , wherein said module cover has at least one linear weakened portion to be torn extending from the cover center portion to the cover spoke portions.  
     
     
         10 . An air bag apparatus according to    claim 9   , wherein said at least one linear weakened portion includes a plurality of tear lines communicating each other and extending radially outwardly from the cover center portion to the cover spoke portions.  
     
     
         11 . An air bag apparatus according to    claim 8   , wherein when said air bag is folded, the air bag has a center portion and at least two elongated arm portions extending from the center portion, each of the elongated arm portions having a radial length substantially corresponding to a radial length of the air bag before the air bag is folded.  
     
     
         12 . An air bag apparatus according to    claim 11   , wherein said elongated arm portions are not folded substantially radially inwardly toward the center portion when the air bag is folded.  
     
     
         13 . An air bag apparatus according to    claim 11   , wherein a number of the arm portions of the air bag corresponds to a number of the wheel spoke portions.