Patent ID: 6305711
Filing Date: 2001-10-23
Classification: B60R,B62D

Abstract:
A vehicle safety apparatus comprising:a vehicle steering column connected to a vehicle steering wheel to turn rotatable steerable vehicle wheels,a module operatively associated with said steering wheel and having an inflatable device for helping to protect an occupant of a vehicle and an inflator connected with said inflatable device to provide inflation fluid for inflating said inflatable device, andat least one actuatable fastener connected between said steering column and a vehicle part, said actuatable fastener having an unactuated condition blocking movement of said steering column in a forward direction in the vehicle relative to the vehicle part,said actuatable fastener having an actuated condition releasing said steering column for movement in the forward direction in the vehicle relative to the vehicle part under load applied to said inflatable device by the vehicle occupant, said forward movement of said steering column enabling forward movement of said inflatable device.