Patent ID: 7823916

Claim:
A supplemental inflatable restraint system for a vehicle having a passenger compartment with a seat assembly mounted therein, the restraint system comprising: a steering wheel assembly configured to operatively attach to the vehicle inside of the passenger compartment proximate to the seat assembly, said steering wheel assembly including a wheel rim defining a first cavity with a first opening; a first inflatable cushion operable to transition through said first opening from a non-expanded state in which said first inflatable cushion is substantially inside said first cavity to an expanded state in which said first inflatable cushion is substantially outside said first cavity; at least one fluid dispensing apparatus in fluid communication with said first inflatable cushion and operable to selectively dispense inflation fluid thereto and thereby transition said first cushion from said non-expanded state to said expanded state; and wherein said first inflatable cushion is located substantially closer to the seat assembly when in said expanded state than when in said non-expanded state.