Abstract:
A vehicle steering wheel armature comprises a steel hub adapted to be axially secured to a steering shaft and magnesium rim and rim support molded about and supported by said steel hub. The circular rim is in cross section downwardly U-shaped. The rim support has two arms--right and left--downwardly angled from the hub as viewed by an operator and integrating with the rim over a length along the rim. The hub is depressed below the rim and accommodates an air bag container. The arms are stepped to created at least two plane areas generally parallel to the plane of said rim, one of which attaches to said rim and the other providing a surface for the air bag container. Preferably, there is an angled flat bar at the plane of said rim connecting the two lower joinder points of said arms with said rim. The preferred composition of the steering wheel is magnesium of at least ninety-three weight percent, aluminum of five percent with the balance containing some zinc, manganese and silicon. Also the radius of the upper portion of the rim is greater than the lower portion and their diameters differ in the same manner.