Steering wheel assembly including a steering column including an inner shaft
adapted to be attached to a fixed part of the vehicle and an outer shaft arranged
around and rotatable relative to the inner shaft. The outer shaft is connect with
a steering mechanism which causes turning of tires of the vehicle. A steering wheel
is connected to and for rotation with the outer shaft and an airbag module includes
an airbag connected to the inner shaft. The airbag module does not rotate upon
rotation of the outer shaft and the steering wheel. The airbag is thus stationary
relative to the steering wheel and as a result, its shape is not constrained by
any limitations which arise when the airbag must rotate along with the steering
wheel as in conventional steering wheel-mounted airbag systems.