Means Industries, Inc.

Mark A Willett

David W Shaw

Robert H Field

William T Adams

A clutch plate, for use with a one-way clutch having a torque-load-transmitting member or &ldquo;strut&rdquo; includes a plurality of stacked laminas. At least two of the laminas cooperate to define a load-bearing surface. The load-bearing surface is cooperable with the torque-load-transmitting member to effect one-way torque-load transfer between the strut and the plate. Furthermore, the laminas are secured together to prevent relative movement of any one of the laminas with respect to another of the laminas when the torque-load is transmitted between the strut and the plate.

Laminated one-way clutch

A steering column assembly. The steering column assembly comprises an upper column member and a lower column member mounted to the upper column member such that the upper column member can move relative to the lower column member. A shock absorption assembly is interconnected between the upper column member and lower column member. The shock absorption assembly includes a piston member and a piston receiver, the piston receiver including absorbing material which, upon impact to the upper column member, is compressed by the piston member within the piston receiver and extruded from the piston receiver so as to absorb impact energy as the upper column member moves relative to the lower column member.

Steering column assembly

A shock absorbing assembly capable of being connected to a vehicle frame member having a frame member aperture defining an aperture perimeter and for dampening movements between a body member and the vehicle frame member. The shock absorbing assembly comprising a first spacer member and a second spacer member. The first spacer member has first absorption material and a first locking member having one of a male and female configuration and the second spacer has second absorption material and a second locking member having the other of a male and female configuration. The male configuration includes at least one prong having at least one locking protrusion and the female configuration includes at least one female recess. The female recess defines at least one locking recess such that the first spacer member may be connected to the second spacer member through the frame member aperture by inserting the at least one prong into the at least one female recess such that the at least one prong is displaced laterally before the at least one locking protrusion interlocks with the at least one locking recess.

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Midland, MI, United States of America

Mark A Willett