Ford Global Technolgoies, LLC

Witte Automotive Gmbh

Martin Fassbender

Macit Aktas

Joseph Michael Kish

Timothy Scott

Philipp Kuepper

Thomas Kreuz

Thorsten Janssen

Heinz-Joachim Klein

Markus Schaps

Philipp Küpper

Uwe Thiesmeyer

An adjustment device for a steering wheel may have a first shaft about which the steering wheel is pivotable. A rotary latch is rotationally fixed to the steering wheel by a rotary latch element. A second shaft is arranged in parallel with the first shaft. A coupling lever is arranged on the second shaft to interact with the rotary latch element. The coupling lever has a stop surface which, for the purpose of engagement, engages in at least one corresponding stop surface of the rotary latch element when the steering wheel, and thus also the rotary latch, is pivoted. At least one of the stop surfaces may have a chamfer via which the coupling lever can be displaced or is displaced out of the engagement with the rotary latch element when a predetermined force is applied to the steering wheel.

Adjustment device for a steering wheel of a motor vehicle

A steering wheel assembly includes a rim that is movably connected to a base for movement between driving and utility positions. A movement control mechanism is configured to selectively lock the rim in the driving position relative to the base structure. The motion control mechanism includes a detent that is configured to retain the rim structure in the utility position relative to the base structure, whereby a user can apply a force to the rim structure to overcome the detent and move the rim structure from the utility position to the driving position.

Tiltable steering wheel mechanism having driving and utility positions

A heated steering wheel having a first electrical circuit including, in series, a first heating element disposed adjacent to a 3 o'clock of the wheel, a second heating element disposed adjacent to a 9 o'clock position of the wheel, and a positive temperature coefficient thermistor heated by one of the first and second heating elements; and a second electrical circuit including, in series, a third heating element disposed at a 6 o'clock position of the wheel, a fourth heating element disposed at a 12 o'clock position of the wheel, and a negative temperature coefficient thermistor heated by one of the first and second heating elements. The flow of electricity through the second electrical circuit is delayed until after electricity has flowed through the first electrical circuit warm those portions of the wheel to a desired temperature.

Heated steering wheel

Growing community of inventors

Buschhoven, Germany

Martin Fassbender