The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jan. 12, 1988
Filed:
Nov. 04, 1986
Youichi Hyodo, Okazaki, JP;
Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha, Aichi, JP;
Abstract
A steering shaft deformable in response to a force corresponding to frontal impact of a vehicle. The steering shaft includes an upper shaft, a lower shaft and a deformable plate. The upper shaft and the lower shaft are fixed on the deformable plate at a first position and a second position, respectively. The first position and the second position are perpendicularly offset from an axis of the steering shaft. Means for controlling deformation of the deformable plate is formed in the deformable plate between the first position and the second position. The means can be a slit, a hole or a groove. When the steering shaft receives a force corresponding to frontal impact of the vehicle, the deformable plate deforms along the means causing attenuation of the force as well significant absorbtion of the impact energy. Such a steering shaft can be mounted on the vehicle without significantly increasing the space required for mounting the steering device.