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:
May. 16, 1989
Filed:
Jan. 21, 1986
Hiroaki Shinto, Aichi, JP;
Syuji Nakamura, Aichi, JP;
Terumoto Yamaguchi, Aichi, JP;
Tomiji Oguri, Aichi, JP;
Kabushiki Kaisha Tokai-Rika-Denki-Seisakusho, Aichi, JP;
Abstract
An energy absorbing apparatus for a steering wheel includes an energy absorbing portion or member disposed between a steering shaft and a steering wheel rim. The energy absorbing member is constituted by an annular relatively thin plate which surrounds the axis of the steering shaft. A portion of the energy absorbing member is bent in the plane orthogonal to the axis of the steering shaft, whereby the bent portion is deformed when a collision occurs, and the kinetic energy is thereby absorbed. The deformable bent portion is provided with a plurality of slits extending radially of the steering shaft and has embossed portions each defined between a pair of adjacent slits, whereby it is possible to control the absorption of any impact load and adjust the amount of kinetic energy which it is intended should be absorbed.