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:
Sep. 19, 1989
Filed:
Oct. 14, 1988
Masaru Suzuki, Aichi, JP;
Kabushiki Kaisha Tokai Rika Denki Seisakusho, Aichi, JP;
Abstract
The disclosure relates to an apparatus for making an electrical connection between a steering wheel and a steering column in the steering system of a vehicle, and more particularly, to the apparatus having an indication for indicating the number of rotations of the steering wheel. The apparatus includes a stationary case to be fixed to the steering column, a rotor member rotatable together with the steering wheel, and a coiled tape member. This tape member provides an electrical connection between the steering wheel and the steering column and is accommodated in a case comprising the stationary case and the rotor member. The apparatus further comprises a sprocket mounted on the rotor member, an internal gear formed on the inner face of the stationary case, and a ring-shaped member rotatably provided between the sprocket and the internal gear. The ring-shaped member has a plurality of windows arranged in a pitch different from the pitch between the teeth of the internal gear. The sprocket engages with the internal gear through the windows of the ring-shaped member. The ring-shaped member will slightly shift relative to the stationary case when the rotor member rotates with the rotation of the steering wheel. The shift of the ring-shaped member can be detected by a change in relative position between the position mark indicated on the ring-shaped member and the position mark indicated on either the stationary case or the rotor member.