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:
Feb. 04, 1992
Filed:
Dec. 19, 1990
Dale W Converse, Livonia, MI (US);
Ford Motor Company, Dearborn, MI (US);
Abstract
An energy absorbing steering column support member for mounting a steering column to a half beam support frame extending transversely of the vehicle. The support member being in the general shape of a parallelogram having a first base wall affixed to the steering column and disposed along the axis of the steering column, a second base wall opposite the first base wall and affixed to the half-beam, and two opposed channel-shaped side walls extending between the first and second base walls. Each side wall including upper and lower rolled flanges which increase in width and accordingly, in bending resistance, from the first base wall to the second base wall. As the steering column axially collapses during a high energy impact, each side wall absorbs energy by forming a plastic hinge that moves from the first base wall to the second base wall at a rate providing near constant energy absorption at the initial peak load level.