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:
Mar. 22, 1994
Filed:
Mar. 22, 1993
Takayoshi Kido, Ino Hiratsuka, JP;
Tetsuya Watanabe, Fuji, JP;
Nissan Motor Co., Ltd., both of, JP;
Nihon Plast, Co., Ltd., both of, JP;
Abstract
An energy absorbing steering wheel assembly for use with a steering shaft includes an annular rim, a hub connecting the annular rim drivingly with an end portion of the steering shaft, a center covering member positioned at a generally center portion of the annular rim, and an energy absorbing structure positioned between the hub and the center covering member. The energy absorbing structure comprising a first portion connected to the center covering member, a second portion connected to the hub, a third portion which is sandwiched between the first and second portions, and brace members for minimizing displacement of the first portion and the third portion relative to each other and to the second portion when an impact load, exceeding a predetermined magnitude, is applied to the center covering member at an angle to the steering shaft.