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:
Jun. 25, 1996
Filed:
May. 27, 1994
Masanori Kuramoto, Furukawa, JP;
Hironori Kato, Sendai, JP;
Hiroyuki Bannai, Furukawa, JP;
Kunihiko Sasaki, Miyagi-ken, JP;
Alps Electric Co., Ltd., Tokyo, JP;
Abstract
A clock spring connector including a fixed member, a movable member rotatably connected to the fixed member, and a rotary plate fixedly connected to the movable member and rotatably mounted on the fixed member. The movable member includes a ceiling plate and a bottom plate connected together by an outer cylindrical portion, both the ceiling member and the movable member defining central openings. The movable member is received in the central openings such that an annular space is defined between an outer surface of the movable member and the outer cylindrical portion. A flexible cable is accommodated in the annular space and includes a first end and a second end. The first end of the flexible cable is connected to the movable member and to a support section of the rotary plate, the support section being located further from the center of rotation of the movable member than the edges of the central openings of the ceiling and bottom walls. The rotary plate includes a projection which is connectable to the steering wheel at a point which is further from the center of rotation of the movable member than the edges of the central openings of the ceiling and bottom walls, thereby applying a large torque to the movable member through the rotary plate when the steering wheel is rotated by a driver.