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:
Nov. 16, 1999
Filed:
Apr. 21, 1997
Ji-Yeol Kim, Chullabuk-Do, KR;
Mando Machinery Corporation, Kyungki-do, KR;
Abstract
A steering system of automobiles for absorbing impact force, which comprises a steering tube, connected to a steering handle, having a plurality of fixing openings for fixing balls therein; a steering shaft partially inserted into the steering tube and having a plurality of multi-stepped guide grooves for guiding the balls; and the balls positioned in the fixing openings of the steering tube. The guide grooves are adjacent to the fixing openings at one end and extended longitudinally for a predetermined distance, and the balls travel from the fixing openings into the multi-stepped guide grooves between the steering tube and the steering shaft, generating frictional force and absorbing impact force. Hence, the impact force is absorbed by the multi-stepped portions of the guide grooves and gradually transmitted to the driver from the beginning to the end of a collision to ensure the driver with enough time to react to the collision, thereby minimizing injury to the driver.