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:
Dec. 28, 1999
Filed:
Oct. 16, 1997
Michael E Heidorn, Beverly Hills, MI (US);
TRW Inc., Lyndhurst, OH (US);
Abstract
An apparatus includes a vehicle steering wheel (10) for attachment to a vehicle steering column (12). The steering wheel (10) is rotatable and has a hub (130) for non-rotatable attachment to an end (162) of the steering column (12) so that the steering column rotates about an axis (B) upon rotation of the steering wheel. The hub (130) has a first surface (138) defining a first passage (140) for receiving the end (162) of the steering column (12) and a second surface (152) defining a second passage (150) extending transverse to the first passage and partially intersecting the first passage. A hollow cylindrical member (200) blocks axial movement of the hub (130) relative to the steering column (12). The hollow cylindrical member (200) is radially contractible for insertion into the second passage (150) and is radially expandable into contact with the second surface (152) and the steering column (12).