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:
May. 04, 1995
Michael R Corrunker, Dearborn Heights, MI (US);
Dragan Bogovican, Sterling Heights, MI (US);
LaVerne R Newman, Southfield, MI (US);
Pavel Bucu, Clinton Township, MI (US);
Paul R Chandler, Saline, MI (US);
Lear Corporation, Southfield, MI (US);
Abstract
An improved electrical commutator which is particularly useful in a vehicle steering wheel system, includes sets of wire brushes or fingers on a first plate. The wire brushes or fingers contact plural co-planar rings on a second plate. The two plates rotate relative to each other. The wire brushes or fingers decrease the likelihood that any one of the sets will have a short circuit. Should any one of the wires bend, break, or come out of contact with its associated contact ring, there is a likelihood that at least several of the other wires will remain in contact. In addition, there are plural sets of wire brushes or fingers associated with each of the contact rings, again increasing the likelihood that the circuit will remain intact. In other features, the plural sets may be mounted such that circumferentially spaced ones of the sets face opposed directions. In this way, there is no difference in the resistance to rotation, or the quality of the electrical communication, when the wheel is turned either clockwise or counter-clockwise.