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:
Aug. 08, 2000
Filed:
Oct. 30, 1998
William E Korzan, Dearborn Heights, MI (US);
The Torrington Company, Torrington, CT (US);
Abstract
A collapsible shaft, for a steering column of a motor vehicle, having a predetermined collapse load, includes an inner shaft member having a non-circular cross-section and an outer tube member having a non-circular cross-section congruent with that of the inner shaft member and slidably overlaying the inner shaft member. This shaft arrangement provides for yieldably retaining the inner shaft in a fixed axial position in the outer tube until acted upon by a predetermined force. The means for accomplishing this includes an undercut portion, having a length 'L' and a depth 'D', on one lateral face of the inner shaft, an arcuate spring member, having an arc length 'L-.DELTA.L', fitted into the undercut portion and, when the arcuate spring is compressed during insertion of the shaft into the tube, having its ends almost butted against the ends of the undercut portion and interfering with movement of the inner shaft in the outer tube. The spring member is stressed slightly beyond its elastic limit during insertion of the inner shaft and spring member into the outer tube.