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. 28, 2000
Filed:
Jun. 16, 1999
Applicant:
Inventors:
Gregory Thomas Hedderly, White Lake, MI (US);
Craig Hammann Stephan, Ann Arbor, MI (US);
Edward Joseph Abramoski, Canton, MI (US);
Joseph Paul Tekelly, Troy, MI (US);
Leonard Murray Brown, Farmington Hills, MI (US);
Assignee:
Ford Global Technologies, Inc., Dearborn, MI (US);
Attorneys:
Primary Examiner:
Assistant Examiner:
Int. Cl.
CPC ...
B62D / ;
U.S. Cl.
CPC ...
280775 ; 280777 ; 188267 ; 1882671 ; 188376 ; 188377 ;
Abstract
A method is provided for optimizing energy dissipation in a vehicle steering column in a high energy impact. The method includes the steps of: (a) providing a variable energy dissipation system on the vehicle steering column; (b) sensing at least one occupant condition; and (c) adjusting the variable energy dissipation system based upon the sensed occupant condition to optimize energy dissipation.