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. 25, 2000
Filed:
Sep. 07, 1997
Applicant:
Inventors:
Evgeny I Rivin, Southfield, MI (US);
Vijayarumar A Tipnis, Atlanta, GA (US);
James L Swayze, S. Rockwood, MI (US);
Assignee:
Ford Global Technologies, Inc., Dearborn, MI (US);
Attorney:
Primary Examiner:
Int. Cl.
CPC ...
B60R / ; B62D / ;
U.S. Cl.
CPC ...
280731 ; 74552 ;
Abstract
A vibration absorbing apparatus for a steering wheel (10) having an airbag assembly (16) attached to the steering wheel (10). The air bag assembly (16) is attached to a reaction plate (18) which is resiliently attached to an absorber plate (22) with elastomeric members (26). Attachment by the elastomeric members (26) is such that a predetermined resiliency of the elastomeric members (26) is not affected. This provides a consistent and repeatable apparatus for attachment, ensuring proper and efficient operation of the airbag as a mass damper.