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:
Jan. 09, 2001
Filed:
Aug. 05, 1998
Larry D. Hoagland, Noblesville, IN (US);
William V. Hoagland, Greencastle, IN (US);
Unique Technologies, L.P., Carmel, IN (US);
Abstract
A steering column safety device for use in a motor vehicle having a steering wheel for communicating steering torque to a steering mechanism, and having a collision sensing assembly for sensing a collision, includes a hollow cylinder having a top end and a bottom end, the top end being sized and configured for fixed, torque-transmitting connection to a steering wheel; a piston residing within the cylinder for sliding, telescopic reciprocation between an extended position and a collapsed position; an elongated rod with first and second ends, the first end being secured to the piston and the second end being sized and configured for fixed, torque-transmitting connection to the steering mechanism; structure for transmitting torque between the cylinder and the rod; a sealing assembly for sealing the hollow cylinder to define a fluid-tight cavity within the hollow cylinder between the piston and the top end of the cylinder, the fluid-tight cavity containing prior-to-collision pressurized gas; and, a mechanism to rapidly open the sealing assembly in response to a signal generated by the collision sensing assembly, thereby permitting movement of the hollow cylinder from the extended position to the collapsed position.