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:
Mar. 12, 2002
Filed:
Aug. 09, 2000
Mark A. Cartwright, West Lafayette, IN (US);
TRW Inc., Lyndhurst, OH (US);
Abstract
An apparatus for supporting a steering wheel ( ) of a vehicle ( ) comprises a first steering column part ( ) and a second steering column part ( ). The first steering column part ( ) and the vehicle steering wheel ( ) are supported for telescopic movement along an axis ( ) between a plurality of different positions relative to the second steering column part ( ). A locking mechanism ( ) is interposed between the first steering column part ( ) and the second steering column part ( ) for locking the first steering column part in a selected one of the plurality of positions. The locking mechanism ( ) comprises a fluid ( ) having a viscosity which varies in response to an energy field acting on the fluid. The locking mechanism ( ) also includes means ( ) for varying the viscosity of the fluid ( ) by varying the energy field to vary the resistance to movement of the first steering column part ( ) relative to the second steering column part ( ).