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:
Jun. 04, 2002
Filed:
Apr. 18, 2001
Timothy A. Palmer, Moon Township, PA (US);
Christopher T. Korson, Rochester, MI (US);
Bayer Corporation, Pittsburgh, PA (US);
Abstract
Described is a break-away bracket ( ) comprising a bracket shell ( ) having a central channel ( ) and sidewalls ( and ) having outwardly extending flanges ( and ), a clip ( and ) extending over at least a portion of each flange ( and ), and a plurality of exterior reinforcing plastic ribs ( ) attached to the exterior ( ) of the bracket shell ( ). Each clip/flange assembly of the break-away bracket has at least one shearable pin ( ), e.g., a shearable plastic pin, extending therethrough. The exterior ribs ( ) are preferably formed by the molding, e.g., injection molding, of plastic material onto the exterior surfaces ( ) of the bracket shell ( ). The exterior ribs ( ) are preferably attached to the bracket shell ( ) by means of molded on plastic extending through and embedding the edges of perforations in the bracket shell. Also described is a steering column assembly comprising the break-away bracket of the present invention, and a steering column residing within the central channel of the break-away bracket.