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. 31, 2002
Filed:
Apr. 10, 2001
Shoichi Sugata, Yokkaichi, JP;
Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd., Yokkaichi, JP;
Abstract
A connector structure includes a connector shell, and incorporates a cable reel, an encoder, and a turn-indicator system and a lighting system. The connector shell has an axis, and is configured to be joined with a steering shaft having an axis. The connector shell includes a cylindrical section fitted around the steering shaft in a freely rotatable manner, and a receptacle section which includes a shoulder portion extending outwardly from one end of the cylindrical section, a peripheral sidewall portion, and first and second parting strip portions symmetrically provided with respect to the axis of the connector shell, thereby forming, inside the receptacle section, a central zone between the first and second parting strip portions, a first peripheral zone between the peripheral sidewall portion and the first parting strip portion, and a second peripheral zone between the peripheral sidewall portion and the second parting strip portion. The cable reel is then mounted and fixed in the central zone of the receptacle section. The turn-indicator system and the lighting system are mounted and fixed, respectively, in the first peripheral zone of the receptacle section and the second peripheral zone thereof. The connector structure further includes a shell lid which includes a top wall with a center hole and an external sidewall. The center hole is configured to receive the main axis of a steering wheel in a freely rotatable manner, and the top wall and the external sidewall cover the connector shell.