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:
Oct. 14, 2008
Filed:
Jun. 01, 2005
Marvin V. Manwaring, Clio, MI (US);
Richard K. Riefe, Saginaw, MI (US);
Ray G. Armstrong, Bay City, MI (US);
Lee M. Tinnin, Clio, MI (US);
Ravindra Jwalapathy, Saginaw, MI (US);
Robert L. Stearns, Frankenmuth, MI (US);
Marvin V. Manwaring, Clio, MI (US);
Richard K. Riefe, Saginaw, MI (US);
Ray G. Armstrong, Bay City, MI (US);
Lee M. Tinnin, Clio, MI (US);
Ravindra Jwalapathy, Saginaw, MI (US);
Robert L. Stearns, Frankenmuth, MI (US);
Delphi Technologies, Inc., Troy, MI (US);
Abstract
A steering column assembly includes a steering column having a selectively collapsible structure that enables said column to collapse in the event of an impact force resulting from a vehicle crash. An adaptive energy absorbing device is associated with said column and operates in a first condition to absorb a first level of energy of the collapsing column and in a second condition to absorb a second level of energy of the collapsing column. The assembly includes a telltale detection device that is associated with the adaptive energy absorbing device and is responsive to a change in condition of the energy absorbing device prior to a collapse event to provide a signal to a user of the condition of the energy absorbing device.