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. 25, 2011
Filed:
Mar. 18, 2009
Nancy L. Johnson, Northville, MI (US);
Gunther Heim, Lampertheim, DE;
Alan L. Browne, Grosse Pointe, MI (US);
Jürgen Hulbert, Eltville, DE;
Nancy L. Johnson, Northville, MI (US);
Gunther Heim, Lampertheim, DE;
Alan L. Browne, Grosse Pointe, MI (US);
Jürgen Hulbert, Eltville, DE;
GM Global Technology Operations LLC, Detroit, MI (US);
Abstract
A tunable steering wheel release/stroking system adapted for use with a steering column, and to selectively absorb energy during a crash event, includes a steering column and an energy-absorbing element configured to receive a force from the column during the event, wherein the element is formed at least in part of an active material changeable between first and second phases when exposed to an activation signal, and configured so as to be caused to deform by and therefore absorb energy from the force at a first energy-absorbing magnitude in the first phase and at a second energy-absorbing magnitude in the second phase.