US3556550A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Steering gear for motor vehicles
Assignee: FIAT SOC PER AZION
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Filing: 1968-08-27
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Granted: 1971-01-19
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Expires: 1988-08-27
Abstract
Abstract A safety steering gear has at least the rearward portion of the steering shaft deformable about a horizontal transverse axis to assume a vertical position under frontal impact forces. The steering wheel attached to this shaft is also rotatable about a horizontal transverse axis and rotates in the opposite sense to the rearward shaft portion so as to assume a flat near-vertical position with its rim collapsed against the rear shaft portion after impact. The attachment of the steering wheel to the shaft may comprise a universal joint, surrounded by a collapsible sleeve that collapses on frontal impact. The underside of a guide member in which the shaft is mounted near the wheel pivots upwardly on a frontal impact and is padded to prevent injury to the driver''s chest. There may be a yieldable and telescopic joint in the forward portion of the shaft.
Inventors
- 👤 Enzo Franchin
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 18:55
CPC Classifications
B; B62; B62D; B62D1/00; B62D1/02; B62D1/16; B62D1/18; B62D1/19; B62D1/197
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
190 words
Steering gear for a motor vehicle comprising: a. a steering box, b. a shaft connected to the steering box, c. a steering wheel mounted on the end of the shaft remote from the steering box, d. guide means supporting the shaft for rotation about its axis, e. mounting means for securing the guide means to a fixed point of the vehicle body, f. a yieldable joint in said shaft permitting rotation of a rearward portion of the shaft about an axis transverse to the axis of the shaft in response to a forward force on the steering wheel due to frontal impact, g. a yieldable attachment connecting the steering wheel to the shaft and permitting rotation of the steering wheel relative to the shaft about an axis parallel to the said transverse axis and in the opposite sense to the rotation of the rearward shaft portion in response to a said forward force, the yieldable joint and the yieldable attachment comprising universal joints, the yieldable attachment including a collapsible sleeve surrounding the universal joint to render the joint normally inoperative, the sleeve being collapsible in response to a frontal impact.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
190 words
Steering gear for a motor vehicle comprising: a. a steering box, b. a shaft connected to the steering box, c. a steering wheel mounted on the end of the shaft remote from the steering box, d. guide means supporting the shaft for rotation about its axis, e. mounting means for securing the guide means to a fixed point of the vehicle body, f. a yieldable joint in said shaft permitting rotation of a rearward portion of the shaft about an axis transverse to the axis of the shaft in response to a forward force on the steering wheel due to frontal impact, g. a yieldable attachment connecting the steering wheel to the shaft and permitting rotation of the steering wheel relative to the shaft about an axis parallel to the said transverse axis and in the opposite sense to the rotation of the rearward shaft portion in response to a said forward force, the yieldable joint and the yieldable attachment comprising universal joints, the yieldable attachment including a collapsible sleeve surrounding the universal joint to render the joint normally inoperative, the sleeve being collapsible in response to a frontal impact.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
187 words
Steering gear for a motor vehIcle comprising: a. a steering box, b. a shaft connected to the steering box, c. a steering wheel mounted on the end of the shaft remote from the steering box, d. guide means supporting the shaft for rotation about its axis, e. mounting means for securing the guide means to a fixed point of the vehicle body, f. a yieldable joint in said shaft permitting rotation of a rearward portion of the shaft about an axis transverse to the axis of the shaft in response to a forward force on the steering wheel due to frontal impact, g. a yieldable attachment connecting the steering wheel to the shaft and permitting rotation of the steering wheel relative to the shaft about an axis parallel to the said transverse axis and in the opposite sense to the rotation of the rearward shaft portion in response to a said forward force, the guide means comprising an outer sheath surrounding at least the rearward portion of the shaft and provided on its lower side with padding forming a shock absorbing protective shield for the driver''s body.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
187 words
Steering gear for a motor vehIcle comprising: a. a steering box, b. a shaft connected to the steering box, c. a steering wheel mounted on the end of the shaft remote from the steering box, d. guide means supporting the shaft for rotation about its axis, e. mounting means for securing the guide means to a fixed point of the vehicle body, f. a yieldable joint in said shaft permitting rotation of a rearward portion of the shaft about an axis transverse to the axis of the shaft in response to a forward force on the steering wheel due to frontal impact, g. a yieldable attachment connecting the steering wheel to the shaft and permitting rotation of the steering wheel relative to the shaft about an axis parallel to the said transverse axis and in the opposite sense to the rotation of the rearward shaft portion in response to a said forward force, the guide means comprising an outer sheath surrounding at least the rearward portion of the shaft and provided on its lower side with padding forming a shock absorbing protective shield for the driver''s body.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
33 words
Steering gear as claimed in claim 2, wherein the padding is formed with a groove accommodating part of the rim of the steering wheel upon rotation of the latter about said transverse axis.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
242 words
Steering gear for a motor vehicle having an instrument board, comprising: a. a steering box, b. a shaft connected to the steering box, c. a steering wheel mounted on the end of the shaft remote from the steering box, d. guide means supporting the shaft for rotation about its axis, e. mounting means for securing the guide means at a fixed point thereon to a fixed point on the instrument board of the vehicle, f. a first yieldable joint in the shaft permitting rotation of a rearward portion of the shaft connected to the steering wheel about a generally horizontal axis transverse to the axis of the shaft in response to a forward force on the steering wheel due to frontal impact, g. a yieldable attachment connecting the steering wheel to the shaft and permitting rotation of the steering wheel relative to the shaft about an axis parallel to said transverse axis and in the opposite sense to the rotation of the rearward shaft portion in response to a forward force, h. a second yieldable joint in a forward portion of the shaft connected to the steering box to permit rotation of the forward portion of the shaft about an axis parallel to said transverse axis, and i. a telescopic joint in the forward portion of the shaft rearwardly of the yieldable joint therein, the telescopic joint permitting reduction of the length of the forward portion of the shaft upon frontal impact.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
242 words
Steering gear for a motor vehicle having an instrument board, comprising: a. a steering box, b. a shaft connected to the steering box, c. a steering wheel mounted on the end of the shaft remote from the steering box, d. guide means supporting the shaft for rotation about its axis, e. mounting means for securing the guide means at a fixed point thereon to a fixed point on the instrument board of the vehicle, f. a first yieldable joint in the shaft permitting rotation of a rearward portion of the shaft connected to the steering wheel about a generally horizontal axis transverse to the axis of the shaft in response to a forward force on the steering wheel due to frontal impact, g. a yieldable attachment connecting the steering wheel to the shaft and permitting rotation of the steering wheel relative to the shaft about an axis parallel to said transverse axis and in the opposite sense to the rotation of the rearward shaft portion in response to a forward force, h. a second yieldable joint in a forward portion of the shaft connected to the steering box to permit rotation of the forward portion of the shaft about an axis parallel to said transverse axis, and i. a telescopic joint in the forward portion of the shaft rearwardly of the yieldable joint therein, the telescopic joint permitting reduction of the length of the forward portion of the shaft upon frontal impact.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
43 words
Steering gear as claimed in claim 4 wherein the guide means comprises an outer sheath surrounding at least the rearward portion of the shaft and is provided on its lower side with padding forming a shock absorbent protective shield for the driver''s body.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-01-18 | 1974-07-20 | 1975-01-19 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-01-18 | 1978-07-20 | 1979-01-19 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-01-18 | 1982-07-20 | 1983-01-19 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |