Electrically coupled steering column

Claim 2

An electrically coupled device, comprising: a rotatable member and a non-rotatable member concentric with said rotatable member and with one of said members having terminal means for connection with an electrical power source, said rotatable and non-rotatable members defining a chamber therebetween; a pair of electrical connectors each having one end fixed to said terminal means of said one member and being tightly wrapped in an overlapping relationship a plurality of complete revolutions upon said one member and within said chamber, said connectors being reversely looped between said members and being tightly wrapped in an overlapping relationship a plurality of complete revolutions upon the other of said members and within said chamber, said connectors each having their other ends fixed to terminal means upon said other member to provide electrical continuity between said members, said connectors wrapping tightly upon said non-rotatable member and unwrapping from said rotatable member in response to rotation of said rotatable member in said one direction and said connectors wrapping tightly upon said rotatable member and unwrapping from said non-rotatable member in response to rotation of said rotatable member in said opposite direction whereby said electrical continuity between said members is maintained through a plurality of complete revolutions of said rotatable member relative to said non-rotatable member; and a plurality spacers between the wraps of said connectors upon said rotatable and non-rotatable members and about which said connectors are reversely looped providing for and maintaining a tight wrapping of said connectors upon said rotatable and nonrotatable members.

Claim 3

An electrically coupled steering column mechanism for a motor vehicle, comprising: a housing, a steering wheel fixedly supported upon the upper end of a steering shaft assembly which is rotatably supported within said housing; a first carrier supported upon the upper end of said housing and a second carrier being rotatably supported and drivingly connected with said steering wheel, said first carrier having terminal means connected to a power source and said second carrier having terminal means, said first and second carriers defining an enclosed chamber therebetween; a pair of flexible electrical connectors each having one end fixed to said terminal means of said first carrier and having a portion thereof tightly wrapped radially inwardly in an overlapping relationship a plurality of complete revolutions in one direction upon said first carrier, said connectors being reversely looped in opposite positions within said chamber and having another portion thereof tightly wrapped radially outwardly in an overlapping relationship a plurality of revolutions in said one direction upon said second carrier, said connectors having their other ends fixed to said terminal means of said second carrier to provide electrical continuity between said carriers, said connectors wrapping tightly upon said first carrier and unwrapping from said second carrier in response to rotation of said second carrier in said one direction and said connectors wrapping tightly upon said second carrier and unwrapping from said first carrier in response to rotation of said second carrier in said opposite direction; a plurality of spacers between the wraps of said connectors on said first and second connector carriers for providing tight wrapping of said connectors upon said first and second connector carriers whereby said electrical continuity between said carriers is maintained through a plurality of complete revolutions of said second carrier relative to said first carrier.

Claim 4

An electrically coupled steering column mechanism for a motor vehicle, comprising: a housing, a steering wheel fixedly supported upon the upper end of a steering shaft assembly which is rotatably supported within said housing; a first carrier supported upon the upper end of said housing and a second carrier being rotatably supported and drivingly connected with said steering wheel, said first carrier having terminal means connected to a power source and said second carrier having terminal means, said first and second carriers defining an enclosed chamber therebetween; a pair of flexible electrical connectors each having one end fixed to said terminal means of said first carrier and having a portion thereof tightly wrapped radially inwardly in an overlapping relationship a plurality of complete revolutions in one direction upon said first carrier, said connectors being reversely looped in opposite positions within said chamber and having another portion thereof tightly wrapped radially outwardly in an overlapping relationship a plurality of revolutions in said one direction upon said second carrier, said connectors having their other ends fixed to said terminal means of said second carrier to provide electrical continuity between said carriers, said connectors wrapping tightly upon said first carrier and unwrapping from said second carrier in response to rotation of said second carrier in said one direction and said connectors wrapping tightly upon said second carrier and unwrapping from said first carrier in response to rotation of said second carrier in said opposite direction; a plurality of spacers between the wraps of said connectors on said first and second connector carriers for providing tight wrapping of said connectors upon said first and second connector carriers whereby said electrical continuity between said carriers is maintained through a plurality of complete revolutions of said second carrier relative to said first carrier.

Claim 5

An electrically coupled steering column mechanism for a motor vehicle, comprising; a housing, a steerIng shaft assembly rotatably supported in a substantially concentric manner within said housing; a steering wheel fixedly supported upon the upper end of said steering shaft assembly for manual rotation thereof; a first circular connector carrier having a disc portion with an annular side wall projecting therefrom adjacent the outer periphery of said disc portion, said first connector carrier being rigidly connected with the upper end of said housing immediately adjacent said steering wheel and having electrical terminal means connected to a power source; a second circular connector carrier having a disc portion with an annular side wall projecting therefrom inwardly of the outer periphery of said disc portion, said second connector carrier being rotatably supported upon said first connector carrier between said steering wheel and said first connector carrier and defining with said first connector carrier a ring-shaped chamber therebetween, said second connector carrier having terminal means and being drivingly connected with said steering wheel; a pair of flexible electrical connectors each having one end fixed to the terminal means of said first connector carrier and having a portion thereof wrapped radially inwardly in an overlapping relationship a plurality of revolutions in a clockwise direction within said chamber and upon said annular side wall of said first connector carrier, said connectors being reversely looped at opposite locations within said chamber and having another portion there of wrapped radially outwardly in an overlapping relationship a plurality of revolutions in a clockwise direction within said chamber an upon said annular side wall of said second connector carrier, said connectors having their other ends fixed to the terminal means of said second connector carrier to provide electrical continuity therebetween, said connectors wrapping upon said first connector carrier in response to rotation of said steering wheel in said one direction and said connectors wrapping upon said second connector and unwrapping from said first connector carrier in response to rotation of said steering wheel in said opposite direction; a plurality of roller spacers circulating within said chamber in response to wrapping and unwrapping of said connectors and separating the wraps of said connectors on said first and second connector carriers to assure tight wrapping of said connectors upon said first and second connector carriers; whereby said electrical continuity between the rotatable members and the non-rotatable members is maintained through a plurality of revolutions of said steering wheel.

Claim 6

An electrically coupled steering column mechanism for a motor vehicle, comprising; a housing, a steerIng shaft assembly rotatably supported in a substantially concentric manner within said housing; a steering wheel fixedly supported upon the upper end of said steering shaft assembly for manual rotation thereof; a first circular connector carrier having a disc portion with an annular side wall projecting therefrom adjacent the outer periphery of said disc portion, said first connector carrier being rigidly connected with the upper end of said housing immediately adjacent said steering wheel and having electrical terminal means connected to a power source; a second circular connector carrier having a disc portion with an annular side wall projecting therefrom inwardly of the outer periphery of said disc portion, said second connector carrier being rotatably supported upon said first connector carrier between said steering wheel and said first connector carrier and defining with said first connector carrier a ring-shaped chamber therebetween, said second connector carrier having terminal means and being drivingly connected with said steering wheel; a pair of flexible electrical connectors each having one end fixed to the terminal means of said first connector carrier and having a portion thereof wrapped radially inwardly in an overlapping relationship a plurality of revolutions in a clockwise direction within said chamber and upon said annular side wall of said first connector carrier, said connectors being reversely looped at opposite locations within said chamber and having another portion there of wrapped radially outwardly in an overlapping relationship a plurality of revolutions in a clockwise direction within said chamber an upon said annular side wall of said second connector carrier, said connectors having their other ends fixed to the terminal means of said second connector carrier to provide electrical continuity therebetween, said connectors wrapping upon said first connector carrier in response to rotation of said steering wheel in said one direction and said connectors wrapping upon said second connector and unwrapping from said first connector carrier in response to rotation of said steering wheel in said opposite direction; a plurality of roller spacers circulating within said chamber in response to wrapping and unwrapping of said connectors and separating the wraps of said connectors on said first and second connector carriers to assure tight wrapping of said connectors upon said first and second connector carriers; whereby said electrical continuity between the rotatable members and the non-rotatable members is maintained through a plurality of revolutions of said steering wheel.