US3868864A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Steering column mounting pad
Assignee: Motors Liquidation Co
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Filing: 1973-09-17
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Granted: 1975-03-04
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Expires: 1993-09-17
Abstract
Abstract An improved mounting pad for an energy absorbing steering column and an improved procedure for fabricating the same from a continuous ribbon of stock, the procedure including the steps of transversely severing the ribbon to define a pad blank, piercing the blank to define a slot at each end, bending the blank into a U-shaped configuration with one slot disposed at the distal end of each leg of the U, and bending the distal end of each leg outboard through an included angle of substantially 180* so that each distal end defines a flange having an open ended channel therein. Each channel is adapted for slidably receiving the edge of a slot in a bracket on the steering column and the center of each pad is adapted for reception of a rod rigidly attached to a vehicle body so that when the pad is clamped to the rod the steering column assembly is supported on the vehicle body for movement only in an energy absorbing mode.
Inventors
- 👤 Lyle H Durkee
- 👤 Lehman J Connell
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 22:55
CPC Classifications
B; B62; B62D; B62D1/00; B62D1/02; B62D1/16; B62D1/18; B62D1/19; B62D1/195
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 5
Claim 1
Independent Claim
156 words
In a vehicle body having a rod rigidly disposed thereon and a collapsible type energy absorbing steering column assembly including a bracket member, a mounting pad for disposition between said bracket member and said rod comprising, in combination, a body portion defining an aperture bounded by a pair of parallel legs interconnected at one end by a web, an integral flange disposed on the distal end of each of said legs and oriented parallel to and in juxtaposition with the outboard surface of the corresponding one of said legs, and means on each of said flanges defining a slot extending the full length of the corresponding one of said flanges, said body portion aperture receiving therethrough said rod for rigid attachment to the latter and said slots slidably receiving said bracket member thereby to slidably support the latter on said rod while preventing movement thereof in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of said rod.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
156 words
In a vehicle body having a rod rigidly disposed thereon and a collapsible type energy absorbing steering column assembly including a bracket member, a mounting pad for disposition between said bracket member and said rod comprising, in combination, a body portion defining an aperture bounded by a pair of parallel legs interconnected at one end by a web, an integral flange disposed on the distal end of each of said legs and oriented parallel to and in juxtaposition with the outboard surface of the corresponding one of said legs, and means on each of said flanges defining a slot extending the full length of the corresponding one of said flanges, said body portion aperture receiving therethrough said rod for rigid attachment to the latter and said slots slidably receiving said bracket member thereby to slidably support the latter on said rod while preventing movement thereof in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of said rod.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
66 words
A mounting pad as recited in claim 1 further including means on each of said flanges defining a pair of integral crimping tangs adjacent one end of the corresponding one of said slots, each of said crimping tangs being permanently deformable in the plane of the corresponding one of said flanges into an aperture in said bracket member for securing said pad to said bracket member.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
248 words
In a vehicle body having a rod rigidly disposed thereon and a collapsible type energy absorbing steering column assembly including a bracket member, a mounting pad for disposition between said bracket member and said rod comprising, in combination, a body portion defining an aperture bounded by a pair of parallel legs interconnected at one end by a web, an integral flange disposed on the distal end of each of said legs and oriented parallel to and in juxtaposition with the outboard surface of the corresponding one of said legs, means on each of said flanges defining a slot extending the full length of the corresponding one of said flanges, said body portion aperture receiving therethrough said rod for rigid attachment to the latter and said slots slidably receiving said bracket member thereby to slidably support the latter on said rod while preventing movement thereof in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of said rod, means on said body portion defining an aperture in said web adapted for reception of a tab on said bracket member thereby to prevent relative movement between said rod and said bracket member adjacent said web, and means on each of said flanges defining a pair of integral crimping tangs adjacent one end of the corresponding one of said slots, each of said crimping tangs being permanently deformable in the plane of the corresponding one of said flanges into an aperture in said bracket member for securing said pad to said bracket member.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
248 words
In a vehicle body having a rod rigidly disposed thereon and a collapsible type energy absorbing steering column assembly including a bracket member, a mounting pad for disposition between said bracket member and said rod comprising, in combination, a body portion defining an aperture bounded by a pair of parallel legs interconnected at one end by a web, an integral flange disposed on the distal end of each of said legs and oriented parallel to and in juxtaposition with the outboard surface of the corresponding one of said legs, means on each of said flanges defining a slot extending the full length of the corresponding one of said flanges, said body portion aperture receiving therethrough said rod for rigid attachment to the latter and said slots slidably receiving said bracket member thereby to slidably support the latter on said rod while preventing movement thereof in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of said rod, means on said body portion defining an aperture in said web adapted for reception of a tab on said bracket member thereby to prevent relative movement between said rod and said bracket member adjacent said web, and means on each of said flanges defining a pair of integral crimping tangs adjacent one end of the corresponding one of said slots, each of said crimping tangs being permanently deformable in the plane of the corresponding one of said flanges into an aperture in said bracket member for securing said pad to said bracket member.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-03-03 | 1978-09-02 | 1979-03-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-03-03 | 1982-09-02 | 1983-03-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-03-03 | 1986-09-02 | 1987-03-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |