US4011644A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method for manufacturing a steering wheel
Assignee: Ford Motor Co
•
Filing: 1975-12-19
•
Granted: 1977-03-15
•
Expires: 1995-12-19
Abstract
Abstract A method of manufacturing a steering wheel according to the present disclosure comprising the steps of forming an arcuate first rim core member having a substantially rigid body portion, forming a second rim core member by winding a spring member into a helix, severing the helical spring member to form an arcuate spring section, to the arcuate first rim core member to form an annular rim core assembly, securing the ends of a pair of spokes to the first rim core member, and covering the first rim core member and the arcuate spring section with a material providing a hand gripping surface.
Inventors
- 👤 George H. Muller
- 👤 Warren A. VanWicklin, Jr.
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 21:20
CPC Classifications
B; B62; B62D; B62D1/00; B62D1/02; B62D1/04; B62D1/06; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T29/00; Y10T29/49; Y10T29/49481; Y10T29/49488; Y10T29/49826; Y10T29/49947; Y10T29/49954; Y10T29/49956; Y10T29/4998; Y10T74/00; Y10T74/20; Y10T74/20576; Y10T74/20732; Y10T74/20834
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
112 words
A method of manufacturing a steering wheel for a motor vehicle comprising the steps of: attaching a spoke to a steering wheel hub; forming a first rim core member having a substantially rigid body portion and end portions; forming a second rim core member by winding a spring member into a helix; severing said helical spring member to form an arcuate spring section; securing the ends of said arcuate spring section to said end portions of said first rim core member; securing the end of said spoke to said first rim core member; covering said first rim core member and said arcuate spring section with a material providing a hand gripping surface.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
112 words
A method of manufacturing a steering wheel for a motor vehicle comprising the steps of: attaching a spoke to a steering wheel hub; forming a first rim core member having a substantially rigid body portion and end portions; forming a second rim core member by winding a spring member into a helix; severing said helical spring member to form an arcuate spring section; securing the ends of said arcuate spring section to said end portions of said first rim core member; securing the end of said spoke to said first rim core member; covering said first rim core member and said arcuate spring section with a material providing a hand gripping surface.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
35 words
A method of manufacturing a steering wheel according to claim 1 and including: forming said end portions of said first rim core member with a thickness less than the thickness of said rigid body portion.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
113 words
A method of manufacturing a steering wheel for a motor vehicle comprising the steps of: attaching a spoke to a steering wheel hub; forming a first rim core member having a substantially rigid body portion and end portions; forming a second rim core member by winding a spring member into a helix; severing a plurality of arcuate spring sections from said helical spring member; securing the ends of said spring sections to said end portions of said first rim core member; securing the end of said spoke to said first rim core member; covering said first rim core member and said plurality of spring sections with a material providing a hand gripping surface.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
113 words
A method of manufacturing a steering wheel for a motor vehicle comprising the steps of: attaching a spoke to a steering wheel hub; forming a first rim core member having a substantially rigid body portion and end portions; forming a second rim core member by winding a spring member into a helix; severing a plurality of arcuate spring sections from said helical spring member; securing the ends of said spring sections to said end portions of said first rim core member; securing the end of said spoke to said first rim core member; covering said first rim core member and said plurality of spring sections with a material providing a hand gripping surface.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
114 words
A method of manufacturing a steering wheel for a motor vehicle comprising the steps of: attaching a spoke to a steering wheel hub; forming a first rim core member having a substantially rigid body portion and end portions; forming a second rim core member by winding a spring metal band into a helix; severing said helical metal band to form an arcuate leaf spring section; securing the ends of said leaf spring section to the end portions of said first rim core member; securing the end of said spoke to the first rim core member; covering said first rim core member and said leaf spring section with a material providing a hand gripping surface.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
114 words
A method of manufacturing a steering wheel for a motor vehicle comprising the steps of: attaching a spoke to a steering wheel hub; forming a first rim core member having a substantially rigid body portion and end portions; forming a second rim core member by winding a spring metal band into a helix; severing said helical metal band to form an arcuate leaf spring section; securing the ends of said leaf spring section to the end portions of said first rim core member; securing the end of said spoke to the first rim core member; covering said first rim core member and said leaf spring section with a material providing a hand gripping surface.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
77 words
A method of manufacturing a steering wheel according to claim 4 and including: forming each of said end portions with a thickness that is less than the thickness of said body portion and a flat surface engageable by one of said ends of said leaf spring action; riveting said ends of said leaf spring section to said end portions; surrounding each of the ends of said end portions and said leaf spring section with a metal band.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
131 words
A method of manufacturing a steering wheel for a motor vehicle comprising the steps of: attaching a pair of spokes to a steering wheel hub; forming a first rim core member having a substantially rigid body portion and end portions of reduced thickness; forming a second rim core member by winding a spring metal band into a helix; heat treating said helical metal band; cutting said helical metal band into a plurality of arcuate leaf spring sections; securing the ends of said leaf spring sections to the end portions of said first rim core member to form an annular assembly; securing the ends of said spokes to said first rim core member; covering said first rim core member and said leaf spring sections with a material providing a hand gripping surface.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
131 words
A method of manufacturing a steering wheel for a motor vehicle comprising the steps of: attaching a pair of spokes to a steering wheel hub; forming a first rim core member having a substantially rigid body portion and end portions of reduced thickness; forming a second rim core member by winding a spring metal band into a helix; heat treating said helical metal band; cutting said helical metal band into a plurality of arcuate leaf spring sections; securing the ends of said leaf spring sections to the end portions of said first rim core member to form an annular assembly; securing the ends of said spokes to said first rim core member; covering said first rim core member and said leaf spring sections with a material providing a hand gripping surface.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
79 words
A method of manufacturing a steering wheel according to claim 6 and including: forming each of said end portions with a thickness that is less than the thickness of said body portion and a flat surface engageable by one of said ends of one of said leaf spring sections; riveting said ends of said leaf spring sections to said end portions; surrounding each of the ends of said end portions and said leaf spring sections with a metal band.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2041739A
Cited
US1920423A
Cited
US2425240A
Cited
US2810301A
Cited
US2909941A
Cited
US3321996A
Cited
US3468188A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1980-03-14 | 1980-09-13 | 1981-03-15 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1984-03-14 | 1984-09-13 | 1985-03-15 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1988-03-14 | 1988-09-13 | 1989-03-15 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |