US4011772A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Steering wheel for a motor vehicle
Assignee: Ford Motor Co
•
Filing: 1975-12-19
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Granted: 1977-03-15
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Expires: 1995-12-19
Abstract
Abstract A steering wheel for a motor vehicle according to the present disclosure has a hub, a pair of spokes and a rim with a resiliently flexible core. The rim core comprises a series of stacked leaf spring members, each member being of circular shape in the plan view. The rim core is secured to the spokes by a clamp structure. The spokes and rim core are enclosed in a plastic covering for convenient handling by the vehicle operator. The rim is constructed to resiliently deflect under an impact load whereby a portion of the load is absorbed.
Inventors
- 👤 George H. Muller
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 18:22
CPC Classifications
B; B62; B62D; B62D1/00; B62D1/02; B62D1/04; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T74/00; Y10T74/20; Y10T74/20576; Y10T74/20732; Y10T74/20834
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
78 words
A steering wheel for a motor vehicle having a hub, a spoke attached to said hub and a rim core assembly attached to said spoke; said rim core assembly comprising a plurality of leaf spring members; each of said leaf spring members having a circular shape in the plan view; said rim core assembly being resiliently deformable in response to an impact load imposed upon said assembly in a direction parallel to the axis of said steering wheel.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
78 words
A steering wheel for a motor vehicle having a hub, a spoke attached to said hub and a rim core assembly attached to said spoke; said rim core assembly comprising a plurality of leaf spring members; each of said leaf spring members having a circular shape in the plan view; said rim core assembly being resiliently deformable in response to an impact load imposed upon said assembly in a direction parallel to the axis of said steering wheel.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
63 words
A steering wheel for a motor vehicle according to claim 1 and including: each of said leaf spring members having a flat upper surface lying in a plane perpendicular to the axis of rotation of said steering wheel; said rim core assembly being substantially rigid with respect to a tangential force imposed upon said assembly in a plane parallel to said flat surfaces.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
109 words
A steering wheel for a motor vehicle comprising a hub; a left spoke and a right spoke secured to said hub; a right attachment member and a left attachment member secured to the outer ends of said left spoke and said right spoke, respectively; a rim core assembly secured to said left and right attachment members; said rim core assembly comprising a plurality of leaf spring members; each of said leaf spring members having a circular shape in the plan view; said rim core assembly being resiliently deformable in response to an impact load imposed upon said assembly in a direction parallel to the axis of said steering wheel.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
109 words
A steering wheel for a motor vehicle comprising a hub; a left spoke and a right spoke secured to said hub; a right attachment member and a left attachment member secured to the outer ends of said left spoke and said right spoke, respectively; a rim core assembly secured to said left and right attachment members; said rim core assembly comprising a plurality of leaf spring members; each of said leaf spring members having a circular shape in the plan view; said rim core assembly being resiliently deformable in response to an impact load imposed upon said assembly in a direction parallel to the axis of said steering wheel.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
63 words
A steering wheel for a motor vehicle according to claim 3 and including: each of said leaf spring members having a flat upper surface lying in a plane perpendicular to the axis of rotation of said steering wheel; said rim core assembly being substantially rigid with respect to a tangential force imposed upon said assembly in a plane parallel to said flat surfaces.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
114 words
A steering wheel for a motor vehicle comprising a hub; a first spoke and a second spoke secured to said hub; a first attachment member and a second attachment member secured to the outer ends of said first spoke and said second spoke, respectively; a rim core assembly secured to said first and second attachment members; said rim core assembly comprising a plurality of annular leaf spring members stacked one upon another; means securing said plurality of leaf spring members in flush engagement with each other; said rim core assembly being resiliently deformable in response to an impact load imposed upon said assembly in a direction parallel to the axis of said steering wheel.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
114 words
A steering wheel for a motor vehicle comprising a hub; a first spoke and a second spoke secured to said hub; a first attachment member and a second attachment member secured to the outer ends of said first spoke and said second spoke, respectively; a rim core assembly secured to said first and second attachment members; said rim core assembly comprising a plurality of annular leaf spring members stacked one upon another; means securing said plurality of leaf spring members in flush engagement with each other; said rim core assembly being resiliently deformable in response to an impact load imposed upon said assembly in a direction parallel to the axis of said steering wheel.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
109 words
A steering wheel for a motor vehicle comprising a hub; a spoke secured to said hub; an attachment member secured to the outer end of said spoke; said attachment member having an arcuate configuration in the plan view and a channel shape configuration in cross section; said attachment member having a pair of side walls; a rim core assembly having portions disposed between said side walls; the edges of said side walls being in gripping engagement with said rim core assembly; said rim core assembly being resiliently deformable in response to an impact load imposed upon said assembly in a direction parallel to the axis of said steering wheel.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
109 words
A steering wheel for a motor vehicle comprising a hub; a spoke secured to said hub; an attachment member secured to the outer end of said spoke; said attachment member having an arcuate configuration in the plan view and a channel shape configuration in cross section; said attachment member having a pair of side walls; a rim core assembly having portions disposed between said side walls; the edges of said side walls being in gripping engagement with said rim core assembly; said rim core assembly being resiliently deformable in response to an impact load imposed upon said assembly in a direction parallel to the axis of said steering wheel.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
38 words
A steering wheel for a motor vehicle according to claim 6 and including: said side walls having the tabs formed along the edges of said side walls; said tabs being in gripping engagement with said rim core assembly.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
49 words
A steering wheel for a motor vehicle according to claim 6 and including: said rim core assembly comprising a plurality of annular leaf spring members; each of said leaf spring members having a flat surface lying in a plane perpendicular to the axis of rotation of said steering wheel.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
73 words
A steering wheel for a motor vehicle according to claim 6 and including: said side walls having tabs formed along the edges of said side walls; said tabs being in gripping engagement with said rim core assembly; said rim core assembly comprising a plurality of annular leaf spring members; each of said leaf spring members having a flat surface lying in a plane perpendicular to the axis of rotation of said steering wheel.
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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) | 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 |