Vehicle, especially a cab-over-engine commercial vehicle

Claim 2

A vehicle having a steering assembly which includes a steering wheel and a steering column, the steering wheel being disposed substantially horizontally in a normal operating position and the steering column extending essentially vertically, characterized in that means are provided for automatically and positively displacing the steering wheel from the normal operating position into at least one passenger protective position as a function of at least one of a predetermined deceleration of the vehicle and a deformation of the front of the vehicle, said displacing means includes a locking means for locking the steering wheel in the normal operative position, means are provided for automatically releasing the locking means so as to enable the steering wheel to automatically shift to the protective position, a steering drive means is provided for mounting the steering assembly in the vehicle, the steering drive means includes a pair of rod means with one rod means forming an upper rod means and the other rod means forming a lower rod means, the upper rod means is articulated to a structural component of the vehicle substantially at a level of a dashboard means of the vehicle with the lower rod means being articulated in an area of one of a floor and frame of the vehicle.

Claim 3

A vehicle according to claim 1, characterized in that the lower rod means forms the steering column.

Claim 4

A vehicle according to claim 1, characterized in that means are provided for supporting the steering wheel and for connecting the upper and lower rod means to the steering wheel.

Claim 5

A vehicle according to claim 3, characterized in that said connecting and supporting means forms a support for at least some vehicle instrumentation.

Claim 6

A vehicle according to claim 4, characterized in that means are provided for normally urging one of the rod means into a position corresponding to the protective position.

Claim 7

A vehicle according to claim 5, characterized in that said urging means includes a spring means.

Claim 8

A vehicle according to claim 6, characterized in that the spring means acts upon the upper rod means.

Claim 9

A vehicle according to claim 5, characterized in that the protective position of the steering wheel reached as a result of the automatic and positive displacement thereof forms a middle position of the steering wheel, and in that the steering assembly can be further displaced through the middle position as a function of a stress applied thereon.

Claim 10

A vehicle according to claim 8, characterized in that the stress applied results from weight of a vehicle passenger acting upon the steering assembly and moving in a direction of the front of the vehicle.

Claim 11

A vehicle according to claim 8, characterized in that means are provided for bilaterally and elastically supporting the steering assembly in a direction of the protective position corresponding to the middle position.

Claim 12

A vehicle according to claim 10, with a seat means for accommodating a driver for the vehicle, characterized in that means are provided for mounting the seam means in the vehicle so as to be freely displaceable in a longitudinal direction of the vehicle at least over a portion of an adjusting displacement path of the seat means.

Claim 13

A vehicle according to claim 11, characterized in that means are provided for limiting the free longitudinal displacement of the seat means.

Claim 14

A vehicle according to claim 11, characterized in that means are provided for locking the seat means in an adjusted position, and in that means are operatively connected with the locking means of the seat means and the steering assembly for unlocking the locking means of the seat means as a function of at least one of the predetermined deceleration of the vehicle and deformation of the front of the vehicle so as to enable the free longitudinal displacement of the seat means.

Claim 15

A vehicle according to claim 13, characterized in that the means for unlocking the locking means of the seat means is rendered effective after the steering wheel passes through the middle position corresponding to the protective position so as to thereafter permit a displacement of the seat means.

Claim 16

A vehicle with a vehicle cab, a steering assembly which includes a steering wheel and a steering column, the steering wheel being disposed substantially horizontally in a normal operating position and the steering column extending essentially vertically, characterized in that means are provided for automatically and positively displacing the steering wheel from the normal operating position into at least one passenger protective position as a function of at least one of a predetermined deceleration of the vehicle and a deformation of the front of the vehicle, said displacing means includes only one locking means for locking the steering wheel in the normal operative position, means are provided for automatically releasing the locking means so as to enable the steering wheel to automatically shift to the protective position, detecting means are operatively connected with the automatic releasing means and are responsive to at least one of the predetermined deceleration of the vehicle, deformation of the front of the vehicle, and a displacement of the vehicle cab, and in that means are provided for normally biasing the locking means into a middle locking position.

Claim 17

A vehicle with a vehicle cab, a steering assembly which includes a steering wheel and a steering column, the steering wheel being disposed substantially horizontally in a normal operating position and the steering column extending essentially vertically, characterized in that means are provided for automatically and positively displacing the steering wheel from the normal operating position into at least one passenger protective position as a function of at least one of a predetermined deceleration of the vehicle and a deformation of the front of the vehicle, said displacing means includes only one locking means for locking the steering wheel in the normal operative position, means are provided for automatically releasing the locking means so as to enable the steering wheel to automatically shift to the protective position, detecting means are operatively connected with the automatic releasing means and are responsive to at least one of the predetermined deceleration of the vehicle, deformation of the front of the vehicle, and a displacement of the vehicle cab, and in that means are provided for normally biasing the locking means into a middle locking position.

Claim 18

A vehicle according to claim 15, characterized in that the biasing means includes a spring means.

Claim 19

A vehicle according to claim 15, characterized in that the detecting means includes at least one of a sensing mass and a sensor means.

Claim 20

A vehicle according to claim 17, characterized in that the sensing mass is in the form of an additional mass mounted on the vehicle.

Claim 21

A vehicle according to claim 17, characterized in that means are provided for mounting the vehicle cab for articulating movement with respect to a frame of the vehicle whereby the vehicle cab forms the sensing mass.

Claim 22

A vehicle according to claim 19, characterized in that the sensor means is constructed as a sensor element which is displaceable as a function of the deformation of the front of the vehicle.

Claim 23

A vehicle according to claim 20, characterized in that the sensor element extends at least substantially over a width of the vehicle.

Claim 24

A vehicle according to claim 17, characterized in that means are provided for mounting the vehicle cab for movement relative to a frame of the vehicle, and in that the vehicle cab forms a sensor element of the sensor means.

Claim 25

A vehicle according to claim 22, characterized in that means are provided for coupling the sensor element with the sensing mass.

Claim 26

A vehicle according to claim 17, characterized in that means are provided for mounting the vehicle cab for movement relative to a frame of the vehicle, and in that the vehicle cab forms the sensing mass and the sensing means.

Claim 27

A vehicle according to claim 24, characterized in that the locking means includes at least one pivotal element adapted to be displaced as a function of at least one of the deceleration of the vehicle, a deformation of a front of the vehicle, and a displacement of the vehicle cab in a direction of the pivotal element, and in that cam means are operatively associated with the pivotal element for locking the pivotal element in a normal position.

Claim 28

A vehicle according to claim 25, characterized in that the cam means includes a first cam provided on the pivotal element, a second cam provided on a further pivotal element interposed between the first pivotal element and the steering assembly, and a counter-cam interposed between the first and second cams.

Claim 29

A vehicle with a seat means for accommodating a driver for the vehicle, a steering assembly which includes a steering wheel and a steering column, the steering wheel being disposed substantially horizontally in a normal operating position and the steering column extending essentially vertically, characterized in that means are provided for automatically and positively displacing the steering wheel from the normal operating position into at least one passenger protective position as a function of at least one of a predetermined deceleration of the vehicle and a deformation of the front of the vehicle, means for mounting the steering assembly in the vehicle, means for supporting the steering assembly mounting means with the steering wheel, means are provided for mounting the seat means in the vehicle so as to be freely displaceable in a longitudinal direction of the vehicle at least over a portion of an adjusting displacement path of the seat means, means are provided for locking the seat means in an adjusted position, and in that means are operatively connected with the locking means of the seat means and the steering assembly for unlocking the locking means of the seat means as a function of at least one of the predetermined deceleration of the vehicle and deformation of the front of the vehicle.

Claim 30

A vehicle with a seat means for accommodating a driver for the vehicle, a steering assembly which includes a steering wheel and a steering column, the steering wheel being disposed substantially horizontally in a normal operating position and the steering column extending essentially vertically, characterized in that means are provided for automatically and positively displacing the steering wheel from the normal operating position into at least one passenger protective position as a function of at least one of a predetermined deceleration of the vehicle and a deformation of the front of the vehicle, means for mounting the steering assembly in the vehicle, means for supporting the steering assembly mounting means with the steering wheel, means are provided for mounting the seat means in the vehicle so as to be freely displaceable in a longitudinal direction of the vehicle at least over a portion of an adjusting displacement path of the seat means, means are provided for locking the seat means in an adjusted position, and in that means are operatively connected with the locking means of the seat means and the steering assembly for unlocking the locking means of the seat means as a function of at least one of the predetermined deceleration of the vehicle and deformation of the front of the vehicle.

Claim 31

A vehicle according to claim 27, characterized in that the means for unlocking the locking means of the seat means is rendered effective after the steering wheel passes through the protective position to thereafter permit a displacement of the seat means.

Claim 32

A vehicle having a steering assembly which includes a steering wheel and a steering column, the steering wheel being disposed substantially horizontally in a normal operating position and the steering column extending essentially vertically, characterized in that means are provided for automatically and positively displacing the steering wheel from the normal operating position into at least one passenger protective position as a function of at least one of a predetermined deceleration of the vehicle and a deformation of the front of the vehicle, said displacing means includes a locking means for locking the steering wheel in the normal operative position, means are provided for automatically releasing the locking means so as to enable the steering wheel to automatically shift to the protective position, the steering unit assumes an upright position with the steering column being offset in the direction toward the front of the vehicle, said locking means comprises a control gear mechanism exhibiting a locking position corresponding to the operating position of the steering unit, and in that the control gear mechanism means can be changed over automatically into a protective position from its operative position in dependence on one of vehicle deceleration and deformation of the vehicle front, by releasing the locking action on the control gear mechanism means, the latter changing to a position corresponding to the protective position of the steering unit.

Claim 33

A vehicle having a steering assembly which includes a steering wheel and a steering column, the steering wheel being disposed substantially horizontally in a normal operating position and the steering column extending essentially vertically, characterized in that means are provided for automatically and positively displacing the steering wheel from the normal operating position into at least one passenger protective position as a function of at least one of a predetermined deceleration of the vehicle and a deformation of the front of the vehicle, said displacing means includes a locking means for locking the steering wheel in the normal operative position, means are provided for automatically releasing the locking means so as to enable the steering wheel to automatically shift to the protective position, the steering unit assumes an upright position with the steering column being offset in the direction toward the front of the vehicle, said locking means comprises a control gear mechanism exhibiting a locking position corresponding to the operating position of the steering unit, and in that the control gear mechanism means can be changed over automatically into a protective position from its operative position in dependence on one of vehicle deceleration and deformation of the vehicle front, by releasing the locking action on the control gear mechanism means, the latter changing to a position corresponding to the protective position of the steering unit.

Claim 34

A vehicle having a steering assembly which includes a steering wheel and a steering column, the steering wheel being disposed substantially horizontally in a normal operating position and the steering column extending essentially vertically, characterized in that means are provided for automatically and positively displacing the steering wheel from the normal operation position into at least one passenger protective position as a function of at least one of a predetermined deceleration of the vehicle and a deformation of the front of the vehicle, said displacing means includes a locking means for locking the steering wheel in the normal operative position, and in that means are provided for automatically releasing the locking means so as to enable the steering wheel to automatically shift to the protective position, with a vehicle cab, characterized in that only one locking means is provided, detecting means are operatively connected with the automatic releasing means which detecting means are responsive to at least one of the predetermined deceleration of the vehicle, deformation of the front of the vehicle, and a displacement of the vehicle cab, further characterized in that the detecting means includes at least one of a sensing mass and a sensor means.

Claim 35

A vehicle having a steering assembly which includes a steering wheel and a steering column, the steering wheel being disposed substantially horizontally in a normal operating position and the steering column extending essentially vertically, characterized in that means are provided for automatically and positively displacing the steering wheel from the normal operation position into at least one passenger protective position as a function of at least one of a predetermined deceleration of the vehicle and a deformation of the front of the vehicle, said displacing means includes a locking means for locking the steering wheel in the normal operative position, and in that means are provided for automatically releasing the locking means so as to enable the steering wheel to automatically shift to the protective position, with a vehicle cab, characterized in that only one locking means is provided, detecting means are operatively connected with the automatic releasing means which detecting means are responsive to at least one of the predetermined deceleration of the vehicle, deformation of the front of the vehicle, and a displacement of the vehicle cab, further characterized in that the detecting means includes at least one of a sensing mass and a sensor means.

Claim 36

A vehicle according to claim 30, characterized in that the sensing mass is in the form of an additional mass mounted on the vehicle.

Claim 37

A vehicle according to claim 30, characterized in that means are provided for mounting the vehicle cab for articulating movement with respect to a frame of the vehicle whereby the vehicle cab forms the sensing mass.

Claim 38

A vehicle according to claim 32, characterized in that the sensor means is constructed as a sensor element which is displaceable as a function of the deformation of the front of the vehicle.

Claim 39

A vehicle according to claim 33, characterized in that the sensor element extends at least substantially over a width of the vehicle.

Claim 40

A vehicle according to claim 30, characterized in that means are provided for mounting the vehicle cab for movement relative to a frame of the vehicle, and in that the vehicle cab forms a sensor element of the sensor means.

Claim 41

A vehicle according to claim 35, characterized in that means are provided for coupling the sensor element with the sensing mass.

Claim 42

A vehicle according to claim 30, characterized in that means are provided for mounting the vehicle cab for movement relative to a frame of the vehicle, and in that the vehicle cab forms the sensing mass and the sensing means.

Claim 43

A vehicle according to claim 37, characterized in that the locking means includes at least one pivotal element adapted to be displaced as a function of at least one of the deceleration of the vehicle, a deformation of a front of the vehicle, and a displacement of the vehicle cab in a direction of the pivotal element, and in that cam means are operatively associated with the pivotal element for locking the pivotal element in a normal position.

Claim 44

A vehicle according to claim 38, characterized in that the cam means includes a first cam provided on the pivotal element, a second cam provided on a further pivotal element interposed between the first pivotal element and the steering assembly, and a counter-cam interposed between the first and second cams.