US4771650A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Steering wheel arrangement for vehicles
Assignee: Daimler Benz AG
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Filing: 1987-06-24
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Granted: 1988-09-20
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Expires: 2007-06-24
Abstract
Abstract A steering wheel arrangement for motor vehicles with a dish-shaped steering wheel provided with a steering wheel hub which is adapted to be flangedly connected on a central steering spindle rotatably supported in a casing, and with an impact device arranged inside of the steering wheel dish which maintains its position independently of the rotation of a steering wheel rim, whereby a gearing in the form of a pinion shaft is provided which is supported parallel to the steering spindle and has two identical pinions non-rotatably arranged on the same; the pinions are in engagement with gears coaxially supported with respect to the steering spindle, of which the first gear is arranged on the side of the steering column casing and the second gear on the side of the impact device. The first gear is thereby rotatably supported on the casing and is non-rotatably connected with the steering wheel rim while the second gear is attached safe against rotation on an end section of the steering spindle and a support flange fixed at the casing protrudes between the two gears whereby the pinion shaft is supported in the support flange and the impact device is locally secured at the same.
Inventors
- 👤 Wolfgang Kerner
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 17:55
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60R; B60R21/00; B60R21/02; B60R21/16; B60R21/20; B60R21/203; B60R21/2032; B62; B62D; B62D1/00; B62D1/02; B62D1/04; B62D1/10; B62D1/105; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T74/00; Y10T74/19; Y10T74/19642; Y10T74/19679; Y10T74/20; Y10T74/20576; Y10T74/20732; Y10T74/20834
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
222 words
A steering wheel arrangement for vehicles, comprising a dish-shaped steering wheel provided with a steering wheel rim fixedly attached to a steering wheel hub, a central steering spindle rotatably supported in a steering column casing, impact means arranged inside of the steering wheel dish which maintains its position independently of the rotation of the steering wheel rim, gear means including a pinion shaft supported substantially parallel to the steering spindle and having two similar pinions nonrotatably arranged on the pinion shaft, said pinion shaft and pinions being located within the steering wheel hub, said pinions being in operative engagement with gears coaxially supported with respect to the steering spindle and located within said hub, one of said gears being arranged on a side of the steering column casing and the other gear being arranged on a side of the steering spindle adjacent said impact means, the one gear being rotatably supported on said casing and being nonrotatably connected with the steering wheel hub while the other gear is nonrotatably connected with an end section of the steering spindle, and support flange means located within said hub and nonrotatably fixed with respect to said casing for protruding between the two gears, the pinion shaft being supported in said support flange means, and the impact means being locally retained at said support flange means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
222 words
A steering wheel arrangement for vehicles, comprising a dish-shaped steering wheel provided with a steering wheel rim fixedly attached to a steering wheel hub, a central steering spindle rotatably supported in a steering column casing, impact means arranged inside of the steering wheel dish which maintains its position independently of the rotation of the steering wheel rim, gear means including a pinion shaft supported substantially parallel to the steering spindle and having two similar pinions nonrotatably arranged on the pinion shaft, said pinion shaft and pinions being located within the steering wheel hub, said pinions being in operative engagement with gears coaxially supported with respect to the steering spindle and located within said hub, one of said gears being arranged on a side of the steering column casing and the other gear being arranged on a side of the steering spindle adjacent said impact means, the one gear being rotatably supported on said casing and being nonrotatably connected with the steering wheel hub while the other gear is nonrotatably connected with an end section of the steering spindle, and support flange means located within said hub and nonrotatably fixed with respect to said casing for protruding between the two gears, the pinion shaft being supported in said support flange means, and the impact means being locally retained at said support flange means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
21 words
A steering wheel arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the impact means includes an impact pot and an air bag unit.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
41 words
A steering wheel arrangement according to claim 1, further comprising a tubular-connecting section operable to be secured on the upper end area of the casing, the support flange means protruding from said tubular-connecting section in the form of a circumferential collar.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
29 words
A steering wheel arrangement according to claim 3, wherein said casing tapers into a casing neck above a bearing place of the steering spindle near the steering wheel hub.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
24 words
A steering wheel arrangement according to claim 4, wherein the one gear is rotatably supported together with a spoke hub on the tubular-connecting section.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
24 words
A steering wheel arrangement according to claim 5, wherein a cable shaft means is integrated into the tubular-connecting section and the support flange means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
16 words
A steering wheel arrangement according to claim 6, wherein the cable shaft means is substantially uninterrupted.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
43 words
A steering wheel arrangement according to claim 6, wherein the impact means includes an impact pot provided with a bottom edge, the pinion shaft extending through the bottom edge, and said edge being secured on the circumferential collar of the support flange means.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
17 words
A steering wheel arrangement according to claim 2, wherein said other gear is a gear hub means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
29 words
A steering wheel arrangement according to claim 1, wherein said casing tapers into a casing neck above a bearing place of the steering spindle near the steering wheel hub.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
24 words
A steering wheel arrangement according to claim 3, wherein the one gear is rotatably supported together with a spoke hub on the tubular-connecting section.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
24 words
A steering wheel arrangement according to claim 3, wherein a cable shaft means is integrated into the tubular-connecting section and the support flange means.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
16 words
A steering wheel arrangement according to claim 12, wherein the cable shaft means is substantially uninterrupted.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
43 words
A steering wheel arrangement according to claim 3, wherein the impact means includes an impact pot provided with a bottom edge, the pinion shaft extending through the bottom edge, and said edge being secured on the circumferential collar of the support flange means.
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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) | 1991-09-20 | 1992-03-21 | 1992-09-20 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1995-09-20 | 1996-03-21 | 1996-09-20 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1999-09-20 | 2000-03-21 | 2000-09-20 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |