US4884823A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Steering wheel assembly with air bag
Assignee: Honda Motor Co Ltd
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Filing: 1987-03-02
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Granted: 1989-12-05
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Expires: 2007-03-02
Abstract
Abstract A steering wheel assembly has a steering shaft, a wheel ring, a support supporting the wheel ring on the steering shaft, and an air bag device supported on the support means radially inwardly of the wheel ring. The wheel ring has an upper half and a lower half which are positioned above and below, respectively, a transverse line passing through the steering shaft when the steering wheel is in a neutral position thereof. The support has a first support member supporting the upper half of the wheel ring and a second support member supporting the lower half of the wheel ring, the first support member having a greater rigidity than that of the second support member.
Inventors
- 👤 Kiyoshi Honda
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 00:05
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60R; B60R21/00; B60R21/02; B60R21/16; B60R21/20; B60R21/203; B60R21/2035; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T74/00; Y10T74/20; Y10T74/20576; Y10T74/20732; Y10T74/20834
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
115 words
A steering wheel assembly comprising: a steering shaft; a wheel ring; support means supporting said wheel ring on said steering shaft; an air bag device supported on said support means radially inwardly of said wheel ring; said wheel ring having an upper half and a lower half which are positioned above and below, respectively, a transverse line passing through said steering shaft when said steering wheel is in a neutral position thereof; and said support means having first support means supporting said upper half of said wheel ring and second support means supporting said lower half of said wheel ring, said first support means having a greater rigidity than that of said second support means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
115 words
A steering wheel assembly comprising: a steering shaft; a wheel ring; support means supporting said wheel ring on said steering shaft; an air bag device supported on said support means radially inwardly of said wheel ring; said wheel ring having an upper half and a lower half which are positioned above and below, respectively, a transverse line passing through said steering shaft when said steering wheel is in a neutral position thereof; and said support means having first support means supporting said upper half of said wheel ring and second support means supporting said lower half of said wheel ring, said first support means having a greater rigidity than that of said second support means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
131 words
A steering wheel assembly according to claim 1, wherein said support means comprises a wheel hub fixed to said steering shaft, and connecting means interconnecting said wheel hub and said wheel ring; said wheel hub including an upper portion and a lower portion positioned above and below, respectively, said transverse line; said connecting means including an upper connecting member interconnecting said upper portion of the wheel hub and said upper half of said wheel ring, and a lower connecting member interconnecting said lower portion of the wheel hub and said lower half of said wheel ring; and said first support means comprising said upper portion of the wheel hub and said upper connecting member, said second support means comprising said lower portion of the wheel hub and said lower connecting member.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
30 words
A steering wheel assembly according to claim 2, wherein said upper portion of the wheel hub has a greater rigidity than that of said lower portion of the wheel hub.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
30 words
A steering wheel assembly according to claim 3, wherein said upper portion of the wheel hub has a greater width than that of said lower portion of the wheel hub.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
87 words
A steering wheel assembly according to claim 3, wherein said upper connecting member is coupled to an upper end of said upper portion of the wheel hub, and said lower connecting member is coupled to a lower end of said lower portion of the wheel hub, and wherein the distance between said upper end of said upper portion of the wheel hub and said steering shaft is smaller than the distance between said lower end of said lower portion of the wheel hub and said steering shaft.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
24 words
A steering wheel assembly according to claim 2, wherein said upper connecting member has a greater rigidity than that of said lower connecting member.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
58 words
A steering wheel assembly according to claim 6, wherein the length of said upper connecting member from said upper half of the wheel ring to said upper portion of the wheel hub is smaller than the length of said lower connecting member from said lower half of the wheel ring to said lower portion of the wheel hub.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3507165A
Cited
US4101146A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1992-12-04 | 1993-06-05 | 1993-12-05 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1996-12-04 | 1997-06-05 | 1997-12-05 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2000-12-04 | 2001-06-05 | 2001-12-05 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |