Land vehicles – Wheeled – Running gear
Reexamination Certificate
1999-11-02
2001-02-20
Dickson, Paul N. (Department: 3618)
Land vehicles
Wheeled
Running gear
C074S492000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06189929
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to an energy absorbing device for a collapsible steering column in which the resistance to collapsing can be varied.
2. Description of the Prior Art
U.S. Pat. No. 4,886,295 describes a vehicle occupant protection system including a collapsible steering column. An energy absorber is located between two relatively movable sections of the steering column. The energy absorber includes an inflatable bag. The vehicle has electric circuitry, including sensors for sensing vehicle and occupant conditions, that controls the state of inflation of the inflatable bag to vary the energy absorbing capacity of the steering column.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,286,295 describes an energy absorbing device for a vehicle steering column. The device is located between two relatively movable sections of the steering column. The device includes a strap that bends to absorb energy upon relative movement of the two sections of the steering column.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is an apparatus for supporting a steering wheel of a vehicle. The apparatus comprises a first steering column part and a second steering column part. The first steering column part and the vehicle steering wheel are supported for movement relative to the second steering column part. The apparatus includes an energy absorbing device interposed between the first steering column part and the second steering column part for resisting movement of the first part relative to the second part. The energy absorbing device comprises at least one bendable strap that bends to absorb energy in response to relative movement between the first steering column part and the second steering column part. A member is movable across the width of the at least one bendable strap to vary the rate of bending of the at least one bendable strap to vary the resistance to movement of the first steering column part relative to the second steering column part.
REFERENCES:
patent: 2578903 (1951-12-01), Smith
patent: 4886295 (1989-12-01), Browne
patent: 5286056 (1994-02-01), Speich
patent: 5375881 (1994-12-01), Lewis
patent: 5378021 (1995-01-01), Yamaguchi et al.
patent: 5517877 (1996-05-01), Hancock
patent: 5669633 (1997-09-01), Naff et al.
patent: 5788278 (1998-08-01), Thomas et al.
patent: 6044725 (2000-04-01), Ganser
Faigle Ernst M.
Struble Rex R.
Dickson Paul N.
Fleming Faye M.
Tarolli, Sundheim, Covell Tummino & Szabo L.L.P.
TRW Inc.
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