Land vehicles – Wheeled – Running gear
Reexamination Certificate
2000-09-14
2001-11-20
Johnson, Brian L. (Department: 3618)
Land vehicles
Wheeled
Running gear
C280S731000, C074S552000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06318756
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to an apparatus for attaching a vehicle steering wheel to a vehicle steering shaft.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The steering shaft in a vehicle is typically connected for joint rotation with a rotatable vehicle steering wheel using complementary splines on the shaft and the hub of the steering wheel. To prevent relative axial movement between the steering wheel and the steering shaft along the splines, it is common to use an axially extending fastener to secure the steering wheel to the steering shaft.
It is also known to use a radially extending fastener, similar to a setscrew, to prevent relative axial movement between the steering wheel and the steering shaft. Radially extending fasteners are commonly used with so-called “integrated” steering wheel assemblies in which an air bag module is incorporated into a steering wheel prior to installation of the steering wheel on the steering shaft. Use of radially extending fasteners can be difficult, however, because there is usually limited space to access such fasteners in the area where the steering wheel connects with the steering shaft.
It is desirable to have a “snap-on” apparatus for attaching a vehicle steering wheel to a steering shaft that eliminates the use of a fastener and allows for “blind” attachment of the steering wheel to the steering shaft.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is an apparatus comprising a vehicle steering wheel having a hub portion. The hub portion includes an axially extending inner sleeve having a circumferentially spaced plurality of openings. A vehicle steering shaft has an end portion that includes a circumferentially extending arcuate groove. A plurality of bearing elements are at least partially disposed in the plurality of openings in the inner sleeve of the steering wheel. The plurality of bearing elements are movable in a radial direction within the plurality of openings between a disconnected condition and a connected condition. The disconnected condition permits relative axial movement between the steering wheel and the steering shaft. The connected condition blocks relative axial movement between the steering wheel and the steering shaft. An axially movable collar is engageable with the plurality of bearing elements to move the bearing elements in the radial direction from the disconnected condition to the connected condition. The plurality of bearing elements are moved by the collar to the connected condition in which the bearing elements are partially located within the plurality of openings and partially located in the arcuate groove in the steering shaft.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3424473 (1969-01-01), Morgan
patent: 3619992 (1971-11-01), Brelsford et al.
patent: 4481838 (1984-11-01), Findley et al.
patent: 4607539 (1986-08-01), Arima et al.
patent: 4903988 (1990-02-01), Jambor et al.
patent: 5085466 (1992-02-01), Nakatsuka et al.
patent: 5277442 (1994-01-01), Cuevas
patent: 5333897 (1994-08-01), Landis et al.
patent: 5342089 (1994-08-01), Fink et al.
patent: 5409256 (1995-04-01), Gordon et al.
patent: 5439252 (1995-08-01), Oxley et al.
patent: 5553888 (1996-09-01), Turner et al.
patent: 5741025 (1998-04-01), Meyer et al.
patent: 5749598 (1998-05-01), Exner et al.
patent: 5797622 (1998-08-01), Turner et al.
patent: 5797696 (1998-08-01), Baynes et al.
patent: 5890397 (1999-04-01), Stoner et al.
patent: 5950499 (1999-09-01), Hosoi et al.
patent: 5954359 (1999-09-01), Ross
patent: 6109646 (2000-08-01), Nagata et al.
Draper Deanna
Johnson Brian L.
Tarolli, Sundheim, Covell Tummino & Szabo L.L.P.
TRW Inc.
LandOfFree
Apparatus for attaching a steering wheel to a steering shaft does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Apparatus for attaching a steering wheel to a steering shaft, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Apparatus for attaching a steering wheel to a steering shaft will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2598628