Steering wheel

Details Steering wheel Steering wheel

2001-04-06

2001-11-27

Nguyen, Khiem (Department: 2839)

Electrical connectors

Interrelated connectors relatively movable during use

Movement about axis

C439S352000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06322371

ABSTRACT:

The invention relates to a steering wheel with a plug inserted into a complementary plug-in connector in order to connect a component mounted on the steering wheel.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Such a steering wheel is known from German Utility Model No. 299 17 129. The plug-in connection consisting of the plug-in connector on the steering wheel and of the complementary plug-in connector that is mounted on the vehicle serves, for example, to connect the igniter of a gas generator for an airbag system. The plug-in connector on the steering wheel is designed in such a way that it is automatically inserted into the complementary plug-in connector when the steering wheel is installed in the vehicle. Furthermore, the plug-in connector on the steering wheel is mounted on the steering wheel in such a way that it can be shifted slightly so that tolerances can be compensated for when the steering wheel is turned. The plug-in connector mounted on the steering wheel and the complementary plug-in connector mounted on the vehicle theoretically rotate around the same axis, namely, the center axis of the steering shaft, however, even slight tolerances mean that the paths of movement of the two plug-in connectors are not completely concentric.
However, it has been found to be disadvantageous that the plug-in connectors mounted on the vehicle for the insertion of the plug-in connector mounted on the steering wheel cause the plug-in connector mounted on the steering wheel to remain under a residual force that impedes the free sliding movement of the plug-in connector on the steering wheel.
Thus, the objective of the invention is to improve a steering wheel of the type described above in such a way that the free sliding ability of the plug-in connector on the steering wheel after the installation is ensured.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
For this purpose, a steering wheel of the type described above is provided, which is characterized in that a flip-flop spring element is provided that extends from the steering wheel to the plug-in connector, the spring element being able to assume a first stable position in which it biases the plug-in connector into an installation position, and being able to assume a second stable position in which it biases the plug-in connector away from the complementary plug-in connector, and in that the plug-in connector is mounted on the steering wheel in such a way that it can be shifted in the insertion direction. When the steering wheel is installed in the vehicle, the spring element flips from the first stable position into the second stable position so that it exerts a force on the plug-in connector that counteracts the insertion force that is exerted during the installation. In this manner, the mechanical stress on the plug-in connector that results from the insertion force is eliminated and the plug-in connector can be shifted friction-free on the steering wheel when it is turned.
Advantageous embodiments of the invention can be found in the subordinate claims.


REFERENCES:
patent: 4700794 (1987-10-01), Bernhagen et al.
patent: 6213797 (2001-04-01), Best et al.
patent: 4436172 (1996-04-01), None
patent: 19511410 (1996-10-01), None
patent: 19924752 (1999-11-01), None
patent: 2444744 (1999-08-01), None
patent: 402045175 A (1990-02-01), None

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