Land vehicles – Wheeled – Attachment
Reexamination Certificate
1998-06-02
2001-02-27
Dickson, Paul N. (Department: 3618)
Land vehicles
Wheeled
Attachment
C280S731000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06193267
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention is related to a steering wheel assembly which is mounted on a steering shaft of a vehicle and which is rotatable to steer the vehicle.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
A vehicle steering wheel is typically attached to a vehicle steering shaft by a splined connection. The splined connection non-rotatably attaches the steering wheel to the steering shaft and transmits torque from the steering wheel, namely, torque generated during turning of the steering wheel, to the steering shaft. The steering wheel is additionally secured to the steering wheel by a nut to prevent relative axial movement between the steering wheel and the steering shaft. The nut is screwed onto a threaded extension located on the end of the steering shaft which extends into the passenger compartment of the vehicle. Usually, the nut is accessed by an installer through the center of the steering wheel once the steering wheel has been placed onto the steering shaft. An air bag module is then typically mounted in the center of the steering wheel and covers the nut.
Another type of connection for connecting a vehicle steering wheel to the steering shaft utilizes tapered surfaces on the steering shaft and inside a hub portion of the steering wheel. A gear-headed bolt is used to bring the tapered surfaces into non-rotatable engagement. Threads on the bolt engage an internally threaded surface on the steering shaft to pull the steering wheel onto the steering shaft. The gear head of the bolt is driven by a tool which is inserted into the steering wheel from the side (i.e., perpendicular to the axis of rotation).
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is a steering wheel assembly to be mounted on a vehicle steering shaft which rotates about an axis to steer a vehicle and which has a threaded end portion. The steering wheel assembly comprises a steering wheel armature, an inflatable vehicle occupant protection device supported on the steering wheel armature, an inflator for providing inflation fluid for inflating the inflatable vehicle occupant protection device, a hub fixedly attached to the steering wheel armature and for non-rotatable attachment to the steering shaft, and a rotatable fastener rotatably supported on the hub for axially forcing the hub onto the steering shaft upon rotation of the fastener in a first direction. The fastener has a first end portion including gear means for rotating the fastener and a second end portion for threadedly engaging the threaded end portion of the steering shaft upon rotation of the fastener. A retainer plate spaced from the inflator is fixedly attached with the steering wheel armature. The retainer plate overlies the first end portion of the fastener and retains the fastener on the steering wheel armature.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5470099 (1995-11-01), Williams
patent: 5584501 (1996-12-01), Walters
patent: 5584503 (1996-12-01), Lutz
patent: 5615910 (1997-04-01), Margetak et al.
patent: 5636859 (1997-06-01), Williams et al.
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patent: 5692769 (1997-12-01), Scharboneau et al.
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patent: 5749598 (1998-05-01), Exner et al.
patent: 5765865 (1998-06-01), Nagata et al.
patent: 5878629 (1999-03-01), Nagata et al.
patent: 5887494 (1999-03-01), Papandreou
patent: 5897133 (1999-04-01), Papandreou
patent: 2133955 (1990-11-01), None
U.S. Patent 5,897,133 filed Aug. 11, 1997 entitled “Steering Wheel with Integral Air Bag Cover”.
U.S. Patent 5,887,494 filed Aug. 11, 1997 entitled “Steering Wheel Assembly”.
Burgi Anthony C.
Feldman Peter C.
Stein Patricia O.
Tichvon Michael T.
Dickson Paul N.
Fleming Faye M.
Tarolli, Sundheim, Covell Tummino & Szabo L.L.P.
TRW Vehicle Safety Systems Inc.
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