IP Library › Granted Patent US 10,793,178
Granted Patent B1
US 10,793,178 · App. 16/751,642 · Granted Oct 6, 2020

Steering wheel assembly

Inventors: Alan Efren del Toro Reyna (Texcoco, MX); Gustavo Morales cabrera (Ecatepec de Morelos, MX); Huberto Essaud Archundia Hernández (Toluca, MX); Srinivas Reddy Malapati (Novi, MI)
Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
B62D1/11B60R21/203F15B15/19
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,793,178
App. No.
16/751,642
Granted
Oct 6, 2020
Kind
B1
Abstract

An assembly includes a steering wheel having a first member and a second member supported by the first member, the second member being extendable from the first member from a first position to an extended position. The assembly includes a cylinder in the first member. The assembly includes a piston slidably supported by the cylinder. The assembly includes a pyrotechnic in communication with the cylinder.

Claims (27)

1. An assembly, comprising:

a steering wheel having a first member and a second member supported by the first member, the second member being extendable from the first member from a first position to an extended position;

a cylinder in the first member;

a piston slidably supported by the cylinder; and

a pyrotechnic in communication with the cylinder.

2. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the second member includes a telescoping portion slidable within the first member.

3. The assembly of claim 2 , further comprising a stop positioned to retain the telescoping portion in the first member at the extended position.

4. The assembly of claim 3 , wherein the stop is fixed to the first member.

5. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the piston abuts the second member in the extended position.

6. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the piston is spaced from the second member in the extended position.

7. The assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a spring supported by the first member and urging the second member away from the first member.

8. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the cylinder includes a vent.

9. The assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a frangible member fixing the first member to the second member in the first position.

10. The assembly of claim 9 , wherein the frangible member is fractured when the second member is in the extended position.

11. The assembly of claim 1 , further comprising an airbag deployable to an inflated position and fixed relative to the steering wheel.

12. The assembly of claim 11 , further comprising a computer having a processor and a memory storing instructions executable by the processor to, in response to detecting a vehicle impact, actuate the pyrotechnic and deploy the airbag.

13. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the steering wheel includes a rim having a pair of opposing linear portions, the second member extendable from the first member at the linear portions.

14. An assembly, comprising:

a steering wheel having a first member and a second member supported by the first member, the second member being extendable from the first member from a first position to an extended position;

a frangible member fixing the first member to the second member in the first position, the frangible member fractured when the second member is in the extended position; and

a pyrotechnic configured to move the second member to the extended position.

15. The assembly of claim 14 , wherein the frangible member includes a necked portion.

16. The assembly of claim 15 , wherein the first member includes an interior surface, the necked portion aligned with the interior surface.

17. The assembly of claim 15 , wherein the frangible member includes a first portion and a second portion, the necked portion narrower than and between the first portion and the second portion.

18. The assembly of claim 17 , wherein the second member is extendable along a first axis, and the first portion is spaced from the second portion along a second axis that is perpendicular to the first axis.

19. The assembly of claim 14 , further comprising an airbag deployable to an inflated position and fixed relative to the steering wheel, and a computer having a processor and a memory storing instructions executable by the processor to, in response to detecting a vehicle impact, actuate the pyrotechnic and deploy the airbag.

20. The assembly of claim 14 , further comprising a spring supported by the first member and urging the second member toward the extended position.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 24, 2020
From: DEL TORO REYNA, ALAN EFREN; MORALES CABRERA, GUSTAVO; ARCHUNDIA HERNÁNDEZ, HUBERTO ESSAUD; MALAPATI, SRINIVAS REDDY
To: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
Reel/Frame 051609/0735 →
Cited By (1)
US 12,208,760