Stowable steering wheel assembly
First Claim
1. A steering assembly movable between a deployed position and a stowed position in an instrument panel of a vehicle, the assembly comprising:
- a mounting sled assembly configured to mount to a structural portion of the vehicle;
a movable sled assembly operably coupled to the mounting sled assembly and movable relative thereto, the movable sled assembly movable between a sled stowed position where the movable sled assembly is disposed within the instrument panel, and a sled deployed position where the movable sled assembly is extended away from the instrument panel toward a rear of the vehicle; and
a handle assembly operably coupled to the movable sled assembly and configured to move between a handle stowed position where the handle assembly is at least partially retracted within the movable sled assembly, and a handle deployed position where at least a portion of the handle assembly extends outward from the movable sled assembly for a driver to steer the vehicle,wherein the handle assembly collapses into the movable sled assembly and the movable sled assembly with the handle assembly collapsed therein retracts into the mounting sled assembly in the instrument panel as the steering assembly moves from the deployed position to the stowed position;
a first motor configured to move the movable sled assembly between the sled stowed position and the sled deployed position;
a second motor configured to move the handle assembly between the handle stowed position and the handle deployed position; and
a gear rack coupled between the first motor and the movable sled assembly, wherein the gear rack includes a toothed body configured to meshingly engage a gear coupled to the first motor, a plunger coupled to the movable sled assembly, and a pin configured to prevent rotation of the gear rack.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A steering assembly movable between a deployed position and a stowed position in an instrument panel of a vehicle includes a mounting sled assembly configured to mount to a structural portion of the vehicle, a movable sled assembly operably coupled to the mounting sled assembly and movable relative thereto, the movable sled assembly movable between a retracted position where the movable sled assembly is disposed within the instrument panel, and a deployed position where the movable sled assembly is extended away from the instrument panel toward a rear of the vehicle, and a handle assembly configured to move between a stowed position where the handle assembly is at least partially retracted within the movable sled assembly, and a deployed position where at least a portion of the handle assembly extends outward from the movable sled assembly for a driver to manipulate and steer the vehicle.
15 Citations
15 Claims
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1. A steering assembly movable between a deployed position and a stowed position in an instrument panel of a vehicle, the assembly comprising:
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a mounting sled assembly configured to mount to a structural portion of the vehicle; a movable sled assembly operably coupled to the mounting sled assembly and movable relative thereto, the movable sled assembly movable between a sled stowed position where the movable sled assembly is disposed within the instrument panel, and a sled deployed position where the movable sled assembly is extended away from the instrument panel toward a rear of the vehicle; and a handle assembly operably coupled to the movable sled assembly and configured to move between a handle stowed position where the handle assembly is at least partially retracted within the movable sled assembly, and a handle deployed position where at least a portion of the handle assembly extends outward from the movable sled assembly for a driver to steer the vehicle, wherein the handle assembly collapses into the movable sled assembly and the movable sled assembly with the handle assembly collapsed therein retracts into the mounting sled assembly in the instrument panel as the steering assembly moves from the deployed position to the stowed position; a first motor configured to move the movable sled assembly between the sled stowed position and the sled deployed position; a second motor configured to move the handle assembly between the handle stowed position and the handle deployed position; and a gear rack coupled between the first motor and the movable sled assembly, wherein the gear rack includes a toothed body configured to meshingly engage a gear coupled to the first motor, a plunger coupled to the movable sled assembly, and a pin configured to prevent rotation of the gear rack. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A steering assembly movable between a deployed position and a stowed position in an instrument panel of a vehicle, the assembly comprising:
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a mounting sled assembly configured to mount to a structural portion of the vehicle; a movable sled assembly operably coupled to the mounting sled assembly and movable relative thereto, the movable sled assembly movable between a sled stowed position where the movable sled assembly is disposed within the instrument panel, and a sled deployed position where the movable sled assembly is extended away from the instrument panel toward a rear of the vehicle; a handle assembly operably coupled to the movable sled assembly and configured to move between a handle stowed position where the handle assembly is at least partially retracted within the movable sled assembly, and a handle deployed position where at least a portion of the handle assembly extends outward from the movable sled assembly for a driver to steer the vehicle, wherein the handle assembly collapses into the movable sled assembly and the movable sled assembly with the handle assembly collapsed therein retracts into the mounting sled assembly in the instrument panel as the steering assembly moves from the deployed position to the stowed position; a steering shaft assembly extending at least partially through a body of the mounting sled assembly and a body of the movable sled assembly; a shaft bearing assembly at least partially disposed about the steering shaft assembly; and first and second shoulder bolts coupled to the shaft bearing assembly, the first shoulder bolt slidably received in a first central slot formed in the movable sled assembly, and the second shoulder bolt slidably received in a second central slot formed in the movable sled.
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15. A steering assembly movable between a deployed position and a stowed position in an instrument panel of a vehicle, the assembly comprising:
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a mounting sled assembly configured to mount to a structural portion of the vehicle; a movable sled assembly operably coupled to the mounting sled assembly and movable relative thereto, the movable sled assembly movable between a sled stowed position where the movable sled assembly is disposed within the instrument panel, and a sled deployed position where the movable sled assembly is extended away from the instrument panel toward a rear of the vehicle; and a handle assembly operably coupled to the movable sled assembly and configured to move between a handle stowed position where the handle assembly is at least partially retracted within the movable sled assembly, and a handle deployed position where at least a portion of the handle assembly extends outward from the movable sled assembly for a driver to steer the vehicle, wherein the handle assembly collapses into the movable sled assembly and the movable sled assembly with the handle assembly collapsed therein retracts into the mounting sled assembly in the instrument panel as the steering assembly moves from the deployed position to the stowed position, wherein the handle assembly comprises a left handle and a right handle, wherein each of the left and right handles includes a handle grip portion disposed between an upper arm and a lower arm, wherein each upper arm and lower arm includes a first aperture to receive a pin, and a second aperture to receive a shoulder bolt, and wherein each pin is received in a diverging slot formed in the movable sled assembly, and each shoulder bolt is received in a central slot formed in the movable sled assembly.
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Specification