STEERING WHEEL ASSEMBLY FOR RETRACTING A STEERING WHEEL IN A VEHICLE
First Claim
1. A steering wheel assembly for a vehicle, the steering wheel assembly comprising:
- a steering wheel;
a steering column attachable to the steering wheel;
a pivoting member attachable to the steering column and a cross-beam structure of the vehicle, wherein the pivoting member is configured to pivot the steering column in an upward direction about a horizontal axis directed along a width of the vehicle; and
an actuating member configured to initiate a sliding of the steering column in a forward direction toward an instrument panel of the vehicle;
wherein the steering wheel is retractable from a normal driving position by first pivoting the steering column upward via the pivoting member and thereafter sliding the steering column forward via the actuating member.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Example embodiments presented herein are directed toward a steering wheel assembly, and corresponding method, for retracting a steering wheel in a vehicle. In the steering wheel retraction, a steering column is configured to first pivot upwards about a horizontal axis directed along the vehicle'"'"'s width via a pivoting member. Thereafter, the steering wheel column is configured to slide, via an actuating member, in a forward direction towards the instrument panel of the vehicle. Thus, before moving the steering column in a forward direction, the steering wheel is moved away from the driver'"'"'s legs by the pivoting action. This helps reduce the likelihood of the steering wheel hitting the driver'"'"'s legs during the retraction.
-
Citations
19 Claims
-
1. A steering wheel assembly for a vehicle, the steering wheel assembly comprising:
-
a steering wheel; a steering column attachable to the steering wheel; a pivoting member attachable to the steering column and a cross-beam structure of the vehicle, wherein the pivoting member is configured to pivot the steering column in an upward direction about a horizontal axis directed along a width of the vehicle; and an actuating member configured to initiate a sliding of the steering column in a forward direction toward an instrument panel of the vehicle; wherein the steering wheel is retractable from a normal driving position by first pivoting the steering column upward via the pivoting member and thereafter sliding the steering column forward via the actuating member. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
-
-
9. A method for retracting a steering wheel of a steering wheel assembly in a vehicle, wherein the steering wheel assembly further comprises a steering column connected to the steering wheel, a pivoting member connecting the steering column to a cross-beam structure of the vehicle, and an actuating member, the method comprising:
-
receiving, by the steering wheel assembly, an indication for steering wheel retraction; pivoting the steering column, via the pivoting member, in an upward direction about a horizontal axis directed along the vehicle'"'"'s width; and thereafter, initiating a sliding of the steering column, via the actuating member, in a forward direction toward an instrument panel of the vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
-
-
16. A non-transitory computer readable medium comprising program instructions for retracting a steering wheel of a steering wheel assembly in a vehicle, wherein the steering wheel assembly further comprises a steering column connected to the steering wheel, a pivoting member connecting the steering column to a cross-beam structure of the vehicle, and an actuating member, wherein the program instructions are configured for execution by one or more processors of a computer system and comprise instructions for:
-
upon receipt of an indication for steering wheel retraction, pivoting the steering column, via the pivoting member, in an upward direction about a horizontal axis directed along a width of the vehicle; and thereafter, initiating a sliding of the steering column, via the actuating member, in forward direction towards an instrument panel of the vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19)
-
Specification