TRAY TABLE, STEERING WHEEL HAVING TRAY TABLE, AND VEHICLE HAVING STEERING WHEEL

• US 20170113589A1
• Filed: 10/22/2015
• Published: 04/27/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 10/22/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Steering Solutions IP Holding Corporation (Nexteer Automotive Group Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Steering Solutions IP Holding Corporation (Nexteer Automotive Group Ltd.)
• Inventors: Riefe, Richard K.
• Granted Patent: US 9,834,121 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 3/005 mounted on the steering wheel
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/203 in steering wheels or steering columns
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 1/04 Hand wheels
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 1/16 Steering columns
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 1/185 adjustable by axial displacement, e.g. telescopically B62D1/183, B62D1/187, B62D1/19 take precedence

Abstract

A tray table includes a deformable body and a pivot portion. The deformable body includes a first edge and a second edge. A substantially planar surface extends from the first edge to the second edge in a first condition of the tray table. The body defines a first length from the first edge to the second edge in the first condition of the table. The body defines a second length of the tray table, shorter than the first length, in a second condition of the tray table upon exposure of the second edge to a force. The pivot portion adjacent the first edge of the body is configured to pivotally attach the body to a steering wheel.

Claims

1. A tray table comprising:

a deformable body having a first edge and a second edge, the body including a substantially planar surface extending from the first edge to the second edge in a first condition of the tray table, the body defining a first length from the first edge to the second edge in the first condition of the table, the body defining a second length of the tray table, shorter than the first length, in a second condition of the tray table upon exposure of the second edge to a force; and

a pivot portion adjacent the first edge of the body and configured to pivotally attach the body to a steering wheel.

2. The tray table of claim 1, wherein the body comprises a plurality of subsections substantially parallel to each other, with a first subsection substantially aligned with the first edge, a second subsection substantially aligned with the second edge, and at least one divider positioned between the first and second subsections and the first and second edges.

3. The tray table of claim 2, wherein the substantially planar surface includes a plurality of shear lines interposed between adjacent sub-sections.

4. The tray table of claim 2, wherein the body comprises a plurality of convolutions interposed between adjacent sub-sections.

5. The tray table of claim 2, wherein the plurality of sub-sections includes a plurality of nestable telescoping elements.

6. The tray table of claim 1, wherein the body includes a crushable foam material.

7. A steering column assembly comprising:

a steering wheel; and

,

a tray table pivotally attached to the steering wheel, the tray table including a deformable body having a first edge and a second edge, the body including a substantially planar surface extending from the first edge to the second edge in a first condition of the tray table, the body defining a first length from the first edge to the second edge in the first condition of the table, the body defining a second length of the tray table, shorter than the first length, in a second condition of the tray table upon exposure of the second edge to a force.

8. The steering column assembly of claim 7, wherein the tray table is foldable into the steering wheel.

9. The steering column assembly of claim 7, further comprising an inflatable bag within the steering wheel, wherein the body of the tray table is pivotal upon a force from inflating the inflatable bag.

10. The steering column assembly of claim 7, wherein the body comprises a plurality of sub-sections substantially parallel to each other.

11. The steering column assembly of claim 10, wherein the substantially planar surface includes a plurality of shear lines interposed between adjacent sub-sections.

12. The steering column assembly of claim 10, wherein the body comprises a plurality of convolutions interposed between adjacent sub-sections.

13. The steering column assembly of claim 10, wherein the plurality of sub-sections includes a plurality of nestable telescoping elements.

14. The steering column assembly of claim 7, wherein the body includes a crushable foam material.

15. A vehicle comprising:

a steering column;

a steering wheel attached to one end of the steering column; and

,

a tray table pivotally attached to the steering wheel, the tray table including a deformable body having a first edge and a second edge, the body including a substantially planar surface extending from the first edge to the second edge in a first condition of the tray table, the body defining a first length from the first edge to the second edge in the first condition of the table, the body defining a second length of the tray table, shorter than the first length, in a second condition of the tray table upon exposure of the second edge to a force.

16. The vehicle of claim 15, further comprising an autonomous driving assisted steering system, the steering wheel rotating the steering column in a non-activated condition of the autonomous driving assisted steering system, and the steering wheel fixed from rotation in an activated condition of the autonomous driving assisted steering system.

17. The vehicle of claim 15, wherein the tray table is foldable into the steering wheel.

18. The vehicle of claim 15, further comprising an inflatable bag within the steering wheel, wherein the body of the tray table is pivotal upon a force from inflating the inflatable bag.

19. The vehicle of claim 15, wherein the body comprises a plurality of subsections substantially parallel to each other, with a first subsection substantially aligned with the first edge, a second subsection substantially aligned with the second edge, and at least one divider positioned between the first and second subsections and the first and second edges.

20. The vehicle of claim 19, wherein the at least one divider enables a length of the body to reduce from the first length to the second length.