Steering wheel having a collapsible hub

• US 6,003,406 A
• Filed: 12/01/1997
• Issued: 12/21/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 11/29/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company (Hyundai Motor Group)
• Original Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company (Hyundai Motor Group)
• Inventors: Lee, Ju-Young, Park, Dong-Ho
• Primary Examiner(s): Hannon, Thomas R.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hansen, Colby M.
• Application Number:
  US08/982,234
• Time in Patent Office: 750 Days
• Field of Search: 74/552, 280/750, 280/777, 188/371, 188/377
• US Class Current: 74/552
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/05 associated with the steering wheel, steering hand lever or steering column yieldable steering columns B62D1/18
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/2035 using modules containing inflator, bag and cover attachable to the steering wheel as a complete sub-unit steering wheel covers with tear lines B60R21/21656; assembling of modules B60R21/217
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 1/11 incorporating energy-absorbing arrangements, e.g. by being yieldable or collapsible padded linings associated with the steering wheel B60R21/05; shock absorbers using plastic deformation of members in general F16F7/12
• CPC Class Codes: F16F 7/123 Deformation involving a bending action, e.g. strap moving through multiple rollers, folding of members F16F7/125, F16F7/128 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/20834 Hand wheels

Abstract

A steering wheel having a collapsible hub, the steering wheel comprising a wheel 100 having a rim 140, a plurality of spokes 130 connected with the rim 140 and a lower plate 150 having edges and connected with the spokes 130 at the middle of the wheel 100, the edges of the lower plate forming a shape of an open box; a back plate 200 fixed to the said plurality of spokes 130 of the wheel 100 and having an escape hole 220 opened from the middle to one side of the plate 200; an upper plate 300 having first and second vertical surfaces 320 and 330 fixed to the back plate 200 and a horizontal surface 340 connecting the vertical surfaces 320 and 330 to form a space between the back plate 200 and the upper plate 300; and a hub cover 400 installed on the wheel 100 for covering the upper plate 300, so the upper plate 300 collapses to absorb impact of a driver in a car accident.

Claims

1. A steering wheel having a collapsible hub, the steering wheel comprising:

a wheel having a rim, a plurality of spokes connected with the rim and a lower plate connected with the spokes in the middle of the wheel, said lower plate having edges forming a shape of an open box;

a back plate fixed to the spokes of the wheel and having an escape hole opened from the middle to one side of the plate, resulting in a u-shaped back plate;

an upper plate having first and second surfaces fixed to the back plate and a third surface substantially perpendicular to and connecting the first and second surfaces to form a space between the back plate and the upper plate, the upper plate being collapsible into the escape hole of the back plate; and

a hub cover installed on the wheel for covering the upper plate.

2. The steering wheel as claimed in claim 1 wherein said first surface of the upper plate has a plurality of holes and said third surface of the upper plate has a plurality of holes at a lateral part adjacent to the first surface.

3. The steering wheel as claimed in claim 1 wherein a module air-bag system is interchangeable with the components of said steering wheel.

4. The steering wheel as claimed in claim 3 wherein said first surface of the upper plate has a plurality of holes and said third surface of the upper plate has a plurality of holes at a lateral part adjacent to the first surface.