Steering wheel suspension system

• US 6,220,630 B1
• Filed: 03/30/1999
• Issued: 04/24/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 09/16/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Livsafe, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Lars Sundholm, Mats Lindkvist
• Inventors: Lindkvist, Mats, Sundholm, Lars
• Primary Examiner(s): DePumpo, Daniel G.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Bottorff, Christopher
• Application Number:
  US09/254,840
• Time in Patent Office: 756 Days
• Field of Search: 280/775, 280/777, 280/779, 280/750, 280/780, 744/92, 744/93, 744/96, 744/98
• US Class Current: 280/777
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/2173 the module or part thereof being movably mounted on the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/045 associated with the instrument panel or dashboard
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/203 in steering wheels or steering columns
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 1/197 incorporating devices for preventing ingress of the steering column into the passengers space in case of accident

Abstract

A method and a steering wheel suspension system for reducing the extent of injuries sustained by a driver in the event of a head-on collision of a vehicle that includes a steering wheel fitted with an air bag and having a steering shaft (8) which is rotatably carried in a holder device for steering purposes, wherewith the holder device is, in turn, mounted for rotation about a support shaft (2) which is based from the steering shaft and extends across the vehicle and, under normal conditions, is locked in a determined position relative to the support shaft (2) by means of a breakable locking device (14). The system includes a collision-initiated drive mechanism located at a radial distance from the support shaft (2) and functioning to apply to the holder device a force which causes the device to swing about the support shaft (2) and bring the steering wheel shaft to a generally horizontal collision position in front of the driver, wherewith the steering wheel ring is brought to a generally vertical position in front of the driver of the vehicle.

Claims

1. A method of reducing the extent of injuries suffered by a driver in the event of a head-on collision of a vehicle including a steering wheel which is fitted with an air bag and which has a steering wheel shaft that is rotatably carried in a holder device for steering purposes, said holder device being, in turn, mounted for pivotal movement about a support shaft which is spaced from the steering wheel shaft and extends transversely in the vehicle and which under normal conditions is locked in a determined position relative to said support shaft by means of breakable locking means, the method comprising the steps of applying, at said head-on collision, a force at an impact surface arranged in the vicinity of the vehicle dashboard and connected to the holder device, therewith causing said holder device to swing about the support shaft and bring the steering wheel shaft to an essentially horizontal collision position in front of the driver, wherewith the steering wheel will be adjusted to a generally vertical position in front of the driver of the vehicle.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein the steering wheel shaft is moved axially towards and against the driver when taking its collision position.

3. A steering wheel suspension system for a vehicle, the steering wheel suspension system comprising:

a steering wheel assembly with a steering wheel shaft carried in a holder device that is pivotally carried by a support shaft and that is locked in a determined position by a breakable lock; and

a movable impact surface that is connected to said holder device and spaced from said support shaft and that breaks said breakable lock upon application of a force to said impact surface to pivotally move said steering wheel shaft through an arc to a generally horizontal position.

4. A system according to claim 3, wherein an energy-absorbing connection part is arranged between the impact surface and the holder device;

and wherein the energy-absorbent part is dimensioned to absorb energy solely in the event of a load that exceeds the force required to break said breakable lock and therewith release the holding device.

5. A system according to claim 3, wherein the holder device has two parts that can swing about the support shaft freely from one another, an upper part and a lower part;

in that an angle locking device connects said upper and lower part for regulating their relative angular positions; and

in that an axial regulating device is arranged in said upper part for receiving and adjusting the steering wheel shaft in an axial direction.

6. A system according to claim 3, wherein an energy-absorbing connection part is arranged between the impact surface and the holder device;

and wherein the energy-absorbent part is dimensioned to absorb energy solely in the event of a load that exceeds the force required to break said breakable lock and therewith release the holding device.

7. A steering wheel suspension system for a vehicle, the steering wheel suspension system comprising:

a steering wheel assembly with a steering wheel shaft carried in a holder device that is pivotally carried by a support shaft and that is locked in a determined position by a breakable lock, said holder device comprising two parts that are separately pivotable about said support shaft;

an angle locking device that connects said two parts and regulates their relative angular positions;

an axial regulating device in one of said two parts that adjusts said steering wheel shaft in an axial direction; and

a movable impact surface that is connected to said holder device and that breaks said breakable lock upon application of a force to said impact surface to pivotally move said steering wheel shaft through an arc to a generally horizontal position.

8. A system according to claim 7, wherein the steering wheel shaft is mounted in a slide sleeve and is fixed against axial movement in said sleeve but rotatable therein, said sleeve being accommodated in and axially movable in one of said two parts;

wherein an underside of the slide sleeve includes a row of teeth;

wherein a cogwheel is provided for engagement with said row of teeth;

wherein the cogwheel is mounted for rotation about the support shaft; and

wherein an adjustable cogwheel is provided for engagement with the cogwheel for axial adjustment of the steering wheel shaft.

9. A system according to claim 7, wherein the steering wheel shaft is mounted in a slide sleeve and is fixed against axial movement in said sleeve but rotatable therein, said sleeve being accommodated in and axially movable in one of said two parts;

wherein an underside of the slide sleeve includes a row of teeth;

wherein a cogwheel is provided for engagement with said row of teeth;

wherein the cogwheel is mounted for rotation about the support shaft; and

wherein an adjustable cogwheel is provided for engagement with the cogwheel for axial adjustment of the steering wheel shaft.

10. A system according to claim 7, wherein an energy-absorbing connection part is arranged between the impact surface and the holder device;

and wherein the energy-absorbent part is dimensioned to absorb energy solely in the event of a load that exceeds the force required to break said breakable lock and therewith release the holding device.