Telescoping vehicle steering column apparatus for helping to protect a vehicle driver
First Claim
1. An apparatus for a vehicle, said apparatus comprising:
- a first steering column member rotatable about a first axis;
a steering wheel mounted on said first steering column member to rotate said first steering column member about said first axis upon turning of said steering wheel;
a second steering column member connected with said first steering column member so that rotation of said first steering column member about said first axis causes rotation of said second steering column member, said first and second steering column members having a telescoping relationship and having axially overlapped portions;
an air bag module mounted on said steering wheel and including an inflatable air bag which is inflatable into a position to help protect a vehicle driver in the event of an occurrence of a vehicle condition for which inflation of the air bag is desired; and
an actuatable device which, when actuated, emits gas which causes said first and second steering column members to telescope together and at least a portion of said air bag module to move away from the vehicle driver as said air bag is inflated into said position.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus (12) comprises a first steering column member (40) rotatable about a first axis (26) and a steering wheel (20) mounted on the first steering column member. A second steering column member (100) is connected with the first steering column member (40) so that rotation of the first steering column member about the first axis (26) causes rotation of the second steering column member. The first and second steering column members (40 and 100) have a telescoping relationship and have axially overlapped portions (70, 108). An air bag module (30) is mounted on the steering wheel (20) and includes an inflatable air bag (32). An actuatable device (90) emits gas which causes the first and second steering column members (40 and 100) to telescope together and causes at least a portion of the air bag module (30) to move away from the vehicle driver as the air bag (32) is inflated.
92 Citations
13 Claims
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1. An apparatus for a vehicle, said apparatus comprising:
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a first steering column member rotatable about a first axis;
a steering wheel mounted on said first steering column member to rotate said first steering column member about said first axis upon turning of said steering wheel;
a second steering column member connected with said first steering column member so that rotation of said first steering column member about said first axis causes rotation of said second steering column member, said first and second steering column members having a telescoping relationship and having axially overlapped portions;
an air bag module mounted on said steering wheel and including an inflatable air bag which is inflatable into a position to help protect a vehicle driver in the event of an occurrence of a vehicle condition for which inflation of the air bag is desired; and
an actuatable device which, when actuated, emits gas which causes said first and second steering column members to telescope together and at least a portion of said air bag module to move away from the vehicle driver as said air bag is inflated into said position. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
said apparatus further including means defining a passage communicating said aligned opening from which said pin is moved with said chamber, said pin, when moved out of said aligned opening, exposing said passage to enable said gas produced by said actuatable device to be directed into said chamber through said passage to move said first steering column member relative to said second steering column member.
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8. An apparatus for a vehicle, said apparatus comprising:
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a first steering column member rotatable about a first axis;
a second steering column member rotatable about said first axis and connected to said first steering column member for joint rotation;
said first and second steering column members having a telescoping relationship with axially overlapped portions;
a releasable mechanism for maintaining said first and second steering column members in positions relative to each other such that they overlap for a first predetermined length, said releasable mechanism when released enabling said first and second steering column members to overlap for a second length greater than said first length; and
an actuatable device for emitting gas to actuate said releasable mechanism and for causing relative movement of said first and second steering column members to a position where said members overlap for said second length. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
said apparatus further including a passage communicating said aligned opening from which said pin is moved with said chamber, said pin, when moved out of said aligned opening, exposing said passage to enable said gas produced by said actuatable device to be directed into said chamber through said passage to move said one steering column member relative to the other steering column member.
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Specification