Tray table, steering wheel having tray table, and vehicle having steering wheel

• US 9,834,121 B2
• Filed: 10/22/2015
• Issued: 12/05/2017
• 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.
• Primary Examiner(s): English, James A
• Application Number:
  US14/920,206
• Publication Number:
  US 20170113589A1
• Time in Patent Office: 775 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 further including a plurality of sub-sections in the first condition, 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, 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 which collapses or separates the subsections; 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 is substantially hollow.

3. The tray table of claim 1, wherein the substantially planar surface includes a plurality of shear lines interposed between adjacent sub-sections.

4. The tray table of claim 1, wherein the body comprises a plurality of convolutions interposed between adjacent sub-sections.

5. The tray table of claim 1, wherein the plurality of sub-sections includes a plurality of nestable telescoping elements.

6. 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;

wherein the tray table is foldable into the steering wheel.

7. The steering column assembly of claim 6, wherein the steering wheel includes a hub and a receiving area, the surface of the tray table is a working surface configured to support an object in a deployed condition of the tray table, and the working surface of the tray table faces the receiving area in a stowed condition of the tray table.

8. The steering column assembly of claim 6, 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.

9. The steering column assembly of claim 6, wherein the body comprises a plurality of sub-sections substantially parallel to each other.

10. The steering column assembly of claim 6, wherein the body includes a plurality of sub-sections, the substantially planar surface includes a plurality of shear lines interposed between adjacent sub-sections, and exposure of the second edge to the force separates at least some of the sub-sections from each other.

11. The steering column assembly of claim 6, wherein the body comprises a plurality of sub-sections and a plurality of convolutions interposed between adjacent sub-sections, and exposure of the second edge to the force collapses at least some of the sub-sections into each other.

12. The steering column assembly of claim 6, wherein the body comprises a plurality of sub-sections including a plurality of nestable telescoping elements, and exposure of the second edge to the force collapses at least some of the sub-sections into each other.

13. The steering column assembly of claim 6, wherein the body includes a crushable foam material.

14. 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 and foldable into 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.

15. The vehicle of claim 14, 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.

16. The vehicle of claim 14, wherein the steering wheel includes a hub and a receiving area, the surface of the tray table is a working surface configured to support an object in a deployed condition of the tray table, and the working surface of the tray table faces the receiving area in a stowed condition of the tray table.

17. The vehicle of claim 14, 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.

18. The vehicle of claim 14, wherein the body comprises a plurality of sub-sections 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.

19. The vehicle of claim 18, wherein the at least one divider enables a length of the body to reduce from the first length to the second length.