Steering wheel with video screen and airbag

• US 10,144,383 B2
• Filed: 09/29/2016
• Issued: 12/04/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 09/29/2016
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Steering Solutions IP Holding Corporation (Nexteer Automotive Group Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Steering Solutions IP Holding Corporation (Nexteer Automotive Group Ltd.)
• Inventors: Bodtker, Joen C., Schulz, John F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Verley, Nicole T
• Application Number:
  US15/279,487
• Publication Number:
  US 20180086297A1
• Time in Patent Office: 796 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/652 Crash protection features
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/685 Instruments movable with steering column
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/782 on the steering wheel
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/00 Instruments specially adapted for vehicles; Arrangement of instruments in or on vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/212 displaying on manual operation elements, e.g. on a knob
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/22 Display screens
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/53 Movable instruments, e.g. slidable
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/60 Instruments characterised by their location or relative disposition in or on vehicles arrangements of lighting devices on dashboards B60Q3/10
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/21512 the lid being displaced towards the occupant during deployment B60R2021/2161, B60R2021/21525 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/203 in steering wheels or steering columns
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/21656 Steering wheel covers or similar cup-shaped covers
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 1/046 Adaptations on rotatable parts of the steering wheel for accommodation of switches
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 1/10 Hubs; Connecting hubs to steering columns, e.g. adjustable B62D1/11 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 1/183 adjustable between in-use and out-of-use positions, e.g. to improve access
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/12 Picture reproducers H04N9/11 takes precedence

Abstract

A steering assembly includes a steering wheel and display interface. The steering wheel has an airbag module disposed within a hub of the steering wheel. The display interface is disposed on the steering wheel over the airbag module. The display interface has a first display segment disposed adjacent to a second display segment.

Claims

1. A steering assembly, comprising:

a steering wheel selectively coupled to a steering shaft, the steering wheel having a hub that is configured to receive an airbag module and an airbag cover disposed on the hub; and

a display interface disposed within the airbag cover over the airbag module, the display interface being configured to split along a predicted tear path that extends from a first side of the display interface towards a second side of the display interface in response to expansion of an airbag of the airbag module, wherein the display interface is configured as a frangible display interface.

2. The steering assembly of claim 1, wherein the display interface defines a display area having a viewing area completely disposed within the display area.

3. The steering assembly of claim 2, wherein the display interface defines a tear initiator that is aligned with the predicted tear path and extends from an edge of the display area towards the viewing area.

4. The steering assembly of claim 3, wherein the tear initiator is spaced apart from the viewing area.

5. The steering assembly of claim 4, wherein in response to expansion of the airbag of the airbag module the tear initiator facilitates formation of a split within the display interface that extends from the edge towards an opposite edge of the display area disposed opposite the edge.

6. A steering assembly provided with an autonomous vehicle, comprising:

a steering wheel having an airbag module disposed within a hub of the steering wheel; and

a display interface disposed on the steering wheel over the airbag module, the display interface having a first display segment disposed adjacent to a second display segment, the first display segment directly abuts the second display segment.

7. The steering assembly of claim 6, wherein the first display segment has a first display segment first side that is hingedly connected to the steering wheel and a first display segment second side that is disposed opposite the first display segment first side.

8. The steering assembly of claim 7, wherein the second display segment has a second display segment first side that is hingedly connected to the steering wheel and a second display segment second side that is disposed opposite the second display segment first side.

9. The steering assembly of claim 8, wherein the first display segment second side abuts the second display segment second side to define a split.

10. The steering assembly of claim 9, wherein in response to expansion of an airbag of the airbag module, at least one of the first display segment and the second display segment hingedly moves from a closed position towards an open position.

11. A steering assembly provided with an autonomous vehicle, comprising:

a steering wheel having an airbag module disposed within a hub of the steering wheel;

a display interface disposed on the steering wheel over the airbag module, the display interface having a first display segment disposed adjacent to a second display segment, the first display segment has a first display segment first side that is hingedly connected to the steering wheel and a first display segment second side that is disposed opposite the first display segment first side, the second display segment has a second display segment first side that is hingedly connected to the steering wheel and a second display segment second side that is disposed opposite the second display segment first side, the first display segment second side abuts the second display segment second side to define a split; and

a frame member disposed on the steering wheel, the first display segment and the second display segment slidably attached to the frame member.

12. The steering assembly of claim 9 or 11, wherein the first display segment and the second display segment are movable between a first position in which the first display segment second side abuts the second display segment second side and a second position in which the first display segment second side is spaced apart from the second display segment second side.

13. The steering assembly of claim 12, wherein movement of the first display segment and the second display segment from the first position towards the second position provides an expanded viewing area of the display interface.