Electrical transmission ring assembly disposed between the steering column and the steering wheel of an automobile vehicle
US4850881A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Sep 22, 1987 |
| Grant date | Jul 25, 1989 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Sep 22, 2007 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH01R39/64
- WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A transmission ring assembly adapted to be mounted between the steering column and the steering wheel an automobile vehicle provides an electrical connection between a control switch mounted on the steering wheel and a device controlled by the switch. It comprises a bush fixed to the steering column and a first series of conductive rings fastened to the bush. A base member is mechanically attached to the steering wheel and a second series of conductive rings fastened to the base member cooperate electrically with the rings of the first series. Each pair of contacts formed by respective rings from the first and second series is insulated from an adjacent pair of contacts. Each ring of the first or second series comprises two concentric annuli electrically and mechanically joined at at least two points on a common diameter. In this way the connection and drive/retention functions of each ring are made separate from its electrical contact function.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.