Escutcheon for making a steering wheel spoke appear symmetric about a vertical plane through the steering wheel axis when a vehicle is being steered in a straight line
US7644643B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 17, 2006 |
| Grant date | Jan 12, 2010 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Nov 9, 2027 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10T74/20876
- WIPO fieldTransport
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A steering shaft (12) has an end toward a driver of the vehicle and is arranged to turn about an axis (27) to steer a vehicle. A hub (14) of a steering wheel assembly (13) is fastened to that end of the shaft. A spoke pattern of one or more spokes (15) extends away from the hub to a rim (17) that when grasped by the driver and turned, turns the shaft to steer the vehicle. With the rim turned to a position that steers the vehicle in a straight line of travel, the spoke pattern assumes a position of at least approximate symmetry with respect to a vertical plane through the axis. An escutcheon (24, 26) covers the one or more spokes to prevent the driver from having an unobstructed view of the one or more spokes and is positionable within a range of positions relative to the one or more spokes. The escutcheon is secured in a position within that range that presents to the driver an appearance of having essentially exact symmetry with respect to the vertical plane when the rim is in the position that steers the vehicle in a straight line of travel.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.