Hollow plastic body which is used, in particular, to line steering wheel columns in motor vehicles
US8297137B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | May 10, 2006 |
| Grant date | Oct 30, 2012 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Nov 14, 2028 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10T403/60
- WIPO fieldMechanical elements
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A hollow body of plastics material for placing around a motor vehicle steering column, the body including two half-bodies (2, 4) assembled to each other by tabs (22) and snap-fastener elements (24), each tab (22) including a portion in relief (28) provided with a first catch bearing surface. The snap-fastener elements (24) include a housing for each tab, the housing presenting at least one constriction, the portions in relief (28) being retained in the housings by the constrictions, the bearing surfaces of the tabs coming into contact with the complementary bearing surfaces of the constrictions on planes inclined at an angle (α) selected to enable the portions in relief (28) to go past the constrictions by elastic deformation when the two half-bodies (2, 4) are pulled apart from each other with a predetermined force.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.