Steering wheel assembly

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10625764-B2
Application number	US-201715493708-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 21, 2017
Priority date	Apr 28, 2016
Publication date	Apr 21, 2020
Grant date	Apr 21, 2020

Abstract

A motor vehicle steering wheel assembly may include a ring-shaped member comprising a slot and an internal recess, wherein the slot and internal recess extend circumferentially about the ring-shaped member, the slot being provided in a surface of the ring-shaped member and forming an aperture into the internal recess; a support portion configured to be coupled to a vehicle support structure, the support portion extending through the slot; and a guide portion coupled to the support portion, the guide portion being slidably disposed in the internal recess such that the ring-shaped member is rotatable.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A motor vehicle steering wheel assembly comprising:
a ring-shaped member defining a hollow internal recess and a slot providing an aperture into the internal recess;
and
a guide portion configured to be slidably disposed in the internal recess such that the ring-shaped member is rotatable about the guide portion;
one or more lights arranged around the ring-shaped member and configured to indicate a current position of the ring-shaped member relative to the guide portion.

2. The steering wheel assembly of claim 1 , wherein the guide portion is arc shaped.

3. The steering wheel assembly of claim 1 , wherein the guide portion has a circular cross-section and extends about the internal recess.

4. The steering wheel assembly of claim 1 , further comprising one or more bearings provided between the guide portion and an inner surface of the internal recess.

5. The steering wheel assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a support portion coupled to a vehicle support structure and extending through the slot, wherein the support portion and guide portion are integral.

6. The steering wheel assembly of claim 5 , wherein the slot is provided on a side of the ring-shaped member facing the support portion.

7. The steering wheel assembly of claim 1 , further comprising one or more sensors configured to determine a rotational position of the ring-shaped member relative to the guide portion.

8. The steering wheel assembly of claim 7 , wherein the one or more sensors include magnets.

9. The steering wheel assembly of claim 8 , wherein the magnets are configured to selectively apply a force to the ring-shaped member.

10. The steering wheel assembly of claim 1 , wherein the one or more lights extend circumferentially about the ring-shaped member.

11. The steering wheel assembly of claim 1 , wherein the one or more lights are arranged in multiple rows, each row indicating a complete turn of the ring-shaped member.

12. The steering wheel assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a second ring-shaped member coupled to and concentric with the ring-shaped member, wherein the second ring-shaped member forms a portion of a steering wheel.

13. A steering wheel assembly comprising:
a ring-shaped member defining a hollow internal recess and a slot providing an aperture into the internal recess;
a guide portion configured to be slidably disposed in the internal recess via the slot allowing rotation of the ring-shaped member about the guide portion while maintaining the ring-shaped member fixed to a support structure; and
one or more lights arranged around the ring-shaped member and configured to indicate a current position of the ring-shaped member relative to the guide portion.

14. The steering wheel assembly of claim 13 , wherein the guide portion has a circular cross-section and extends about the internal recess.

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

• Hoggarth Marcus
• Dekker Jasper
• Rogers Ivan Mark
• Rose Edward

Classifications

• B62D1/06 Primary

  Rims, e.g. with heating means; Rim covers (B62D1/11 takes precedence) · CPC title

• B60R16/027

  between relatively movable parts of the vehicle, e.g. between steering wheel and column {(devices for measuring, signalling or controlling tyre pressure or temperature specially adapted for mounting on vehicles B60C23/00)} · CPC title

• B62D1/046

  Adaptations on rotatable parts of the steering wheel for accommodation of switches · CPC title

• B62D15/022

  on or near the connection between the steering wheel and steering column · CPC title

• B62D5/005

  means for generating torque on steering wheel or input member, e.g. feedback · CPC title