Retractable steering wheel

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10800441-B2
Application number	US-201816015939-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 22, 2018
Priority date	Sep 1, 2017
Publication date	Oct 13, 2020
Grant date	Oct 13, 2020

Abstract

An assembly includes a steering column. The assembly includes a pair of steering handles pivotally supported by the steering column and pivotable from an extended position toward the steering column to a retracted position. The assembly includes a processor and a memory storing instructions executable by the processor to pivot the steering handles to the retracted position upon detecting a triggering event.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An assembly comprising:
a steering column having a shaft and defining an axis;
a pair of support arms extending radially from the shaft;
a pair of steering handles, each steering handle including an arm extending away from the steering column and a grip supported by the arm, each arm pivotally supported by one of the support arms such that each steering handle is pivotable from an extended position toward the steering column to a retracted position, each arm including an elongated slot spaced from the support arms;
a ring supported by the steering column and operatively engaged with the slots, the ring movable along the axis such that movement of the ring along the axis causes the steering handles to pivot;
a processor; and
a memory storing instructions executable by the processor to pivot the steering handles to the retracted position upon detecting a triggering event.

2. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the triggering event is a vehicle impact.

3. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the memory stores instructions executable by the processor to pivot the steering handles to the extended position or the retracted position based on a determination of whether a vehicle door is in a closed position or an open position.

4. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the memory stores instructions executable by the processor to pivot the steering handles to the retracted position upon determining a vehicle engine is in an off-state.

5. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the memory stores instructions executable by the processor to pivot the steering handles to the extended position upon determining a vehicle engine is in an on-state.

6. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the memory stores instructions executable by the processor to pivot the steering handles to the retracted position or the extended position based on a determination of whether a vehicle is in an autonomous mode or a manual mode.

7. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the memory stores instructions executable by the processor to inflate an airbag after pivoting the steering handles to the retracted position.

8. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the memory stores instructions executable by the processor to pivot the steering handles to the extended position upon determining a vehicle seat is occupied.

9. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the ring is located between the steering column and the support arms.

10. The assembly of claim 9 , wherein the ring and the support arms are supported by the shaft.

11. The assembly of claim 1 , further comprising an actuator configured to move the ring along the axis.

12. The assembly of claim 1 , further comprising an actuator configured to pivot the steering handles to the retracted position.

13. The assembly of claim 12 , further comprising a second actuator configured to pivot the steering handles to the retracted position and to the extended position.

14. An assembly comprising:
a seat;
a pair of steering handles in front of the seat;
a vehicle roof;
an airbag supported on the roof and inflatable to an inflated position between the seat and the steering handles;
a processor; and
a memory storing instructions executable by the processor to actuate an actuator configured to pivot the pair of steering handles from an extended position toward a steering column to a retracted position upon detecting a triggering event and to inflate the airbag after pivoting the steering handles to the retracted position.

15. The assembly of claim 14 , wherein the triggering event is a vehicle impact.

16. The assembly of claim 14 , wherein the memory stores instructions executable by the processor to actuate a second actuator configured to pivot the steering handles to the extended position or the retracted position based on a determination of whether a vehicle door is in an open position or a closed position.

17. The assembly of claim 14 , wherein the memory stores instructions executable by the processor to actuate a second actuator configured to pivot the steering handles to the extended position or the retracted position based on a determination of whether a vehicle seat is occupied or unoccupied.

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

• Board Derek
• Sundararajan Srinivasan
• Pline Kevin Michael

Classifications

• B62D1/11

  incorporating energy-absorbing arrangements, e.g. by being yieldable or collapsible (padded linings associated with the steering wheel B60R21/05; shock absorbers using plastic deformation of members in general F16F7/12) · CPC title

• B60R21/20

  Arrangements for storing inflatable members in their non-use or deflated condition; Arrangement or mounting of air bag modules or components · CPC title

• B62D1/181

  with power actuated adjustment, e.g. with position memory · CPC title

• B62D1/197

  incorporating devices for preventing ingress of the steering column into the passengers space in case of accident · CPC title

• B62D1/183

  adjustable between in-use and out-of-use positions, e.g. to improve access · CPC title