Steering wheel assembly

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11148700-B1
Application number	US-202016851446-A
Country	US
Kind code	B1
Filing date	Apr 17, 2020
Priority date	Apr 17, 2020
Publication date	Oct 19, 2021
Grant date	Oct 19, 2021

Abstract

A steering wheel assembly for a vehicle includes a support member connectable to a vehicle steering column. A steering wheel has first and second rim portions that are pivotable about at least one pivot axis between a steering position and a folded position. At least one gear drive is rotatable relative to the support member and operably connected to the first and second rim portions. Rotation of the gear drive causes each of the first and second rim portions to pivot about the at least one pivot axis between the steering and folded positions.

First claim

Having described the invention, the following is claimed:

1. A steering wheel assembly for a vehicle, comprising:
a support member connectable to a vehicle steering column;
a steering wheel having first and second rim portions pivotable about at least one pivot axis between a steering position and a folded position;
at least one gear drive operably connected to the first and second rim portions;
at least one motor for rotating the at least one gear drive relative to the support member, rotation of the gear drive causing each of the first and second rim portions to pivot about the at least one pivot axis between the steering and folded positions.

2. The steering wheel assembly recited in claim 1 , wherein
an end of the first rim portion includes a first transfer member connected thereto, the first transfer member being operably connected to the gear drive, rotation of the gear drive causing the first transfer member to rotate, rotation of the first transfer member causing the first rim portion to pivot about the at least one pivot axis, and
an end of the second rim portion includes a second transfer member connected thereto, the second transfer member being operably connected to the gear drive, rotation of the gear drive causing the second transfer member to rotate, rotation of the second transfer member causing the second rim portion to pivot about the at least one pivot axis.

3. The steering wheel assembly recited in claim 2 , wherein
the first transfer member is rotatably connected to the support member and has teeth that engage the gear drive so that the rotary motion of the gear drive rotates the first transfer member relative to the support member, rotary motion of the first transfer member causing the first rim portion to pivot relative to the support member, and
the second transfer member is rotatably connected to the support member and has teeth that engage the teeth of the first transfer member so that the rotary motion of the first transfer member rotates the second transfer member relative to the support member, rotary motion of the second transfer member causing the second rim portion to pivot relative to the support member.

4. The steering wheel assembly recited in claim 2 , wherein the first transfer member has external teeth engaging the gear drive, the second transfer member having internal teeth engaging the gear drive, the rotary motion of the gear drive causing the first and second transfer members to rotate in opposing directions.

5. The steering wheel assembly recited in claim 4 , further comprising a guide member connected to the support member, the guide member having a first curved track in which the first transfer member slides, the guide member having a second curved track in which the second transfer member slides, the rotary motion of the gear drive causing the first and second transfer members to slide along the first and second curved tracks in opposing directions relative to the guide member, movement of the first transfer member along the first curved track causing the first transfer member to rotate relative to the guide member, movement of the second transfer member along the second curved track causing the second transfer member to rotate relative to the guide member.

6. The steering wheel assembly recited in claim 4 , wherein the gear drive has a first gear engaging the external teeth of the first transfer member and a second gear engaging the internal teeth of the second transfer member, the first and second gears rotating relative to the support member when the gear drive is actuated, the rotary motion of the first and second gears of the gear drive causing the first and second transfer members to rotate in opposing directions relative to the support member.

7. The steering wheel assembly recited in claim 2 , wherein the first transfer member is rotatably connected to the support member and engages the gear drive, the second transfer member being rotatably connected to the support member and engaging the gear drive, rotary motion of the gear drive causing the first and second transfer members to rotate in opposing directions relative to the support member, rotation of the first and second transfer members causing the first and second rim portions to pivot relative to the support member.

8. The steering wheel assembly recited in claim 2 , wherein
the end of the first rim portion includes a first mounting portion connected to the first transfer member, the rotary motion of the first transfer member causing the first mounting portion and the first rim portion to pivot about the at least one pivot axis, and
the end of the second rim portion includes a second mounting portion connected to the second transfer member, the rotary motion of the second transfer member causing the second mounting portion and the second rim portion to pivot about the at least one pivot axis.

9. The steering wheel assembly recited in claim 8 , wherein the support member has at least one actuatable locking member connected thereto, the at least one locking member engaging a corresponding locking member on one of the first mounting portion, the second mounting portion, the first transfer member and the second transfer member to lock the first and second rim portions in the steering or folded position.

10. The steering wheel assembly recited in claim 1 , further comprising a carriage operably connected to the gear drive so that rotary motion of the gear drive linearly moves the carriage relative to the support member, the first and second rim portions being operably connected to the carriage, linear motion of the carriage causing the first and second rim portions to pivot about the at least one pivot axis between the steering and folded positions.

11. The steering wheel assembly recited in claim 10 , wherein the carriage has teeth that engage the gear drive, the steering wheel assembly further comprising:
a first link having a first end connected to the carriage;
a second link having a first end connected to the carriage;
a first transfer member connected to an end of the first rim portion, a first end of the first transfer member being connected to a second end of the first link, a second end of the first transfer member being pivotably connected to the support member, the linear motion of the carriage causing the first link to pivot the first transfer member relative to the support member, the pivoting first transfer member causing the first rim portion to pivot relative to the support member; and
a second transfer member connected to an end of the second rim portion, a first end of the second transfer member being connected to a second end of the second link, a second end of the second transfer member being pivotably connected to the support member, the linear motion of the carriage causing the second link to pivot the second transfer member relative to the support member, the pivoting second transfer member causing the second rim portion to pivot relative to the support member.

12. The steering wheel assembly recited in claim 10 , wherein
the carriage has a carriage base portion and first and second carriage pivot arms extending from the carriage base portion, one of the first and second carriage pivot arms having teeth that engage the gear drive, the steering wheel assembly further comprising:
a first transfer member connected to an end of the first rim portion;
a second transfer member connected to an end of the second rim portion;
a first pin pivotably connecting the first transfer member to the first carriage pivot arm, the linear motion of the carriage causing the first transfer member to rotate about the first pin relative to the carriage, rotary motion

Assignees

• Zf Passive Safety Sys Us Inc
• Zf Automotive Germany Gmbh
• ZF Automotive Safety Germany GmbH

Inventors

• Helmstetter Matthias
• Harvey Jeff
• Baucher Christopher
• Tumminello Marco
• Staab Christopher

Classifications

• F16H19/04

  comprising a rack · CPC title

• B62D1/06 Primary

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

• B60R21/203

  in steering wheels or steering columns · CPC title

• B62D1/10

  Hubs; Connecting hubs to steering columns, e.g. adjustable (B62D1/11 takes precedence) · CPC title

• G05D1/0088

  characterized by the autonomous decision making process, e.g. artificial intelligence, predefined behaviours (using knowledge based models G06N5/00) · CPC title