Patents by Inventor Josef Wenninger

Josef Wenninger has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 4156372
    Abstract: A motor vehicle steering shaft assembly having two complementary steering shaft pieces adapted to be connected to the vehicle steering gear and steering wheel, respectively. Each shaft piece has an end portion arranged in adjacent, overlapping relationship with the end portion of the other shaft piece. The two shaft pieces are connected by at least two independent, torque-transmitting plug connections which are axially spaced relative to each other along the overlapping end portions. Each of the plug connections includes projections or "plugs," attached and extending parallel to one of the shaft pieces, and corresponding receptacles, adapted to receive the projections, attached to the other shaft piece. As a result of this construction the two shaft pieces of the steering shaft assembly may be disconnected upon application of a predetermined axial force, but the steering shaft assembly will not bend upon application of a transverse force thereto.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 1978
    Date of Patent: May 29, 1979
    Assignee: Volkswagenwerk Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Josef Wenninger
  • Patent number: 4133220
    Abstract: A motor vehicle steering shaft assembly having two complementary steering shaft pieces adapted to be connected to the vehicle steering gear and steering wheel, respectively. Each shaft piece has an end portion arranged in adjacent, overlapping relationship with the end portion of the other shaft piece. The two shaft pieces are connected by at least two independent, torque-transmitting plug connections which are axially spaced relative to each other along the overlapping end portions. Each of the plug connections includes projections or "plugs", attached and extending parallel to one of the shaft pieces, and corresponding receptacles, adapted to receive the projections, attached to the other shaft piece. As a result of this construction the two shaft pieces of the steering shaft assembly may be disconnected upon application of a predetermined axial force, but the steering shaft assembly will not bend upon application of a transverse force thereto.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 1977
    Date of Patent: January 9, 1979
    Assignee: Volkswagenwerk Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Josef Wenninger
  • Patent number: 4061054
    Abstract: A steering wheel is designed to be attached to a steering column by means of a deformation member to enable the steering wheel to tilt with respect to the axis of the steering column upon impact by the driver. The deformation member is a flat plate with lines of reduced strength preferably in the form of spirals extending from the center of the hub.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 1976
    Date of Patent: December 6, 1977
    Assignee: Volkswagenwerk Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Josef Wenninger