Patents by Inventor Rex R. Struble

Rex R. Struble 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).

  • Adaptive collapsible steering column
    Patent number: 6296280
    Abstract: An apparatus for supporting a steering wheel (22) of a vehicle (10) comprises a first steering column part (32) and a second steering column part (34). The apparatus also comprises supporting structure (46) supporting the first steering column part (32) and the vehicle steering wheel (22) for movement relative to the second steering column part (34) along an axis (36) of the steering column (12). The apparatus further comprises an energy absorbing device (20) interposed between the first steering column part (32) and the second steering column part (34) for resisting movement of the first part relative to the second part. The energy absorbing device (20) comprises a fluid (50) having a shear strength which varies in response to an energy field acting on the fluid. The apparatus also includes means (54, 60) for varying the shear strength of the fluid (50) by varying the energy field to vary the resistance to movement of the first steering column part (32) relative to the second steering column part (34).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2001
    Assignee: TRW Inc.
    Inventors: Rex R. Struble, Ernst M. Faigle
  • Adaptive collapsible steering column
    Patent number: 6189929
    Abstract: An apparatus for supporting a steering wheel (22) of a vehicle (10) comprises a first steering column part (32) supported for movement relative to a second steering column part (34). An energy absorbing device (20) is interposed between the first steering column part (32) and the second steering column part (34) for resisting movement of the first part relative to the second part. The energy absorbing device (20) comprises at least one bendable strap (50) that bends to absorb energy in response to relative movement between the first steering column part (32) and the second steering column part (34). A member (70) is movable across the width of the at least one bendable strap (50) to vary the rate of bending of the at least one bendable strap to vary the resistance to movement of the first steering column (32) part relative to the second steering column part (34).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2001
    Assignees: TRW Inc., TRW Vehicle Safety Systems Inc.
    Inventors: Rex R. Struble, Ernst M. Faigle