Abstract: An impact activated automotive safety system relying upon relative movement between a drive unit and a chassis of an automobile and comprising a plurality of cables attached, at one of their ends, to the chassis on opposite sides, and slung around a rear portion, of the drive unit and respectively attached by their other ends to a plurality of safety features such as, for instance, a collapsible steering column, seatbelt coiling devices, and seat-lifting mechanisms, all of which would be activated substantially simultaneously in case of a frontal collision by forces transmitted to them by the cables.

Abstract: An impact energy absorber of a steering wheel is formed of a thin metal sheet and is disposed within a cover pad above a boss plate in a boss portion of the steering wheel. The impact energy absorber is composed of an annular base portion which is supported by a supporting member above the boss plate with a predetermined inner space between the base portion and the boss plate, and a plurality of leg portions which are protruded inwardly from the inner periphery of the base portion and are thereafter bent upward so as to be brought into contact with the inner wall of the upper portion of the cover pad. When impact is applied to the cover pad, the impact energy absorber absorbs the impact energy by deforming the lower portion of each leg portion by bending it from the inner periphery of the base portion and inserting it to the inner space between the base portion and the boss plate.

Abstract: Driver's knee guard in cab of tractor-trailer rig. A metal sheet extends around the steering wheel and controls and is secured at its opposite ends to the dashboard. Foam rubber separates the inner side of the metal sheet from the steering wheel and controls, and leather-like material covers the outer side of the metal sheet.

Abstract: In a steering wheel for vehicles, a self-aligning plate comprises a boss fitting portion, a spoke fitting portion and a plurality of plastically deformable arm portions arranged in radial direction in an annular space formed between both fitting portions so as to connect between an assembled body of rim/spokes and a boss. Each plastically deformable arm portion of the self-aligning plate has a curved portion at intermediate portion, and when impact force is applied to the rim, the rim surface is slanted in approximately perpendicular direction with respect to the line of impact force due to plastic deformation of the plastically deformable arm portion. Intersection angle between the adjacent plastically deformable arm portions near the spokes mounted on the spoke fitting portion is made obtuse angle, thereby stress concentration at edge portion of the boss fitting portion in the intersection position between these plastically deformable arm portions is prevented.

Abstract: A crash energy absorber mounted on the tip end of steering wheel including a structure including a top plate and a pair of side plates extending substantially perpendicularly to the top plate at the opposite sides of the top plate to define a substantially rectangular space with the top plate, and at least one reinforcement extending diagonally in the space defined by the plate structure. The crash energy absorber absorbs a crash energy applied thereto in any direction so as to relieve crash shock from a driver.

Abstract: An impact energy absorbing structure for attachment to the boss of a steering wheel in an automobile is disclosed. It comprises an energy absorbing member made of brittle plastic material and a cover member. It has empty spaces formed between the central part and the outer peripheral part of the energy absorbing member to give rise to an external wall part breakable under an impactive load in the outer peripheral part of the energy absorption member. Owing to this arrangement, the impactive energy absorbing structure of this invention is enabled to maximize the amount of energy absorption and enhance the energy absorption efficiency to a great extent.

Abstract: An automobile steering wheel that is disposed below a plane of a steering wheel rim. As a protection against impact, there is a plastically deformable cup-like deformation member within the steering wheel that absorbs energy due to an impact of a driver of the motor vehicle on the steering wheel. Spokes are constructed in such a manner that the contribute to the energy absorption by a performance of deformation work. The deformation member has a height which is less than a distance between the hub and the plane of the steering wheel rim. The deformation member is fixedly connected in its upper region with the respective spokes.

Abstract: An apparatus for absorbing energy between movable members. The apparatus includes first and second telescopingly engagable members. The second member is formed to be increasingly and forceably engaged with the first member as an external force is exerted on the second member urging it into the second member. In a preferred embodiment, a helical twist is formed in the second member to cause the forced engagement of the first and second members. The helical twist is variable over the longitudinal length of the second member from a first end and increases gradually from the first end to an intermediate portion an then increasingly from the intermediate portion outward towards the second end of the second member. This provides a controlled forced rate build up as the second member is urged into the first member to control energy absorption of the force urging the second member into the first member.

Abstract: In a steering wheel for an automobile having an impact energy absorber mounted on a boss member for absorbing the impact load, the positions of the boss and the boss plate are set lower than the frontal plane of the steering ring by angling a spoke core downwards. An impact energy absorber is mounted on the boss plate. The outer circumference of the impact energy absorber is covered by a cover pad and extension of a cover. Because the wheel pad member does not protrude towards the driver substantially above the frontal plane of the steering ring, the driver's view of the instrument panel is not obscured by it, and it need not detract from the interior styling of the automobile.

Abstract: A steering wheel including an energy absorbing layer formed on a boss portion of the steering wheel and a membrane switch disposed on the energy absorbing layer.

Abstract: A steering wheel for an automobile including a brittle plastic impact energy absorber disposed on a boss assembly. The absorber is held in a wheel pad by brackets having a front connector and a rear connector. The front connector is engaged with the front edge of a boss plate, and the rear connector with a wall portion of the main body of the steering wheel or with a support provided in the boss assembly. This engagement is easy to achieve reliably only if the wheel pad is forced down into the boss assembly.

Abstract: A striking energy absorbing structure for a steering wheel is composed of a cover member, an energy absorbing member of a brittle plastic filling the inside of the cover member, and a horn switch member buried therebetween. Also disclosed is a method of manufacturing the above-described striking energy absorbing structure. The energy absorbing member is molded by casting a brittle plastic material into the inside of the cover member. In this cast molding, the horn switch member is previously set inside the cover member, so that the three members, that is, the cover member, the horn switch member and the energy absorbing member are simultaneously integrated with each other.

Abstract: A steering wheel assembly for vehicles which incorporates an energy absorbing coupling which mounts the steering wheel for tilting movement with respect to a column to an optimum impact position when the wheel receives inertia load and which provides for subsequent energy management by deformation of a plurality of metallic legs which collapse at controlled rates.

Abstract: Provided at the occupant's side of a steering post is an energy absorbing knee protector, which is normally covered by a knee panel, whereby the occupant does not observe and contact the knee protector. In an emergency of the vehicle, if the knees of the occupant collide with the knee panel to deform the same, the knee panel imparts an energy of collision generated in the knees to the knee protector by deforming the same, so that the energy of collision can be effectively absorbed.

Abstract: A knee protector for use in a passenger car equipped with an instrument panel and a steering column installed near the instrument panel, comprises a first and second panels which are separate to each other. The steering column is positioned between the first and second panels. The first and second panels are attached under the instrument panel. A pad covering the first and second panels. The pad has a convex portion to be inserted into a space between the first and second panels.

Abstract: A steering wheel attachment has a foam cushion pad with a cylindrical outer surface, upper and lower flat parallel surfaces, and a linear diameter surface dimensioned to overlie the upper half of a steering wheel with a cover enclosing the pad and a pocket panel on the back of the cover matingly fitting over the steering wheel to hold the pad in position to permit a user to rest head and arms on the pad; a rigid stiffener panel inside the cover prevents actuation of the horn button of the steering wheel to which the pad is attached.

Abstract: A cantilevered support beam extends laterally from the hinge pillar of the vehicle body to provide stabilized support for energy absorbing steering column remote from forward structure and instrument panel construction to permit highly efficient energy absorbing operation.

Abstract: A steering wheel for motor vehicles comprises a rim, a hub recessed from the rim and spokes connecting the rim to the hub. A deformable box-shaped member is connected to the spokes and disposed between the hub and the rim of the steering wheel for deforming movement relative to the rim, spokes and hub. The deformable member deforms to cushion the blow to an operator upon impact by an operator during a collision.

Abstract: A safety device for a vehicle steering wheel is designed to provide increased protection against injury in the event the driver's head strikes the steering wheel on the occurrence of a collision. Increased protection against a head injury is provided by an impact energy dissipating member which provides increased energy dissipation upon impact by a relatively small object, such as the driver's head, as compared to prior devices which protected merely against impact by the entire body. The dissipating member includes first and second hollow bodies arranged one within the other.

Abstract: A safety steering column has a deforming element inserted between parts of the steering column extending between a steering wheel and steering gear in a vehicle. The deforming element is fabricated from a torsionally rigid, flat piece of material, and has a longitudinal cross-section generally of zig-zag shape, such as a Z or an M. The element connects the steering column parts with torsional rigidity and is responsive to percussive forces occurring in the direction of a steering column axis. The magnitude of the transverse extension of the element in a direction normal to the steering column axis is at least twice the diametral magnitude of the steering column parts.

Abstract: The present invention is concerned with a safety device for a motor vehicle ystem. According to the invention, a yieldable structure able to yield under a certain force and essentially in the direction of its application is located between the steering column and the motor vehicle body; moreover, the steering column includes universal joints permitting its deformation, by which the structure can yield in the above-mentioned direction.

Abstract: A vehicle steering wheel has the wheel rim connected to the hub by a dished metallic member that has a plurality of slots extending in spaced overlapping relationship around the dished member. The slotted dished member is relatively strong when steering effort is applied but in the event of driver impact is relatively easily tiltable to spread the impact load on the driver's chest and is then collapsible to absorb substantial impact energy.

Abstract: A safety steering wheel for motor vehicles comprising a central structure ich is fixed to the steering column, a steering wheel rim, a plurality of spokes which connect the central structure to the steering wheel rim and a rigid cover disposed between the rim and the central structure and fixed to the periphery of the latter; the central structure being arranged to yield by flexure and the spokes being arranged to yield during compression of the steering wheel, and a second structure yieldable on compression being fixed to the periphery of the rigid cover.