Abstract: An actively variable energy absorber including a convex anvil on a steering column housing, a flat metal strap attached to a steering column support and slidably engaging the convex anvil on an active surface area of the convex anvil, and a control apparatus for actively varying the geometric relationship between the flat metal strap and the convex anvil in response to changes in a control variable thereby to adjust the magnitude of the active surface area. Adjusting the magnitude of the active surface area changes the severity of plastic deformation of the flat metal strap and the magnitude of the friction between the flat metal strap and the convex anvil thereby to adjust the force resisting linear translation of the steering column housing. In some embodiments of the actively variable energy absorber, the flat metal strap is plastically deformed by being pulled over a single convex anvil during linear translation of the steering column housing.

Abstract: A safety redundant drive by wire system includes a plurality of first control members to which control signals may be communicated and a plurality of device controllers adapted to deliver control signals to a respective first control member. At least one sensor is coupled to each first control member for sensing a parameter of the first control member and responsively generating a sensor signal. Each device controller includes a first microprocessor for communicating control signals to the first control member and all other device controllers. Each device controller further includes a second microprocessor for redundantly communicating control signals to all other device controllers and for communicating with the first microprocessor. Each device controller is adapted to receive sensor signals and provide these sensor signals to the first and second microprocessors.

Abstract: A pick holder that temporarily stores, protects and dispenses a pick that is used for plucking strings of a stringed musical instrument such as a guitar. The pick holder includes a first piece and a second piece that are coupled to cooperatively form a pocket for storing and dispensing one or more picks. The second piece is formed so that when the second piece is coupled to the first piece, the perimeter of the second piece provides access to the stored picks. The first piece forms a means of attaching the pick holder to a shoulder strap peg that is fixably coupled to the base of a musical instrument such as a guitar. The attachment means, formed by the first piece, enables the pick holder to be removably coupled to the shoulder strap peg.

Abstract: An anti-theft steering shaft lock for an energy-absorbing motor vehicle steering column having a linearly collapsible mast jacket includes a unitized construction consisting of a cylinder lock attached to an instrument panel of the motor vehicle remote from the mast jacket, a lateral housing between the cylinder lock and the mast jacket, a lock bolt in the lateral housing, rack and pinion gears which convert rotation of an element of the cylinder lock into linear translation of the lock bolt, and a frangible connection means at which an inboard part of the unitized construction adjacent the mast jacket separates from an outboard part in the direction of linear collapse of the mast jacket. The frangible connection means includes a pair of laterally aligned frangible joints between inboard and outboard segments of the lateral housing and between inboard and outboard segments of the lock bolt.

Abstract: An energy absorber for a motor vehicle steering column including a yoke pivotable about a lateral centerline of a motor vehicle body and an energy absorbing means between the yoke and the mast jacket responsive to linear translation of the mast jacket relative to the yoke. The mast jacket extends through a bore in the yoke and a plastic bushing in the bore prevents the mast jacket from tilting relative to the yoke before and during linear translation of the mast jacket. The energy absorbing means includes a flat metal strap attached at one end to the mast jacket and bent over a convex anvil on the yoke. The metal strap is pulled over the anvil parallel to a longitudinal centerline of the mast jacket and plastically deformed to convert into work a fraction of the kinetic energy of an impact on the steering column.

Abstract: An energy absorber for a motor vehicle steering column including a yoke pivotable about a lateral centerline of a body of the motor vehicle and an energy absorbing structure responsive to linear translation of a mast jacket of the steering column relative to the yoke in the direction of a longitudinal centerline of the mast jacket. The mast jacket extends through a bore in the yoke and is prevented by the bore from tipping relative to the yoke. The energy absorbing structure includes a convex anvil on the mast jacket and a J-shaped flat metal strap seated on the convex anvil with a short leg rigidly attached to the yoke and a long leg juxtaposed a wall of the mast jacket.