Patent ID: 7527293
Filing Date: 2009-05-05
Classification: B62D,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A lockable steering wheel quick-release unit for use in an automotive vehicle having a steering shaft and a steering wheel, wherein said unit comprises: a steering shaft hub having a center steering shaft bore therethrough for attachment to the automotive vehicle steering shaft, and said steering shaft hub having a plurality of flanged hub threaded mounting holes on a centrally positioned bolt circle, a flanged extending hub attached to said steering shaft hub, with a plurality of threaded fasteners engaging the flanged hub threaded mounting holes, also said flanged extending hub having a plurality of peripheral recessed hollows therein, a steering wheel adapter for attachment to said steering wheel, wherein said adapter has a plurality of peripheral ball mounting holes therethrough, with said adapter slideably engaging said flanged extending hub, a plurality of round balls disposed within said adapter peripheral ball mounting holes, and a spring-loaded sliding release sleeve slideably extending over said adapter, thereby retaining said balls such that when the sliding release sleeve is at rest under the influence of the spring loading, the balls are forced into the flanged extending hub's peripheral recessed hollows and interface with the steering wheel adapter peripheral ball mounting holes, thus securely locking the adapter to the steering shaft hub, and when manually urged away from the vehicle steering shaft, the balls are freed, thereby permitting movement away from the flanged extending hub's peripheral recessed hollows wherein said balls fully extend into the steering wheel adapter peripheral ball mounting holes releasing the steering wheel adapter from the flanged extending hub.