Abstract:
A damping pad for use with a steering column bracket includes a body having a plurality of ribs formed thereon. A plurality of retention posts extend from the body and have a hollow central shaft and a plurality of wings extending radially outwardly therefrom. The wings extend outwardly in a spiral and have a reduced cross section from the hollow central shaft out to an extremity of the wings.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     The present invention relates to a steering column damping pad, and more particularly to a steering column damping pad having improved retaining features.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     In a typical motor vehicle, vibration and noise are transmitted through the wheels and steering assembly into the steering column assembly of the motor vehicle. In order to minimize and absorb this noise and vibration, steering column assemblies typically include a damping pad mounted on a lower mounting bracket between the lower mounting bracket and the body of the motor vehicle. The damping pad is shaped and designed according to the dimensions of the lower mounting bracket so as to at least partially cover a surface thereof.  
         [0003]     Typically, the damping pad is coupled to the lower mounting bracket before transportation to final assembly using posts or plugs. While prior art damping pads have been effective for their intended purpose, there has been a tendency of these prior art damping pads to fall off from the lower mounting bracket during transportation. Specifically, if the posts are too large, they will not fit in sockets formed in the lower mounting brackets. If the posts are too small, they will not retain the damping pad on the lower mounting bracket. Moreover, it is very time consuming and expensive to adapt the plugs to the sockets, either or both of which may vary in size. Therefore, there is room in the art for an improved damping pad having a method of retaining the damping pad to a lower mounting bracket prior to final assembly.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0004]     A damping pad for use with a steering column bracket includes a body having a plurality of ribs formed thereon. A plurality of retention posts extend from the body and have a hollow central shaft and a plurality of wings extending radially outwardly therefrom. The wings extend outwardly in a spiral and have a reduced cross section from the hollow central shaft out to an extremity of the wings.  
         [0005]     Further areas of applicability of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description provided hereinafter. It should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating the preferred embodiment of the invention, are intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0006]     The present invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description and the accompanying drawings, wherein:  
         [0007]      FIG. 1  is a disassembled perspective view of an exemplary steering column bracket having a damping pad constructed according to the principles of the present invention;  
         [0008]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the damping pad of the present invention;  
         [0009]      FIG. 3A  is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a retaining post used with the damping pad of the present invention;  
         [0010]      FIG. 3B  is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a second retaining post used with the damping pad of the present invention;  
         [0011]      FIG. 3C  is a perspective of a third retaining post used with the damping pad of the present invention; and  
         [0012]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of an alternate damping pad having a fourth retaining post constructed according to the principles of the present invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0013]     The following description of the preferred embodiment(s) is merely exemplary in nature and is in no way intended to limit the invention, its application, or uses.  
         [0014]     With reference to  FIG. 1 , a damping pad  10  constructed according to the principles of the present invention is shown in operative association with a steering column assembly  12 . The steering column assembly  12  generally includes a lower mounting bracket  14  coupled to an instrument panel mounting bracket  16 . The instrument panel mounting bracket  16  is in turn coupled to the body of a motor vehicle (not shown). The damping pad  10  is mounted to the lower mounting bracket  14  between the lower mounting bracket  14  and the instrument panel mounting bracket  16 . The damping pad  10  dampens noise and vibration transmitted through the lower mounting bracket  14  to the instrument panel mounting bracket  16 .  
         [0015]     Turning to  FIG. 2 , the damping pad  10  has a shape that corresponds to the shape of the lower mounting bracket  14 . In this regard, the shape of the damping pad  10  may be altered from that shown in the figures without departing from the scope of the present invention. The damping pad  10  includes a body  17  and a plurality of ribs  18  formed on the surface of the damping pad  10 . The ribs  18  allow the damping pad  10  to act as a sponge to absorb vibration between the lower mounting bracket  14  and the instrument panel mounting bracket  16 . The damping pad  10  is preferably made from an elastic material, such as, for example, rubber, in order to effectively absorb noise and vibration.  
         [0016]     The damping pad  10  further includes a plurality of retaining posts  20  for securing the damping pad  10  to the lower mounting bracket  14 . The retaining posts  20  are sized to be received within holes  22  ( FIG. 1 ) formed within the lower mounting bracket  14 .  
         [0017]     With reference to  FIG. 3A , the retaining post  20 , only one of which will be described in detail, it being understood that each retaining post is identical to another, includes a hollow central shaft  24  extending from the damping pad  10 . A pair of flexible, resilient wings  26  extend radially outward from the hollow central shaft  24 . Each wing  26  has a curved shape and projects radially outwardly from opposite sides of the hollow central shaft  24 . The wings  26  extend outwardly from the hollow central shaft  24  in a generally spiral arc, which in turn increases their flexibility and capability of being compressed. The wings  26  have a decreasing thickness from the central hollow shaft  24  to the radially outer extremities thereof.  
         [0018]     When installing the damping pad onto the lower mounting bracket  14 , the retaining posts  20  are inserted into the holes  22 . The wings  26  deflect when inserted into the holes  22  and exert a radial force onto the lower mounting bracket  14 , thereby holding the damping pad onto the lower mounting bracket  14  using friction force. Minor dimensional variations in the size of the retaining post  20  or holes  22  are of no consequence since the wings  26  are capable of sufficient flexing and compression.  
         [0019]     Turning to  FIG. 3B , a second design of a retaining post, generally indicated by reference numeral  20 ′, is generally similar to the retaining post  20 , but includes three wings  26  extending radially outwardly from the hollow central shaft  24 . The three wings  26  deflect when the retaining post  20 ′ is inserted into the hole  22  of the lower mounting bracket  14 , and exert a radial force onto the lower mounting bracket  14  thereby securing the damping pad  10  to the lower mounting bracket  14 .  
         [0020]     With reference to  FIG. 3C , a third retaining post design, generally indicated by reference numeral  20 ″, generally includes a tapered nose  28  formed at an end of the hollow central shaft  24  and a plurality of radial baffles  30  formed along the length of the hollow central shaft  24 . The radial baffles  30  are stacked one atop another along the length of the hollow central shaft  24 . Each radial baffle  30  includes a notch  32  formed therein. The radial baffles  30  deflect in a similar manner to wings  26  ( FIGS. 3A, 3B ) when the retaining post  20 ″ is inserted into the holes  22  ( FIG. 1 ) of the lower mounting bracket  14 . The radial baffles  30  exert a radial force against the lower mounting bracket  14 , thereby securing the damping pad  10  to the lower mounting bracket  14  using friction force. The notches  32  allow the radial baffles  30  ample room to deflect during insertion.  
         [0021]     With reference to  FIG. 4 , an alternate damping pad  10 ′ having a shape configured to an alternate lower mounting bracket (not shown) includes a plurality of retaining posts  20 ′″ extending therefrom. The retaining posts  20 ′″ generally include a nose cone  34  extending from the hollow central shaft  24 . The nose cone  34  deflects when inserted into the holes of an alternate mounting bracket (not shown) and exert a radial force thereon. In this way, the damping pad  10 ′ is secured to the alternate lower mounting bracket (not shown).  
         [0022]     The damping pads  10 ,  10 ′ overcome the tendency of prior damping pads to fall off of the lower mounting bracket  14  by using the novel retaining posts as described herein. This accomplishment, moreover, is achieved without increasing the size of the damping pad or the cost associated with manufacturing and installing the damping pad.  
         [0023]     The description of the invention is merely exemplary in nature and, thus, variations that do not depart from the gist of the invention are intended to be within the scope of the invention. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the invention.