Patent Description:
Vehicles such as cars, trucks, sport utility vehicles, crossovers, mini-vans, or other suitable vehicles employ steering assemblies to facilitate steering of the vehicle. Steering assemblies typically include a steering column coupling between a hand-wheel and wheels of the vehicle. When the hand-wheel rotates, relative rotation of the hand-wheel transfers through the steering column to turn the wheels and steer the vehicle. Accordingly, a driver engaging, and rotating, the hand-wheel may steer the vehicle.

Hand-wheels typically include electronic components in communication with an electrical system of the vehicle. More specifically, wires connect between the electrical components of the hand-wheel and the electrical system of the vehicle. These wires, however, can become tangled and break due to over rotation of the hand-wheel. Accordingly, the steering column typically employs a steering roll connector configured to connect between wires of the electronic components and the electrical system to prevent the wires from becoming tangled and breaking. A steering roll connector according to the preamble of claim <NUM> is known from <CIT>.

A steering roll connector typically includes a roll stator and a roll rotor rotatably coupled to the roll stator. The roll rotor may also include an electrical connector that electrically connects between the wires of the electronic components and the electrical system. The relative rotation between the roll stator and the roll rotor prevents the wires from becoming tangled and breaking. However, the relative rotation may cause a miss-alignment between the hand-wheel and the steering column during assembly of the steering system.

It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a steering roll connector which overcomes the above drawbacks and which is easier to assemble.

This object is satisfied by a steering roll connector according to claim <NUM>.

The steering roll connector according to the invention prevents miss-alignment between a hand-wheel and a steering column during assembly of a steering system. Furthermore, the invention provides a steering roll connector configured to restrict the relative rotation between a roll stator and a roll rotor of a steering roll connector.

The subject matter which is regarded as the invention is particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed in the claims at the conclusion of the specification. The foregoing and other features, and advantages of the invention are apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:.

It is to be appreciated that the Figures are not necessarily to scale; some features may be exaggerated or minimized to show details of particular components.

The following disclosure is directed to various embodiments of the invention. Although one or more of these embodiments may be preferred, the embodiments disclosed should not be interpreted, or otherwise used, as limiting the scope of the disclosure, including the claims. In addition, one skilled in the art will understand that the following description has broad application, and the discussion of any embodiment is meant only to be exemplary of that embodiment, and not intended to intimate that the scope of the disclosure, including the claims, is limited to that embodiment.

Generally, vehicles employ steering assemblies to facilitate steering of a vehicle by a driver. Steering assemblies typically include a steering column, which may include a steering column, coupling between a hand-wheel and wheels of the vehicle. When the hand-wheel rotates, relative rotation of the hand-wheel transfers through the steering column to the wheels of the vehicle. Accordingly, a driver engaging, and turning, the hand-wheel may steer the vehicle.

Hand-wheels typically include electronic components in communication with an electrical system of the vehicle. More specifically, wires connect between the electrical components of the hand-wheel and the electrical system of the vehicle. To prevent tangling and breakage of the wires due to over rotation of the hand-wheel, a steering roll connector may be employed in the steering assembly to connect between the electrical components of the hand-wheel and the electrical system of the vehicle.

With reference to the <FIG> and <FIG>, a steering roll connector <NUM> of the present disclosure is illustrated. The steering roll connector <NUM> includes a roll stator <NUM> and a roll rotor <NUM> (<NUM> in <FIG> and <FIG>) telescoped in and rotatably coupled to the roll stator <NUM>. The telescoped relationship between the roll stator <NUM> and the roll rotor <NUM> is configured to facilitate relative rotation between the roll rotor <NUM> and the roll stator <NUM>. In some embodiments, the roll stator <NUM> may define a female seat <NUM> (<FIG>) and the roll rotor <NUM> may define a male seat <NUM> (<FIG>). The female and male seats <NUM>, <NUM> may engage one another and be configured to facilitate the relative rotation between the roll stator <NUM> and the roll rotor <NUM>. In some embodiments, a bearing (not illustrated) may be positioned between the roll stator and rotor <NUM>, <NUM> to facilitate the relative rotation between the roll stator and rotor <NUM>, <NUM>.

The roll stator <NUM> may define a first opening <NUM> (<FIG>), and the roll rotor <NUM> defines a second opening <NUM> (<NUM>), in particular coaxially aligned with, and telescoped in, the first opening <NUM>. The second opening <NUM> is configured to receive a steering column, or shaft (not illustrated), and the roll rotor <NUM> is preferably configured to couple the steering roll connector <NUM> to the steering column. It is to be appreciated the roll rotor <NUM> may be configured in many different ways to receive and couple with the steering column and fall within the scope of the present invention. The roll rotor <NUM> has a wall, or inner wall, that defines the opening <NUM>. The roll rotor <NUM> has a surface <NUM> and preferably a ledge positioned at a periphery of the surface and extending from the surface <NUM>. In some embodiments, the ledge may define a slot. In some embodiments, a cover <NUM>, <NUM> (<FIG> and <FIG>) may couple of the ledge. An electrical connector housing <NUM> may also be integrally formed with, or coupled to, the surface <NUM>. The electrical connector housing <NUM> may be configured to facilitate the connection between the electrical components of the hand-wheel and the electrical system of the vehicle.

The steering roll connector <NUM> also includes a slide <NUM> that is supported by and movable (e.g., slide) on the surface. The slide <NUM> is movable from an unengaged position to an engaged position where the slide <NUM> is positioned to engage and prevent the relative rotation between the roll rotor <NUM> and roll stator <NUM>. For example, and with reference to <FIG>, the slide <NUM> may be moved on (or substantially on) the surface <NUM> through the slot to engage (or be positioned to engage) the roll stator <NUM> and to prevent relative rotation between the roll rotor <NUM> and the roll stator <NUM>. More specifically, a spring <NUM> (<NUM> in <FIG> and <FIG>) is operatively engaged with the slide <NUM> (<NUM> in <FIG>) to causes the slide <NUM> to be in the engaged position (e.g., move the slide to the engage position or maintain the slide in the engaged position). In some embodiments, the spring <NUM> may be a tether. A lever arm <NUM> is operatively engaged with the wall and the slide <NUM> and configured to pull the slide <NUM> to the unengaged position when the steering column is received in the opening <NUM>.

The slide <NUM> may have a lever end <NUM> that may be partially, if not fully, positioned in the opening <NUM> when the slide <NUM> is in the unengaged position and near (e.g., adjacent) the opening <NUM> when in the engaged position. The slide <NUM> may also have a stator end <NUM> (<NUM> in <FIG>) and a pair of jaws <NUM> (<NUM> in <FIG> and <FIG>) extending from the stator end <NUM> and configured to engage the stator <NUM> when the slide <NUM> is in the engaged position. In some embodiments, a pair of jaws <NUM> may extend from the stator end <NUM>. The pair of jaws <NUM> are configured to engage the stator <NUM> when the slide <NUM> is in the engaged position. The slide <NUM> may further define a slit <NUM> for receiving and operatively engaging the spring <NUM>. Of course, the slide <NUM> may couple to the spring <NUM> in any other manner known in the art, e.g., direct coupling or indirect coupling. Moreover, in some embodiments, the spring <NUM> may be an elastic tether extending between and operatively engaged with pegs, or another structure, spaced on opposite sides of the slide <NUM>.

In some embodiments, the steering roll connector <NUM> may include a post <NUM> in operative engagement with the surface <NUM> of the roll rotor, and the post <NUM> may be positioned relative to the slide <NUM> to direct movement of the slide <NUM> linearly between the unengaged and engaged positions. The post <NUM> may be positioned relative to the slide <NUM> in many positions and still be within the scope of the present invention. To direct the movement of the slide <NUM>, the post <NUM> may have an end defining a ledge configured to maintain (e.g., engages or directs) and facilitate movement of the slide <NUM> on the surface <NUM> of the roll rotor <NUM>. In some embodiments, the end of the post <NUM> may define a pair of ledges <NUM> (best illustrated in <FIG>).

In some embodiments (e.g., <FIG>), the slide <NUM> may define a first void <NUM> having a perimeter (shown but not numbered in the FIGS. ), where the first void <NUM> is sized to receive the post <NUM>. In other words, the post <NUM> may be utilized to position the slide <NUM> on the surface <NUM> by aligning the slide <NUM> to receive the post <NUM> when placed on the surface <NUM>. In some embodiment, the perimeter of the first void <NUM> may define a rectangular shape with edges. In such embodiments, a seat may comprise a first seat 64a defined at a first edge and a second seat 64b defined at a second edge spaced opposite and parallel with the first edge. In such embodiments, the pair of ledges <NUM> (<FIG>) of the post <NUM> may be configured to engage and cooperate with the seats 64a, 64b to maintain and facilitate movement of the slide <NUM> on the surface of the roll rotor <NUM>. In some embodiments, the first and second edges define a length and the first and second seats 64a, 64b extend a portion of the length, i.e., do not extend the entire length. The seats 64a, 64b may extend the same length to define a gap within the first void <NUM> where the gap may receive the post <NUM> with the pair of ledges <NUM>. The first void <NUM> may have a width sized slightly larger than the width of the post <NUM> and the gap may have a width sized slightly larger than the width of the pair of ledges <NUM>. The slight variance of the widths allows for the slide <NUM> to receive the post <NUM>, with or without the ledges <NUM> and to provide for linear motion of the slide <NUM> relative to the post <NUM> with a limited tolerance for non-liner movement of the slide <NUM> relative to the post <NUM>. Alternatively, the seats 64a, 64b, or portions of the seat, may extend the entire length. In such embodiments, the pair of ledges <NUM> may still be employed, or removed, from the post <NUM>.

The steering roll connector <NUM> also comprises a lever arm <NUM> operatively engaged with the wall and the slide <NUM> and configured to pull the slide <NUM> to the unengaged position when the steering column is received in the opening <NUM>. The lever arm <NUM> may have a pair of pivot post <NUM> (<NUM> in <FIG>) which may operatively engage the wall to facilitate pivoting of the lever arm <NUM>. The pivot post <NUM> may operatively engage the wall directly or indirectly and in any manner known in the art to facilitate pivoting of the lever arm <NUM>. It is also contemplated that the pivot post <NUM> may be in operative engagement with a spring, such as a torsion spring, which causes movement of the lever arm <NUM> and in turn the slide <NUM> to facilitate the linear movement of the slide <NUM> between the engaged and unengaged positions.

In some embodiments, the slide <NUM> may define a second void <NUM> (<NUM> in <FIG> and <FIG>) that may be positioned adjacent the lever end <NUM>. The lever arm <NUM> may have a slide end <NUM> (<NUM> in <FIG> and <FIG>) positioned in the second void <NUM> and the slide end <NUM> is configured to engage and pull the slide <NUM> to the unengaged position. The slide end <NUM> may further be defined as a hooked end defining a hooked shape. The hooked shape of the slide end <NUM> facilitates the engagement of the lever arm <NUM> with the slide <NUM>. In some embodiments, a fin may extend from the slide end <NUM> and the fin may be configured to prevent or stop undesired movement of the slide <NUM> into the opening <NUM>. In other words, the fin may be sized such that when the slide <NUM> is in the unengaged position the fin and the slide end <NUM> is equal to, or greater than, the size of the second void <NUM> which in turn locks the joint, or engagement, between the lever arm <NUM> and slide <NUM> to stop movement of the slide <NUM>.

In some embodiments, a pin (not illustrated) may operative engage, or extend from, the slide <NUM> to direct movement of the slide <NUM>. In such an embodiment, a slot (not illustrated) in the surface <NUM> may be configured to receive and cooperate with the pin to direct movement of the slide <NUM> linearly between the unengaged and engaged positions. It is to be appreciated the slot may be defined in the cover <NUM>.

In some embodiments, the pin may be employed to prevent movement of the slide <NUM>. In such embodiments, the operative engagement of the pin with the slide <NUM> may provide for the pin to be removed from the slide <NUM> to allow the slide <NUM> to move between the engaged and unengaged positions. Such employment of the pin may be beneficial during manufacture of the steering roll connector <NUM> as the roll rotor <NUM> with the slide <NUM> (among other part, e.g., the lever arm <NUM>), may be assembled prior to being assembled to or coupled with the roll stator <NUM>.

In some embodiments (e.g., FIGS. <NUM>-<NUM>), posts <NUM>, 160a, 160b may be positioned adjacent the slide <NUM>. The posts <NUM>, 160a, 160b may be positioned adjacent each side of the slide <NUM> to engage, maintain and facilitate movement of the slide <NUM> on the surface <NUM>. In such embodiments, the slide <NUM> may define first and second seats 164a, 164b at its sides. In such embodiments, the posts <NUM>, 160a, 160b may operatively engage the seats 164a, 164b engage, maintain and facilitate movement of the slide <NUM> on the surface <NUM>.

Claim 1:
A steering roll connector (<NUM>) configured to operatively engage a steering column, the steering roll connector (<NUM>) comprising:
a roll stator (<NUM>);
a roll rotor (<NUM>, <NUM>) telescoped in and rotatably coupled to the roll stator (<NUM>) to provide for relative rotation between the roll rotor (<NUM>) and the roll stator (<NUM>);
the roll rotor (<NUM>, <NUM>) has a wall and a surface (<NUM>, <NUM>), and the wall defines an opening (<NUM>, <NUM>) sized to receive the steering column;
a slide (<NUM>, <NUM>) supported by and movable on the surface (<NUM>, <NUM>) from an unengaged position to an engaged position where the slide (<NUM>, <NUM>) is positioned to engage and prevent the relative rotation between the roll rotor (<NUM>, <NUM>) and roll stator (<NUM>);
characterized by
a spring (<NUM>, <NUM>) operatively engaged with the slide (<NUM>, <NUM>) to causes the slide (<NUM>, <NUM>) to be in the engaged position; and
a lever arm (<NUM>) operatively engaged with the wall and the slide (<NUM>, <NUM>) and configured to pull the slide (<NUM>, <NUM>) to the unengaged position when the steering column is received in the opening (<NUM>, <NUM>).