# US 10,501,108 B2 · Steering wheel for a vehicle movable between a deployed position and a retracted position > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,501,108 B2 - Document ID: US10501108B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/982,685 - Filed: 2018-05-17 - Published: 2018-11-22 - Granted: 2019-12-10 - Earliest claimed: 2017-05-19 - Assignees: Faurecia Interieur Industrie - Applicants: Faurecia Interieur Industrie - Inventors: Julien Beauregard - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10501108B2 ## CPC - B62D 1/06: Rims, e.g. with heating means; Rim covers (B62D1/11 takes precedence) - B62D 1/04: Hand wheels - B62D 1/183: adjustable between in-use and out-of-use positions, e.g. to improve access - B62D: MOTOR VEHICLES; TRAILERS (steering, or guiding on a desired track, of agricultural machines or implements A01B69/00; wheels, castors, axles, increasing wheel adhesion B60B; vehicle tyres, tyre inflation or tyre changing B60C; connections between vehicles of a train or the like B60D; vehicles for use on rail and road, amphibious or convertible vehicles B60F; suspension arrangements B60G; heating, cooling, ventilating or other air treating devices B60H; windows, windscreens, non-fixed roofs, doors or similar devices, protective coverings for vehicles not in use B60J; propulsion plant arrangements, auxiliary drives, transmissions, controls, instrumentation or dashboards B60K; electric equipment or propulsion of electrically-propelled vehicles B60L; power supply for electrically-propelled vehicles B60M; passenger accommodation not otherwise provided for B60N; adaptations for load transportation or to carry special loads or objects B60P; arrangement of signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor, for vehicles in general B60Q; vehicles, vehicle fittings or vehicle parts not otherwise provided for B60R; servicing, cleaning, repairing, supporting, lifting, or manoeuvring, not otherwise provided for, B60S; brake arrangements, brake control systems or parts thereof B60T; air-cushion vehicles B60V; motor-cycles, accessories therefor B62J, B62K; testing of vehicles G01M) ## Abstract A steering wheel having a body rotatable around a steering axis (D), a first gripping element and a second gripping element, the first gripping element being movable between a deployed position, in which the first and second gripping elements extend on either side of the body, and a retracted position, in which the first gripping element is folded down against the second gripping element. The second gripping element is translatable relative to the body at least in a first direction substantially parallel to the steering axis (D) between the deployed position and the retracted position so as to free a space for the first gripping element in the retracted position. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A steering wheel for a vehicle, comprising a body rotatable around a steering axis, a first gripping element and a second gripping element, the first gripping element being movable relative to the body between a deployed position, in which the first and second gripping elements extend on either side of the body of the steering axis, and a retracted position, in which the first gripping element is folded down against the second gripping element, the first gripping element rotating relative to the body around a rotation axis substantially perpendicular to the steering axis between the deployed position and the retracted position, wherein the second gripping element is translatable relative to the body at least in a first direction substantially parallel to the steering axis between the deployed position and the retracted position so as to clear a space for the first gripping element in the retracted position. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The steering wheel according to claim 1, wherein the second gripping element is further movable relative to the body in translation in a second direction substantially perpendicular to the first direction between the deployed position and the retracted position. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The steering wheel according to claim 2, wherein the second gripping element moves in translation in the first direction, then in the second direction when the first gripping element goes from the deployed position to the retracted position. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The steering wheel according to claim 1, wherein the second gripping element is mounted sliding in at least one rail of the body, said rail extending in the movement direction(s) of the second gripping element between the deployed and retracted positions. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The steering wheel according to claim 1, wherein the first and second gripping elements are secured in rotation with the body around the steering axis in the deployed position. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The steering wheel according to claim 1, wherein the first and second gripping elements are connected to the body by fastening points, said fastening points being substantially aligned in the direction of the steering axis in the retracted position. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The steering wheel according to claim 1, wherein the body comprises a fixed part and at least one moving part, the moving part being translatable relative to the fixed part in a direction substantially parallel to the steering axis between a retracted position, in which the fixed part and the moving part overlap over a first length, and a deployed position in which the fixed part and the moving part overlap over a second length smaller than the first length. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The steering wheel according to claim 7, wherein the first and second gripping elements are mounted on the moving part, the first and second gripping elements being in the retracted position when the moving part is in the retracted position and in the deployed position when the moving part is in the deployed position. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) A vehicle dashboard that includes the steering wheel of claim 1, the dashboard being able to be positioned in a manual driving configuration, in which the first and second gripping elements are in the deployed position, and an automatic driving configuration, in which the first and second gripping elements are in the retracted position. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The dashboard according to claim 9, wherein the body comprises a fixed part and at least one moving part, the moving part being translatable relative to the fixed part in a direction substantially parallel to the steering axis between a retracted position, in which the fixed part and the moving part overlap over a first length, and a deployed position in which the fixed part and the moving part overlap over a second length smaller than the first length, wherein the first and second gripping elements are mounted on the moving part, the first and second gripping elements being in the retracted position when the moving part is in the retracted position and in the deployed position when the moving part is in the deployed position, wherein the distance separating the first and second gripping elements of an outer surface of the dashboard in the retracted position is smaller than said distance in the deployed position.