Steering Wheel Armature Weight
OwnerSteven Kollmann, Giuseppe Petrilloinventors
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A steering wheel weight formed as a body and having a generally curvilinear shape in a plane that is generally aligned with a longitudinal axis of the body. At least one indexer extends from the body and is oriented to align the body with respect to a steering wheel armature. At least one deformable tab extends from the body and is oriented relative to the steering wheel armature so that only deformation of the tab positionally secures the steering wheel weight relative to the steering wheel armature. Preferably, the steering wheel weight is crimped to the steering wheel armature thereby securely connecting the steering wheel weight to the steering wheel armature without extraneous fasteners/connectors.
Claims20
A steering wheel weight comprising:
- a body formed from a metal material and having a curvilinear shape in a plane generally aligned with a longitudinal axis of the body;
- at least one indexer extending from the body for positioning the body with respect to a steering wheel armature so that the curvilinear shape of the body generally aligns with a curvilinear shape of at least a portion of the steering wheel armature;
- and
- at least one tab extending from the body and being deformable relative to the body for securing the body to the steering wheel armature so that the body is positionally securable to the steering wheel armature by only deformation of the at least one tab.
A steering wheel armature assembly comprising:
- an armature having a grip portion that is positioned radially outward with respect to a hub portion constructed to secure the armature to a steering mechanism;
- at least one weight having a shape that generally matches a shape of a portion of the grip portion of the armature;
- and
- a first arm extending from the at least one weight, the first arm being deformable to provide a snug over-center association of the least one weight and the armature and wherein the over-center association between the at least one weight and the armature solely secures the at least one weight to the armature.
A method of forming a steering wheel armature comprising:
- indexing a weight relative to a steering wheel armature;
- and
- securing the weight to the steering wheel armature by only physical interaction of the weight and the steering wheel armature and in a manner that snuggly fixes the position of the weight relative to the steering wheel armature to maintain the position of the weight relative to the steering wheel armature independent of the orientation of the steering wheel armature.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.