Apparatus for connecting a vehicle steering wheel to a steering shaft

An apparatus comprising:

• a steering shaft rotatable about an axis to turn steerable vehicle wheels;
• a steering wheel having a hub for connection to an axial end of said steering shaft, said hub having a tapered surface defining an opening into which said axial end of said steering shaft extends;
• a collet having a radially tapered outer surface engageable with said tapered surface of said hub and a inner surface engageable with said axial end of said steering shaft;
• a fastener connecting said steering wheel to said steering shaft, said fastener applying force to said collet to force said radially tapered outer surface of said collet into engagement with said tapered surface defining said opening in said hub;
• and
• a cap engaging said collet and said fastener to capture said collet to said fastener such that said collet moves with said fastener relative to said steering shaft upon removal of said fastener from said steering shaft.

An apparatus comprising:

• a steering shaft rotatable about an axis to turn steerable vehicle wheels, said steering shaft having an axial end;
• a steering wheel having a hub for connection to said axial end of said steering shaft, said hub having a tapered surface defining an opening into which said axial end of said steering shaft extends;
• a collet having a radially tapered outer surface engageable with said tapered surface of said hub and a inner surface engageable with said axial end of said steering shaft, said collet being radially expandable and contractible, said inner surface of said collet having a diameter less than an outer diameter of said axial end of said steering shaft such that said inner surface expands as said collet is positioned on said axial end of said steering shaft;
• and
• a fastener connecting said steering wheel to said steering shaft, said fastener applying force to said collet to force said radially tapered outer surface of said collet into engagement with said tapered surface defining said opening in said hub thereby causing said inner surface of said collet to clamp around said axial end of said steering shaft.