Lowe, Price, LeBlanc & Becker
Energy absorbing steering wheel asssembly
 An energy absorbing steering wheel assembly for use with a steering shaft includes an annular rim, a hub connecting the annular rim drivingly with an end portion of the steering shaft, a center covering member positioned at a generally center portion of the annular rim, and an energy absorbing structure positioned between the hub and the center covering member. The energy absorbing structure comprising a first portion connected to the center covering member, a second portion connected to the hub, a third portion which is sandwiched between the first and second portions, and brace members for minimizing displacement of the first portion and the third portion relative to each other and to the second portion when an impact load, exceeding a predetermined magnitude, is applied to the center covering member at an angle to the steering shaft. 
Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. Nihon Plast, Co., Ltd.
B B
B60R B62D
inventional inventional
Takayoshi Tetsuya
Kido Watanabe