FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0002] The present inventions relate to a stowable steering wheel.

The present inventions more specifically relate to a steering wheel assembly configured to be movable between a stowed position and a deployed position.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0003] It is generally known to provide for a steering wheel assembly that may be tilted to customize steering wheel position and/or allow better ingress and egress of the vehicle. Such tilting steering wheel assemblies typically have a pivot axis at about where the steering column meets the dashboard or where the steering wheel meets the steering column. However, such tilting steering wheel assemblies have several disadvantages including : limited movement, difficult operation, and the like.

[0004] Accordingly, it would be advantageous to provide a steering wheel assembly capable of moving between a stowed position and a deployed position. It would also be advantageous to provide a steering wheel assembly that provides substantial space when in the stowed position. It would further be advantageous to provide a steering wheel assembly that can be moved between the stowed and deployed position by a manual operation or by an actuator. It would be desirable to provide for a stowable steering wheel having one or more of these or other advantageous features.

[0005] To provide an inexpensive, reliable, and widely adaptable stowable steering wheel assembly that avoids the above-referenced and other problems would represent a significant advance in the art.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0006] A primary feature of the present inventions is to provide an aesthetically-pleasing steering wheel assembly that overcomes the above-noted disadvantages.

[0007] Another feature of the present inventions is to provide a steering wheel assembly that is configured to be moved between a stowed position and a deployed position, wherein the stowed position is at least partially removed or <BR> <BR> retracted from the passenger compartment (e. g. , to allow easier ingress and egress), and wherein the deployed position presents the steering wheel for use by the driver.

Alternatively, the steering wheel is substantially or entirely removed from the passenger compartment.

[0008] How these and other advantages and features of the present inventions are accomplished (individually, collectively, or in various subcombinations) will be described in the following detailed description of the preferred and other exemplary embodiments, taken in conjunction with the FIGURES. Generally, however, they are accomplished in a steering wheel assembly configured to be movable between a operational/use/deployed position and a retracted/stowed position. The steering wheel assembly includes an instrument panel, a first and second pivot members, a steering wheel, and a follower member.

The first and second pivot members each have a first end coupled to the dashboard and a second coupled to the instrument panel, and the first and second pivot member and the display comprise a four-bar linkage mechanism with the dashboard.

The steering wheel is pivotally coupled. to the instrument panel. The follower member is coupled to the second pivot member at one end and to the steering wheel at the other end. The pivots on the second pivoting member for the instrument panel and the follower member are offset, and the pivots on the steering wheel for the instrument panel and the follower member are offset so that the instrument panel translates and the steering wheel translates and rotates into their stowed position.

These and other advantages and features of the present invention may also be accomplished in a steering wheel assembly coupled to an instrument panel.

The steering wheel assembly including a display configured to move between a first position and a second position, first and second link members each having a first end coupled to the instrument panel and a second end coupled to the display, a steering wheel configured to move between a first position and a second position, and a follower member coupled to the second pivot member at one end and to the steering wheel at the other end. The first and second link members and the display provide a four-bar linkage mechanism with the instrument panel.

These and other advantages and features of the present invention may also be accomplished in an instrument panel including a display configured to move between a first position and a second position, first and second link members each having a first end coupled to the instrument panel and a second end coupled to the display, a steering wheel configured to be movable between a first position and a second position, and a follower member coupled to the second pivot member at one end and to the steering wheel at the other end. The first and second link members and the display provide a multi-bar linkage mechanism with the instrument panel.

These and other advantages and features of the present invention may also be accomplished in a vehicle with a passenger compartment and an instrument panel. The vehicle includes a display configured to move between a first position and a second position, a steering wheel configured to be movable between a first position and a second position, and a multi-bar linkage coupling the display and the steering wheel to the instrument panel.

[0009] The present invention further relates to various features and combinations of features shown and described in the disclosed embodiments. Other ways in which the objects and features of the disclosed embodiments are accomplished will be described in the following specification or will become apparent to those skilled in the art after they have read this specification. Such other ways are deemed to fall within the scope of the disclosed embodiments if they fall within the scope of the claims which follow.

DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES [0010] FIGURE 1 is a side elevation view of a steering wheel assembly in a deployed position according to a preferred embodiment.

[0011] FIGURES 2 and 3 are a side elevation view of the steering wheel assembly of FIGURE 1 with the steering wheel being moved between the deployed and stowed positions.

[0012] FIGURE 4 is a side elevation view of the steering wheel assembly in the stowed position.

[0013] Before explaining a number preferred, exemplary, and alternative embodiments of the invention in detail it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the details of construction and the arrangement of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments or being practiced or carried out in various ways. It is also to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED AND OTHER EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS [0014] Referring to FIGURES 1-4, a vehicle 10 is shown to include a passenger compartment 12 having a dashboard or instrument panel 14 and a steering wheel assembly 16. The steering wheel assembly includes a steering wheel and a display, and are configured to move between a stowed/retracted position and a deployed/use/operational position. According to an exemplary embodiment, the steering wheel and the display are configured to move together in a fixed pre-determined relationship. Alternatively, the steering wheel and the display are configured to move in a non-fixed or separate predetermined relationship.

[0015] Referring to FIGURES 1-4, steering wheel assembly 16 is configured to move between a deployed position (FIGURE 1) and a stowed position (FIGURE 4). In the deployed position, steering wheel assembly 16 is configured to be positioned in front of the driver and operational. In the stowed position, steering wheel assembly 16 is configured to be disposed nearer to (reconfigured, repositioned, etc.) relative to dashboard 14 to increase space in passenger compartment 12 (e. g. , to provide workspace in passenger compartment 12, for aesthetic reasons, and the like). According to an alternative embodiment, in the stowed position, the steering wheel assembly is partially retracted into the dashboard. A portion of the steering wheel may extends from the dashboard.

Alternatively, the steering wheel assembly is substantially or entirely retracted into the dashboard.

[0016] According to an exemplary embodiment, steering wheel assembly 16 comprises a multi-bar linkage mechanism configured to produce rotating, oscillating, and/or reciprocating motion of steering wheel assembly 16.

According to a preferred embodiment shown in FIGURES 1-4, steering wheel assembly 16 comprises a four-bar linkage mechanism 20. Four-bar linkage mechanism 20 includes a pair of pivoting members 22,24, an instrument pod or display 26, a steering wheel 28, and a follower member 30. The four-bar linkage is (e. g. , provided by three moving links (i. e. , pivoting members 22,24, and instrument panel 26 and a non-moving member (dashboard 14)).

[0017] Pivoting members 22,24 are each coupled at one end to dashboard 14 (at pivot points 23,25) and at the other end to instrument panel 26 (at pivot points 27,34). As such, four bar linkage mechanism 20 is configured to produce translating motion of instrument panel 26.

[0018] Steering wheel 28 is pivotally coupled to one end of instrument panel 26. Follower member 30 is configured to impart or transfer motion between pivoting member 24 and steering wheel 28. Preferably, one end of follower member 30 has a pivot 32 offset from pivot 34 and a second pivot 36 that is offset from pivot 38 for steering wheel 28 and instrument panel 26. As such, rotation of pivoting members causes rotating and translating motion of steering wheel 28 from the rotation or pivoting of pivoting members 22,24.

[0019] When moved from the stowed position to the deployed position, pivoting members 22,24 rotate towards the driver thereby moving the instrument display 26 out into passenger compartment 12. Movement of pivoting member 24 and instrument panel 26 causes follower member 30 to translate and rotate steering wheel 28 towards its operational or deployed position.

[0020] According to an exemplary embodiment, steering wheel assembly 16 is moved between its stowed position and deployed position manually by the driver. According to an alternative embodiment, steering wheel assembly 16 is moved by one or more actuators (e. g., electrical motors, pneumatics, hydraulics, and the like). Steering wheel assembly 16 may be actuated based upon touching of a sensor on a front surface of steering wheel 28 or instrument panel 26 or dashboard 14, the presence of driver in driver's seat, insertion of a key into the ignition, a switch, or the like.

[0021] When steering wheel assembly 16 is in the deployed position, four bar linkage mechanism 20 is secured (e. g., locked) in place. To move between the deployed position and the stowed position, a button on steering wheel 28 is pressed, which unlocks steering wheel assembly 16 and allows for manual movement of steering wheel assembly 16 or signals actuators to pivot pivoting members 22,24 about pivot points 23,25. As pivoting members 22,24 translate instrument panel 26 away from the driver and steering wheel 28 is moved and rotated by follower member 30 away from driver and out of passenger compartment 12.

[0022] It is also important to note that the construction and arrangement of the elements of the stowable steering wheel as shown in the preferred and other exemplary embodiments are illustrative only. Although only a few embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail in this disclosure, those skilled in the art who review this disclosure will readily appreciate that many modifications are possible (e. g. , variations in sizes, dimensions, structures, shapes and proportions of the various elements, values of parameters, mounting arrangements, materials, colors, orientations, etc. ) without materially departing from the novel teachings and advantages of the subject matter recited in the claims. For example, the vehicle display may configured to rotate or pivot to form a planer surface with the dashboard. Also, elements shown as integrally formed may be constructed of multiple parts or elements show as multiple parts may be integrally formed, the operation of the interfaces may be reversed or otherwise varied, the length or width of the structures and/or members or follower member or other elements of the system may be varied, the nature or number of adjustment positions provided between the elements may be varied. It should be noted that the elements and/or assemblies may be constructed from any of a wide variety of materials that provide sufficient strength or durability, in any of a wide variety of colors, textures and combinations. Accordingly, all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the present invention as defined in the appended claims. The order or sequence of any process or method steps may be varied or re- sequenced according to alternative embodiments. In the claims, any means-plus- function clause is intended to cover the structures described herein as performing the recited function and not only structural equivalents but also equivalent structures.

Other substitutions, modifications, changes and/or omissions may be made in the design, operating conditions and arrangement of the preferred and other exemplary embodiments without departing from the spirit of the present invention as expressed in the appended claims.