Patent US4563227A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
Patent US4473520A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4473520A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method for making an automotive steering wheel
Assignee: Shell USA Inc
•
Filing: 1982-12-10
•
Granted: 1984-09-25
•
Expires: 2002-12-10
Abstract
Abstract An automotive steering wheel and process for making it wherein fiber reinforcing members are placed around a core member that is placed in a mold cavity to form the rim and spoke portions of a steering wheel. The mold cavity is then evacuated to remove air trapped in the reinforcing fibers while injecting a thermosetting resin at a high rate to bond the reinforcing assembly into a solid mass.
Inventors
- 👤 Robert H. Overcashier
- 👤 Robert D. Farris
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 20:03
CPC Classifications
B; B29; B29C; B29C70/00; B29C70/04; B29C70/28; B29C70/40; B29C70/42; B29C70/44; B29C70/443; B62; B62D; B62D1/00; B62D1/02; B62D1/04; B29C43/00; B29C43/02; B29C43/10; B29C43/12; B29L; B29L2031/00; B29L2031/30; B29L2031/3047
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 2
Claim 1
Independent Claim
119 words
A method for making a fiber reinforced steering wheel, comprising: in a mold having an endless cavity suitable for forming a steering wheel and having at least two transverse cavities joining said endless cavity with a center hub section, disposing two sealed continuous inflated tubes in said mold cavities, one of said tubes being disposed in only a first portion of said endless cavity, in said transverse cavities and about said hub section, each of said tubes having fiber reinforcing disposed thereabout, injecting a thermosetting resin in said cavities to impregnate said reinforcing material; evacuating the mold cavity to expand said tubes only by air pressure sealed within said tubes; and curing said resin to form said steering wheel.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
119 words
A method for making a fiber reinforced steering wheel, comprising: in a mold having an endless cavity suitable for forming a steering wheel and having at least two transverse cavities joining said endless cavity with a center hub section, disposing two sealed continuous inflated tubes in said mold cavities, one of said tubes being disposed in only a first portion of said endless cavity, in said transverse cavities and about said hub section, each of said tubes having fiber reinforcing disposed thereabout, injecting a thermosetting resin in said cavities to impregnate said reinforcing material; evacuating the mold cavity to expand said tubes only by air pressure sealed within said tubes; and curing said resin to form said steering wheel.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US26551A
Cited
US2923978A
Cited
US3135640A
Cited
US3177105A
Cited
GB1122895A
Cited
US3892831A
Cited
US3949988A
Cited
GB1366773A
Cited
US3975479A
Cited
US3962394A
Cited
GB1582846A
Cited
GB2061848A
Cited
GB2063145A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1987-09-25 | 1988-03-26 | 1988-09-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1991-09-25 | 1992-03-26 | 1992-09-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1995-09-25 | 1996-03-26 | 1996-09-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |