Collapsible steering column assembly
First Claim
1. An adjustable steering column assembly of a vehicle comprising:
- a bracket for rigid attachment to the vehicle with said bracket having a first slot defining a longitudinal adjustment path;
a steering shaft for rotation about an axis;
a jacket joumaled to said shaft;
a shuttle attached rigidly to said jacket and connected movably to said bracket for adjusting said steering shaft and said jacket along said adjustment path and said shuttle having a second slot defining a collapse path with said second slot having a first portion restraining said steering shaft in a normal state and a second portion allowing said steering shaft to move through said collapse path when in a collapsed state; and
a pin extending through said first and second slots for coupling said shuttle to said bracket.
9 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An adjustable steering column assembly for a vehicle preferably has a bracket for rigid attachment to the vehicle with a first slot defining a longitudinal adjustment path of the assembly. A steering shaft is journaled to a jacket of the assembly for rotation about an axis. A shuttle attaches rigidly to the jacket and adjustably to the bracket for telescoping and tilt adjustment of the assembly. The shuttle has a second slot that defines a collapse path with said second slot preferably having a first portion restraining said steering shaft in a normal state and a second portion that allows said steering shaft to move through said collapse path when in a collapsed state. A pin extends through said first and second slots for coupling said shuttle to said bracket.
-
Citations
16 Claims
-
1. An adjustable steering column assembly of a vehicle comprising:
-
a bracket for rigid attachment to the vehicle with said bracket having a first slot defining a longitudinal adjustment path; a steering shaft for rotation about an axis; a jacket joumaled to said shaft; a shuttle attached rigidly to said jacket and connected movably to said bracket for adjusting said steering shaft and said jacket along said adjustment path and said shuttle having a second slot defining a collapse path with said second slot having a first portion restraining said steering shaft in a normal state and a second portion allowing said steering shaft to move through said collapse path when in a collapsed state; and a pin extending through said first and second slots for coupling said shuttle to said bracket. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
-
-
11. An adjustable steering column assembly of a vehicle comprising:
-
a steering shaft for rotation about an axis; a jacket joumaled to said shaft; a shuttle attached rigidly to said jacket; a first slot in said shuttle extending substantially parallel to said axis, said first slot having a forward end portion and an opposite rearward end portion; an arcuate second slot in said shuttle spaced rearward from said first slot and having a radius of curvature; a pin extending through said forward end portion when in a normal state, said pin having a centerline; a normal state wherein said pin is in said forward end portion and said centerline is spaced from said second slot equal to said radius of curvature; and a collapsed state wherein said pin is in said rearward end portion and is spaced from said second slot by a distance less that said radius of curvature for preventing downward movement of said steering shaft and said jacket. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15)
-
-
16. An adjustable steering column assembly of a vehicle comprising:
-
a bracket for rigid attachment to the vehicle with said bracket having a first slot defining at least a longitudinal adjustment path; a steering shaft for rotation about an axis; a jacket joumaled to said shaft; a shuttle attached rigidly to said jacket and connected movably to said bracket for adjusting said steering shaft and said jacket along said longitudinal adjustment path; a pin extending through said shuttle and said bracket for pivoting movement of said shuttle with respect to said jacket; a substantially vertical and arcuate slot in said shuttle with a radius of curvature measured from a centerline of said pin when said assembly is in a normal state; and a rod extending through said first slot and said arcuate slot for at least tilt adjustment of said assembly when in said normal state and wherein said rod and said pin are spaced less than said radius of curvature distance when said assembly is in a collapsed state for preventing downward movement of said jacket and said steering shaft.
-
Specification