ADJUSTABLE STEERING COLUMN ASSEMBLY FOR A VEHICLE
First Claim
1. An adjustable steering column assembly for a vehicle, said assembly comprising:
- a column jacket defining a longitudinal axis and moveable in at least one of a telescoping direction and a tilting direction;
a first clamping member disposed along said longitudinal axis about said column jacket;
a second clamping member disposed along said longitudinal axis adjacent said first clamping member about said column jacket;
a lever coupled to at least one of said first and second clamping members and rotatable between a set position for preventing movement of said column jacket in at least one of said telescoping direction and said tilting direction and an adjustable position for allowing movement of said column jacket in at least one of said telescoping direction and said tilting direction;
a locking device coupled to said lever and at least one of said first and second clamping members and moveable between a locked position and an unlocked position during rotation of said lever between said set and adjustable positions, respectively; and
said lever including a first arm and a second arm flanking said column jacket and coupled to at least one of said first and second clamping members with a portion of said locking device disposed about at least one of said first and second clamping members and engaging both of said first and second arms and at least one of said first and second clamping members such that rotation of said lever moves said portion of said locking device for minimizing rotation of said lever between said set and adjustable positions when said locking device moves between said locked and unlocked positions.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention provides for a steering column assembly having a column jacket defining a longitudinal axis. A first clamping member and a second clamping member are disposed along the longitudinal axis about the column jacket. A lever is coupled to one of the first and second clamping members and rotatable between a set and adjustable positions. The lever includes a first arm and a second arm flanking the column jacket and coupled to at least one of the first and second clamping members with a portion of the locking device disposed about at least one of the first and second clamping members and engaging both of the first and second arms such that rotation of the lever moves the portion of the locking device for minimizing rotation of the lever between the set and adjustable positions when the locking device moves between a locked and unlocked positions.
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Citations
40 Claims
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1. An adjustable steering column assembly for a vehicle, said assembly comprising:
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a column jacket defining a longitudinal axis and moveable in at least one of a telescoping direction and a tilting direction; a first clamping member disposed along said longitudinal axis about said column jacket; a second clamping member disposed along said longitudinal axis adjacent said first clamping member about said column jacket; a lever coupled to at least one of said first and second clamping members and rotatable between a set position for preventing movement of said column jacket in at least one of said telescoping direction and said tilting direction and an adjustable position for allowing movement of said column jacket in at least one of said telescoping direction and said tilting direction; a locking device coupled to said lever and at least one of said first and second clamping members and moveable between a locked position and an unlocked position during rotation of said lever between said set and adjustable positions, respectively; and said lever including a first arm and a second arm flanking said column jacket and coupled to at least one of said first and second clamping members with a portion of said locking device disposed about at least one of said first and second clamping members and engaging both of said first and second arms and at least one of said first and second clamping members such that rotation of said lever moves said portion of said locking device for minimizing rotation of said lever between said set and adjustable positions when said locking device moves between said locked and unlocked positions. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A lever locking mechanism for an adjustable steering column having a column jacket defining a longitudinal axis with the column jacket moveable in at least one of a telescoping direction and a tilting direction, said mechanism comprising:
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a first clamping member adapted to be disposed along the longitudinal axis about the column jacket; a second clamping member disposed adjacent said first clamping member and adapted to be disposed along the longitudinal axis about the column jacket; a lever coupled to at least one of said first and second clamping members with said lever rotatable between a set position for preventing movement of the column jacket in at least one of the telescoping direction and the tilting direction and an adjustable position for allowing movement of the column jacket in at least one of the telescoping direction and the tilting direction; a locking device having at least one first locking member mounted to said lever and at least one second locking member disposed adjacent said first locking member and mounted to said lever with said locking members moveable between a locked position and an unlocked position during rotation of said lever between said set and adjustable positions, respectively; and said lever including a first arm and a second arm each defining a first axis extending substantially parallel to each other with said first locking member at least partially disposed along said first axis when said lever in said set position and each of said first and second arms defining a second axis extending substantially parallel to each other with said second axis disposed at an angle relative to said first axis with said second locking member at least partially disposed along said second axis when said lever in said set position such that rotation of said lever to said adjustment position moves said first locking member away from said first axis and said second locking member away from said second axis for minimizing rotation of said lever when said locking device moves between said locked and unlocked positions. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35)
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36. A clamping apparatus for an adjustable steering column having a column jacket defining a longitudinal axis with the column jacket moveable in at least one of a telescoping direction and a tilting direction, said apparatus comprising:
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a first clamping member adapted to be disposed along the longitudinal axis about the column jacket; a second clamping member disposed adjacent said first clamping member and adapted to be disposed along the longitudinal axis about the column jacket; a locking device coupled to at least one of said first and second clamping members and moveable between a locked position for preventing movement of the column jacket in at least one of the telescoping direction and the tilting direction and an unlocked position for allowing movement of the column jacket in at least one of the telescoping direction and the tilting direction; and said first clamping member includes a first upper portion and a first lower portion spaced from said first upper portion with said first clamping member coupled to said second clamping member and said first clamping member rotatable relative to said second clamping member when said locking device moves between said locked and unlocked positions for selectively allowing and preventing movement of the column jacket in at least one of the telescoping direction and the tilting direction. - View Dependent Claims (37, 38, 39, 40)
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Specification