OVER-CENTER LOCKING MECHANISM FOR STEERING COLUMN ASSEMBLY
First Claim
1. A steering column assembly for a vehicle, said assembly comprising:
- a column jacket extending along a longitudinal axis;
a mounting bracket coupled to said column jacket and including a first plate disposed on one side of said column jacket and a second plate disposed on an opposing side of said column jacket relative to said first plate with said mounting bracket configured for attachment to the vehicle;
a first clamp shaft coupled to and extending through said first plate along a first transverse axis intersecting said column jacket and transverse to said longitudinal axis;
a second clamp shaft coupled to and extending through said second plate along a second transverse axis intersecting said column jacket and transverse to said longitudinal axis;
a cam mechanism coupled to said first clamp shaft for axially moving said first clamp shaft along said first transverse axis between a lock position compressing said first plate against said column jacket to fix a position of said column jacket relative to said mounting bracket and a release position releasing said first plate from said column jacket to permit movement of said column jacket relative to said mounting bracket;
a bridge extending across said column jacket and interconnecting said first clamp shaft and said second clamp shaft to transmit said axial movement of said first clamp shaft along said first transverse axis between said lock position and said release position to said second clamp shaft along said second transverse axis for moving said second clamp shaft concurrently with said first clamp shaft.
9 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A steering column assembly includes a column jacket extending along a longitudinal axis. A mounting bracket is coupled to the column jacket and includes a first plate disposed adjacent the column jacket and a second plate disposed opposite the column jacket from the first plate. A first clamp shaft is coupled to and extends through the first plate along a first transverse axis. A second clamp shaft is coupled to and extends through the second plate along a second transverse axis. The first and second transverse axes intersect the column jacket. A cam mechanism is coupled to the first clamp shaft for moving the first clamp shaft axially along the first transverse axis. A bridge includes a generally U-shaped cross section partially encircling the column jacket to interconnect the first clamp shaft and the second clamp shaft for moving the second clamp shaft concurrently with the first clamp shaft.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A steering column assembly for a vehicle, said assembly comprising:
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a column jacket extending along a longitudinal axis; a mounting bracket coupled to said column jacket and including a first plate disposed on one side of said column jacket and a second plate disposed on an opposing side of said column jacket relative to said first plate with said mounting bracket configured for attachment to the vehicle; a first clamp shaft coupled to and extending through said first plate along a first transverse axis intersecting said column jacket and transverse to said longitudinal axis; a second clamp shaft coupled to and extending through said second plate along a second transverse axis intersecting said column jacket and transverse to said longitudinal axis; a cam mechanism coupled to said first clamp shaft for axially moving said first clamp shaft along said first transverse axis between a lock position compressing said first plate against said column jacket to fix a position of said column jacket relative to said mounting bracket and a release position releasing said first plate from said column jacket to permit movement of said column jacket relative to said mounting bracket; a bridge extending across said column jacket and interconnecting said first clamp shaft and said second clamp shaft to transmit said axial movement of said first clamp shaft along said first transverse axis between said lock position and said release position to said second clamp shaft along said second transverse axis for moving said second clamp shaft concurrently with said first clamp shaft. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification