Steering Apparatus for a Vehicle

• US 20130098194A1
• Filed: 10/11/2011
• Published: 04/25/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 10/18/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Aisin Seiki Co., Ltd. (Aisin Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Aisin Seiki Co., Ltd. (Aisin Corp.)
• Inventors: Oshita, Morito, Marutani, Takeshi, Kato, Ken
• Granted Patent: US 8,919,816 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 74/493
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 1/183 adjustable between in-use and out-of-use positions, e.g. to improve access
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 1/187 with tilt adjustment; with tilt and axial adjustment B62D1/183, B62D1/19 takes precedence

Abstract

A lift-up mechanism is provided with a link member with one end thereof being supported rotatably on a movable bracket for holding a movable columnar member, and the other one end thereof being disposed to be engaged with and removed from a fixing bracket. The link member selectively provides a hold state for engaging the link member with the fixing bracket at a rear part of the vehicle body to hold the movable bracket at an initial position or a lift-up position, and a release state for releasing its engagement. A spring member is disposed between the fixing bracket and the movable bracket, with component forces of its biasing force biasing the movable bracket in a direction to be lifted up from the fixing bracket, and biasing the link member in a direction to be engaged with the fixing bracket.

Claims

1. A steering apparatus for a vehicle comprising:

a steering column for supporting a steering wheel of the vehicle;

a tilting mechanism having a movable column member for pivotally supporting the steering column to be swung about a swinging center provided at a front part of a vehicle body, and a movable bracket holding the movable column member between a pair of holding portions facing each other, to adjust a manipulating position of the steering wheel; and

a lift-up mechanism for holding the steering wheel at a predetermined lift-up position, which comprises;

a fixing bracket fixed to the vehicle body,

a link member with one end thereof being supported rotatably on the movable bracket, and the other one end thereof being disposed to be engaged with and removed from the fixing bracket at a rear part of the vehicle body, the link member selectively providing a hold state engaged with the fixing bracket at the rear part of the vehicle body to hold the movable bracket at an initial position or a lift-up position, and a release state for releasing the engagement with the fixing bracket, and

a biasing portion disposed between the fixing bracket and the movable bracket for biasing the movable bracket in a direction to be lifted up from the fixing bracket, and biasing the link member in a direction to be engaged with the fixing bracket.

2. A steering apparatus for a vehicle as claimed in claim 1, wherein the biasing portion is a spring member installed between the fixing bracket and the movable bracket, and wherein the biasing force applied by the spring member has a component force oriented in a direction for lifting up the movable bracket from the fixing bracket, and a component force oriented in a direction for engaging the link member with the fixing bracket.

3. A steering apparatus for a vehicle as claimed in claim 1, wherein the fixing bracket has a plurality of grooves opened toward the rear part of the vehicle body relative to a single arc forming a swinging locus of the movable bracket about the swinging center, and the link member has an engaging portion to be engaged with each of the plurality of grooves, and a manipulating portion for selectively providing the hold state and the release state.

4. A steering apparatus for a vehicle as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

a lateral biasing means portion for preventing the movable bracket from being moved in a lateral direction, which is perpendicular to an axial direction of the steering column.

5. A steering apparatus for a vehicle as claimed in claim 4, wherein the lateral biasing portion is a spring member installed between the fixing bracket and the movable bracket for biasing the movable bracket in the lateral direction.

6. A steering apparatus for a vehicle as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

a telescopic mechanism which extends or shrinks the movable column member in the axial direction of the steering column, to adjust the manipulating position of the steering wheel.

7. A steering apparatus for a vehicle as claimed in claim 1, wherein a supporting position of one end of the link member relative to the movable bracket and a supporting position of the other one end of the link member relative to the fixing bracket, in such a state that the movable bracket is held at the initial position, are disposed to be placed on a single arc about the swinging center, respectively.