STEERING COLUMN ENERGY ABSORBING RAKE LOCK
First Claim
1. A rake lock assembly for a vehicle steering column assembly having a rake bolt and a rake bracket with an inner wall that includes a plurality of rake teeth, the rake lock assembly comprising:
- a component operatively associated with the rake bracket, the component including a trigger element; and
a locking cam configured to be disposed within the rake bracket and to rotate about a rotational axis, the locking cam having a first contact surface configured to interact with the trigger element, and a second contact surface having a plurality of teeth configured to interact with the rake teeth,wherein when an impact force acts on the steering column assembly and the rake bolt is shuttled in a first direction, the trigger element is configured to contact the first contact surface and rotate the locking cam about the rotational axis such that the second contact surface plurality of teeth and the rake teeth are disposed in interlocking meshing engagement to facilitate preventing a vehicle steering column from raking movement in a second direction.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A rake lock assembly for a steering column assembly includes a component operatively associated with a rake bracket, the component including a trigger element, and a locking cam configured to be disposed within the rake bracket and to rotate about a rotational axis. The locking cam includes a first contact surface configured to interact with the trigger element, and a second contact surface having a plurality of teeth configured to interact with rake teeth. When an impact force acts on the steering column assembly and a rake bolt is shuttled in a first direction, the trigger element is configured to contact the first contact surface and rotate the locking cam about the rotational axis such that the second contact surface plurality of teeth and the rake teeth are disposed in interlocking meshing engagement to facilitate preventing a vehicle steering column from raking movement in a second direction.
11 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A rake lock assembly for a vehicle steering column assembly having a rake bolt and a rake bracket with an inner wall that includes a plurality of rake teeth, the rake lock assembly comprising:
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a component operatively associated with the rake bracket, the component including a trigger element; and a locking cam configured to be disposed within the rake bracket and to rotate about a rotational axis, the locking cam having a first contact surface configured to interact with the trigger element, and a second contact surface having a plurality of teeth configured to interact with the rake teeth, wherein when an impact force acts on the steering column assembly and the rake bolt is shuttled in a first direction, the trigger element is configured to contact the first contact surface and rotate the locking cam about the rotational axis such that the second contact surface plurality of teeth and the rake teeth are disposed in interlocking meshing engagement to facilitate preventing a vehicle steering column from raking movement in a second direction. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A steering column assembly comprising:
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a rake bracket having an inner wall defining a rake bracket opening, at least a portion of the inner wall including a plurality of rake teeth; a steering column movably coupled to the rake bracket for raking movement in a first direction; a rake bolt extending through the rake bracket opening; a rake lock assembly operatively associated with the rake bracket and the rake bolt, the rake lock assembly comprising; a component operatively associated with the rake bracket, the component including a trigger element; and a locking cam configured to be disposed within the rake bracket opening and to rotate about a rotational axis, the locking cam having a first contact surface configured to interact with the trigger element, and a second contact surface having a plurality teeth configured to interact with the rake teeth, wherein when an impact force acts on the steering column assembly and the rake bolt is shuttled in a second direction, the trigger element is configured to contact the first contact surface and rotate the locking cam about the rotational axis such that the second contact surface plurality of teeth and the rake teeth are disposed in interlocking meshing engagement to facilitate preventing the steering column from raking movement in the first direction. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A method of assembling a steering column assembly, the method comprising:
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providing a rake bracket having an inner wall defining a rake bracket opening, at least a portion of the inner wall including a plurality of rake teeth; providing a steering column movably coupled to the steering column for raking movement in a first direction; inserting a rake bolt through the rake bracket opening; operatively associating a component with the rake bracket, the component including a trigger element; and disposing a locking cam within the rake bracket opening, the locking cam configured to rotate about a rotational axis, the locking cam having a first contact surface configured to interact with the trigger element, and a second contact surface having a plurality of teeth configured to interact with the rake teeth, wherein when an impact force acts on the steering column assembly and the rake bolt is shuttled in a second direction, the trigger element is configured to contact the first contact surface and rotate the locking cam about the rotational axis such that the second contact surface plurality of teeth and the rake teeth are disposed in interlocking meshing engagement to facilitate preventing the steering column from raking movement in the first direction.
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Specification