Adjustable steering column assembly having an attached instrument cluster
First Claim
1. A steering column assembly for a vehicle, said assembly comprising:
- a mounting bracket for attachment to the vehicle;
a rake bracket coupled to said mounting bracket and pivotable relative to said mounting bracket about a rake axis with said rake bracket extending from said mounting bracket along a longitudinal axis to a distal end;
a column jacket supported by said mounting bracket and detachably supported by said rake bracket and longitudinally moveable relative to said mounting bracket along said longitudinal axis in response to an emergency event and pivotably moveable with said rake bracket relative to said mounting bracket about said rake axis;
an instrument cluster coupled to said distal end of said rake bracket and rotatably moveable with said rake bracket and said column jacket relative to said mounting bracket about said rake axis; and
a dynamic absorber interconnecting said instrument cluster and said rake bracket for reducing vibration transmitted to said instrument cluster, said dynamic absorber including a linear spring having a pre-determined spring constant.
9 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A steering column assembly includes a rake adjustment mechanism, and is attached to a vehicle by a mounting bracket. A rake bracket is coupled to the mounting bracket. A column jacket is collapsible in response to an emergency event and is supported by the mounting bracket and the rake bracket, and is rotationally moveable with the rake bracket about a rake axis relative to the mounting bracket. An instrument cluster is coupled to the rake bracket for movement along with the rake bracket and the column jacket to prevent obstruction of the instrument cluster by a steering wheel upon re-positioning the steering wheel, while not restricting movement of the column jacket during collapse of the column jacket in response to the emergency event. A dynamic absorber interconnects the instrument cluster and the rake bracket to reduce vibration of the steering column assembly caused by additional weight of the instrument cluster.
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Citations
16 Claims
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1. A steering column assembly for a vehicle, said assembly comprising:
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a mounting bracket for attachment to the vehicle; a rake bracket coupled to said mounting bracket and pivotable relative to said mounting bracket about a rake axis with said rake bracket extending from said mounting bracket along a longitudinal axis to a distal end; a column jacket supported by said mounting bracket and detachably supported by said rake bracket and longitudinally moveable relative to said mounting bracket along said longitudinal axis in response to an emergency event and pivotably moveable with said rake bracket relative to said mounting bracket about said rake axis; an instrument cluster coupled to said distal end of said rake bracket and rotatably moveable with said rake bracket and said column jacket relative to said mounting bracket about said rake axis; and a dynamic absorber interconnecting said instrument cluster and said rake bracket for reducing vibration transmitted to said instrument cluster, said dynamic absorber including a linear spring having a pre-determined spring constant. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A steering column assembly for a vehicle, said assembly comprising:
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a mounting bracket for attachment to the vehicle; a rake bracket coupled to said mounting bracket and pivotable relative to said mounting bracket about a rake axis with said rake bracket extending from said mounting bracket along a longitudinal axis to a distal end; a column jacket supported by said mounting bracket and detachably supported by said rake bracket and longitudinally moveable relative to said mounting bracket along said longitudinal axis in response to an emergency event and pivotably moveable with said rake bracket relative to said mounting bracket about said rake axis, wherein said rake bracket is axially adjustable along said longitudinal axis with said column jacket; an instrument cluster coupled to said distal end of said rake bracket and rotatably moveable with said rake bracket and said column jacket relative to said mounting bracket about said rake axis; a dynamic absorber interconnecting said instrument cluster and said rake bracket for reducing vibration transmitted to said instrument cluster, wherein said instrument cluster is fixedly mounted to said dynamic absorber and stationary relative to said mounting bracket in response to the emergency event; and a telescoping mechanism for adjusting said column jacket axially along said longitudinal axis and locking said column jacket relative to said mounting bracket. - View Dependent Claims (10)
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11. A steering column assembly for a vehicle, said assembly comprising:
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a mounting bracket for attachment to the vehicle; a rake bracket coupled to said mounting bracket and pivotable relative to said mounting bracket about a rake axis with said rake bracket extending from said mounting bracket along a longitudinal axis to a distal end, wherein said rake bracket is in telescopic engagement with said mounting bracket for axial movement along said longitudinal axis relative to said mounting bracket; a column jacket supported by said mounting bracket and detachably supported by said rake bracket and longitudinally moveable relative to said mounting bracket along said longitudinal axis in response to an emergency event and pivotably moveable with said rake bracket relative to said mounting bracket about said rake axis, wherein said rake bracket is axially adjustable along said longitudinal axis with said column jacket; and a dynamic absorber interconnecting said instrument cluster and said rake bracket for reducing vibration transmitted to said instrument cluster, wherein said dynamic absorber includes an arm in telescopic engagement with said rake bracket. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14)
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15. A steering column assembly for a vehicle, said assembly comprising:
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a mounting bracket for attachment to the vehicle; a rake bracket coupled to said mounting bracket and pivotable relative to said mounting bracket about a rake axis with said rake bracket extending from said mounting bracket along a longitudinal axis to a distal end; a column jacket supported by said mounting bracket and detachably supported by said rake bracket and longitudinally moveable relative to said mounting bracket along said longitudinal axis in response to an emergency event and pivotably moveable with said rake bracket relative to said mounting bracket about said rake axis; an instrument cluster coupled to said distal end of said rake bracket and rotatably moveable with said rake bracket and said column jacket relative to said mounting bracket about said rake axis; and a dynamic absorber interconnecting said instrument cluster and said rake bracket for reducing vibration transmitted to said instrument cluster, wherein said dynamic absorber is fixedly mounted to said rake bracket. - View Dependent Claims (16)
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Specification