Steering column

• US 7,621,562 B2
• Filed: 11/14/2007
• Issued: 11/24/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 11/14/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: AMA S.p.A
• Original Assignee: AMA S.p.A
• Inventors: Longo, Biagio
• Primary Examiner(s): Dickson; Paul N
• Assistant Examiner(s): Coker; Robert A
• Application Number:
  US11/940,012
• Publication Number:
  US 20080150269A1
• Time in Patent Office: 741 Days
• Field of Search: 280/775, 280/492, 280/493, 744/92, 744/93
• US Class Current: 280/775
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 1/184 Mechanisms for locking columns at selected positions
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 1/187 with tilt adjustment; with tilt and axial adjustment B62D1/183, B62D1/19 takes precedence

Abstract

A steering column, in which a steering wheel is connected to a jointed shaft extending through a steering tube, a first telescopic portion of which, arranged at the lower part thereof, presents a lower end anchorable to a support, and a second portion of which, arranged at the upper part thereof, is coupled to the first portion to rotate about a joint axis; and in which a control member is movable towards an operative position to disengage, against the bias of a spring, a pin element from one of a series of holes obtained on a sector integral with one of the two positions of the steering tube to adjust the angular position of the steering wheel about the joint axis.

Claims

1. A steering column comprising a steering tube (2) having a lower end anchorable to a support (3), a shaft (4) rotationally mounted inside the steering tube (2);

a steering wheel (5) angularly coupled to an upper end of the shaft (4);

a control device (20) for adjusting the position of the steering wheel (5) with respect to the lower end of the steering tube (2);

the steering tube (2) comprising a lower portion (6) and an upper portion (13), the lower portion (6) being adjustable in length along a first axis (7), and the upper portion (13) having a second axis (14), the upper portion (13) coupled to the lower portion (6) to rotate about a third axis (17) transverse to the first and second axis (7, 14);

the control device (20) comprising a control mechanism (22) for adjusting an angular position of the steering wheel (5) with respect to the lower portion (6) about the third axis (17), the control mechanism (22) comprising a plate (37) integral with one of the lower or upper portions (6, 13) and provided with a plurality of holes (36);

a pin element (33) integral with the other of the lower or upper portions (6, 13), the pin element (33) being parallel to the third axis (17) and movable in a parallel direction to the third axis (17) between a locking position in which the pin element (33) selectively engages one of the holes (36) thereby locking the angular position of the steering wheel (5) about the third axis (17), and an unlocking position in which the pin element (33) disengages the holes; and

a control member (23) operably connected to the pin element (33).

2. A steering column according to claim 1, wherein the plate (37) is mounted on the lower portion (6) and the control member (23) is mounted on the upper portion (13).

3. A steering column according to claim 1, wherein the control member (23) is a manually operable lever (23).

4. A steering column according to claim 3, wherein the lever (23) is mounted on the upper portion (13) to rotate, with respect to the upper portion (13), about a fourth axis (26).

5. A steering column according to claim 4, wherein the fourth axis (26) is transverse to the second axis (14) and to the third axis (17).

6. A steering column according to claim 1, wherein the pin element (33) is movable from the locking position against an elastic biasing means (38).

7. A steering column according to claim 6, wherein the pin element (33) includes transverse resting pins (34), the elastic biasing means (38) towards the locking position.

8. A steering column according to claim 7, wherein the lever (23) is a rocker lever, one arm of which is defined by a fork (29) adapted to engage the transverse pins (34) to displace the pin element (33) against the elastic biasing means (38) towards the unlocking position.