Rocker-arm lock device of an adjustable steering column assembly
First Claim
1. An adjustable steering column assembly for a vehicle comprising:
- a steering shaft rotatable about a rotation axis;
a co-extending housing journaled to said shaft;
a bracket engaged operably to said housing;
a first slot in at least one of said housing and said bracket;
first and second indexing rails carried by at least one of said housing and said bracket having said first slot;
a carrier supported slidably by said bracket and extending through said first slot along a centerline transverse to said rotation axis;
a carriage engaged to said carrier;
a first rocker arm supported pivotally to said carriage for rocking movement about a rocker axis orientated perpendicular to said centerline, said first rocker arm having a first indexing pad for selective mating with said first indexing rail and a second indexing pad for selective mating with said second indexing rail; and
wherein the adjustable steering column assembly is in a locked position when at least one of the first and second indexing pads are mated with the respective first and second indexing rails.
9 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A steering column assembly of a vehicle has a rocker-arm lock device for locking an adjustable steering housing and co-extending steering shaft to a stationary bracket or chassis. For driver convenience and comfort, the steering housing and shaft are together adjustable with respect to the bracket. The rocker-arm lock device has a slot in at least one of the housing and bracket and a carrier for longitudinal movement through the slot that is substantially perpendicular to a rotation axis of the steering shaft. An indexing apparatus of the device has first and second indexing rails carried by at least one of the housing and the bracket having the first slot and a carriage engaged rigidly to the carrier. A rocker arm of the apparatus is supported pivotally to the carriage about a rocker axis disposed substantially perpendicular to the carrier. The rocker arm carries first and second pads spaced diametrically outward from one another with respect to the rocker axis and facing laterally toward respective first and second indexing rails for selective engagement of at least one of the first and second pads to the respective first and second indexing rails.
-
Citations
23 Claims
-
1. An adjustable steering column assembly for a vehicle comprising:
-
a steering shaft rotatable about a rotation axis; a co-extending housing journaled to said shaft; a bracket engaged operably to said housing; a first slot in at least one of said housing and said bracket; first and second indexing rails carried by at least one of said housing and said bracket having said first slot; a carrier supported slidably by said bracket and extending through said first slot along a centerline transverse to said rotation axis; a carriage engaged to said carrier; a first rocker arm supported pivotally to said carriage for rocking movement about a rocker axis orientated perpendicular to said centerline, said first rocker arm having a first indexing pad for selective mating with said first indexing rail and a second indexing pad for selective mating with said second indexing rail; and wherein the adjustable steering column assembly is in a locked position when at least one of the first and second indexing pads are mated with the respective first and second indexing rails. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
-
-
14. An adjustable steering column assembly for a vehicle, comprising:
-
a steering shaft rotatable about a rotation axis; a bracket; a housing co-extending with and journaled to said shaft and engaged operably to said bracket; and a column lock device having a locked position in which relative adjustment between said bracket and housing is prevented, and an unlocked position in which relative adjustment between said bracket and housing is permitted, and comprising; a carrier; a carriage engaged to said carrier and having a rocker axis; and a rocker arm connected pivotally to said carriage about said rocker axis with said rocker arm having diametrically opposite first and second legs carrying respective first and second pads facing laterally outward with respect to said rocker arm for selective engagement with one of said housing and said bracket. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
-
Specification