Adjustable steering column assembly
First Claim
1. An adjustable steering column assembly for a vehicle, said assembly comprising:
- a column jacket defining a longitudinal axis and moveable in a telescoping direction and a tilting direction;
a first bracket having a pair of first arms coupled to said column jacket with each of said first arms defining a telescoping slot extending substantially parallel to said longitudinal axis with said telescoping slot having a first tooth rack;
a second bracket disposed about said first bracket and having a pair of second arms each defining a tilting slot extending substantially transverse to and spaced from said telescoping slot with said tilting slot having a second tooth rack;
a pivot shaft defining a pivot axis substantially transverse to said longitudinal axis with said pivot shaft disposed through said telescoping and tilting slots of each of said first and second arms along said pivot axis;
a first locking member and a second locking member mounted to said pivot shaft and moveable along said pivot axis between a locked position for preventing movement of said column jacket in said telescoping and tilting directions and an unlocked position for allowing movement of said column jacket in said telescoping and tilting directions; and
said first and second locking members each having a first locking surface substantially parallel to said longitudinal axis and a second locking surface substantially transverse to said longitudinal and pivot axes with said first and second locking surfaces disposed in said telescoping and tilting slots, respectively when in said locked position such that said first locking surface of each of said first and second locking members engage said first tooth rack of each of said first arms and said second locking surface of each of said first and second locking members engage said second tooth rack of each of said second arms for preventing movement of said column jacket in said telescoping and tilting directions;
wherein each of said first and second locking members include an inner surface and an opposite outer surface, wherein each of said inner surfaces face each other, said inner and said opposite outer surfaces are located in a plane transverse to said pivot axis;
at least one cam surface located on each of said opposite outer surfaces.
10 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A steering column assembly having a column jacket defining a longitudinal axis and moveable in a telescoping direction and a tilting direction is disclosed. A first bracket defines a telescoping slot having a first tooth rack extending parallel to the longitudinal axis. A second bracket defines a tilting slot having a second tooth rack extending transverse to the telescoping slot. A first locking member and a second locking member are moveable along a pivot axis transverse the longitudinal axis between a locked position and an unlocked position. The locking members have a first locking surface parallel to the longitudinal axis and a second locking surface transverse to the longitudinal and pivot axes. The locking surfaces are disposed in the telescoping and tilting slots, respectively when in the locked position such that the locking surfaces engage the first and second tooth racks, respectively for preventing movement of the column jacket.
61 Citations
18 Claims
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1. An adjustable steering column assembly for a vehicle, said assembly comprising:
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a column jacket defining a longitudinal axis and moveable in a telescoping direction and a tilting direction; a first bracket having a pair of first arms coupled to said column jacket with each of said first arms defining a telescoping slot extending substantially parallel to said longitudinal axis with said telescoping slot having a first tooth rack; a second bracket disposed about said first bracket and having a pair of second arms each defining a tilting slot extending substantially transverse to and spaced from said telescoping slot with said tilting slot having a second tooth rack; a pivot shaft defining a pivot axis substantially transverse to said longitudinal axis with said pivot shaft disposed through said telescoping and tilting slots of each of said first and second arms along said pivot axis; a first locking member and a second locking member mounted to said pivot shaft and moveable along said pivot axis between a locked position for preventing movement of said column jacket in said telescoping and tilting directions and an unlocked position for allowing movement of said column jacket in said telescoping and tilting directions; and said first and second locking members each having a first locking surface substantially parallel to said longitudinal axis and a second locking surface substantially transverse to said longitudinal and pivot axes with said first and second locking surfaces disposed in said telescoping and tilting slots, respectively when in said locked position such that said first locking surface of each of said first and second locking members engage said first tooth rack of each of said first arms and said second locking surface of each of said first and second locking members engage said second tooth rack of each of said second arms for preventing movement of said column jacket in said telescoping and tilting directions;
wherein each of said first and second locking members include an inner surface and an opposite outer surface, wherein each of said inner surfaces face each other, said inner and said opposite outer surfaces are located in a plane transverse to said pivot axis;
at least one cam surface located on each of said opposite outer surfaces. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. An adjustable steering column assembly for a vehicle, said assembly comprising:
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a column jacket defining a longitudinal axis and moveable in a telescoping direction and a tilting direction; a first bracket having a pair of first arms coupled to said column jacket with at least one of said first arms defining a telescoping slot extending substantially parallel to said longitudinal axis with said telescoping slot having a first tooth rack; a second bracket disposed about said first bracket and having a pair of second arms with at least one of said second arms defining a tilting slot extending substantially transverse to and spaced from said telescoping slot with said tilting slot having a second tooth rack; a pivot shaft defining a pivot axis substantially transverse to said longitudinal axis with said pivot shaft disposed through said first and second arms along said pivot axis; a locking member mounted to said pivot shaft and moveable along said pivot axis between a locked position for preventing movement of said column jacket in said telescoping and tilting directions and an unlocked position for allowing movement of said column jacket in said telescoping and tilting directions; and said locking member having a first locking surface substantially parallel to said longitudinal axis and a second locking surface substantially transverse to said longitudinal axis and said pivot axis with said first and second locking surfaces disposed in said telescoping and tilting slots, respectively when in said locked position such that said first locking surface of said locking member engages said first tooth rack and said second locking surface of said locking member engages said second tooth rack for preventing movement of said column jacket in said telescoping and tilting directions wherein said locking member includes an inner surface and an opposite outer surface, wherein said inner surface is facing an area disposed between said pair of second arms, said inner and said opposite outer surface are located in a plane transverse to said pivot axis;
at least one cam surface located on said opposite outer surface, said at least one cam surface is adjacent said pivot axis for moving said locking member along said pivot axis during movement between said locked and unlocked positions. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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Specification