Adjustable steering column assembly for a vehicle

• US 7,914,043 B2
• Filed: 04/07/2008
• Issued: 03/29/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 04/07/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations Incorporated (Motors Liquidation Co. GUC Trust), Steering Solutions IP Holding Corporation (Nexteer Automotive Group Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Nexteer beijing Technology Co Ltd
• Inventors: Olgren, Leland N., Gregg, Jeff A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Culbreth; Eric
• Assistant Examiner(s): FRISBY, KEITH J
• Application Number:
  US12/098,817
• Publication Number:
  US 20090250916A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,086 Days
• Field of Search: 280/775, 280/779, 744/93, 744/92, 744/95, 403/109.1, 403/110
• US Class Current: 280/775
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 1/184 Mechanisms for locking columns at selected positions

Abstract

The present invention provides for a steering column assembly having a column jacket defining a longitudinal axis. A first clamping member and a second clamping member are disposed along the longitudinal axis about the column jacket. A lever is coupled to one of the first and second clamping members and rotatable between a set and adjustable positions. The lever includes a first arm and a second arm flanking the column jacket and coupled to at least one of the first and second clamping members with a portion of the locking device disposed about at least one of the first and second clamping members and engaging both of the first and second arms such that rotation of the lever moves the portion of the locking device for minimizing rotation of the lever between the set and adjustable positions when the locking device moves between a locked and unlocked positions.

Claims

1. An adjustable steering column assembly for a vehicle, said assembly comprising:

a column jacket defining a longitudinal axis and moveable in at least one of a telescoping direction and a tilting direction;

a first clamping member disposed along said longitudinal axis about said column jacket;

a second clamping member disposed along said longitudinal axis adjacent said first clamping member about said column jacket;

a lever coupled to at least one of said first and second clamping members and rotatable between a set position for preventing movement of said column jacket in at least one of said telescoping direction and said tilting direction and an adjustable position for allowing movement of said column jacket in at least one of said telescoping direction and said tilting direction;

a locking device coupled to said lever and at least one of said first and second clamping members and moveable between a locked position and an unlocked position during rotation of said lever between said set and adjustable positions, respectively;

said lever including a first arm and a second arm flanking said column jacket and coupled to at least one of said first and second clamping members with a portion of said locking device disposed about at least one of said first and second clamping members and engaging both of said first and second arms and at least one of said first and second clamping members such that rotation of said lever moves said portion of said locking device for minimizing rotation of said lever between said set and adjustable positions when said locking device moves between said locked and unlocked positions, wherein said lever rotates less than 35 degrees between said set and adjustable positions when moving said locking device between said locked and unlocked positions, wherein said first and second arms flank said first and second clamping members with said first and second arms mounted to said second clamping member and spaced from said first clamping member; and

wherein said portion of said locking device is further defined as at least one first locking member mounted to said first and second arms and disposed about both of said first and second clamping members for selectively allowing and preventing movement of said column jacket in at least one of said telescoping direction and said tilting direction.

2. An assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein each of said first and second arms include a first protrusion extending outwardly away from each other with said first locking member mounted to said first protrusion of each of said arms.

3. An assembly as set forth in claim 2 wherein said locking device includes a second locking member disposed substantially parallel to said first locking member and disposed about said first clamping member with said first locking member selectively allowing and preventing movement of said column jacket in said telescoping direction and said second locking member selectively allowing and preventing movement of said column jacket in said tilting direction.

4. An assembly as set forth in claim 3 wherein each of said first and second arms include a second protrusion extending outwardly away from each other and spaced from said first protrusion of each of said arms with said second locking member adjacent said second protrusion of each of said arms.

5. An assembly as set forth in claim 4 wherein said first and second locking members each include a body portion having a pair of appendages spaced from each other with said body portion of said first locking member coupled to said first clamping member and one of said appendages of said first locking member mounted to said first protrusion of said first arm and an other one of said appendages of said first locking member mounted to said first protrusion of said second arm with said body portion of said second locking member adjacent said first clamping member and one of said appendages of said second locking member extending adjacent said second protrusion of said first arm and an other one of said appendages of said second locking member extending adjacent said second protrusion of said second arm.

6. An assembly as set forth in claim 5 wherein each of said first and second arms define a first axis extending substantially parallel to each other and extending through said first protrusion of each of said arms with said appendages of said first locking member extending along said first axis when said lever is in said set position.

7. An assembly as set forth in claim 6 wherein each of said first and second arms define a second axis extending substantially parallel to each other and extending through said second protrusion of each of said arms with said second axis disposed at an angle relative to said first axis with said appendages of said second locking member disposed adjacent to said second axis when said lever is in said set position such that rotation of said lever to said adjustment position moves said appendages of said first locking member away from said first axis and said second protrusion of each of said arms engage said appendages of said second locking member to move said second locking member along said second axis for minimizing rotation of said lever when said locking device moves between said locked and unlocked positions.

8. An assembly as set forth in claim 5 further including a bracket and each of said appendages of said second locking member including a biasing member spaced from said body portion of said second locking member and abutting a section of at least one of said bracket and said first clamping member for biasing said second locking member in said locked position when said lever is in said set position.

9. An assembly as set forth in claim 3 wherein said column jacket includes a tilt head moveable in said tilting direction and said locking device includes a tilt bar having a plurality of teeth extending away from said longitudinal axis with said tilt bar coupled to said tilt head and moveable along at least one of a part of said first clamping member and a part of said second clamping member for selectively allowing and preventing movement of said tilt head in said tilting direction.

10. An assembly as set forth in claim 9 wherein said locking device includes a locking tab coupled to said second locking member and having a plurality of teeth configured to cooperate with said teeth of said tilt bar for selectively allowing and preventing movement of said tilt head in said tilting direction.

11. An assembly as set forth in claim 10 wherein said first clamping member defines an orifice extending transverse said longitudinal axis for receiving said locking tab such that movement of said second locking member allows said locking tab to move through said orifice to selectively engage and disengage said tilt bar.

12. An assembly as set forth in claim 2 wherein said column jacket includes a tilt head moveable in said tilting direction and said locking device including a tilt bar coupled to said tilt head and moveable along at least one of a part of said first clamping member and a part of said second clamping member for selectively allowing and preventing movement of said tilt head in said tilting direction.

13. An assembly as set forth in claim 12 wherein said locking device includes a locking tab disposed between said first locking member and said tilt bar for selectively allowing and preventing movement of said tilt head in said tilting direction.

14. An assembly as set forth in claim 13 wherein said first locking member includes a body portion having a pair of appendages spaced from each other with said body portion coupled to said locking tab and one of said appendages mounted to said first protrusion of said first arm and an other one of said appendages mounted to said first protrusion of said second arm such that rotation of said lever to said set position allows said first locking member to prevent movement of said column jacket in said telescoping direction and said tilting direction.

15. An assembly as set forth in claim 14 wherein each of said first and second arms define a first axis extending substantially parallel to each other and extending through said first protrusion of each of said arms with said appendages of said first locking member extending along said first axis when said lever is in said set position and said appendages of said first locking member rotates away from said first axis when said lever is in said adjustable position for minimizing rotation of said lever between said set and adjustable positions when said locking device moves between said locked and unlocked positions.

16. A lever locking mechanism for an adjustable steering column having a column jacket defining a longitudinal axis with the column jacket moveable in at least one of a telescoping direction and a tilting direction, said mechanism comprising:

a first clamping member adapted to be disposed along the longitudinal axis about the column jacket;

a second clamping member disposed adjacent said first clamping member and adapted to be disposed along the longitudinal axis about the column jacket;

a lever coupled to at least one of said first and second clamping members with said lever rotatable between a set position for preventing movement of the column jacket in at least one of the telescoping direction and the tilting direction and an adjustable position for allowing movement of the column jacket in at least one of the telescoping direction and the tilting direction;

a locking device having at least one first locking member mounted to said lever and at least one second locking member disposed adjacent said first locking member and mounted to said lever with said locking members moveable between a locked position and an unlocked position during rotation of said lever between said set and adjustable positions, respectively; and

said lever including a first arm and a second arm each defining a first axis extending substantially parallel to each other with said first locking member at least partially disposed along said first axis when said lever is in said set position and each of said first and second arms defining a second axis extending substantially parallel to each other with said second axis disposed at an angle relative to said first axis with said second locking member at least partially disposed along said second axis when said lever is in said set position such that rotation of said lever to said adjustment position moves said first locking member away from said first axis and said second locking member away from said second axis for minimizing rotation of said lever when said locking device moves between said locked and unlocked positions.

17. A mechanism as set forth in claim 16 wherein said lever rotates less than 35 degrees between said set and adjustable positions when moving said locking device between said locked and unlocked positions.

18. A mechanism as set forth in claim 17 wherein said lever rotates less than 11 degrees between said set and adjustable positions when moving said locking device between said locked and unlocked positions.

19. A mechanism as set forth in claim 17 wherein each of said first and second arms include a first protrusion extending outwardly away from each other with said first locking member mounted to said first protrusion of each of said arms.

20. A mechanism as set forth in claim 19 wherein each of said first and second arms include a second protrusion extending outwardly away from each other and spaced from said first protrusion of each of said arms with said second locking member mounted to said second protrusion of each of said arms.

21. A mechanism as set forth in claim 20 wherein said first and second locking members each include a body portion having a pair of appendages spaced from each other with said body portion of said first locking member coupled to said first clamping member and said appendages of said first locking member mounted to said first protrusion of each of said arms with said body portion of said second locking member coupled to said second clamping member and said appendages of said second locking member mounted to said second protrusion of each of said arms such that said locking device moves between said locked and unlocked positions without said first locking member interfering with said second locking member for minimizing rotation of said lever between said set and adjustable positions.

22. A mechanism as set forth in claim 21 wherein said body portion of said first locking member defines a first length and said body portion of said second locking member defines a second length with said first length less than said second length for preventing said first and second locking members from interfering with each other when moving between said locked and unlocked positions.

23. A mechanism as set forth in claim 21 wherein said first protrusion of each of said arms defines a first aperture disposed along said first axis with one of said appendages of said first locking member disposed through said first aperture of said first arm and an other one of said appendages of said first locking member disposed through said first aperture of said second arm for mounting said first locking member to said arms.

24. A mechanism as set forth in claim 23 wherein said second protrusion of each of said arms defines a second aperture disposed along said second axis with one of said appendages of said second locking member disposed through said second aperture of said first arm and an other one of said appendages of said second locking member disposed through said second aperture of said second arm for mounting said second locking member to said arms.

25. A mechanism as set forth in claim 20 further including a bracket having a plurality of first legs disposed substantially parallel to each other with said second clamping member coupled to said bracket and moveable relative to said bracket in the tilting direction with said second locking member disposed about said first legs for selectively allowing and preventing movement of the column jacket in the tilting direction.

26. A mechanism as set forth in claim 25 wherein each of said first legs include a plurality of teeth and said locking device includes a plurality of locking tabs coupled to said second clamping member and having a plurality of teeth configured to cooperate with said teeth of said first legs for selectively allowing and preventing movement of the column jacket in the tilting direction.

27. A mechanism as set forth in claim 26 wherein each of said locking tabs include a projection spaced from said teeth of said locking tabs such that rotation of said lever to said adjustable position allows said first protrusion of said first of said second arm to engage said projection of an other one of said locking tabs for rotating said locking tabs to disengage said teeth from said teeth of said first legs.

28. A mechanism as set forth in claim 20 wherein said first clamping member includes a plurality of first extensions spaced from each other with one of said first extensions disposed substantially parallel to said first protrusion of said first arm and an other one of said first extensions disposed substantially parallel to said first protrusion of said second arm when said lever is in said set position.

29. A mechanism as set forth in claim 28 wherein said at least one first locking member is further defined as a plurality of first locking members with one of said first locking members mounted to one of said first extensions and said first protrusion of said first arm and an other one of said first locking members mounted to an other one of said first extensions and said first protrusion of said second arm such that movement of said lever in said set position allows said first locking members to extend along said first axis for preventing movement of the column jacket in the telescoping direction.

30. A mechanism as set forth in claim 29 wherein said second clamping member includes a plurality of second extensions spaced from each other with one of said second extensions disposed substantially parallel to said second protrusion of said first arm and an other one of said second extensions disposed substantially parallel to said second protrusion of said second arm when said lever in said set position.

31. A mechanism as set forth in claim 30 wherein said at least one second locking member is further defined as a plurality of second locking members with one of said second locking members mounted to one of said second extensions and said second protrusion of said first arm and an other one of said second locking members mounted to an other one of said second extensions and said second protrusion of said second arm such that movement of said lever in said set position allows said second locking members to extend along said second axis for preventing movement of the column jacket in the tilting direction.

32. A clamping apparatus for an adjustable steering column having a column jacket defining a longitudinal axis with the column jacket moveable in at least one of a telescoping direction and a tilting direction, said apparatus comprising:

a first clamping member adapted to be disposed along the longitudinal axis about the column jacket;

a second clamping member disposed adjacent said first clamping member and adapted to be disposed along the longitudinal axis about the column jacket;

a locking device coupled to at least one of said first and second clamping members and moveable between a locked position for preventing movement of the column jacket in at least one of the telescoping direction and the tilting direction and an unlocked position for allowing movement of the column jacket in at least one of the telescoping direction and the tilting direction;

said first clamping member includes a first upper portion and a first lower portion spaced from said first upper portion with said first clamping member coupled to said second clamping member and said first clamping member rotatable relative to said second clamping member when said locking device moves between said locked and unlocked positions for selectively allowing and preventing movement of the column jacket in at least one of the telescoping direction and the tilting direction, wherein said second clamping member includes a second upper portion and a second lower portion spaced from said second upper portion with said first upper portion disposed adjacent said second upper portion and said first lower portion disposed adjacent said second lower portion; and

wherein said first clamping member includes a mid-section between said first upper portion and said first lower portion with said mid-section of said first clamping member coupled to said second clamping member such that movement of said locking device to said locked position allows said first upper portion to rotate toward said second lower portion and said first lower portion to rotate toward said second upper portion for clamping the column jacket therebetween.

33. A clamping apparatus for an adjustable steering column having a column jacket defining longitudinal axis with the column jacket moveable in at least one of a telescoping direction and a tilting direction, said apparatus comprising:

a first clamping member adapted to be disposed along the longitudinal axis about the column jacket;

a second clamping member disposed adjacent said first clamping member and adapted to be disposed along the longitudinal axis about the column jacket;

a locking device coupled to at least one of said first and second clamping members and moveable between a locked position for preventing movement of the column jacket in at least one of the telescoping direction and the tilting direction and an unlocked position for allowing movement of the column jacket in at least one of the telescoping direction and the tilting direction;

said first clamping member includes a first upper portion and a first lower portion spaced from said first upper portion with said first clamping member coupled to said second clamping member and said first clamping member rotatable relative to said second clamping member when said locking device moves between said locked and unlocked positions for selectively allowing and preventing movement of the column jacket in at least one of the telescoping direction and the tilting direction wherein said second clamping member includes a second upper portion and a second lower portion spaced from said second upper portion with said first upper portion disposed adjacent said second upper portion and said first lower portion disposed adjacent said second lower portion; and

wherein said first upper portion of said first clamping member defines a first groove for receiving a portion of said locking device and said second lower portion of said second clamping member defines a second groove for receiving an other portion of said locking device such that movement of said locking device to said locked position allows said portion of said locking device to rotate said first clamping member for preventing movement of the column jacket in the telescoping direction and allows said other portion of said locking device to engage said second clamping member for preventing movement of the column jacket in the tilting direction.