Adjustable steering column assembly

• US 7,942,076 B2
• Filed: 02/14/2008
• Issued: 05/17/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 02/14/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations Incorporated (General Motors Company), Steering Solutions IP Holding Corporation (Nexteer Automotive Group Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Nexteer beijing Technology Co Ltd
• Inventors: Olgren, Leland N.
• Primary Examiner(s): KRAUSE, JUSTIN MITCHELL
• Application Number:
  US12/031,100
• Publication Number:
  US 20090205459A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,188 Days
• Field of Search: 744/92, 744/93, 744/94, 744/95, 280/775
• US Class Current: 74/493
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 1/184 Mechanisms for locking columns at selected positions

Abstract

An adjustable steering column assembly having a column jacket defining a longitudinal axis and moveable in at least one of a telescoping direction and a tilting direction is disclosed. A bracket is coupled to the column jacket with at least one pivot shaft coupled to the bracket along a pivot axis. A lever is mounted to the pivot shaft and rotates between a set position for preventing movement of the column jacket and an adjustable position for allowing movement of the column jacket. A locking device engages the lever and moves between a locked position and an unlocked position in response to rotation of the lever between the set and adjustable positions, respectively. A restrictor encircles the bracket, the column jacket, the lever and the locking device for resisting against an outwardly radial force produced by the locking device when in the locked position.

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 bracket coupled to said column jacket;

at least one pivot shaft defining a pivot axis extending transverse to said longitudinal axis with said pivot shaft coupled to said bracket along said pivot axis;

a lever extending along said longitudinal axis and mounted to said pivot shaft with said lever rotatable about said pivot axis between a set position for preventing movement of said column jacket in at least one of said telescoping and tilting directions and an adjustable position for allowing movement of said column jacket in at least one of said telescoping and tilting directions;

a locking device engaging said lever and moveable between a locked position and an unlocked position in response to rotation of said lever between said set and adjustable positions, respectively; and

a restrictor encircling said bracket, said column jacket, said lever and said locking device, said restrictor having a first side section and a second side section spaced from each other, said first and second side sections contacting said locking device for resisting against an outwardly radial force produced by said locking device when in said locked position to prevent movement of said column jacket in at least one of said telescoping and tilting directions.

2. An assembly as set forth in claim 1, wherein said first side section and said second side section extend transverse to said longitudinal axis with at least one of said first and second side sections spaced from said bracket and having said lever disposed therebetween.

3. An assembly as set forth in claim 2 wherein said restrictor includes a top side section and a bottom side section spaced from each other and extending transverse to said longitudinal axis and adjacent to said first and second side sections with at least one of said top and bottom side sections coupled to said bracket.

4. An assembly as set forth in claim 3 wherein said locking device is spaced a predetermined distance from said pivot axis for reducing rotation of said lever between said set and adjustable positions such that said lever rotates between said set and adjustable positions without interference from said top and bottom side sections.

5. An assembly as set forth in claim 2 wherein said first and second side sections each define a predetermined width substantially aligning with said locking device along said longitudinal axis for resisting against said outwardly radial forces produced by said locking device when in said locked position.

6. An assembly as set forth in claim 2 wherein said first and second side sections are spaced from said bracket and said lever is further defined as a first lever and further includes a second lever extending along said longitudinal axis and coupled to said pivot shaft with said first lever disposed between said bracket and said first side section and said second lever disposed between said bracket and said second side section.

7. An assembly as set forth in claim 6 wherein said locking device further defined as a first locking device engaging first lever and further including a second locking device engaging said second lever with said first and second side sections resisting against said outwardly radial forces produced by said first and second locking devices, respectively when in said locked position.

8. An assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said restrictor includes an adjustment mechanism for compensating for various tolerances of said bracket, said lever, said locking device and said column jacket.

9. An assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said restrictor is further defined as a band continuously encircling said bracket, said column jacket, said lever, and said locking device for resisting against said outwardly radial force produced by said locking device when in said locked position.

10. An assembly as set forth in claim 1, wherein said first side section contacts a first roller, and said second side section contacts a second roller for resisting against the outwardly radial force produced by said locking device when in said locked position.

11. 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 bracket coupled to said column jacket;

at least one pivot shaft defining a pivot axis extending transverse to said longitudinal axis with said pivot shaft coupled to said bracket along said pivot axis;

a lever having first and second levers extending along said longitudinal axis and mounted to said pivot shaft with said first and second levers rotatable about said pivot axis between a set position for preventing movement of said column jacket in at least one of said telescoping and tilting directions and an adjustable position for allowing movement of said column jacket in at least one of said telescoping and tilting directions; and

a locking device having first and second rollers, said first roller engaging said first lever, and said second roller engaging said second lever, said locking device moveable between a locked position and an unlocked position in response to rotation of said first and second levers between said set and adjustable positions, respectively, and

wherein the assembly further comprises a restrictor encircling said bracket, said column jacket, said lever and said locking device, said restrictor having a first side section and a second side section spaced from each other, said first and second side sections contacting said first and second rollers, respectively, for resisting against an outwardly radial force produced by said locking device when in said locked position to prevent movement of said column jacket in at least one of said telescoping and tilting directions.