Pivoting locking device for an adjustable steering column
First Claim
1. A steering column assembly comprising:
- a mounting bracket;
a column jacket extending along a longitudinal axis and moveable relative to said mounting bracket in at least one of a vertical direction and a longitudinal direction for adjusting at least one of a vertical position and a longitudinal position of said column jacket;
a compression bracket fixedly attached to said column jacket;
a plate coupled to at least one of said mounting bracket and said column jacket, said plate defining one of at least one rake slot, at least one telescope slot, or both, each rake slot and/or telescope slot defined by the plate including a plurality of slot teeth;
a lock including a plurality of lock teeth and disposed within said at least one of said rake slot and said telescope slot with said lock moveable between a locked position and an unlocked position;
said plate pivotally mounted to at least one of said mounting bracket and said column jacket such that said plate pivots relative to said lock to align said slot teeth with said lock teeth in full meshing engagement in response to said lock moving into said locked position.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A steering column assembly includes a mounting bracket and a column jacket moveable relative to the mounting bracket to adjust a position of the column jacket. A rake plate is pivotably coupled to the mounting bracket and defines a rake slot having rake slot teeth. A telescope plate is pivotably coupled to the column jacket and defines a telescope slot having telescope slot teeth. A rake lock having rake lock teeth is disposed within the rake slot and a telescope lock having telescope lock teeth is disposed within the telescope slot. The rake plate and the telescope plate pivot as the rake lock and the telescope lock move into interlocking toothed engagement to avoid peak-to-peak contact between the lock teeth and the slot teeth, thereby permitting full meshing engagement between the lock teeth and the slot teeth.
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Citations
23 Claims
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1. A steering column assembly comprising:
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a mounting bracket; a column jacket extending along a longitudinal axis and moveable relative to said mounting bracket in at least one of a vertical direction and a longitudinal direction for adjusting at least one of a vertical position and a longitudinal position of said column jacket; a compression bracket fixedly attached to said column jacket; a plate coupled to at least one of said mounting bracket and said column jacket, said plate defining one of at least one rake slot, at least one telescope slot, or both, each rake slot and/or telescope slot defined by the plate including a plurality of slot teeth; a lock including a plurality of lock teeth and disposed within said at least one of said rake slot and said telescope slot with said lock moveable between a locked position and an unlocked position; said plate pivotally mounted to at least one of said mounting bracket and said column jacket such that said plate pivots relative to said lock to align said slot teeth with said lock teeth in full meshing engagement in response to said lock moving into said locked position.
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2. A steering column assembly for a vehicle, said assembly comprising:
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a mounting bracket; a column jacket extending along a longitudinal axis and moveable relative to said mounting bracket in at least one of a vertical direction and a longitudinal direction for adjusting at least one of a vertical position and a longitudinal position of said column jacket; a plate coupled to at least one of said mounting bracket and said column jacket and defining at least one of a rake slot and a telescope slot with said at least one of said rake slot and said telescope slot including a plurality of slot teeth; a lock including a plurality of lock teeth and disposed within said at least one of said rake slot and said telescope slot with said lock moveable between a locked position wherein said lock teeth are disposed in interlocking engagement with said slot teeth to prevent movement of said column jacket relative to said mounting bracket and an unlocked position wherein said lock teeth are disengaged from said slot teeth to permit movement of said column jacket relative to said mounting bracket; a pivotal connection interconnecting said plate and at least one of said mounting bracket and said column jacket to permit pivotal movement of said plate relative to said lock to align said slot teeth with said lock teeth in full meshing engagement in response to said lock moving into said locked position. - View Dependent Claims (3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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Specification