Spring element

• US 8,827,311 B2
• Filed: 04/14/2011
• Issued: 09/09/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 05/25/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ThyssenKrupp Presta AG (Thyssenkrupp AG)
• Original Assignee: ThyssenKrupp Presta AG (Thyssenkrupp AG)
• Inventors: Schnitzer, Rony, Blttler, Simon
• Primary Examiner(s): Fleming, Faye M
• Assistant Examiner(s): Condra, Darlene P
• Application Number:
  US13/699,417
• Publication Number:
  US 20130074641A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,244 Days
• Field of Search: 280/775, 280/777, 744/92, 744/93, 188/371
• US Class Current: 280/775
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 1/18 yieldable or adjustable, e.g. tiltable padded linings associated with the steering column B60R21/05
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 1/184 Mechanisms for locking columns at selected positions
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 1/195 Yieldable supports for the steering column
• CPC Class Codes: F16F 1/18 Leaf springs planar springs in general F16F1/027; "Belleville"-type springs with generally radial arms F16F1/324
• CPC Class Codes: G05G 5/06 for holding members in one or a limited number of definite positions only G05G5/005, G05G5/03, G05G5/05, G05G5/28 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/20636 Detents

Abstract

The invention relates to a spring element including at least one spring tongue for spring-loading a separate locking part of a steering column of a motor vehicle and at least one fastening part for fastening the spring element to a pin of the steering column. The spring element also has at least one carrier arm, preferably at least two carrier arms, arranged opposite each other for carrying along the locking part when the spring element moves.

Claims

1. A configuration comprising:

a spring element which includes

a spring tongue for spring-loading a separately implemented arresting part of a steering column of a motor vehicle,

a securement part for securing the spring element on a bolt of the steering column, and

an entrainer arm for entrainment of the arresting part during a movement of the spring element;

an arresting part, wherein the arresting part comprises a stop region for the abutment of the entrainer arm on the stop region; and

a bolt, wherein a rotational movement of the bolt into a first direction is transmittable exclusively by the spring tongue onto the arresting part, and a rotational movement of the bolt into a second direction, opposite to the first direction, is transmittable exclusively by the entrainer arm onto the arresting part.

2. The configuration of claim 1, wherein the spring element is implemented integrally in one piece.

3. The configuration of claim 2, wherein the spring element is a reformed metal sheet part.

4. The configuration of claim 1, further comprising a receptor cavity, partially encompassed by walls of the spring element, for the reception of at least a portion of the arresting part.

5. The configuration of claim 4, wherein the receptor cavity is in the proximity of the securement part.

6. The configuration of claim 1, wherein the spring tongue and the entrainer arm engage on different sides of the arresting part.

7. The configuration of claim 6, wherein the spring tongue spring loads the arresting part in all operating positions.

8. The configuration of claim 1, wherein the arresting part comprises an arresting tooth.

9. The configuration of claim 8, wherein the arresting tooth is shaped as a bar.

10. The configuration of claim 1, wherein the arresting part comprises a plurality of arresting teeth which are located at different spacings from the securement part of the spring element.

11. The configuration of claim 10, wherein the plurality of arresting teeth comprises three arresting teeth in the form of bars.

12. The configuration of claim 1, wherein the spring element is secured by the securement part nonturnably relative to the bolt.

13. The configuration of claim 12, wherein the bolt is guided through a bolt receptor opening of the arresting part.

14. A steering column for a motor vehicle, comprising a first structural part and a second structural part, wherein the first and second structural parts are movable in an operating state of the steering column relative to one another, and wherein the first and second structural parts are securable on one another via a securement device and or an energy absorption device, wherein the securement device and or the energy absorption device comprises the configuration of claim 1.

15. The configuration of claim 1, wherein the entrainer arm comprises at least two entrainer arms disposed oppositely with respect to one another.

16. The configuration of claim 1, wherein the spring tongue spring loads the arresting part in all operating positions.

17. The configuration of claim 1, wherein the bolt is guided through a bolt receptor opening of the arresting part.