Adjustable steering column

• US 6,276,291 B1
• Filed: 07/24/2000
• Issued: 08/21/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 11/04/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Bombardier Recreational Products Incorporated (Bombardier Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Bombardier Incorporated
• Inventors: Lapointe, Luc, Kalhok, David
• Primary Examiner(s): Morano, S. Joseph
• Assistant Examiner(s): Vasudeva, Ajay
• Application Number:
  US09/624,256
• Time in Patent Office: 393 Days
• Field of Search: 114/55.56, 114/55.57, 114/55.5, 114/144.R, 440/11, 74/891.5, 744/93, 745/513, 745/516, 280/775
• US Class Current: 114/144.00R
• CPC Class Codes: B63B 34/10 Power-driven personal watercraft, e.g. water scooters water jet propulsion B63H11/00; jet steering B63H25/46; Accessories therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B63H 21/213 Levers or the like for controlling the engine or the transmission, e.g. single hand control levers
• CPC Class Codes: B63H 25/00 Steering; Slowing-down otherwise than by use of propulsive elements using movably-installed outboard propulsion units B63H20/00; Dynamic anchoring, i.e. positioning vessels by means of main or auxiliary propulsive elements
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/20792 Folding or adjustable

Abstract

An adjustable steering column for use with a personal watercraft. The adjustable steering column comprises a steering column base fixed to the watercraft, an upper steering column connected to the steering column base, the upper steering column being movable between a first position and second position, and an adjustment mechanism for moving the upper steering column between the first and second positions. Preferably, the adjustment mechanism includes a screw with a knob on one end and a ball joint on the other end. The adjustment screw is manually operable to pivot the upper steering column with respect to the steering column base.

Claims

1. In a personal watercraft, the improvement comprising:

an adjustable steering assembly comprising;

(i) a steering column base portion;

(ii) an adjustable steering column portion having a manually engageable steering input structure constructed and arranged to be moved in a steering manner by an operator seated on said personal watercraft, said adjustable steering column portion being movably mounted to said steering column base portion (a) for generally vertical adjusting movements through a range of operating positions relative to said steering column base portion and (b) such that movement of steering input structure by an operator affects steering movement of said steering column base portion; and

(iii) an adjustment mechanism operatively connected to said adjustable steering column portion, said adjustment mechanism being constructed and arranged (a) to be operated so as to adjustably move said adjustable steering column portion to a selected operating position within said range of operating positions and (b) to thereafter fix said adjustable steering column at said selected operating position thereof.

2. A personal watercraft according to claim 1, wherein said adjustable steering column portion is pivotally mounted to said steering column base portion such that said adjusting movements thereof are about a pivotal axis.

3. A personal watercraft according to claim 1, wherein said adjustment mechanism is manually movable to affect said adjusting movements of said adjustable steering column portion.

4. A personal watercraft according to claim 1, wherein said adjustment mechanism is operatively connected between said steering column base portion and said adjustable steering column portion.

5. A personal watercraft according to claim 4, wherein said adjustment mechanism includes a threaded member movably mounted to said adjustable steering column portion and wherein said steering column base portion has structure defining a threaded bore, said threaded member being received in said threaded bore such that rotation of said threaded member within said bore moves said threaded member axially to effect relative movement between said adjustable steering column portion and said steering column base portion.

6. A personal watercraft according to claim 5, wherein said threaded member has ball at one end thereof and wherein said adjustable steering column portion has a socket, said ball being received in said socket so as to movably mount said threaded member to said adjustable steering column portion.

7. A personal watercraft according to claim 6, wherein said threaded member has a knob fixed on an end thereof opposite said ball, said knob being manually rotatable to rotate said threaded member.

8. A personal watercraft according to claim 7, wherein said knob is located below said adjustable steering column portion.

9. A personal watercraft according to claim 1, wherein said manually engageable steering input structure is a handlebar.

10. A watercraft comprising:

a steering column base fixed to said watercraft;

an upper steering column pivotally connected to said steering column base, said upper steering column being pivotally movable between a first position and a second position; and

a manually operable adjustment mechanism for moving said upper steering column between said first and second positions,

wherein said upper steering column comprises a ball housing and wherein said adjustment mechanism including an adjustment screw having a ball at one end received in said ball housing and a knob on the other end, whereby turning of said screw causes said upper steering column to pivot with respect to said steering column base.