EP0139295A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Adjustable automotive steering column with adjustable tilt and top-position lock
Assignee: JTEKT Column Systems Corp
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Filing: 1984-10-16
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2004-10-16
Abstract
Abstract @ A pivotable steering column is adjustable to any of a number of angular positions defined by the teeth (106,110) of two elements (104,108) of a first locking device. A manual lever (102) can be raised to disable the first lock and allow selection of a different steering wheel inclination. The steering wheel (12) can be moved to its uppermost position by lowering the manual lever once. In this case, the first lock maintains engagement of the teeth (106,110) of the aforementioned two element, and a powerful spring (144) pulls the steering column upward to the uppermost position irrespective of the first lock. A second lock (204,210) then becomes wedged between the pivotable and stationary parts of the steering column, thus holding the former in the uppermost position. Lowering the manual lever (102) a second time disengages the second lock, allowing the steering column tilt down from the uppermost position. Thus, the steering column returns to an originally set driving position defined by locking engagement of the first lock.
Inventors
- 👤 Satoshi Kinoshita
- 👤 Yoshimi Yamamoto
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 09:27
CPC Classifications
B; B62; B62D; B62D1/00; B62D1/02; B62D1/16; B62D1/18; B62D1/184; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T74/00; Y10T74/20; Y10T74/20576; Y10T74/20636; Y10T74/20672; Y10T74/20678; Y10T74/20714; Y10T74/2072
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
240 words
An adjustable tilt steering column comprising: a steering column (14,18) receiving a steering shaft (10,16) with a steering wheel attached to its free end, said steering column including a first stationary component (18) and a second movable component (14) which is pivotable with said steering shaft for allowing tilt adjustment of the steering shaft relative to said first component; a first locking means (106,110) associated with said steering column for locking said second component of said steering column at a selected angular position, said angular position being variable between a first upper and a second lower extremes; and kick-up means (144,202,204) allowing said second component to move upwardly beyond said first extreme to a third uppermost position, characterized by a second locking means (204,210) associated with said kick-up means and responsive to operation of the latter to lock said second component at said third uppermost position; and a manually operable device (102,103) for selectably disabling said first locking means (106,110) to allow adjustment of said angular position to set a driving position within an adjusting range defined by said first and second extremes, for selectably activating said kick-up means to move said second component to said uppermost position and locking the second component at said uppermost position by means of said second locking means (204,210), and for selectably disabling said second locking means to allow downward movement of said second component within said adjusting range to said set driving position.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
240 words
An adjustable tilt steering column comprising: a steering column (14,18) receiving a steering shaft (10,16) with a steering wheel attached to its free end, said steering column including a first stationary component (18) and a second movable component (14) which is pivotable with said steering shaft for allowing tilt adjustment of the steering shaft relative to said first component; a first locking means (106,110) associated with said steering column for locking said second component of said steering column at a selected angular position, said angular position being variable between a first upper and a second lower extremes; and kick-up means (144,202,204) allowing said second component to move upwardly beyond said first extreme to a third uppermost position, characterized by a second locking means (204,210) associated with said kick-up means and responsive to operation of the latter to lock said second component at said third uppermost position; and a manually operable device (102,103) for selectably disabling said first locking means (106,110) to allow adjustment of said angular position to set a driving position within an adjusting range defined by said first and second extremes, for selectably activating said kick-up means to move said second component to said uppermost position and locking the second component at said uppermost position by means of said second locking means (204,210), and for selectably disabling said second locking means to allow downward movement of said second component within said adjusting range to said set driving position.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
30 words
The steering column as set forth in claim 1, characterized by recording means (104,108, 204) for recording said selected angular position during operation of said kick-up and second locking means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
46 words
The steering column as set forth in claim 2, characterized in that said recording means is a mechanical device for mechanically recording said set driving position of said second component (14) and allowing the second component to return said set driving position from said third position.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
39 words
The steering column as set forth in one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that said kick-up means (144,202,204) includes a spring member (144) associated with said second component (14) to bias the latter towards said uppermost position.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
50 words
The steering column as set forth in one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that said manually operable device comprises a single lever (102) operable in a first direction to disable said first locking means (106,110) and in a second direction for operating said kick-up and second locking means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
43 words
The steering column as set forth in claim 5, characterized in that said lever (102) is operative in said second direction during operation of said second locking means to disable said second locking means (204,210), thereby allowing downward movement of said steering column.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
61 words
The steering column as set forth in one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that said second locking means comprises a bar member (204) fixed to and transversely extending through said second component (14), and a locking cam (210) fixed to said first component (18) and engageable with said bar member when said second component is in said uppermost position.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
122 words
The steering column as set forth in one of claims 2 to 7, characterized by a link member (130) connecting said manually operable device (102, 103) to said first locking means (106,110), said link member defining a generally L-shaped opening (209) through which said bar member (204) extends, said L-shaped opening having first section in which said bar member (204) rests during operation of said first locking means (106,110) and which prevents movement of said second component (14) with respect to said first component (18), and a second section into which said bar member enters during operation of said kick-up and second locking means and which is oriented so as to allow movement of said second component relative to said first component.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
29 words
The steering column as set forth in claim 8, characterized by means (127,128) for restricting axial play of said link member (130) relative to said first locking means (106,110).
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
60 words
The steering column as set forth in claim 9, characterized in that wherein said means (127,128) for restricting the axial play of said link member (130) comprising a bias spring (127) biasing the link member toward said first locking means, and at least partly conical shaft (128) extending from said first locking means, about which said link member is pivoted.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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