Clamping mechanism for fixing a steering column housing

Claim 1

Clamping mechanism for fixing a steering column housing of a motor vehicle, which is adjustable in a direction which is substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the steering column, said mechanism comprising a clamping bolt which is provided in longitudinal direction in the steering column housing as well as a lever with which the bolt can be tensioned and the column housing fixed, and at least one spring-loaded element provided between housing and bolt whereby, when the lever moves in the direction of the clamping position the spring-­loaded element is released before the lever reaches the clamping position, characterized in that the lever (10) and the bolt (4) are coupled by one or more pins (18) whose centre lines cross that of the bolt (4) when it is in released condition, said pins being provided between a cup (16) fixed to the bolt and the lever, the pins being longer than the distance, measured in longitudinal direction, between cup and lever in released condition of the bolt and a certain degree of tilting of the pins on their supporting points is possible such that when the lever moves toward the clamping position the pins pass a position in which the centre line of at least one of the pins lies in plane level with the centre line of the bolt.