Adjustable steering column

Claim 2

A steering mechanism for a motor vehicle including vehicle body structure, a steering wheel, an upper steering shaft having one end connected to said steering wheel, support structure rotatably supporting said upper shaft, adjustable support means interconnecting said support structure and said body structure, said adjustable support means being constructed to accommodate displacement of the center of said steering wheel along a line extending at an angle to the axis of said upper shaft, a steering gear supported on said body structure, lower steering shaft means interconnecting the other end of said upper Shaft and said steering gear, said lower shaft means including a shaft portion having an axis angularly displaced from both said line along which said steering wheel center is displaceable and from the axis of said upper steering shaft when viewed in side elevation.

Claim 3

An adjustable steering wheel mechanism for a motor vehicle having body structure comprising: an upper steering shaft, a first support member rotatably supporting said upper steering shaft section, a steering wheel connected to the upper end of said upper steering shaft, a second support member connected to said body structure, said first support member slidably engaging said second member and constructed to permit the displacement of the center of said steering wheel along a line angularly displaced from the axis of said upper steering shaft, a steering gear secured to said body structure and having an input shaft, an axially extendible lower steering shaft, coupling means connecting the lower end of said upper shaft to said lower shaft, coupling means connecting said lower shaft to said input shaft of said steering gear, said extendable shaft including a shaft portion having an axis angularly disposed relative to the line of displacement of said steering wheel center and to the axis of said upper steering shaft when viewed in side elevation.

Claim 4

An adjustable steering wheel mechanism for a motor vehicle having body structure comprising: an upper steering shaft, a first support member rotatably supporting said upper steering shaft section, a steering wheel connected to the upper end of said upper steering shaft, a second support member connected to said body structure, said first support member slidably engaging said second member and constructed to permit the displacement of the center of said steering wheel along a line angularly displaced from the axis of said upper steering shaft, a steering gear secured to said body structure and having an input shaft, an axially extendible lower steering shaft, coupling means connecting the lower end of said upper shaft to said lower shaft, coupling means connecting said lower shaft to said input shaft of said steering gear, said extendable shaft including a shaft portion having an axis angularly disposed relative to the line of displacement of said steering wheel center and to the axis of said upper steering shaft when viewed in side elevation.

Claim 5

An adjustable steering wheel mechanism for a motor vehicle according to claim 2 and including: latch means interposed between said first and second support members and constructed to hold said support members in a set relative position, release means connected to said latch means and constructed to be actuated by the vehicle operator to permit the relative displacement of said support members.

Claim 6

An adjustable steering wheel mechanism for a motor vehicle according to claim 3 and including: said first support member having a tubular portion, said second support member having a tubular portion, said tubular portions being telescopically interconnected.

Claim 7

An adjustable steering wheel mechanism for a motor vehicle comprising: a steering shaft, a steering wheel connected to one end of said steering shaft, a universal joint connected to the other end of said shaft, said joint being constructed in part to connect said shaft to a steering gear, a rigid member rotatably supporting said steering shaft, a support assembly having a pair of slidably related members, one of said members being connected to said rigid member, the other of said members being constructed to be connected to vehicle support structure, said one member being linearly displaceable relative to said other member along a central axis extending at an angle to the axis of rotation of said steering wheel and intersecting said steering shaft at a point intermediate its said ends.

Claim 8

An adjustable steering wheel mechanism for a motor vehicle comprising: a steering shaft, a steering wheel connected to one end of said steering shaft, a universal joint connected to the other end of said shaft, said joint being constructed in part to connect said shaft to a steering gear, a rigid member rotatably supporting said steering shaft, a support assembly having a pair of slidably related members, one of said members being connected to said rigid member, the other of said members being constructed to be connected to vehicle support structure, said one member being linearly displaceable relative to said other member along a central axis extending at an angle to the axis of rotation of said steering wheel and intersecting said steering shaft at a point intermediate its said ends.

Claim 9

An adjustable steering wheel mechanism for a motor vehicle having vehicle body structure comprising: a steering wheel, a first steering shaft having one end connected to said steering wheel, support structure rotatably supporting said first shaft, adjustable support means interconnecting said support structure and said body structure, said adjustable support means being constructed to accommodate displacement of the center of said steering wheel along a line extending at an angle to the axis of said first shaft, a second steering shaft connected to the other end of said first shaft and constructed to be connected to a steering gear, the axis of said second steering shaft intersecting at an acute angle an extension of said line along which said steering wheel center is displaceable.

Claim 10

An adjustable steering wheel mechanism for a motor vehicle having vehicle body structure comprising: a steering wheel, a first steering shaft having one end connected to said steering wheel, support structure rotatably supporting said first shaft, adjustable support means interconnecting said support structure and said body structure, said adjustable support means being constructed to accommodate displacement of the center of said steering wheel along a line extending at an angle to the axis of said first shaft, a second steering shaft connected to the other end of said first shaft and constructed to be connected to a steering gear, the axis of said second steering shaft intersecting at an acute angle an extension of said line along which said steering wheel center is displaceable.

Claim 11

An adjustable steering wheel mechanism for a motor vehicle having body structure comprising: an upper steering shaft, a lower steering shaft, universal joint means interconnecting said upper and lower shafts, said lower shaft being constructed to be connectEd to a steering gear, a first support member rotatably supporting said upper steering shaft, a steering wheel connected to the upper end of said upper steering shaft, a second support member connected to said body structure, said first support member slidably engaging said second support member and constructed to permit the displacement of the center of said steering wheel along a line angularly displaced from the axis of said upper steering shaft, the axis of said lower steering shaft intersecting at an acute angle an extension of said line along which said steering wheel center is displaceable, latch means interposed between said first and second support members and constructed to hold said support members in a set relative position, release means connected to said latch means and constructed to be actuated by a vehicle operator to permit the relative displacement of said support members.

Claim 12

An adjustable steering wheel mechanism for a motor vehicle having body structure comprising: an upper steering shaft, a lower steering shaft, universal joint means interconnecting said upper and lower shafts, said lower shaft being constructed to be connectEd to a steering gear, a first support member rotatably supporting said upper steering shaft, a steering wheel connected to the upper end of said upper steering shaft, a second support member connected to said body structure, said first support member slidably engaging said second support member and constructed to permit the displacement of the center of said steering wheel along a line angularly displaced from the axis of said upper steering shaft, the axis of said lower steering shaft intersecting at an acute angle an extension of said line along which said steering wheel center is displaceable, latch means interposed between said first and second support members and constructed to hold said support members in a set relative position, release means connected to said latch means and constructed to be actuated by a vehicle operator to permit the relative displacement of said support members.

Claim 13

An adjustable steering wheel mechanism for a motor vehicle having body structure comprising: an upper steering shaft and a lower steering shaft, universal joint means interconnecting said upper and lower shafts, said lower shaft being constructed to be connected to a steering gear, a steering wheel connected to the upper end of said upper steering shaft, a support member rotatably supporting said upper steering shaft, a first tubular member secured to said support member, a second tubular member connected to said body structure, said first tubular member telescopically engaging said second tubular member and constructed to permit the displacement of the center of said steering wheel along a line angularly displaced from the axis of said upper steering shaft, said upper and lower steering shafts being both disposed exteriorly of said first and second tubular member, latch means interposed between said first and second tubular members and constructed to hold said tubular members in a set relative position, release means connected to said latch means and constructed to be actuated by a vehicle operator to permit the relative displacement of said tubular members.

Claim 14

An adjustable steering wheel mechanism for a motor vehicle having body structure comprising: an upper steering shaft and a lower steering shaft, universal joint means interconnecting said upper and lower shafts, said lower shaft being constructed to be connected to a steering gear, a steering wheel connected to the upper end of said upper steering shaft, a support member rotatably supporting said upper steering shaft, a first tubular member secured to said support member, a second tubular member connected to said body structure, said first tubular member telescopically engaging said second tubular member and constructed to permit the displacement of the center of said steering wheel along a line angularly displaced from the axis of said upper steering shaft, said upper and lower steering shafts being both disposed exteriorly of said first and second tubular member, latch means interposed between said first and second tubular members and constructed to hold said tubular members in a set relative position, release means connected to said latch means and constructed to be actuated by a vehicle operator to permit the relative displacement of said tubular members.