US3703105A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Collapsible shift tube asembly
Assignee: Motors Liquidation Co
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Filing: 1971-08-20
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Granted: 1972-11-21
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Expires: 1991-08-20
Abstract
Abstract In a preferred form, this disclosure relates to a collapsible shift tube assembly having a cylindrical upper member, a cylindrical lower member, and a locking sleeve. The upper member which is received within the lower member has a plurality of circumferentially spaced slots in its lower end portion, and the lower member has a plurality of circumferentially spaced slots in its upper end portion. The sleeve is located intermediate of the upper and lower members and has radially inwardly and outwardly extending projections which are received within the slots of the upper and lower members respectively for joining the lower members to normally prevent relative angular movement therebetween. The joining means also has a radially extending flange means which is cooperable with the lower end of the upper member and the upper end of the lower member for normally preventing axially inward collapse of the shift tube assembly and which is shearable upon a predetermined axial load of the shift tube assembly to allow the shift tube assembly to collapse axially inward.
Inventors
- 👤 Thomas J Milton
- 👤 John W Skelley
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 20:45
CPC Classifications
B; B62; B62D; B62D1/00; B62D1/02; B62D1/16; B62D1/18; B62D1/19; B62D1/192; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T403/00; Y10T403/32; Y10T403/32254; Y10T403/32426; Y10T403/32442
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 6
Claim 1
Independent Claim
182 words
A collapsible shift tube assembly for use in a collapsible steering column assembly, comprising: a generally cylindrical upper member having a plurality of circumferentially spaced slots adjacent its lower end portion; a hollow lower member shaped generally complementary to said upper member and having an upper portion receiving said lower end portion of said upper member; said lower member having a plurality of circumferentially spaced slots in said upper end portion; a locking sleeve disposed intermediate said upper and lower members and having radially inwardly and outwardly extending projections received within said slots of said upper and lower members respectively for joining said upper and lower members together to prevent relative angular movement therebetween, said sleeve also having radially extending flange means cooperable with the lower end of said upper member and the upper end of said lower member for normally preventing axially inward collapse of said shift tube assembly, and said flange means being shearable when a force in excess of a predetermined magnitude is applied against said shift tube assembly to allow said shift tube assembly to collapse axially inward.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
182 words
A collapsible shift tube assembly for use in a collapsible steering column assembly, comprising: a generally cylindrical upper member having a plurality of circumferentially spaced slots adjacent its lower end portion; a hollow lower member shaped generally complementary to said upper member and having an upper portion receiving said lower end portion of said upper member; said lower member having a plurality of circumferentially spaced slots in said upper end portion; a locking sleeve disposed intermediate said upper and lower members and having radially inwardly and outwardly extending projections received within said slots of said upper and lower members respectively for joining said upper and lower members together to prevent relative angular movement therebetween, said sleeve also having radially extending flange means cooperable with the lower end of said upper member and the upper end of said lower member for normally preventing axially inward collapse of said shift tube assembly, and said flange means being shearable when a force in excess of a predetermined magnitude is applied against said shift tube assembly to allow said shift tube assembly to collapse axially inward.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
182 words
A collapsible shift tube assembly for use in a collapsible steering column assembly, comprising: a generally cylindrical upper member having a plurality of circumferentially spaced slots adjacent its lower end portion; a hollow lower member shaped generally complementary to said upper member and having an upper portion receiving said lower end portion of said upper member; said lower member having a plurality of circumferentially spaced slots in said upper end portion; a locking sleeve disposed intermediate said upper and lower members and having radially inwardly and outwardly extending projections received within said slots of said upper and lower members respectively for joining said upper and lower members together to prevent relative angular movement therebetween, said sleeve also having radially extending flange means cooperable with the lower end of said upper member and the upper end of said lower member for normally preventing axially inward collapse of said shift tube assembly, and said flange means being shearable when a force in excess of a predetermined magnitude is applied against said shift tube assembly to allow said shift tube assembly to collapse axially inward.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
182 words
A collapsible shift tube assembly for use in a collapsible steering column assembly, comprising: a generally cylindrical upper member having a plurality of circumferentially spaced slots adjacent its lower end portion; a hollow lower member shaped generally complementary to said upper member and having an upper portion receiving said lower end portion of said upper member; said lower member having a plurality of circumferentially spaced slots in said upper end portion; a locking sleeve disposed intermediate said upper and lower members and having radially inwardly and outwardly extending projections received within said slots of said upper and lower members respectively for joining said upper and lower members together to prevent relative angular movement therebetween, said sleeve also having radially extending flange means cooperable with the lower end of said upper member and the upper end of said lower member for normally preventing axially inward collapse of said shift tube assembly, and said flange means being shearable when a force in excess of a predetermined magnitude is applied against said shift tube assembly to allow said shift tube assembly to collapse axially inward.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
380 words
A collapsible shift tube assembly for use with a collapsible steering column assembly, comprising: a generally cylindrical upper member having a plurality of circumferentially spaced slots adjacent its lower end portion and having a cam surface adjacent its lower end portion; a hollow lower member shaped generally complementary to said upper member and having a plurality of circumferentially spaced slots adjacent its upper end portion and having a cam surface adjacent its upper end; a cylindrically shaped resilient locking sleeve slidably received within said lower member and upon said upper member, said locking sleeve having a plurality of radially inwardly extending, relatively non-resilient projections and a plurality of radially outwardly extending, resilient projections which are circumferentially elongatable to allow limited expansion of said locking sleeve, said radially inwardly extending projections being engaged and deflected radially outwardly by said cam surface of said upper member to effect expansion of said locking sleeve when said locking sleeve is slidably received on said upper member until said radially inwardly extending projections are aligned with said slots whereupon said resilient locking sleeve contracts and said projections are received within said slots to connect said locking sleeve to said upper member, said cam surface on said lower member engaging said radially outwardly extending projection and deflecting the same radially inwardly when said locking sleeve is slidably received within said lower member until said radially outwardly extending projections are aligned with said slots whereupon said outwardly extending projections deflect outwardly and are received within the slots to connect said locking sleeve to said lower member to normally prevent relative angular movement therebetween, said locking sleeve also having a radially inward extending flange at its lower end being engaged with the lower end of said upper member when said locking sleeve is slidably received thereon, said locking sleeve having a radially outward extending flange at its upper end being engaged with the upper end of said lower member when said locking sleeve is slidably received therein, said radially inward and outward extending flanges normally serving to prevent axially inward collapse of said shift tube assembly, and said flanges being shearable when an axial force in excess of a predetermined magnitude is applied against said shift tube assembly to allow said shift tube assembly to collapse axially inward.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
380 words
A collapsible shift tube assembly for use with a collapsible steering column assembly, comprising: a generally cylindrical upper member having a plurality of circumferentially spaced slots adjacent its lower end portion and having a cam surface adjacent its lower end portion; a hollow lower member shaped generally complementary to said upper member and having a plurality of circumferentially spaced slots adjacent its upper end portion and having a cam surface adjacent its upper end; a cylindrically shaped resilient locking sleeve slidably received within said lower member and upon said upper member, said locking sleeve having a plurality of radially inwardly extending, relatively non-resilient projections and a plurality of radially outwardly extending, resilient projections which are circumferentially elongatable to allow limited expansion of said locking sleeve, said radially inwardly extending projections being engaged and deflected radially outwardly by said cam surface of said upper member to effect expansion of said locking sleeve when said locking sleeve is slidably received on said upper member until said radially inwardly extending projections are aligned with said slots whereupon said resilient locking sleeve contracts and said projections are received within said slots to connect said locking sleeve to said upper member, said cam surface on said lower member engaging said radially outwardly extending projection and deflecting the same radially inwardly when said locking sleeve is slidably received within said lower member until said radially outwardly extending projections are aligned with said slots whereupon said outwardly extending projections deflect outwardly and are received within the slots to connect said locking sleeve to said lower member to normally prevent relative angular movement therebetween, said locking sleeve also having a radially inward extending flange at its lower end being engaged with the lower end of said upper member when said locking sleeve is slidably received thereon, said locking sleeve having a radially outward extending flange at its upper end being engaged with the upper end of said lower member when said locking sleeve is slidably received therein, said radially inward and outward extending flanges normally serving to prevent axially inward collapse of said shift tube assembly, and said flanges being shearable when an axial force in excess of a predetermined magnitude is applied against said shift tube assembly to allow said shift tube assembly to collapse axially inward.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
GB1126071A
Cited
US3373629A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-11-21 | 1976-05-22 | 1976-11-21 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-11-21 | 1980-05-22 | 1980-11-21 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-11-21 | 1984-05-22 | 1984-11-21 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |