Adjustable steering column

Claim 2

In a vehicle steering column including an outer support tube, a main steering shaft means disposed on said support tube for rotation about a first axis of the latter, and an adjustable shaft disposed on said support tube for rotation as a unit with said main shaft means and for axial bodily shiftabLe movement relative thereto along said first axis between a plurality of positions, the combination comprising, a rod disposed on said main shaft means for rotation as a unit therewith and for bodily shiftable movement relative thereto along a second axis perpendicular to said first axis into and out of a locking position, means disposed between said rod and said main shaft means for maintaining said rod in the locking position, and means on said main shaft means defining a lever including a fulcrum portion engaging said main shaft means and a bearing surface adapted for engagement on said rod and a reaction surface between said fulcrum and said bearing surface engaging said adjustable shaft, said rod in the locking position thereof engaging said bearing surface and generating on said lever a force which is multiplied by a factor corresponding to the lever ratio of said lever and exerted by the latter at said reaction surface on said adjustable shaft thereby to generate a friction force of substantial magnitude between said main shaft means and said adjustable shaft for preventing relative axial bodily shiftable movement therebetween.

Claim 3

In a vehicle steering column including an outer support tube, a main steering shaft disposed on said support tube for rotation about a first axis of said steering column, an intermediate shaft disposed on said support tube for rotation as a unit with said main shaft about said first axis, and an adjustable shaft disposed on said intermediate shaft for rotation as a unit with the latter about said first axis and for bodily shiftable movement relative to said intermediate shaft along said first axis between a plurality of positions, the combination comprising, a collar, means rigidly supporting said collar on said intermediate shaft for rotation as a unit with the latter, means on said collar defining a threaded bore oriented along a second axis of said steering column disposed perpendicular to said first axis, a rod having a blunt end portion and a threaded shank portion, said threaded shank portion being received in said threaded bore so that said rod is supported on said collar for rotation as a unit with the latter about said first axis and for bodily shiftable movement relative to said collar along said second axis into and out of a locking position, said threaded bore and said threaded shank portion cooperating in maintaining said rod in the locking position, and means on said intermediate shaft defining a lever including a fulcrum portion engaging said intermediate shaft and a bearing surface adapted for engagement on said rod blunt end and a reaction surface between said fulcrum and said bearing surface engaging said adjustable shaft, said rod blunt end in the locking position of said rod engaging said bearing surface and generating on said lever a force which is multiplied by a factor corresponding to the lever ratio of said lever and exerted by the latter at said reaction surface on said adjustable shaft thereby to generate a friction force of substantial magnitude between said intermediate shaft and said adjustable shaft for preventing relative bodily shiftable movement therebetween.

Claim 4

In a vehicle steering column including an outer support tube, a main steering shaft disposed on said support tube for rotation about a first axis of said steering column, an intermediate shaft disposed on said support tube for rotation as a unit with said main shaft about said first axis, and an adjustable shaft disposed on said intermediate shaft for rotation as a unit with the latter about said first axis and for bodily shiftable movement relative to said intermediate shaft along said first axis between a plurality of positions, the combination comprising, a collar, means rigidly supporting said collar on said intermediate shaft for rotation as a unit with the latter, means on said collar defining a threaded bore oriented along a second axis of said steering column disposed perpendicular to said first axis, a rod having a blunt end portion and a threaded shank portion, said threaded shank portion being received in said threaded bore so that said rod is supported on said collar for rotation as a unit with the latter about said first axis and for bodily shiftable movement relative to said collar along said second axis into and out of a locking position, said threaded bore and said threaded shank portion cooperating in maintaining said rod in the locking position, and means on said intermediate shaft defining a lever including a fulcrum portion engaging said intermediate shaft and a bearing surface adapted for engagement on said rod blunt end and a reaction surface between said fulcrum and said bearing surface engaging said adjustable shaft, said rod blunt end in the locking position of said rod engaging said bearing surface and generating on said lever a force which is multiplied by a factor corresponding to the lever ratio of said lever and exerted by the latter at said reaction surface on said adjustable shaft thereby to generate a friction force of substantial magnitude between said intermediate shaft and said adjustable shaft for preventing relative bodily shiftable movement therebetween.

Claim 5

In a steering column including an outer support tube, a main steering shaft disposed on said support tube for rotation about a first axis of said steering column, an intermediate shaft disposed on said support tube for rotation as a unit with said main shaft about said first axis, and an adjustable shaft disposed on said intermediate shaft for rotation as a unit with the latter about said first axis and for bodily shiftable movement relative to said intermediate shaft along said first axis between a plurality of positions, the combination comprising, means on said intermediate shaft defining a slot exposing a surface of said adjustable shaft, a first collar disposed around said intermediate shaft and covering a portion of said slot, a key defining a flat edge and a semicircular curved edge, said key being disposed in said slot with one end of Said flat edge underlying said first collar and with said semicircular edge engaging said adjustable shaft so that said key defines a lever on said intermediate shaft with a fulcrum at said one end and a bearing surface at the outer end of said flat edge and a reaction surface between said fulcrum and said bearing surface engaging said adjustable shaft, a second collar, means rigidly supporting said second collar on said intermediate shaft for rotation as a unit with the latter, means on said second collar defining a threaded bore oriented along a second axis of said steering column assembly disposed perpendicular to said first axis and intersecting said bearing surface on said key, and a rod having a blunt end portion and a threaded shank portion, said threaded shank portion being received in said threaded bore so that said rod is supported on said second collar for rotation as a unit with the latter about said first axis and for bodily shiftable movement relative to said second collar along said second axis into and out of a locking position, said threaded bore and said threaded shank portion cooperating in maintaining said rod in the locking position and said rod blunt end in the locking position of said rod engaging said key bearing surface and generating on said key a force which is multiplied by a factor corresponding to the lever ratio of said key and exerted by the latter at said reaction surface on said adjustable shaft thereby to generate a friction force of substantial magnitude between said intermediate shaft and said adjustable shaft for preventing relative bodily shiftable movement therebetween.

Claim 6

In a steering column including an outer support tube, a main steering shaft disposed on said support tube for rotation about a first axis of said steering column, an intermediate shaft disposed on said support tube for rotation as a unit with said main shaft about said first axis, and an adjustable shaft disposed on said intermediate shaft for rotation as a unit with the latter about said first axis and for bodily shiftable movement relative to said intermediate shaft along said first axis between a plurality of positions, the combination comprising, means on said intermediate shaft defining a slot exposing a surface of said adjustable shaft, a first collar disposed around said intermediate shaft and covering a portion of said slot, a key defining a flat edge and a semicircular curved edge, said key being disposed in said slot with one end of Said flat edge underlying said first collar and with said semicircular edge engaging said adjustable shaft so that said key defines a lever on said intermediate shaft with a fulcrum at said one end and a bearing surface at the outer end of said flat edge and a reaction surface between said fulcrum and said bearing surface engaging said adjustable shaft, a second collar, means rigidly supporting said second collar on said intermediate shaft for rotation as a unit with the latter, means on said second collar defining a threaded bore oriented along a second axis of said steering column assembly disposed perpendicular to said first axis and intersecting said bearing surface on said key, and a rod having a blunt end portion and a threaded shank portion, said threaded shank portion being received in said threaded bore so that said rod is supported on said second collar for rotation as a unit with the latter about said first axis and for bodily shiftable movement relative to said second collar along said second axis into and out of a locking position, said threaded bore and said threaded shank portion cooperating in maintaining said rod in the locking position and said rod blunt end in the locking position of said rod engaging said key bearing surface and generating on said key a force which is multiplied by a factor corresponding to the lever ratio of said key and exerted by the latter at said reaction surface on said adjustable shaft thereby to generate a friction force of substantial magnitude between said intermediate shaft and said adjustable shaft for preventing relative bodily shiftable movement therebetween.