US4244236A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Tilt steering column mechanism
Assignee: Navistar International Corp
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Filing: 1979-05-29
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Granted: 1981-01-13
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Expires: 1999-05-29
Abstract
Abstract A tilt steering column mechanism having two brackets, one of which is connected to a cab frame member and the other of which is connected to a steering column and is slideable within the first bracket upon tilting or pivoting of the steering column about a point remote from the second bracket. The first bracket carries a slideable lock bolt, which is spring-biased in one axial direction, and has a raised frusto-conical portion thereon which cooperates with any one of a number of uniformly spaced frusto-conical receptacles provided in the second bracket. A handle, pivotally mounted to the first bracket, causes the sliding of the lock bolt through the intermediary of a toggle link, which in the dead center position, together with the bias of the spring, holds the frusto-conical portion in the selected frusto-conical receptacle. The steering column is pivoted to predetermined points, corresponding to the frusto-conical receptacle spacing, about a horizontal axis, upon breaking the dead center by locking position of the toggle link by swinging the handle about its pivotal axis and off-setting the handle connected end of the toggle link, thereby causing the lock bolt connected end of the toggle link to move and slide the lock bolt against the bias of the spring and unseat the frusto-conical portions from their respective frusto-conical receptacles.
Inventors
- 👤 Raymond L. Sylvester
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 07:19
CPC Classifications
B; B62; B62D; B62D1/00; B62D1/02; B62D1/16; B62D1/18; B62D1/184; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T403/00; Y10T403/32; Y10T403/32254; Y10T403/32262; Y10T403/32319; Y10T403/32327; Y10T403/32361; Y10T74/00; Y10T74/20; Y10T74/20576; Y10T74/20636
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
463 words
An improved tilt steering column mechanism for a steering column tiltable about a universal joint at the base thereof, comprising: a support bracket means connected to a vehicle cab frame for supporting the steering column above the universal joint connection; a slider bracket means connected to the steering column and having arm means passing forwardly through guide openings provided in the support bracket means for limiting tilting of the steering column to the fore-and-aft direction; frusto-conical detent means slideably mounted to the support bracket means and movable transversely with respect to the steering column for locking the arm means of the slider bracket means to the support bracket means at selected frusto-conical detent receiving means provided on one lateral side of the arm means corresponding to one of several selectable fore-and-aft tilt positions of the steering column; spring means carried on the support bracket means and engaging the frusto-conical detent means for moving and pressing the frusto-conical detent means into the selected frusto-conical detent receiving means; lever means extending rearwardly from an opening provided in the support bracket means and pivotally connected thereto and pivotally linked to the frusto-conical detent means out from the selected frusto-conical detent receiving means against the force of the spring means upon swinging of the lever means about the axis of the pivotal connection; the support bracket means comprising a base plate fixed to the vehicle cab frame and having three spaced-apart flange members projecting forwardly therefrom and passing through an opening provided in the vehicle cab frame, the flange members each having at least one flat lateral side positioned at the guide openings provided in the base plate for the arm means of the slider bracket means; the slider bracket means comprising two identical spaced-apart arm means each having a pedestal fixed to a base on the steering column and each having two parallel lateral flat sides projecting forwardly from the pedestal and passing through a respective guide opening in the base plate and guiding along side of the flat lateral side of each of the flange members, the arm means each having an elongated slot on the identical lateral flat side and a plurality of uniformly spaced-apart frusto-conical holes on the identical opposite lateral flat sides tapering downwardly into the slot and comprising the frusto-conical detent receiving means; and the frusto-conical detent means comprising an elongated locking bar having two axially spaced-apart frusto-conical detent portions thereon slideably carried in matching transverse bores provided in each of the flat lateral sides of the flange members, the frusto-conical detent portions each tapering downwardly in the same axial direction into an elongated anchor portion of a size passing through the slot in each arm means anchoring the respective arm means to the flange members of the support bracket means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
463 words
An improved tilt steering column mechanism for a steering column tiltable about a universal joint at the base thereof, comprising: a support bracket means connected to a vehicle cab frame for supporting the steering column above the universal joint connection; a slider bracket means connected to the steering column and having arm means passing forwardly through guide openings provided in the support bracket means for limiting tilting of the steering column to the fore-and-aft direction; frusto-conical detent means slideably mounted to the support bracket means and movable transversely with respect to the steering column for locking the arm means of the slider bracket means to the support bracket means at selected frusto-conical detent receiving means provided on one lateral side of the arm means corresponding to one of several selectable fore-and-aft tilt positions of the steering column; spring means carried on the support bracket means and engaging the frusto-conical detent means for moving and pressing the frusto-conical detent means into the selected frusto-conical detent receiving means; lever means extending rearwardly from an opening provided in the support bracket means and pivotally connected thereto and pivotally linked to the frusto-conical detent means out from the selected frusto-conical detent receiving means against the force of the spring means upon swinging of the lever means about the axis of the pivotal connection; the support bracket means comprising a base plate fixed to the vehicle cab frame and having three spaced-apart flange members projecting forwardly therefrom and passing through an opening provided in the vehicle cab frame, the flange members each having at least one flat lateral side positioned at the guide openings provided in the base plate for the arm means of the slider bracket means; the slider bracket means comprising two identical spaced-apart arm means each having a pedestal fixed to a base on the steering column and each having two parallel lateral flat sides projecting forwardly from the pedestal and passing through a respective guide opening in the base plate and guiding along side of the flat lateral side of each of the flange members, the arm means each having an elongated slot on the identical lateral flat side and a plurality of uniformly spaced-apart frusto-conical holes on the identical opposite lateral flat sides tapering downwardly into the slot and comprising the frusto-conical detent receiving means; and the frusto-conical detent means comprising an elongated locking bar having two axially spaced-apart frusto-conical detent portions thereon slideably carried in matching transverse bores provided in each of the flat lateral sides of the flange members, the frusto-conical detent portions each tapering downwardly in the same axial direction into an elongated anchor portion of a size passing through the slot in each arm means anchoring the respective arm means to the flange members of the support bracket means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
75 words
The improved tilt steering column mechanism according to claim 1, wherein, one frusto-conical detent portion is slideably mounted to one end of the locking bar, and a second spring means acting in opposition to the first spring means is provided on the one end of the locking bar for resiliently connecting the frusto-conical detent portion thereto and for axially positioning both frusto-conical detent portions in respective aligned frusto-conical detent receiving holes in the arm means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
24 words
The improved tilt steering column mechanism according to claim 2, wherein, four uniformly spaced-apart frusto-conical detent receiving holes are provided in each arm means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
34 words
The improved tilt steering column mechanism according to the claim 2, wherein a support bar means is connected to the ends of the arm means for holding the lateral flat sides in parallel alignment.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
56 words
The improved tilt steering column mechanism according to claim 2, wherein, the first spring means comprise a compression spring sleeved over the locking bar and having one end contacting one flange member on the side opposite the flat lateral side and the other end contacting a flat washer sleeved over and connected to the locking bar.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
28 words
The improved tilt steering column mechanism according to claim 2, wherein the lever means is pivotally linked to the second end of the bar by a toggle link.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
56 words
The improved tilt steering column mechanism according to claim 2, wherein the second spring means comprise a pair of jam nuts screwed onto a threaded end portion of the one end of the locking bar against a flat washer abutting a spring washer in turn abutting the large end of the slideably mounted frusto-conical detent portion.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1984-01-13 | 1984-07-14 | 1985-01-13 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1988-01-13 | 1988-07-14 | 1989-01-13 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1992-01-13 | 1992-07-14 | 1993-01-13 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |