Controlled energy absorbing rake adjustment lever

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10538263-B2
Application number	US-201816010690-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 18, 2018
Priority date	Jun 18, 2018
Publication date	Jan 21, 2020
Grant date	Jan 21, 2020

Abstract

A lever assembly includes a lever that extends between a first lever end and a second lever end and a lever member. The lever member has a lever member first portion connected to the second lever end and a lever member second portion extending from the lever member first portion. The lever member second portion has an intermediate portion defining a predefined plastically deformable stress point that is arranged to facilitate movement of the lever member second portion relative to the lever member first portion.

First claim

Having thus described the present disclosure, it is claimed:

1. A lever assembly provided with a steering column, comprising:
a lever having a first lever end and a second lever end, the lever being a plastic, hollow component that defines a receiving cavity; and
a lever member disposed within the receiving cavity of the lever, the lever member being a metallic component having a lever member first portion connected to the first lever end and a lever member second portion extending from the lever member first portion, the lever member second portion has an intermediate portion defining a predefined plastically deformable stress point that is arranged to facilitate movement of the lever member second portion relative to the lever member first portion, the intermediate portion comprising a bend area, the predefined plastically deformable stress point being a notch located within the bend area, the lever member second portion extending from a first end to a second end, the second end of the lever member second portion spaced from the second lever end of the lever to define an empty space between the second end of the lever member second portion and the lever second end; wherein the lever member first portion protrudes from the first lever end.

2. The lever assembly of claim 1 , wherein the lever member second portion has a first side and a second side disposed opposite the first side, the first side and the second side each extend between the first end of the lever member second portion and the second end of the lever member second portion.

3. The lever assembly of claim 2 , wherein the lever member first portion extends from the first end of the lever member second portion.

4. The lever assembly of claim 2 , wherein the notch extends from the first side towards the second side.

5. The lever assembly of claim 2 , wherein the notch extends from the second side towards the first side.

6. The lever assembly of claim 2 , wherein the second end of the lever member second portion is arranged to move relative to the first end of the lever member second portion during a vehicle impact event.

Assignees

• Steering Solutions Ip Holding

Inventors

• Vincent Matt
• Seamon Carl
• Butterfield Doug
• Dubay Robert

Classifications

• G05G1/04

  Controlling members for hand actuation by pivoting movement, e.g. levers · CPC title

• B62D1/184 Primary

  Mechanisms for locking columns at selected positions · CPC title

• G05G25/00

  Other details or appurtenances of control mechanisms, e.g. supporting intermediate members elastically · CPC title

• B60R21/09 Primary

  Control elements or operating handles movable from an operative to an out-of-the way position, e.g. {pedals,} switch knobs, window cranks {(specially adapted for brake pedals, e.g. by venting of master cylinder or destruction of force transmitting rod, B60T7/065)} · CPC title