Low profile steering column clamp mechanism

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10752279-B2
Application number	US-201816001214-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 6, 2018
Priority date	Jun 6, 2018
Publication date	Aug 25, 2020
Grant date	Aug 25, 2020

Abstract

A lever assembly includes a lever, a first lever member, and a second lever member. The first lever member has a first lever member first portion and a first lever member second portion. The first lever member first portion defines a first opening and a notch. The second lever member defines a tab that extends into the notch and a first post that extends into the first opening to connect the second lever member to the first 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 an extension member that extends from a first lever end;
a first lever member having
a first lever member first portion defining a first opening and a notch, the first lever member first portion engages the extension member, and
a first lever member second portion extending from the first lever member portion; and
a second lever member defining a tab that extends into the notch and a first post that extends into the first opening to connect the second lever member to the first lever member first portion, wherein the first lever member first portion defines a first pocket and a second pocket, wherein the first lever member first portion defines a second opening that is disposed between the first pocket and the second pocket.

2. The lever assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a fastening member that extends from the extension member and into at least one of the first opening and the first post to couple the lever to the first lever member and the second lever member.

3. A lever assembly provided with a steering column, comprising:
a lever having an extension member that extends from a first lever end;
a first lever member having
a first lever member first portion defining a first opening and a notch, the first lever member first portion engages the extension member, and
a first lever member second portion extending from the first lever member portion; and
a second lever member defining a tab that extends into the notch and a first post that extends into the first opening to connect the second lever member to the first lever member first portion, wherein the first lever member first portion defines a first pocket and a second pocket, wherein the second lever member defines a first pass through that is proximately aligned with the first pocket and a second pass through that is proximately aligned with the second pocket, further comprising:
a first pin that extends through the first pass through and into the first pocket; and
a second pin that extends through the second pass through and into the second pocket.

4. The lever assembly of claim 3 , further comprising a fastening member that extends from the extension member and into at least one of the first opening and the first post to couple the lever to the first lever member and the second lever member.

5. A lever assembly provided with a steering column, comprising:
a lever having an extension member that extends from a first lever end;
a first lever member having
a first lever member first portion defining a first opening and a notch, the first lever member first portion engages the extension member, and
a first lever member second portion extending from the first lever member portion; and
a second lever member defining a tab that extends into the notch and a first post that extends into the first opening to connect the second lever member to the first lever member first portion, wherein the first lever member first portion defines a first pocket and a second pocket, wherein the second lever member defines a first pass through that is proximately aligned with the first pocket and a second pass through that is proximately aligned with the second pocket, wherein the second lever member defines a second lever member opening that is disposed between the first pass through and the second pass through.

6. The lever assembly of claim 5 , further comprising a fastening member that extends from the extension member and into at least one of the first opening and the first post to couple the lever to the first lever member and the second lever member.

7. A lever assembly, comprising:
a lever having a first lever side and a second lever side, each extending between a first lever end and a second lever end;
a first lever member having
a first lever member first portion defining a first opening that extends from a first lever member first side towards a first lever member second side, the first lever member first side arranged to engage the second lever side, and
a first lever member second portion extending from the first lever member first portion, the first lever member second portion extending into the lever; and
a second lever member having a second lever member first side and a second lever member second side extending between a second lever member first end and a second lever member second end, the second lever member defining a first post that extends from second lever member first side and into the first opening, wherein the first lever member first portion defines at least one of a first pocket and a second pocket that extends from the first lever member second side towards the first lever member first side, wherein the second lever member defines at least one of a first pass through and a second pass through that extends between the second lever member first side and the second lever member second side, wherein at least one of the first pocket and the second pocket is proximately aligned with at least one of the first pass through and the second pass through.

8. The lever assembly of claim 7 , wherein the lever further comprising a fastening member that extends from proximate the first lever end and into the first post.

9. A lever assembly, comprising:
a lever having a first lever side and a second lever side, each extending between a first lever end and a second lever end;
a first lever member having
a first lever member first portion defining a first opening that extends from a first lever member first side towards a first lever member second side, the first lever member first side arranged to engage the second lever side, and
a first lever member second portion extending from the first lever member first portion, the first lever member second portion extending into the lever; and
a second lever member having a second lever member first side and a second lever member second side extending between a second lever member first end and a second lever member second end, the second lever member defining a first post that extends from second lever member first side and into the first opening, wherein the first lever member first portion defines at least one of a first pocket and a second pocket that extends from the first lever member second side towards the first lever member first side, wherein the second lever member defines at least one of a first pass through and a second pass through that extends between the second lever member first side and the second lever member second side, further comprising a first pin that is arranged to extend through the first pass through and into the first pocket.

10. The lever assembly of claim 9 , wherein the lever further comprising a fastening member that extends from proximate the first lever end and into the first post.

11. A lever assembly, comprising:
a lever having a first lever side and a second lever side, each extending between a first lever end and a second lever end;
a first lever member having
a first lever member first portion defining a first opening that extends from a first lever member first side towards a first lever member second side, the first lever member first side arranged to engage the second lever side, and
a first lever member second portion extending from the first lever member portion, the first lever member second portion extending into the lever; and
a second lever member having a second lever member first side and a second lever member second side extending between a second lever member first end and a second lever member second end, the second lever member defining a first post that extends from second lever member

Assignees

• Steering Solutions Ip Holding

Inventors

• Dubay Robert W
• Gosztyla Damian Z
• Vincent Mathew T
• Bueche Robert D

Classifications

• B62D1/184 Primary

  Mechanisms for locking columns at selected positions · CPC title