Vehicle steering apparatus
US-2020108865-A1 · Apr 9, 2020 · US
Steering column assembly
US10913482B2 · US · B2
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Publication number | US-10913482-B2 |
| Application number | US-201916246685-A |
| Country | US |
| Kind code | B2 |
| Filing date | Jan 14, 2019 |
| Priority date | Jan 14, 2019 |
| Publication date | Feb 9, 2021 |
| Grant date | Feb 9, 2021 |
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- Title
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- Abstract
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- Assignees and inventors
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- First independent claim
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Abstract
Official abstract text for this publication.
A steering column assembly includes a first shaft and a second shaft telescopically engaged with the first shaft. The steering column assembly includes a bore extending through the first shaft to the second shaft. A plug is disposed in and occludes the bore. The plug is resiliently expandable relative to the first shaft.
First claim
Opening claim text (preview).
What is claimed is: 1. A steering column assembly comprising: a first shaft and a second shaft telescopically engaged with the first shaft; a bore extending through the first shaft to the second shaft; a plug disposed in and occluding the bore, the plug being resiliently expandable relative to the first shaft; and the first shaft having an end spaced from the second shaft and the bore extending from an opening at the end to an expanded section of the bore, the diameter of the bore at the opening being smaller than a diameter of the bore at the expanded section, and the plug is compressible to the diameter of the bore at the opening. 2. The steering column assembly of claim 1 , wherein the plug is a resiliently-expandable foam. 3. The steering column assembly of claim 1 , wherein the plug has a spherical shape. 4. The steering column assembly of claim 1 , further comprising splines disposed in the bore between the first and second shafts and elongated in a telescoping direction of the first and second shafts. 5. The steering column assembly of claim 1 , wherein the bore is threaded at the opening. 6. The steering column assembly of claim 1 , wherein the bore includes a reduced section between the expanded section and the second shaft, the diameter of the bore at the reduced section being smaller than the diameter of the bore at the expanded section, the plug being in the expanded section. 7. The steering column assembly of claim 6 , wherein the plug is expandable to the diameter of the expanded section. 8. The steering column assembly of claim 6 , further comprising splines disposed in the bore between the first and second shafts with the reduced section between the splines and the expanded section. 9. The steering column assembly of claim 8 , wherein the plug is expandable to the diameter of the expanded section. 10. The steering column assembly of claim 9 , wherein the plug is a resiliently-expandable foam. 11. The steering column assembly of claim 8 , wherein the splines are elongated along a telescoping direction of the first and second shafts. 12. The steering column assembly of claim 1 , wherein the plug is expandable to the diameter of the expanded section. 13. The steering column assembly of claim 12 , wherein the plug is a resiliently-expandable foam. 14. The steering column assembly of claim 1 , further comprising splines disposed in the bore between the first and second shafts with the expanded section between the splines and the end. 15. The steering column assembly of claim 14 , wherein the splines are elongated along a telescoping direction of the first and second shafts. 16. The steering column assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a steering wheel attached to the first shaft with a fastener.
Assignees
Inventors
Classifications
specially adapted to allow axial displacement · CPC title
- B62D1/185Primary
adjustable by axial displacement, e.g. telescopically (B62D1/183, B62D1/187, B62D1/19 take precedence) · CPC title
Hubs; Connecting hubs to steering columns, e.g. adjustable (B62D1/11 takes precedence) · CPC title
Details or arrangements of sealings not provided for in group F16D3/84 · CPC title
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Frequently asked questions
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- What does patent US10913482B2 cover?
- A steering column assembly includes a first shaft and a second shaft telescopically engaged with the first shaft. The steering column assembly includes a bore extending through the first shaft to the second shaft. A plug is disposed in and occludes the bore. The plug is resiliently expandable relative to the first shaft.
- Who is the assignee on this patent?
- Ford Global Tech Llc
- What technology area does this patent fall under?
- Primary CPC classification B62D1/185. Mapped technology areas include Operations & Transport.
- When was this patent published?
- Publication date Tue Feb 09 2021 00:00:00 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time) (B2). Legal status and post-grant events are not shown on this page.
- What related patents are in patentsdb?
- We list 4 related publications on this page (citations in our corpus or others sharing the same primary CPC).