Steering column assembly having a locking assembly

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11066093-B2
Application number	US-201916401806-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 2, 2019
Priority date	May 4, 2018
Publication date	Jul 20, 2021
Grant date	Jul 20, 2021

Abstract

A steering column assembly includes a jacket assembly and a locking assembly. The jacket assembly is operatively connected to a mounting bracket. The jacket assembly is locking assembly operatively connected to at least one of the jacket assembly and the mounting bracket. The locking assembly includes a first member defining a first plurality of engagement members and a second member defining a second plurality of engagement members. Responsive to the locking assembly moving between an unlock position and a lock position, at least one of the first member and the second member moves along an arcuate path relative to the other of at least one of the first member and the second member.

First claim

Having thus described the present disclosure, it is claimed:

1. A steering column assembly comprising:
a mounting bracket;
a jacket assembly operatively connected to the mounting bracket, the jacket assembly being movable relative to a steering column axis;
a locking assembly operatively connected to at least one of the jacket assembly and the mounting bracket, the locking assembly comprising a first member defining a first plurality of teeth and a second member defining a second plurality of teeth, at least one of the first member and the second member pivotable along an arcuate path relative to the other of the first member and the second member during movement of the locking assembly from an unlock position to a lock position; and
a first biasing member that disengages the first member from the second member and manages a compliance axis between the teeth of the first member and teeth of the second member, wherein the locking assembly further comprises a spring loaded device that extends at least partially through the first member and the second member, wherein the spring loaded device allows a degree of freedom to occur if one or more sets of opposing teeth of the first member and the second member are unable to fully engage.

2. The steering column assembly of claim 1 , wherein the spring loaded device facilitates spacing the first plurality of teeth apart from the second plurality of teeth while the locking assembly moves from the unlock position to the lock position.

3. The steering column assembly of claim 1 , wherein the spring loaded devices consists of a disengagement member which extends through the first member and the second member, and a second biasing member that is operatively connected to the disengagement member.

4. The steering column assembly of claim 1 , wherein the mounting bracket includes a mounting bracket body, a first arm, and a second arm, the first arm defining a first opening that extends at least partially through the first arm, the second arm defining a second opening that extends at least partially through the second arm.

5. The steering column assembly of claim 4 , wherein the locking assembly is disposed on the first arm of the mounting bracket and at least partially extends into the first opening of the first arm of the mounting bracket.

6. The steering column assembly of claim 1 , wherein the second member includes a second member first portion and a second member second portion, the second member first portion defining the second plurality of teeth.

7. The steering column assembly of claim 6 , wherein the second member is disposed in an opposing relationship with the first plurality of teeth of the first member such that the second plurality of teeth of the second member selectively engage the first plurality of teeth of the first member, the second member second portion extending from the second member first portion, the second member second portion extends into the first member.

8. A steering column assembly comprising:
a mounting bracket;
a jacket assembly operatively connected to the mounting bracket, the jacket assembly being movable relative to a steering column axis;
a locking assembly operatively connected to at least one of the jacket assembly and the mounting bracket, the locking assembly comprising a first member defining a first plurality of teeth and a second member defining a second plurality of teeth, at least one of the first member and the second member pivotable along an arcuate path relative to the other of the first member and the second member during movement of the locking assembly from an unlock position to a lock position; and
a first biasing member that disengages the first member from the second member and manages a compliance axis between the teeth of the first member and teeth of the second member, wherein the locking assembly further comprises a spring loaded device that extends at least partially through the first member and the second member, wherein the spring loaded device holds one end of at least one of the first member and the second member in a set position until the opposing teeth of the first member and the second member are able to fully engage.

9. A steering column assembly comprising:
a mounting bracket;
a jacket assembly operatively connected to the mounting bracket, the jacket assembly being movable relative to a steering column axis;
a locking assembly operatively connected to at least one of the jacket assembly and the mounting bracket, the locking assembly comprising a first member defining a first plurality of teeth and a second member defining a second plurality of teeth, at least one of the first member and the second member pivotable along an arcuate path relative to the other of the first member and the second member during movement of the locking assembly from an unlock position to a lock position; and
a first biasing member that disengages the first member from the second member and manages a compliance axis between the teeth of the first member and teeth of the second member, wherein an adjustment lever is pivotally connected to at least one of the mounting bracket and the jacket assembly by a rake bolt, wherein the first member includes a first member first portion and a first member second portion, the first member first portion defining the first plurality of teeth, and an opening through which the rake bolt passes through, the first member second portion extending from the first member first portion, wherein the first biasing member extends into a portion of the first member second portion.

10. The steering column assembly of claim 9 , wherein the adjustment lever is rotatable between the lock position and the unlock position about a longitudinal axis of the rake bolt, an operator of a vehicle able to move the adjustment lever from the lock position towards the unlock position to adjust a position of a steering wheel connected to the jacket assembly.

11. The steering column assembly of claim 9 , wherein the locking assembly is arranged to transition between the unlocked position and the locked position, responsive to movement of the adjustment lever.

12. The steering column assembly of claim 9 , wherein the first biasing member is disposed about or operatively connected to the first member second portion.

13. A steering column assembly comprising:
a mounting bracket;
a jacket assembly operatively connected to the mounting bracket, the jacket assembly being movable relative to a steering column axis;
a locking assembly operatively connected to at least one of the jacket assembly and the mounting bracket, the locking assembly comprising a first member defining a first plurality of teeth and a second member defining a second plurality of teeth, at least one of the first member and the second member pivotable along an arcuate path relative to the other of the first member and the second member during movement of the locking assembly from an unlock position to a lock position;
a first biasing member that disengages the first member from the second member and manages a compliance axis between the teeth of the first member and teeth of the second member; and
a spring loaded device that extends at least partially through the first member and the second member, wherein the spring loaded devices consists of a disengagement member which extends through the first member and the second member, and a second biasing member that is operatively connected to the disengagement member.

14. The steering column assembly of claim 13 , wherein the spring loaded device facilitates spacing the first plurality of teeth apart from the second plurality of teeth whil

Assignees

• Steering Solutions Ip Holding

Inventors

• Buzzard Donald A
• Anspaugh Michael P
• Schultz Zachery P

Classifications

• B62D1/184 Primary

  Mechanisms for locking columns at selected positions · CPC title

• B62D1/185

  adjustable by axial displacement, e.g. telescopically (B62D1/183, B62D1/187, B62D1/19 take precedence) · CPC title

• B62D1/187

  with tilt adjustment; with tilt and axial adjustment (B62D1/183, B62D1/19 takes precedence) · CPC title