Machine element or mechanism – Control lever and linkage systems – Hand operated
Reexamination Certificate
1999-05-06
2001-01-23
Footland, Lenard A. (Department: 3682)
Machine element or mechanism
Control lever and linkage systems
Hand operated
C280S777000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06176151
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
This invention relates to a connection between an energy absorbing steering column and a body of a motor vehicle.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
U.S. Pat. No. 3,392,599, issued Jul. 16, 1968 and assigned to the assignee of this invention, describes an energy absorbing steering column for a motor vehicle including a tubular mast jacket which collapses longitudinally through an energy absorbing stroke in response to an impact on the steering column. An upper or outboard connection between the mast jacket and a body of the motor vehicle includes a mounting bracket on the mast jacket having a pair of lateral flanges, a pair of open slots in the lateral flanges, a pair of capsules slidably mounted in the slots and rigidly clamped to the vehicle body, and a plurality of injection molded plastic pins which couple the capsules to the lateral flanges of the mounting bracket. The mast jacket is released for energy absorbing collapse when the plastic pins between the capsules and the mounting bracket are fractured by impact forces on the steering column. U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,795,038 and 3,868,864, issued Mar. 5, 1974 and Mar. 4, 1975 and assigned to the assignee of this invention, describe energy absorbing steering columns having similar connections in which retention between the capsules and the mounting bracket is by, respectively, tangs on the mounting bracket bent behind the capsules and tangs on the capsules bent into notches in the mounting bracket. U.S. Pat. No. 3,747,427, issued Jul. 24, 1973 and assigned to the assignee of this invention, describes an energy absorbing steering column having a similar connection in which retention between the capsules and the mounting bracket is by friction. The connection according to this invention between a mast jacket of an energy absorbing steering column and a body of a motor vehicle is a novel alternative to the upper or outboard connections described in the aforesaid U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,392,599, 3,795,038, 3,868,864 and 3,747,427.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
This invention is a new and improved upper or outboard connection between a collapsible mast jacket of an energy absorbing steering column and a body of a motor vehicle including a mounting bracket on the mast jacket having a planar flange parallel to a longitudinal centerline of the steering column, a capsule slot in the planar flange, and a snap-in capsule. The snap-in capsule includes a retaining channel, an integral cantilever spring, and a detent lug on the end of the cantilever spring which overlaps the retaining channel. When the snap-in capsule is pushed into the capsule slot, the retaining channel cooperates with a peripheral edge of the capsule slot in guiding the snap-in capsule and in retaining the snap-in capsule perpendicular to the planar flange. Concurrently, the detent lug is ejected from the retaining channel against a restoring force attributable to resilient flexure of the cantilever spring. When the snap-in capsule attains a seated position in the capsule slot, the cantilever spring snaps the detent lug into a detent notch in the planar flange. A fastener clamps the snap-in capsule to a body structure of the motor vehicle and immobilizes the cantilever spring to prevent release of the planar flange from the snap-in capsule except by fracture of the detent lug.
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Anderson Edmund P.
Delphi Technologies Inc.
Footland Lenard A.
Hansen Colby
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