Machine element or mechanism – Control lever and linkage systems – Hand operated
Reexamination Certificate
2000-03-22
2001-08-28
Herrmann, Allan D. (Department: 3682)
Machine element or mechanism
Control lever and linkage systems
Hand operated
C074S541000, C280S775000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06279414
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a tilting apparatus of a vehicle, and more particularly to a manual type tilting apparatus of a vehicle that can be conveniently manipulated with a button.
2. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART
Generally, a steering apparatus of a vehicle is used for changing advancing directions of the vehicle while driving. Such a steering apparatus has a tilting apparatus to provide convenience of a driver by making a vertical change in the slope of a steering shaft suitably for the driver's physical characteristics.
In other words, the conventional manual type tilting apparatus installed at the steering column, as shown in
FIG. 1
, includes an upper steering column
2
and a lower steering column
3
with accommodation of a steering shaft
1
. At this time, the upper steering column
2
has a movable latch member
21
pivotally coupled at one edge by a first hinge point
22
while the lower steering column
3
has a fixed latch member
31
integrally coupled at one edge.
In addition, the lower steering column
3
has a movable member
33
pivotally coupled by a second hinge point
32
for rotating the movable latch member
21
for the tilting operation with a tilt lever
34
being fixed at one end.
Furthermore, the movable member
33
has a pressing surface
33
a
inwardly hollowed and cut at one pivoting end, while the movable latch member
21
has an externally protruded and fixed pin
21
a.
On the other hand, since both edges of a spring
4
are fixed between the pivoting end of the movable member
33
and the upper steering column
2
, the spring
4
has elasticity to return to its original state after the movable member
33
is rotated for the tilting operation.
Accordingly, when the driver pulls up (counterclockwise) the tilt lever
34
, the movable member
33
of the conventional tilting apparatus thus constructed is rotated counterclockwise at the center of the second hinge point
32
to make the pressing surface
33
a
push the fixed pin
21
a
of the movable latch member
21
, which is rotated downwards (clockwise) at the center of the first hinge point
22
. As a result, the movable member
21
of the upper steering column
22
and the fixed latch member
31
of the lower steering column
3
are unmeshed, the slope of the steering shaft
1
can be controlled by the tilting operation.
When the driver releases the tilt lever
34
that has been rotated counterclockwise after completion of such a tilting operation, the movable member
33
rotates back clockwise by elasticity of the spring
4
to allow the movable latch member
21
to intermesh with the fixed latch member
31
. Therefore, the slope of the steering shaft
1
is set as adjusted.
On the other hand, while the tilt lever
34
of the conventional tilting apparatus is rotated by the driver's one hand for the tilting operation, a steering handle should be vertically moved by the driver's other hand. Therefore, there is a problem in the conventional tilting apparatus in that it is tiring and inconvenient for the driver to keep a state in which the tilt lever
34
is pulled up and rotated with one hand for the tilting operation.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to solve the aforementioned problems of the conventional tilting apparatus of a vehicle and provide a manual type tilting apparatus of a vehicle to improve convenience of a driver who can take an action to release the intermeshed state of a movable latch member of an upper steering column and a fixed latch member of a lower steering column and conveniently adjust the slope of a steering axis for a tilting operation while the driver's both hands hold a steering handle at the same time.
In order to accomplish the aforementioned object of the present invention, there is provided a manual type of tilting apparatus for vehicle having an upper steering column and a lower steering column coupled at the upper steering column by a pivot point for rotation, a movable latch member with a long hole mounted to rotate at the upper steering column, and a fixed latch member formed at the lower steering column to selectively intermesh with the movable latch member, wherein the movable latch member rotates so as to be detached from the fixed latch member via movable latch member manipulating means eccentrically inserted into the long hole by repeating protrusion and insertion with one touch system, thereby releasing the intermeshed state of the movable latch member and the fixed latch member.
In addition, the movable latch member manipulating means comprises:
a housing fixed at the upper steering column;
an shaft member accommodated for elastic protrusion and insertion in the housing;
a manipulating tool for making it possible to get the shaft member protruded and inserted with one touch system;
a manipulating knob for transmitting manipulating force to the manipulating tool; and
a protruded piece formed with a slant surface at one edge of the shaft member.
REFERENCES:
patent: 2910887 (1959-11-01), Helms
patent: 3807252 (1974-04-01), Parr
patent: 4033158 (1977-07-01), Chamberlain et al.
patent: 5088342 (1992-02-01), Bening et al.
Christie Parker & Hale LLP
Herrmann Allan D.
Hyundai Motor Company
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