Machine element or mechanism – Control lever and linkage systems – Hand operated
Reexamination Certificate
1999-09-30
2001-09-04
Bucci, David A. (Department: 3682)
Machine element or mechanism
Control lever and linkage systems
Hand operated
C280S775000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06282978
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates in general to a lock device for an automotive steering column and more particularly to a lock device for an automotive tilt-type steering column. More specifically, the present invention is concerned with a tilt-lock device by which the tilt-type steering column can be tightly and adjustably fixed to the vehicle body at a desired angle.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Hitherto, various lock devices for tilt-type steering columns have been proposed and put into practical use in the field of wheeled motor vehicles. With such lock devices, the tilt-type steering column can be fixed to the vehicle body at a desired angle to allow a driver to have an ideal driving posture.
In order to clarify the task of the present invention, one known lock device for the tilt-type steering column will be briefly described with reference to
FIGS. 7 and 8
of the accompanying drawings, which is shown in Japanese Patent First Provisional Publication 6-286621. For ease of description, such lock device will be referred to as “tilt-lock device” in the following.
The tilt-type steering column shown in
FIGS. 7 and 8
is of a lower-pivot type which has a lower portion pivotally connected to a lower part of a vehicle body and an upper portion detachably and adjustably fixed to the vehicle body through the tilt-lock device.
That is, as is seen from these drawings, the tilt-lock device comprises an upper clamp
3
which is secured to a robust structure of the vehicle body under a dashboard or the like. The upper clamp
3
is formed with two side walls
3
a
and
3
b
between which a generally rectangular recess
3
c
is defined. The rectangular recess
3
c
extends generally vertically. The side walls
3
a
and
3
b
are spaced from each other by the distance “A”. Vertically slidably held by the upper clamp
3
is a distance bracket
5
which has side walls
5
a
and
5
b
intimately slidably engaged with inside surfaces of the side walls
3
a
and
3
b
of the upper clamp
3
. For this sliding connection, the distance “B” between the side walls
5
a
and
5
b
of the distance bracket
5
is determined substantially the same as the distance “A”. The side walls
5
a
and
5
b
are formed with inwardly bent support portions
5
a′
and
5
b′
for supporting and holding a jacket tube
2
of the steering column. As is seen from
FIG. 8
, the side walls
3
a
and
3
b
of the upper clamp
3
are formed with aligned elongate openings
6
a
and
6
b
(only
6
a
is shown) each extending vertically, while, as is seen from
FIGS. 7 and 8
, the side walls
5
a
and
5
b
of the distance bracket
5
are formed with aligned circular openings
7
a
and
7
b
is each having a diameter substantially equal to the width of the elongate openings
6
a
and
6
b.
As is seen from
FIG. 8
, a tightening bolt
8
passes through the elongate and circular openings
6
a
,
6
b,
7
a
and
7
b
which are aligned. Although not shown in the drawing, a nut is secured to the left side wall
3
a
(when viewed in the drawing) of the upper clamp
3
, with which a threaded left end of the tightening bolt
8
is operatively engaged. Thus, when the tightening bolt
8
is turned about its axis in a fastening direction, the side walls
3
a
and
3
b
of the upper clamp
3
are forced to bend toward each other thereby to grip the distance bracket
5
therebetween tightly. With this, the jacket tube
2
of the steering column is tightly held by the tilt-lock device. While, when the tightening bolt
8
is turned in an unfastening direction, the tight engagement between the distance bracket
5
and the upper bracket
3
becomes cancelled. Under this condition, the distance bracket
5
can be easily moved or pivoted up or down together with the jacket tube
2
by a degree determined by the length of the elongate openings
6
a
and
6
b.
That is, the steering column can be shifted or pivoted to a new angular position. Thereafter, the tightening bolt
8
is turned in the fastening direction. With this, the steering column is fastened to the vehicle body at the new angular position.
However, due to its inherent construction, the above-mentioned known tilt-lock device has the following drawbacks.
That is, as is seen from
FIG. 8
, when the tightening bolt
8
is turned in the fastening direction, the side walls
3
a
and
3
b
of the upper clamp
3
are forced to incline toward each other. However, such inclination of the side walls
3
a
and
3
b
tends to produce a wedge shaped gap “S” between each side wall
3
a
or
3
b
of the upper clamp
3
and the associated side wall
5
a
or
5
b
of the distance bracket
5
. As is seen from the drawing, production of such gap “S” causes insufficient coupling between the upper clamp
3
and the distance bracket
5
. In other words, as shown in the drawing, due to production of such gap “S”, the practical distance “H” between the upper clamp
3
and the distance bracket
5
becomes large because actually these two parts are connected to each other at their mutually contacting portions which are pressed against each other by the tightening bolt
8
, which induces a poor grasping of the jacket tube
2
. In fact, such insufficient coupling brings about a higher possibility of transmitting undesired engine vibration to a steering wheel (not shown) mounted on the steering column, which gives the driver an unpleasant feeling. Furthermore, such insufficient coupling tends to produce noises particularly when the tilt-lock device is used for a long time.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a tilt-lock device for a tilt-type steering column, which is free of the above-mentioned drawbacks.
According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a tilt-lock device for a tilt-type steering column of a motor vehicle, which comprises a clamp adapted to be fixed to a body of the motor vehicle, the clamp being formed with spaced first side walls which define therebetween a recess for passing therethrough a jacket tube of the steering column; a distance bracket formed with spaced second side walls which support thereon the jacket tube, the distance bracket being slidably movably disposed between the first side walls of the clamp in such a manner that outer surfaces of the second side walls are in contact with inner surfaces of the first side walls; openings formed in lower portions of the first and second side walls; a fastening bolt passing through the openings and having a threaded leading end projected outside of one of the first side walls, the fastening bolt being suppressed from rotation about its axis relative to the first side walls; a nut operatively engaged with the threaded leading end of the fastening bolt, the nut forcing the first side walls to incline toward each other when turned about the threaded leading end in a fastening direction; and means for lowering a possibility of producing a gap between each of the first side walls and each of the second side walls when the fist side walls are forced to incline toward each other.
According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a tilt-lock device for a tilt-type steering column of a motor vehicle, which comprises a clamp adapted to be fixed to a body of the motor vehicle, the clamp being formed with spaced first side walls which define therebetween a rectangular recess for passing therethrough a jacket tube of the steering column; a distance bracket formed with spaced second side walls and inwardly bent support portions which support thereon the jacket tube, the distance bracket being slidably movably disposed between the first side walls of the clamp in such a manner that outer surfaces of the second side walls are in contact with inner surfaces of the first side walls; elongate openings respectively formed in lower portions of the first side walls, which are aligned; circular openings respectively formed in lower portions of the second side walls, which are aligned; a fastening bo
Bucci David A.
Foley & Lardner
Fuji Kiko Co. Ltd.
Joyce William C
LandOfFree
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