US 11,891,110 B1
Steering column with dual direction lock
Matthew L. Messing, Saginaw, MI (US); Jacob A. Caverly, Saginaw, MI (US); and Margaret R. Szeliga, Saginaw, MI (US)
Assigned to Steering Solutions IP Holding Corporation, Saginaw, MI (US)
Filed by STEERING SOLUTIONS IP HOLDING CORPORATION, Saginaw, MI (US)
Filed on Oct. 20, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/970,230.
Int. Cl. B62D 1/184 (2006.01); B62D 1/187 (2006.01)
CPC B62D 1/184 (2013.01) [B62D 1/187 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A tiltable steering column, comprising:
a tubular jacket extending along a central axis between a lower end and an upper end, said tubular jacket being pivotal about a jacket pivot axis extending generally transversely to said central axis;
a mount bracket having a first sidewall and an opposite second sidewall spaced from one another by a cavity sized for movement of a portion of said tubular jacket therebetween, said first sidewall having a plurality of first positive lock features and said second sidewall having a plurality of second positive lock features;
a lock bolt extending along a lock bolt axis, said lock bolt axis extending transversely to said central axis; and
a first lock cam and a second lock cam operably supported by said lock bolt for rotation about said lock bolt axis between a locked state, in response to selective rotation of said lock bolt about said lock bolt axis to a locked position, and an unlocked state, in response to selective rotation of said lock bolt about said lock bolt axis to an unlocked position, said first lock cam having at least one first lock cam positive lock feature, said second lock cam having at least one second lock cam positive lock feature, said at least one first lock cam positive lock feature being configured for obstructing engagement with said first positive lock features of said first sidewall when said first lock cam is in the locked state to releasably lock said tubular jacket against pivotal movement about said jacket pivot axis upwardly or downwardly in a first direction, and said at least one second lock cam positive lock feature being configured for obstructing engagement with said second positive lock features of said second sidewall when said second lock cam is in the locked state to releasably lock said tubular jacket against pivotal movement about said jacket pivot axis upwardly or downwardly in a second direction opposite said first direction, such that said first lock cam and said second lock cam simultaneously cooperate to releasably lock said tubular jacket against pivotal movement about said jacket pivot axis upwardly and downwardly in opposite first and second directions.