US 12,434,756 B2
Single actuator panel lift and clamp system
Shenbing (Assur) Wen, Jiangsu (CN); Donald A. Buzzard, Saginaw, MI (US); Dianxin Zheng, Jiangsu (CN); and Michael P. Anspaugh, Bay City, MI (US)
Assigned to Steering Solutions IP Holding Corporation, Saginaw, MI (US)
Filed by Steering Solutions IP Holding Corporation, Saginaw, MI (US)
Filed on Apr. 19, 2024, as Appl. No. 18/640,644.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/461,113, filed on Apr. 21, 2023.
Prior Publication US 2024/0351628 A1, Oct. 24, 2024
Int. Cl. B62D 1/184 (2006.01); B62D 1/19 (2006.01)
CPC B62D 1/184 (2013.01) [B62D 1/192 (2013.01)] 8 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An axially adjustable steering column comprising:
a first jacket;
a second jacket, wherein the first jacket is axially adjustable relative to the second jacket;
an adjustment lever;
a locking mechanism, wherein the adjustment lever selectively moves the locking mechanism between a locked position and an unlocked position, wherein the locked position prevents axial adjustment of the first jacket relative to the second jacket in both axial directions, and the unlocked position allows adjustment of the first jacket relative to the second jacket, wherein the locking mechanism comprises:
an energy absorbing strap defining a first series of teeth extending axially and a second series of teeth extending axially;
a first cam having a plurality of teeth engageable with the first series of teeth in the locked position and disengaged from the first series of teeth in the unlocked position, wherein the first cam is rotatably supported on a pin to allow the plurality of teeth of the first cam to rotate into and out of engagement with the first series of teeth of the energy absorbing strap; and
a second cam having a plurality of teeth engageable with the second series of teeth in the locked position and disengaged from the second series of teeth in the unlocked position, wherein the second cam is supported on the pin to allow the plurality of teeth of the second cam to translate into and out of engagement with the second series of teeth of the energy absorbing strap.