Patent ID: 6557434
Filing Date: 2003-05-06
Classification: B62D

Abstract:
A steering column tilt assembly comprising:a fixed housing; a tilt housing pivotally attached to said fixed housing for pivotal movement about a tilt axis; a fixed shoe attached to the fixed housing; a pivoted shoe pivotally attached to said tilt housing for pivotal movement about a shoe pivot axis that is parallel to the tilt axis; a shoe release lever having a pivoted end shank portion with an integral bottom trunion and an integral top trunion that is coaxial with a bottom trunion and a trunion axis, a center section with the integral shoe wedge surface, and a handle end; a shoe release lever slot in said tilt housing, a release lever bore in said tilt housing that includes an upper bore portion on a first side of the shoe release lever slot that receives the integral top trunion and a lower bore portion on a second side of the shoe release lever slot that receives the integral bottom trunion and wherein the lower bore portion has an open quadrant that permits passage of the pivoted end shank portion into the shoe release lever slot; and at least one spring that urges the shoe release lever to pivot about the trunion axis toward a shoe lock position in which the shoe wedge surface engages the pivoted shoe and holds the pivoted shoe in engagement with the fixed shoe.