Patent ID: 7258194
Filing Date: 2007-08-21
Classification: B62D

Abstract:
1. A vehicle steering system comprising: a steering input device; a front steering subsystem coupled to front motive members to steer the front motive members based upon movement of a front steering subsystem input shaft; a rear steering subsystem coupled to rear motive members to steer the rear motive members based upon movement of a rear steering subsystem input shaft; a first force transmission route from the steering input device to the front steering subsystem input shaft, wherein force is transmitted from the input device to the front steering subsystem input shaft to steer the front motive members; a steering control mechanism having a movable input member and a movable output member, the input member including a first surface, the output member including a second surface, wherein a movable input member is movable through a first distance without transmitting force to the output member and is movable through a second distance in which force is transmitted to the output member to move the output member, wherein the first surface and the second surface engage one another while the input member is in the second distance and wherein the first surface and the second surface are out of engagement while the input member is in the first distance; a second force transmission route from the steering input device to the input member, wherein force is transmitted from the input device to the input member to move the input member; and a third force transmission route from the output member to the rear steering subsystem input shaft to move the rear steering subsystem input shaft and to steer the rear motive members.