Patent ID: 7685903
Filing Date: 2010-03-30
Classification: B62D

Abstract:
1. A steering column assembly for a vehicle, said assembly comprising: a mounting bracket configured for attachment to the vehicle; a column jacket coupled to said mounting bracket and longitudinally moveable along a longitudinal axis relative to said mounting bracket; a compression bracket mounted to said column jacket and defining a telescope slot having a plurality of telescope slot teeth extending along said longitudinal axis; a shaft coupled to said column jacket and extending along a shaft axis intersecting said column jacket and transverse to said longitudinal axis with said shaft rotatable between a lock position and a release position; a pawl coupled to said shaft for engagement with said telescope slot teeth; and a transverse cam mechanism coupled to said shaft for moving said pawl transverse to said shaft axis into interlocking engagement with said telescope slot teeth in response to rotation of said shaft into said lock position to prevent said longitudinal movement of said column jacket and out of interlocking engagement with said telescope slot teeth in response to rotation of said shaft into said release position to permit said longitudinal movement of said column jacket; wherein said transverse cam mechanism includes a head portion mounted on said shaft and defining a cam profile, and a block disposed between said head portion and said compression bracket and engaging said cam profile of said head portion.