Patent ID: 6035739
Filing Date: 2000-03-14
Classification: B62D,Y10T

Abstract:
A motor vehicle steering column includinga stationary mast jacket,an adjustable mast jacket supported on said stationary mast jacket for linear translation to effect horizontal adjustment of said steering column,a tilt housing supported on said adjustable mast jacket for up and down pivotal movement to effect vertical adjustment of said steering column, and a steering shaft rotatably supported on said tilt housing,a manual release lever supported on said tilt housing for pivotal movement in a plane parallel to said steering shaft between a locking position and an intermediate releasing position and a full releasing position,a vertical adjustment lock means mounted on said tilt housing and on said adjustable mast jacket operative to secure said tilt housing in any one of a plurality of angular positions in said locking position of said manual release lever and to release said tilt housing for unobstructed up and down pivotal movement in response to pivotal movement of said manual release lever in said plane parallel to said steering shaft from said locking position to said intermediate releasing position thereof, anda horizontal adjustment lock means mounted on said stationary mast jacket and on said adjustable mast jacket operative to secure said adjustable mast jacket against linear translation in each of said locking position and said intermediate releasing position of said manual release lever and to release said adjustable mast jacket for unobstructed linear translation in response to pivotal movement of said manual release lever in said plane parallel to said steering shaft from said intermediate releasing position to said full releasing position.