Patent ID: 6467367
Filing Date: 2002-10-22
Classification: B62D

Abstract:
In a vehicle steering column having telescoping inner and outer tubes, a bendable steering shaft with a joint inside said tubes, and a tilting device at one side of said tubes, a position setting device for the steering column, comprising:a position control lever controlling by rotation the operation of said tilting device; a wire cable having a movable wire operatively connected at one end to said position control lever, said wire cable being connected at one end to a rear fixation portion and at an opposite end to a forward fixation portion; a tapered block movable in an axial direction, another end of said wire being connected to said tapered block for moving same, said tapered block being provided with a plurality of guide protrusions; a first block fixed relative to the outer tube, said first block being formed with at least one first guide groove receiving a respective one of said guide protrusions; a second block movable in a substantially transverse direction relative to said inner and outer tubes, said second block being provided with at least one second guide groove receiving a respective one of said guide protrusions, said second guide groove and said first guide groove being spaced a tapering distance from one another, said outer tube being provided with a hole traversable by said second block; and a biasing spring in operative engagement with said tapered block for biasing said tapered block in a direction to place said second block into a releasable locking engagement with said inner tube.