Patent ID: 7823479
Filing Date: 2010-11-02
Classification: B62D

Abstract:
1. A vehicle steering column structure comprising: a fixed steering column portion; a movable steering column portion including a telescoping part movably coupled to the fixed steering column portion, a tilting part pivotally coupled to the telescoping part and a distal end spaced apart from the fixed steering column portion, the tilting part being pivotable about a first axis within a tilt angle range; a tilting mechanism configured to selectively adjust an angle of inclination of the tilting part about the first axis relative to the fixed steering column portion; and a telescoping mechanism operably connecting the telescoping part to the fixed steering column portion to selectively adjust distance between the distal end of the movable steering column portion and the fixed steering column portion, the telescoping mechanism including: a hand operated release member having an operating end and an actuating end; and an actuation member having a release section and a contact section, the contact section of the actuation member contacting a fixed contact point of the actuating end of the hand operated release member regardless of the angle of inclination of the tilting part within the tilt angle range.