Patent ID: 6666478
Filing Date: 2003-12-23
Classification: B62D,Y10T

Abstract:
A steering column comprising:a steering column member connectable with a steering wheel and rotatable to turn steerable vehicle wheels; a mounting bracket that connects said steering column to a vehicle frame; a support connected with said mounting bracket through which said steering column member extends, said support supporting said steering column member for rotation about a longitudinal axis of said steering column member and being movable relative to said mounting bracket; and an over-center locking mechanism that locks said support in any one of a plurality of positions relative to said mounting bracket, said locking mechanism having at least one locking member that urges a portion of said support and a portion of said mounting bracket toward each other to prevent movement of said support relative to said mounting bracket, said locking member having a first position in which said portion of said support and said portion of said mounting bracket are urged toward each other to prevent movement of said support relative to said mounting bracket and a second position in which said support and said mounting bracket are movable relative to each other, said locking mechanism applying a first force to said locking member to move said locking member from said first position to said second position and applying a second force to said locking member to move said locking member from said second position to said first position, said locking mechanism only applying a force to said locking member to move said locking member between said first and second positions.