Patent ID: 8888131
Filing Date: 2014-11-18
Classification: B62D

Abstract:
1. A position lock for selectively resisting or facilitating raking movement of a steering column of a vehicle, the position lock comprising: a rake lock bracket fixed to the vehicle and disposed adjacent to the steering column along a direction of raking movement of the steering column, the rake lock bracket having a rake lock tooth wall that bounds a control slot and that defines a plurality of rake lock teeth; a tooth lock coupled to the steering column for movement with the steering column in a raking direction and supported for rotation about a tooth lock rotation axis; a driver supported for translation with the tooth lock and for rotation about a driver rotation axis, the driver configured and positioned for contacting an actuation feature of the tooth lock within an active range of rotation of the driver so as to cause the tooth lock to rotate with the driver as the driver rotates within the active range of rotation of the driver; and a spring configured and arranged so as to apply a biasing moment tending to cause the tooth lock to rotate in a locking direction; the tooth lock being configured for engaging, upon rotation in the locking direction, at least one tooth of the plurality of rake lock teeth so as to selectively resist translation of the tooth lock and the steering column in the raking direction; the tooth lock being configured for disengaging, upon rotation in an adjustment direction, from the at least one tooth of the plurality of rake lock teeth so as to selectively facilitate translation of the tooth lock and the steering column in the raking direction.