Patent ID: 8042426

Claim:
A steering column, comprising: a steering shaft configured to be connected to a steering wheel; a block substantially encircling the steering shaft and having concentric cylindrical inner and outer surfaces; a column tube substantially encircling the block; a main housing, mounted at an exterior of the column tube, and comprising a telescoping guide hole for a telescoping operation, and a fixing portion for pressing the column tube; a tilt bracket, mounted on the main housing, and comprising a tilt guide hole for a tilting operation; a fixing unit, combined with the block through the tilt bracket and the main housing, for fixing a position of the column tube; and an operation lever for controlling an operation of the fixing unit, the operation lever being disposed at an exterior of the tilt bracket and connected to the fixing unit; wherein the fixing unit includes: a first hinge shaft, disposed at a first side of the tilt bracket, and combined with the block through the tilt guide hole and the telescoping guide hole; a second hinge shaft, disposed at a second side of the tilt bracket, and combined with the block through the tilt guide hole and the telescoping guide hole; an outer cam, provided at a first end of the operation lever, and comprising a first protruding portion at a side thereof, the second hinge shaft being inserted therein such that the outer cam rotates around the second hinge shaft; an inner cam, comprising a first side inserted in the tilt guide hole and contacting the fixing portion, and a second side comprising a second protruding portion corresponding to the first protruding portion, the second hinge shaft being inserted in the inner cam, wherein the inner cam slides along the second hinge shaft by a distance substantially equal to a sum of heights of the first and second protruding portions, and the inner cam presses the fixing portion when the operation lever is rotated such that the column tube is frictionally engaged to both the main housing and a cylindrical outer surface of the block; and a nut for restricting an axial movement of the outer cam; and wherein the fixing portion is coupled to the main housing and moved by the inner cam such that the fixing portion presses the column tube.