Patent ID: 8657338

Claim:
A position lock for selectively resisting or facilitating raking movement of a steering column of a vehicle, the position lock comprising: a rake bracket fixed to the vehicle and disposed adjacent to the steering column along a raking direction of the steering column; a rake lock control shaft supported for translation with the steering column and for rotation about a control shaft longitudinal axis; and a tooth lock assembly disposed on the rake lock control shaft for rotation about the control shaft longitudinal axis; the tooth lock assembly comprising a tooth lock lever and a tooth lock actuator; the rake lock control shaft having at least one cross-sectional eccentricity for contacting the tooth lock actuator upon rotation of the rake lock control shaft; the tooth lock actuator positioned for mechanical contact with the cross-sectional eccentricity and configured so as to cause the tooth lock lever to rotate in an adjustment direction when a force is applied to the tooth lock actuator in the adjustment direction and so as to apply a locking moment to the tooth lock lever when a force is applied to the tooth lock actuator in the locking direction; the rake bracket having a rake lock tooth wall disposed along the raking direction and defining a plurality of rake lock teeth along the rake lock tooth wall; the tooth lock lever 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 assembly, the rake lock control shaft, and the steering column in the raking direction; the tooth lock lever configured for disengaging, upon rotation in the 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 assembly, the rake lock control shaft, and the steering column in the raking direction; wherein the tooth lock actuator comprises a spring having a first end disposed for applying a locking torque to the tooth lock lever and a second end defining a control member disposed for contact with the cross-sectional eccentricity; wherein the tooth lock lever defines a substantially circular interior control shaft passage with a relief ramp; and wherein the relief ramp is configured for binding the control member between the cross-sectional eccentricity and the tooth lock lever upon a deformation of the spring corresponding to rotation of the rake lock control shaft in the adjustment direction.