Patent ID: 8201475

Claim:
A steering column assembly for a motor vehicle having an adjustable rake and telescope, said assembly comprising: a column sleeve; a capsule bracket for fixed mounting relative to the vehicle; a compression bracket joined to said sleeve and moveably carried upon said capsule bracket for allowing arcuate and axial motion of said sleeve relative to the vehicle; a motor having a rotary output, said rotary output having non-reversing rotary motion; a locking mechanism having a rotary input and operatively disposed between said capsule bracket and said compression bracket, said locking mechanism having a linear reversing travel between an unlocked condition, in which the arcuate and axial position of said sleeve is adjustable, and a locked condition, in which said sleeve is retained in an adjusted position, said locking mechanism comprising a transmission operatively engaging said rotary input such that, through said transmission, said locking mechanism has reciprocating linear movement between said unlocked and locked conditions, and such that, by said transmission, non-reversing rotary movement of said rotary input in a continuous angular direction is converted into reciprocating linear movement, thereby actuating said locking mechanism from said locked condition to said unlocked condition and from said unlocked condition to said locked condition, all while said rotary output from said motor has said non-reversing rotary motion; and a drive shaft rotatably supported between a first end operatively connected to said rotary output of said motor and a second end operatively connected to said rotary input of said locking mechanism, said non-reversing rotary motion transmitted through said drive shaft from said motor to said locking mechanism.