# US 10,766,520 B2 · Steering column

> Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt

- Number: US 10,766,520 B2
- Document ID: US10766520B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 16/091,626
- Filed: 2017-04-04
- Published: 2019-05-23
- Granted: 2020-09-08
- Earliest claimed: 2016-04-08
- Assignees: Mmx—Meccanoplast S.R.L.
- Applicants: Mmx—Meccanoplast S.R.L.
- Inventors: Massimiliano Casini
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10766520B2

## CPC

- B62D 1/187: with tilt adjustment; with tilt and axial adjustment (B62D1/183, B62D1/19 takes precedence)
- B62D 1/183: adjustable between in-use and out-of-use positions, e.g. to improve access
- B62D 1/184: Mechanisms for locking columns at selected positions
- F16C 1/10: Means for transmitting linear movement in a flexible sheathing, e.g. "Bowden-mechanisms" (guiding-sheathings F16C1/26)
- B62D: MOTOR VEHICLES; TRAILERS (steering, or guiding on a desired track, of agricultural machines or implements A01B69/00; wheels, castors, axles, increasing wheel adhesion B60B; vehicle tyres, tyre inflation or tyre changing B60C; connections between vehicles of a train or the like B60D; vehicles for use on rail and road, amphibious or convertible vehicles B60F; suspension arrangements B60G; heating, cooling, ventilating or other air treating devices B60H; windows, windscreens, non-fixed roofs, doors or similar devices, protective coverings for vehicles not in use B60J; propulsion plant arrangements, auxiliary drives, transmissions, controls, instrumentation or dashboards B60K; electric equipment or propulsion of electrically-propelled vehicles B60L; power supply for electrically-propelled vehicles B60M; passenger accommodation not otherwise provided for B60N; adaptations for load transportation or to carry special loads or objects B60P; arrangement of signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor, for vehicles in general B60Q; vehicles, vehicle fittings or vehicle parts not otherwise provided for B60R; servicing, cleaning, repairing, supporting, lifting, or manoeuvring, not otherwise provided for, B60S; brake arrangements, brake control systems or parts thereof B60T; air-cushion vehicles B60V; motor-cycles, accessories therefor B62J, B62K; testing of vehicles G01M)
- F16C: SHAFTS; FLEXIBLE SHAFTS; ELEMENTS OR CRANKSHAFT MECHANISMS; ROTARY BODIES OTHER THAN GEARING ELEMENTS; BEARINGS

## Abstract

A steering column (10), comprising: —a base (20); —a lower section (25), hinged to the base (20); —an intermediate section (30), hinged to the lower section (25); —an actuation lever (60) operable between a locked position, in which the actuation lever (60) is in stable equilibrium and constrains the mutual rotation of the lower section (25) relative to the base (20) and the mutual rotation of the intermediate section (30) relative to the lower section (25), and a first unlocked position or a second unlocked position, distinct from each other, in each of which it respectively releases one of the mutual rotation of the lower section (25) relative to the base (20) and the mutual rotation of the intermediate section (30) relative to the lower section (25).

## Claims

### Claim 1

A steering column (10), comprising:
a base (20);
a lower section (25), hinged to the base (20);
an intermediate section (30), hinged to the lower section (25);
an actuation lever (60) operable between a locked position, in which the actuation lever (60) is in stable equilibrium and constrains the mutual rotation of the lower section (25) relative to the base (20) and the mutual rotation of the intermediate section (30) relative to the lower section (25), and a first unlocked position or a second unlocked position, distinct from each other, in each of which it respectively releases one of the mutual rotation of the lower section (25) relative to the base (20) and the mutual rotation of the intermediate section (30) relative to the lower section (25);
wherein, in the first unlocked position and in the second unlocked position, the actuation lever (60) can be positioned in two distinct respective stable equilibrium positions.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

Steering column (10) according to claim 1, comprising an upper section (50) slidably connected to the intermediate section (30).

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

Steering column (10) according to claim 2, wherein the actuation lever (60) to the locked position can be adapted to block the mutual translational motion between the upper section (50) and the intermediate section (30) and be operable between the locked position and a further unlocked position, distinct from the first unlocked position and the second unlocked position, in which it frees the mutual translational motion of the upper section (50) with respect to the intermediate section (30).

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

Steering column (10) according to claim 3, wherein, in the further unlocked position, the actuation lever (60) is positioned in a stable equilibrium position.

### Claim 5 (depends on 3)

Steering column (10) according to claim 3, wherein between the upper section (50) and the intermediate section (30) a frictional locking assembly (54, 55) is interposed, equipped with a control member (53, 56) selectively operable between a closed position, in which it stops the sliding of the upper section (50) with respect to the intermediate section (30), and an open position, in which it releases the sliding of the upper section (50) relative to the intermediate section (30);
and wherein the actuation lever (60) can be connected to the control member (53, 56) for the actuation of the same selectively between the closed position and the open position, respectively in the locked position of the actuation lever (60) and in the further unlocked position of the same.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

Steering column (10) according to claim 5, wherein the actuation lever (60) is rotatably connected to the upper section (50) with respect to a first axis of oscillation (B) and comprise a cam (61) with an eccentric profile relative to the first axis of oscillation (B) and adapted to actuate the control member (53, 56) selectively between the closed position and the open position as a result of an oscillation of the cam (61) with respect to the first axis of oscillation (B) of a given angle of oscillation.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

Steering column (10) according to claim 1, wherein a first gas spring (40′) is interposed between the lower section (25) and the base (20), comprising:
a first cylinder (41′) hinged to the base (20) or to the lower section (25);
a first stem (42′) slidably connected to the cylinder (41′) and hinged to the lower section (25) or to the base (20); and
a first control element (43′) selectively operable between a stop position, in which it stops the sliding of the first stem (42′) relative to the first cylinder (41′), and an unlocked position, in which it releases the sliding of the first stem (42′) relative to the first cylinder (41′);
and wherein the actuation lever (60) is connected to the first control element (43′) for the selective actuation of the same between the stop position and the unlocked position, respectively in the locked position of the actuation lever (60) and in a second position of the two unlocked positions of the same.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

Steering column (10) according to claim 7, wherein the actuation lever (60) is rotatably connected to the upper section (50) with respect to a second axis of oscillation (C) and comprises at least an eccentric section (58) eccentric with respect to the second axis of oscillation to which the first control element (43′) is connected by a first traction cable (59′), for the actuation of the first control element (43) selectively between the stop position and the unlocked position as a result of an oscillation of the eccentric section (58) with respect to the second axis of oscillation (C) of a given angle of oscillation.

### Claim 9 (depends on 7)

Steering column (10) according to claim 7, wherein a second gas spring (40″) is interposed between the intermediate section (30) and the lower section (25), comprising:
a second cylinder (41″) hinged to the lower section (25) or to the intermediate section (30);
a second stem (42″) slidably connected to the second cylinder (41″) and hinged to the intermediate section (30) or to the lower section (25); and
a second control element (43″) selectively operable between a stop position, in which it stops the sliding motion of the second stem (42″) relative to the second cylinder (41″), and an unlocked position, in which it releases the sliding of the second stem (42″) relative to the second cylinder (41″);
and wherein the actuation lever (60) can be connected to the second control element (43″) for the selective actuation of the same between the stop position and the unlocked position, respectively in the locked position of the actuation lever (60) and in a second unlocked position of the same.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

Steering column (10) according to claim 9, wherein the actuation lever (60) may be rotatably connected to the upper section (50) with respect to a second axis of oscillation (C) and comprises at least an eccentric section (58) eccentric with respect to the second axis of oscillation (C) to which the second control element (43″) is connected by a second traction cable (59″), for the actuation of the second control element (43″) selectively between the stop position and the unlocked position as a result of an oscillation of the eccentric section (58) with respect to the second axis of oscillation (C) of a given angle of oscillation.