# US 2014/0196564 A1 · Steering column of vehicle > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0196564 A1 - Document ID: US20140196564A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 14/154,471 - Filed: 2014-01-14 - Published: 2014-07-17 - Earliest claimed: 2013-01-15 - Assignees: Mando Corporation - Applicants: Mando Corporation - Inventors: Gwi Sik BANG; Sang CHUL Ku - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140196564A1 ## CPC - B62D 1/187: with tilt adjustment; with tilt and axial adjustment (B62D1/183, B62D1/19 takes precedence) - B62D 1/184: Mechanisms for locking columns at selected positions - 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) ## Abstract The present invention relates to a steering column of a vehicle. In the steering column, inclined telescopic long holes are formed in the telescopic guide portions, thereby solving the problem of uneven diffusion of a lever force. Further, locking operations after tilt and telescopic operations can be achieved only with tilt locking gears. Therefore, the number of required elements can be reduced, material costs can be reduced and the column can be configured in a compact size. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A steering column of a vehicle, comprising: a hollow lower tube that encloses a steering shaft connected to a steering wheel; and an upper tube formed in a hollow shape such that the lower tube is inserted into and coupled to the upper tube, and provided with telescopic guide portions that protrude from an outer circumferential surface of the upper tube to face each other and are formed with telescopic long holes, through which an adjustable bolt is coupled, the telescoping long holes being formed to be inclined by a predetermined angle in relation to a direction parallel to an direction of a central axis of the steering shaft, and a slot cut in the direction of the central axis of the steering shaft being formed at the outer circumferential surface between the telescopic guide portions. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The steering column as claimed in claim 1, wherein the telescopic long holes are formed to be inclined such that a distance between the steering wheel side ends of the telescopic long holes and the central axis of the steering shaft is longer than the distance between the other side ends and the steering shaft. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The steering column as claimed in claim 2, wherein the opposite ends of the telescopic long holes are formed to be rounded with a radius corresponding to the radius of the adjustable bolt. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The steering column as claimed in claim 1, further comprising: a tilt locking gear assembly that includes a first tilt locking gear coupled to one side of plate brackets provided at both sides of the telescopic guide portions, a second tilt locking gear engaged with the first tilt locking gear, and an elastic support interposed between the first tilt locking gear and the second tilt locking gear to provide an elastic supporting force to the second tilt locking gear. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The steering column as claimed in claim 4, further comprising: a cam assembly that includes a fixed cam which is coupled to the other side of the plate brackets and formed with a first cam protrusion, and an operation cam formed with a second cam protrusion which abuts on the first cam protrusion, the adjustment lever being coupled with the operation cam. ### Claim 6 (depends on 4) The steering column as claimed in claim 4, wherein the first tilt locking gear includes a first hole formed at a center thereof, the adjustable bolt being inserted through the first hole, and first gear teeth being formed at both sides of the first hole to be parallel to each other, and wherein the second tilt locking gear is formed in a rectangular block shape and includes a second hole formed at a center thereof, the adjustable bolt being inserted through the second hole, and second gear teeth being formed at both sides of the second hole to be parallel to each other and engaged with the first gear teeth. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The steering column as claimed in claim 5, wherein the first tilt locking gear includes a first hole formed at a center thereof, the adjustable bolt being inserted through the first hole, and first gear teeth being formed at both sides of the first hole to be parallel to each other, and wherein the second tilt locking gear is formed in a rectangular block shape and includes a second hole formed at a center thereof, the adjustable bolt being inserted through the second hole, and second gear teeth being formed at both sides of the second hole to be parallel to each other and engaged with the first gear teeth. ### Claim 8 (depends on 6) The steering column as claimed in claim 6, wherein the second tilt locking gear is formed with a stepped groove sunk in a polygonal shape around the second hole on the surface opposite to the surface formed with the second gear teeth, and wherein the adjustable bolt inserted through the second hole of the second tilt locking gear is formed with a polygonal head portion at one end which is inserted into the stepped groove. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The steering column as claimed in claim 7, wherein the second tilt locking gear is formed with a stepped groove sunk in a polygonal shape around the second hole on the surface opposite to the surface formed with the second gear teeth, and wherein the adjustable bolt inserted through the second hole of the second tilt locking gear is formed with a polygonal head portion at one end which is inserted into the stepped groove. ### Claim 10 (depends on 4) The steering column as claimed in claim 4, wherein the elastic support includes: a hollow body portion, the second tilt locking gear abutting on the body portion to be supported; and elastic support legs protruding toward the second tilt locking gear at both sides of the body portion and then bent toward the first tilt locking gear to be supported by the first tilt locking gear so as to provide an elastic supporting force to the second tilt locking gear. ### Claim 11 (depends on 5) The steering column as claimed in claim 5, wherein the elastic support includes: a hollow body portion, the second tilt locking gear abutting on the body portion to be supported; and elastic support legs protruding toward the second tilt locking gear at both sides of the body portion and then bent toward the first tilt locking gear to be supported by the first tilt locking gear so as to provide an elastic supporting force to the second tilt locking gear. ### Claim 12 (depends on 6) The steering column as claimed in claim 6, wherein the elastic support includes: a hollow body portion, the second tilt locking gear abutting on the body portion to be supported; and elastic support legs protruding toward the second tilt locking gear at both sides of the body portion and then bent toward the first tilt locking gear to be supported by the first tilt locking gear so as to provide an elastic supporting force to the second tilt locking gear. ### Claim 13 (depends on 7) The steering column as claimed in claim 7, wherein the elastic support includes: a hollow body portion, the second tilt locking gear abutting on the body portion to be supported; and elastic support legs protruding toward the second tilt locking gear at both sides of the body portion and then bent toward the first tilt locking gear to be supported by the first tilt locking gear so as to provide an elastic supporting force to the second tilt locking gear. ### Claim 14 (depends on 8) The steering column as claimed in claim 8, wherein the elastic support includes: a hollow body portion, the second tilt locking gear abutting on the body portion to be supported; and elastic support legs protruding toward the second tilt locking gear at both sides of the body portion and then bent toward the first tilt locking gear to be supported by the first tilt locking gear so as to provide an elastic supporting force to the second tilt locking gear. ### Claim 15 (depends on 9) The steering column as claimed in claim 9, wherein the elastic support includes: a hollow body portion, the second tilt locking gear abutting on the body portion to be supported; and elastic support legs protruding toward the second tilt locking gear at both sides of the body portion and then bent toward the first tilt locking gear to be supported by the first tilt locking gear so as to provide an elastic supporting force to the second tilt locking gear.