# US 2017/0282958 A1 · Steering column for a motor vehicle > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2017/0282958 A1 - Document ID: US20170282958A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 15/503,820 - Filed: 2015-08-05 - Published: 2017-10-05 - Earliest claimed: 2014-08-14 - Assignees: Thyssenkrupp Presta AG; thyssenkrupp AG - Applicants: ThyssenKrupp Presta AG; ThyssenKrupp AG - Inventors: Hannes Kurz; Emanuel Schiele; Werner Adelmann; Matthias Nicolussi; Karl Mathias Hehle - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20170282958A1 ## CPC - B62D 1/184: Mechanisms for locking columns at selected positions - B62D 1/185: adjustable by axial displacement, e.g. telescopically (B62D1/183, B62D1/187, B62D1/19 take precedence) - B62D 1/187: with tilt adjustment; with tilt and axial adjustment (B62D1/183, B62D1/19 takes precedence) - 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 A steering column for a motor vehicle may include a holding element that is securable on a chassis of the motor vehicle, an adjustment element that is adjustable relative to the holding element and is configured to receive a steering shaft, and a locking device for locking the adjustment element relative to the holding element. The locking device may include a clamping lever that is movable between a locking position where the adjustment element is locked with respect to the holding element and an open position where the adjustment element is adjustable with respect to the holding element. The steering column may further include a retaining element that provides a form-fitting connection between the holding element and the adjustment element in the locking position of the clamping lever. The retaining element may include a slotted guide contour, which in the locking position of the clamping lever, is supported on a contact section of the clamping lever.” ## Claims ### Claim at position 1 1-10. (canceled) ### Claim 11 A steering column for a motor vehicle, the steering column comprising: a holding element that is securable to a chassis of the motor vehicle; an adjustment element that is adjustable relative to the holding element, the adjustment element for receiving a steering shaft; a locking device that locks the adjustment element relative to the holding element, the locking device comprising a clamping lever that is movable between a locking position in which the adjustment element is locked with respect to the holding element and an open position in which the adjustment element is adjustable with respect to the holding element; and a retaining element that provides a form-fitting connection between the holding element and the adjustment element in the locking position of the clamping lever, the retaining element comprising a slotted guide contour, which in the locking position of the clamping lever is supported against a stroke of the locking device on a contact section of the clamping lever or on a contact section connected for conjoint rotation to the clamping lever. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The steering column of claim 11 wherein the slotted guide contour is configured such that the retaining element is preloaded by contact with the contact section of the clamping lever to provide the form-fitting connection. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The steering column of claim 11 wherein the slotted guide contour is ramp-shaped so as to move the retaining element from an open position into a form-fitting position through contact with the contact section of the clamping lever. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The steering column of claim 11 wherein a toothing of the retaining element is engageable with a mating toothing of the holding element to form the form-fitting connection. ### Claim 15 (depends on 11) The steering column of claim 11 wherein the retaining element comprises an attachment section by way of which the retaining element is attached to the adjustment element, wherein the attachment section is penetrated by a clamping pin for applying a clamping force in the locking position of the clamping lever. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The steering column of claim 15 wherein the attachment section comprises an aperture that is penetrated by the clamping pin. ### Claim 17 (depends on 11) The steering column of claim 11 wherein the retaining element comprises a locking section that accommodates a form-fitting element, the locking section comprising the slotted guide contour and being connected by a springy section to an attachment section attached to the adjustment element. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The steering column of claim 17 wherein the form-fitting element is a toothing. ### Claim 19 (depends on 11) The steering column of claim 11 wherein the locking device comprises a clamping mechanism that acts on an attachment section of the retaining element, wherein a locking section of the retaining element is preloaded independently of the clamping mechanism by contact of the contact section of the clamping lever with the slotted guide contour to produce the form-fitting connection. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The steering column of claim 19 wherein the clamping mechanism comprises wedging disks or a cam mechanism. ### Claim 21 (depends on 11) The steering column of claim 11 wherein the clamping lever performs a rotary motion or a translational motion between the locking position and the open position. ### Claim 22 (depends on 11) The steering column of claim 11 wherein the retaining element is configured as a springy sheet-metal part. ### Claim 23 (depends on 11) The steering column of claim 11 wherein the retaining element comprises a springy section that preloads the retaining element out of the form-fitting connection. ### Claim 24 A steering column for a motor vehicle, the steering column comprising: a holding element that is securable to a chassis of the motor vehicle; an adjustment element that is adjustable relative to the holding element, the adjustment element for receiving a steering shaft; a locking device that locks the adjustment element relative to the holding element, the locking device comprising a clamping lever that is movable between a locking position in which the adjustment element is locked with respect to the holding element and an open position in which the adjustment element is adjustable with respect to the holding element; and a retaining element that is attached to the adjustment element and provides a connection between the holding element and the adjustment element in the locking position of the clamping lever, wherein in the locking position of the clamping lever the retaining element fixedly engages with the holding element or a structure secured to the holding element to prevent the adjustment element from moving relative to the holding element. ### Claim 25 (depends on 24) The steering column of claim 24 wherein in the locking position of the clamping lever toothing of the retaining element fixedly engages with mating toothing of or disposed on the holding element. ### Claim 26 (depends on 24) The steering column of claim 24 wherein the retaining element comprises a slotted guide contour that in the locking position of the clamping lever is supported against a stroke of the locking device on a contact section of the clamping lever or on a contact section connected for conjoint rotation to the clamping lever. ### Claim 27 (depends on 24) The steering column of claim 24 further comprising two wedging disks that are rotatable relative to one another, wherein rotation of the clamping lever causes rotation of two wedging disks relative to one another, which in turn causes a clamping stroke whereby the adjustment element is locked in place. ### Claim 28 (depends on 24) The steering column of claim 24 wherein the retaining element further comprises an attachment section with an aperture, wherein the attachment section is attached to the adjustment element and a clamping pin extends through the aperture of the attachment section of the retaining element. ### Claim 29 (depends on 24) The steering column of claim 24 further comprising two wedging disks that are rotatable relative to one another, wherein rotation of the clamping lever causes rotation of two wedging disks relative to one another, which in turn causes a clamping stroke whereby the adjustment element is locked in place, wherein the retaining element further comprises an attachment section with an aperture, wherein the attachment section is attached to the adjustment element and a clamping pin extends through the aperture of the attachment section of the retaining element, wherein the aperture of the attachment section is configured so as to receive in a form-fitting manner one of the wedging disks and secure that wedging disk against rotation in the aperture. ### Claim 30 (depends on 29) The steering column of claim 29 wherein a portion of the wedging disk that is received in the aperture of the attachment section of the retaining element extends through the aperture and into a slotted hole of the holding element through which the clamping pin also extends, wherein the portion of the wedging disk extending into the slotted hole of the holding element prevents the retaining element and the wedging disk received by the retaining element from rotating relative to the holding element.