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US 2019/0054949 A1Published application
Steering column flexible cover standoff
AssigneeFord Global Technologies, LLC
InventorsErik William Soderlind, Taras Palczynski
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Methods, apparatus, systems and articles of manufacture are disclosed for a standoff to be coupled to a telescoping steering column, the standoff configured to be mounted adjacent an end stop opening in the steering column and to prevent a flexible cover mounted above the steering column from entering the end stop opening.
Claims24
An apparatus comprising:
- a telescoping steering column having an end stop opening;
- a shroud extending over a portion of the end stop opening;
- a flexible cover coupled to the shroud and extending toward the end stop opening;
- a standoff coupled to the steering column adjacent the end stop opening, the standoff configured to prevent the cover from entering the end stop opening;
- and
- a lever arm configured to breakaway the standoff from the steering column in response to a stroke event of the steering column.
3 more elements
(canceled)
(canceled)
An apparatus comprising:
- a telescoping steering column having an end stop opening;
- a flexible cover mounted above the steering column and extending toward the end stop opening;
- a standoff coupled to the steering column adjacent the end stop, the standoff configured to prevent the flexible cover from entering the end stop opening;
- and
- a lever arm configured to separate the standoff from the steering column in response to a stroke event of the steering column.
2 more elements
(canceled)
An apparatus comprising:
- a telescoping steering column including an upwardly facing end stop opening;
- a rigid shroud extending over a portion of the steering column;
- a flexible cover coupled to the shroud and extending toward the end stop opening;
- a standoff positioned between the cover and the steering column to prevent the cover from entering the end stop opening;
- and
- a lever arm to breakaway the standoff as a result of a stroke event of the steering column.
3 more elements
An apparatus comprising:
- a standoff coupled to a steering column, the standoff positioned adjacent an upwardly facing opening formed in the steering column, the opening associated with a telescoping operation of the steering column, the standoff configured to prevent a flexible cover located above the opening from entering the opening, the standoff including a first portion extending away from the steering column, the first portion defining a tapered aperture;
- and
- a lever arm configured to breakaway the first portion of the standoff from the steering column in response to a stroke event of the steering column, the lever arm including a wedge configured to engage the tapered aperture to cause the first portion to breakaway from the steering column, the breakaway caused by a shearing of the first portion.
An apparatus comprising:
- a standoff coupled to a telescoping steering column, the standoff mounted adjacent an end stop opening formed in the steering column, the standoff configured to prevent a flexible cover mounted above the steering column from entering the end stop opening, the standoff including a first portion extending away from the steering column, the first portion defining an aperture;
- and
- a lever arm configured to separate the first portion of the standoff from the steering column in response to a stroke event of the steering column, the lever arm including a portion configured to engage the aperture to cause the first portion to separate from the steering column.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.