Adjustable steering column support

Apparatus for adjustably mounting a steering column in a vehicle comprising:

• a. a frame assembly fixedly mounted within the vehicle and defining a longitudinal axis;
• b. a movable member rigidly mounted to the steering column and oriented within said frame assembly for longitudinal and rotational movement relative thereto, said movable member including a frictional surface oppositely disposed from the steering column;
• c. said frame assembly defining a first pair of spaced apart, elongated slots and a second pair of spaced apart, elongated slots, said first and second pairs of slots being oppositely disposed about said longitudinal axis;
• d. a first frictional assembly including a first elongated member extending through said first pair of slots and disposed adjacent said frictional surface, and a second frictional assembly including a second elongated member extending through said second pair of slots and disposed adjacent said frictional surface;
• e. clamping means pivotally mounted to said movable member for movement therewith, said clamping means including means for actuating said clamping means, said actuating means being movable between an operative, clamped condition and a neutral, unclamped condition;
• f. said clamping means, with said actuating means in said operative condition, exerting a force biasing said first elongated member into frictional engagement with said adjacent frictional surface of said movable member and with the surfaces of said first pair of slots disposed furthest from said longitudinal axis, and a force biasing said second elongated member into frictional engagement with said adjacent frictional surface of said movable member and with the surfaces of said second pair of slots disposed furthest from said longitudinal axis;
• and
• g. said clamping means, with said actuating means in said neutral condition, releasing said biasing forces on said first and second elongated members to permit simultaneous longitudinal and rotational movement of said movable member relative to said frame assembly prior to subsequent return of said actuating means to said operative conditon.

Apparatus for adjustably mounting a steering column in a vehicle, comprising:

• a. a frame assembly fixedly mounted within the vehicle and defining a longitudinal axis;
• b. a movable member rigidly mounted to the steering column and operatively associated with said frame assembly for longitudinal and rotational movement relative thereto, said movable member including a locking surface;
• c. first and second locking members oppositely disposed about said longitudinal axis and disposed adjacent said locking surface;
• d. said frame assembly including means for guiding the movement of said first and second locking members relative to said frame assembly;
• e. clamping means pivotally mounted relative to one of said frame assembly and said movable member, said clamping means including means for actuating said clamping means, said actuating means being movable between an operative condition and a neutral condition;
• f. said clamping means, with said actuating means in said operative condition, exerting a force biasing each of said first and second locking members into cooperative locking engagement with said adjacent locking surface of said movable member and with said guiding means to maintain said movable member in a fixed position relative to said frame assembly;
• and
• g. said clamping means, with said actuating means in said neutral condition, releasing said biasing force on said first and second locking members and selectively permitting longitudinal and rotational movement of said movable member relative to said frame assembly.

Apparatus for adjustably mounting a steering column in a vehicle comprising:

• a. a frame assembly fixedly mounted within the vehicle and defining a longitudinal axis;
• b. a movable member rigidly mounted to the steering column and operatively associated with said frame assembly for longitudinal and rotational movement relative thereto, said movable member including a locking surface;
• c. said frame assembly defining a first pair of spaced apart, elongated slots and a second pair of spaced apart, elongated slots, said first and second pairs of slots being oppositely disposed about said longitudinal axis;
• d. a first locking assembly including a first elongated member extending through said first pair of slots and disposed adjacent said locking surface, and a second locking assembly including a second elongated member extending through said second pair of slots and disposed adjacent said locking surface;
• e. said frame assembly defining a pair of spaced apart, centrally-located guide slots;
• f. means associated with said movable member and with said guide slots for guiding the longitudinal movement of said movable member relative to said frame assembly;
• g. means for selectively exerting a force biasing each of said first and second locking assemblies into cooperative locking engagement with said adjacent locking surface of said movable member and with said first and second pairs of slots, respectively, to maintain said movable member in a fixed position relative to said frame assembly and for releasing said biasing force on said first and second locking assemblies to permit movement of said movable member relative to said frame assembly.