# US 4,396,207 A · Tilt type steering device > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 4,396,207 A - Document ID: US4396207A - Status: Granted - Kind: A - Application number: 06/305,517 - Filed: 1981-09-25 - Granted: 1983-08-02 - Earliest claimed: 1980-09-29 - Assignees: Nippon Seiko Kabushiki Kaisha - Inventors: Fumisada Okamoto - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US4396207A ## CPC - 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 - Y10T 74/20636: Detents - 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) - Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION ## Abstract A tilt steering device has an upper bracket and a lower bracket. The upper bracket has downwardly extending side plates on the opposite sides thereof and overlapping portions of upwardly extending side plates on the lower bracket. An angle limiting device couples the upper bracket tiltably with the lower bracket, and a first spring urges the upper bracket toward an upper-most position. A rod is supported for rotation and axial movement by the side plates of one of the brackets. A connecting arm is fixed to the rod and extends adjacent to one of the side plates of the other bracket. An operating lever is connected to the rod so as to be capable of imparting to the rod rotation and axial movement resisting biasing force of a second spring which urges the connecting arm axially of the rod toward the one side plates. A selecting device is provided on said one bracket. The selecting device is provided with a plurality of portions arranged at radial positions entered at the center of rotation of the rod with predetermined selected angles therebetween to engage an engaging portion of one of the rod and the operating lever. The connecting arm has a coupling protrusion at the other end thereof. The side plate of the other bracket which is adjacent to the connecting arm is provided with a plurality of coupling holes capable of mating with the coupling protrusion of the connecting arm. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A tilt type steering device having an upper bracket fixed to the lower portion of an upper column rotatably supporting an upper shaft having a steering wheel mounted thereon; said upper bracket having downwardly extending side plates on the opposite sides thereof, a lower bracket fixed to the upper portion of a lower column fitted over a lower shaft connected to a steering gear and mounted on a vehicle body portion, said lower bracket having upwardly extending side plates on the opposite sides thereof, the side plates of one of said upper and lower brackets being overlapped with the side plates of the other bracket, an angle limiting means for coupling said upper and lower brackets and permitting said upper bracket to tilt with respect to said lower bracket between an upper-most position and a lower-most position on the center line of a joint connecting said upper and lower shafts together, a first biasing means for biasing said upper bracket toward the upper-most position, a rod member supported for rotation and axial movement by the side plates of one of said brackets, a connecting member fixed to said rod member and extending adjacent to one of the side plates of the other bracket, a second biasing means for biasing said connecting member axially of said rod member toward said one side plate, an operating member connected to said rod member so as to be capable of imparting to said rod member rotation and axial movement resisting the biasing force of said second biasing means, an engaging means provided on one of said rod member and said operating member, a selecting means provided on said one bracket, said selecting means being provided with a plurality of portions arranged at radial positions centered at the center of rotation of said rod member with predetermined selected angles therebetween, said portions restraining said engaging means, said connecting member having a coupling protrusion at the outer end thereof, the side plate of the other bracket which is adjacent to said connecting member being provided with a plurality of coupling holes capable of mating with said coupling protrusion of said connecting member, a first one of said coupling holes being adapted to mate with said coupling protrusion when said engaging means is restrained in one of said portions of said selecting means and the steering wheel is in its neutral position, the other coupling holes being provided at positions whereat they mate with said coupling protrusion when said engaging means is restrained in the other portion of said selecting means than the portion of said selecting means which has restrained said engaging means when the steering wheel is in its neutral position and when said upper bracket is tilted with respect to said lower bracket forming predetermined tilt angles relative to the position of said upper bracket which it takes when the steering wheel is in its neutral position. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) A tilt type steering device according to claim 1, wherein the other coupling holes than said first coupling hole are provided about the point of intersection between a plurality of arcs passing through points of intersection between an arc centered at the center of rotation O.sub.1 of said rod member and having as its radius the distance from the center of rotation O.sub.1 to the center O.sub.2 of said first coupling hole when the steering wheel is in its neutral position and a plurality of straight lines passing through the center of rotation O.sub.1 of said rod member at an angle equal to the sum of more than one of said selected angles with respect to a straight line passing through said two centers O.sub.1 to O.sub.2, and centered at the center of tilting motion O.sub.3 between said two brackets; and straight lines on said first coupling hole side passing through the center of tilting motion O.sub.3 at angles equal to the tilt angles with respect to straight lines passing through the center of tilting motion O.sub.3 and said point of intersections between said arc centered at the center of rotation O.sub.1 and said straight lines passing through the center of rotation O.sub.1.