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US 4,907,427 AGranted
Steering wheel shaft lock assembly
OwnerEnnels D. Armstronginventor
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OwnerEnnels D. Armstronginventor
Estimating the term…
A steering wheel lock assembly includes a plunger for mating engagement with an opening in a steering wheel shaft or a rack of a rack and pinion steering assembly and an actuating mechanism for selectively applying a force to move the plunger towards mating engagement with the shaft opening. A bi-directional biasing mechanism operatively connected between the actuating mechanism and the plunger biases the plunger towards engagement with the opening when the actuating mechanism applies force thereagainst and the plunger is unaligned with the opening and biasing the plunger out of engagement with the opening when force applied by the actuating mechanism is selectively removed and the opening is applying a torque on the plunger to retain the plunger therein such that release of the torque disengages the plunger. The assembly will prevent subsequent locking and unlocking of the device if an actuating cable to the device is disconnected. A latch operatively connected to an indicator prevents accidental locking of the device.
A steering wheel shaft lock assembly comprising:
An assembly as set forth in claim 13 including a fixed plate disposed between said drive connector member and said driven member, said drive screw member extending through said fixed plate and being rotatable and axially fixed relative thereto, said assembly including biasing means disposed between said fixed plate and said driver connector member for biasing said driver connector member towards said drive cable and out of operative connection with said drive screw member, said drive cable being in compression between said drive means and said driver connector member for applying a force to said driver connector member opposite in direction to said biasing means, said driver connector member including at least one inhibitor port therein extending radially outwardly from an axial center thereof, said outer housing including an annular recess therein, said inhibitor means including outwardly biased locking pin members disposed in said inhibitor ports whereby cutting of said drive cable allows said biasing means to axially bias said drive connector member through said inner housing to align said outwardly biased locking pin members with said recess, said locking pin members seating in said recess to prevent any further axial moVement of said driver connector member and maintaining said driver connector member out of operative engagement with said drive screw member.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.