# US 5,700,032 A · Supporting apparatus for a steering column

> Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt

- Number: US 5,700,032 A
- Document ID: US5700032A
- Status: Granted
- Kind: A
- Application number: 08/581,342
- Filed: 1995-12-29
- Granted: 1997-12-23
- Earliest claimed: 1995-02-03
- Assignees: Nsk Ltd.
- Inventors: Yuichiro Fukunaga
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US5700032A

## CPC

- B62D 1/184: Mechanisms for locking columns at selected positions
- 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

In order to improve the support rigidity of a steering column in the left to right direction thereof, a spacer made of synthetic resin has portions disposed to be strongly sandwiched between the left and right sides of the steering column and the inner sides of left and right support plate portions of a support bracket for the steering column.

## Claims

### Claim 1

Steering column supporting apparatus comprising:
a steering column with a steering wheel connection portion provided at a rear end of said steering column;
a fixed bracket supported on and fixed to a vehicle body, said fixed bracket having a pair of left and right support plate portions disposed toward the rear end of said steering column;
a connecting portion connecting lower ends of said support plate portions together; and
a spacer made of synthetic resin which is resiliently pressed between inner sides of said left and right support plate portions and a left and a right side, respectively, of said steering column so as to substantially immovably fix said steering column relative to said fixed bracket.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

Steering column supporting apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said spacer is a one-piece U-shaped spacer member.

### Claim 3

Steering column supporting apparatus comprising:
a steering column;
a fixed bracket having a portion supported on and fixed to a vehicle body, said fixed bracket having a pair of support plate portions between which said steering column is received;
a connecting portion connecting end portions of said support plate portions together;
a tilt mechanism which permits height adjustment of said steering column; and
a one-piece, U-shaped spacer member made of synthetic resin and having resilient spacer portions respectively disposed between inner sides of said support plate portions and opposite sides of said steering column,
wherein said tilt mechanism includes a member which is moveable between a fixing position in which said resilient spacer portions are pressed to fix said steering column relative to said fixed bracket and a releasing position in which the pressing of said resilient spacer portions is released to permit relative movement between said steering column and said fixed bracket for height adjustment of said steering column.