# US 7,406,845 B2 · Steering column lock assembly and method of operating the same

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- Number: US 7,406,845 B2
- Document ID: US7406845B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 11/167,874
- Filed: 2005-06-27
- Published: 2006-12-28
- Granted: 2008-08-05
- Earliest claimed: 2005-06-27
- Assignees: Chrysler Corporation
- Inventors: Melonee Wise; Richard D Zielesch, Jr.; Richard Stuedemann; Michael Laraia; Timothy Gasparski; William J Elliott; Mark O Minty; Travis D Bechtel
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US7406845B2

## CPC

- B60R 25/02115: {key actuated}
- Y10T 70/5664: Latching bolt
- Y10T 70/5956: Steering mechanism with switch
- B60R: VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION

## Abstract

A steering column lock assembly and a method of operating the same, the steering column lock assembly including a steering column having a gear portion and a rotatable shaft; an actuator operably attached to the steering column, the actuator being free to translate with respect to the steering column; and a lever arm operably attached to the steering column; wherein translation of the actuator engages the lever arm with the gear portion to lock the steering column.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A steering column lock assembly comprising:
a steering column having a gear portion and a rotatable shaft;
an actuator operably attached to the steering column, the actuator being free to translate wit respect to the steering column;
a lever arm operably attached to the steering column;
wherein translation of the actuator engages the lever arm with the gear portion to lock the steering column; and
a cable operably attached to at least one of an ignition assembly or a motor, to slide the actuator.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The assembly of claim 1 wherein the gear portion comprises a plurality of uniformly spaced teeth.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The assembly of claim 1 wherein the gear portion comprises four uniformly spaced teeth.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The assembly of claim 1 wherein the actuator comprises:
an aperture formed in the actuator; and
an actuator pin disposed in the aperture to provide sliding translation of the actuator with respect to the steering column.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The assembly of claim 1 wherein the actuator has an actuator lip portion, the lever arm has a lever pin, and the actuator lip portion engages the lever pin.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The assembly of claim 1 wherein the lever arm comprises a torsion spring biasing the lever arm toward the gear portion.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The assembly of claim 1 wherein the steering column is operably attached to a vehicle.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The assembly of claim 1 further comprising a mounting fixture operably attached to the steering column to support the actuator and the lever arm.

### Claim 9

A method of operating a steering column lock assembly, the method comprising:
providing a steering column including a gear portion and a rotatable shaft;
providing an actuator and a lever arm operably attached to the steering column;
translating the actuator with respect to the steering column;
engaging the gear portion with the lever arm as a result of the translating;
locking the steering column as a result of the engaging;
biasing the lever arm toward the gear portion.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The method of claim 9 wherein the translating the actuator comprises translating the actuator with an ignition assembly.

### Claim 11 (depends on 9)

The method of claim 9 wherein the translating the actuator comprises translating the actuator with a motor.

### Claim 12 (depends on 9)

The method of claim 9 wherein the translating the actuator comprises a sliding the actuator.

### Claim 13 (depends on 9)

The method of claim 9 wherein the engaging the gear portion wit the lever arm comprises rotating the lever arm.

### Claim 14 (depends on 9)

The method of claim 9 further comprising supporting the actuator and the lever arm on the steering column.

### Claim 15

A steering column lack assembly comprising:
a steering column including a gear portion and a rotatable shaft;
an actuator and a lever arm operably attached to the steering column;
means for supporting the actuator and the lever arm to the steering column;
means for translating the actuator with respect to the steering column;
means for engaging the gear portion with the lever arm as a result of a rotation of the shaft and the translation of the actuator;
means for locking the steering column as a result of the engagement of the gear portion with the lever arm; and
means for biasing the lever arm toward the gear portion.

### Claim 16 (depends on 15)

The assembly of claim 15 wherein the translating means is selected from the group consisting of an ignition assembly and a motor.