Adjustable steering column assembly with compressive locking mechanism

An adjustable steering column assembly having a steering shaft and being securable to a support structure within a vehicle, said assembly comprising:

• a jacket member defining a jacket axis, the steering shaft extending through said jacket member, said jacket member and the steering shaft being adjustably pivotal together about a tilt axis, said tilt axis extending substantially perpendicular to said jacket axis;
• a compression member being a bar that is secured to a portion of said jacket member and extending in a direction parallel to the jacket axis wherein said compression member defines a first thickness in a direction substantially transverse to said jacket axis, the first thickness being less than a radius of the jacket member in the direction substantially transverse to the jacket axis, said compression member further defining an axially elongate slot extending through said compression member in direction substantially transverse to said jacket axis;
• a bracket member, said bracket member having a substantially U-shaped portion with first and second opposing sidewalls and an interconnecting portion extending between said first and second sidewalls, said bracket member being adapted for non-moveable securement to the support structure within the vehicle, said jacket member being operably coupled with said bracket member wherein said tilt axis extends substantially transversely relative to said first and second opposing sidewalls and said jacket member is selectively pivotal relative to said bracket member within said U-shaped portion of said bracket member, and wherein said first and second sidewalls each have an inward facing surface and an outward facing surface and respectively define first and second passages extending between said inward and outward facing surfaces;
• first and second spacers, each of said first and second spacers defining a channel extending therethrough;
• an elongate locking member extending through said first and second passages, said channels defined by said first and second spacers and said axially elongate slot defined by said compression member wherein said first and second spacers are located on opposite sides of said compression member between said compression member and a respective one of said first and second opposing sidewalls, said elongate locking member being repositioned relative to at least one of said jacket member and said bracket member as said jacket member is pivoted relative to said bracket member;
• first and second abutment surfaces, said first abutment surface engageable with said outwardly facing surface of said first sidewall, said second abutment surface engageable with said outwardly facing surface of said second sidewall, said elongate locking member being operably coupled with said first and second abutment surfaces wherein forces biasing said first and second abutment surfaces apart place said elongate locking member in tension;
• and
• an actuator assembly operably coupled with said first and second abutment surfaces, said actuator assembly being moveable between an unlocked position and a locked position wherein movement of said actuator assembly moves said steering column assembly between an unlocked position wherein said first and second abutment surfaces define a first distance therebetween, and a locked position wherein said first and second abutment surfaces define a second distance therebetween, said first distance being greater than said second distance wherein, in said locked position, said first and second abutment surfaces exert a compressive force on said first and second opposing sidewalls whereby said first and second sidewalls deflect inwardly and compressively secure said compression member between said first and second spacers and thereby inhibit relative movement of said compressive member and said bracket member and wherein, in said unlocked position, the compressive force exerted by said first and second abutment surfaces is reduced to thereby permit relative movement of said compressive member and said bracket member.

An adjustable steering column assembly having a steering shaft and being securable to a support structure within a vehicle, said assembly comprising:

• a jacket member defining a jacket axis, the steering shaft extending through said jacket member, said jacket member and the steering shaft being adjustably pivotal together about a tilt axis, said tilt axis extending substantially perpendicular to said jacket axis along a central plane;
• a bracket member, having a first and second opposing sidewalls and an interconnecting portion extending between said first and second sidewalls, said bracket member secured to the support structure within the vehicle, said jacket member being operably coupled with said bracket member wherein said tilt axis extends substantially transversely relative to said first and second opposing sidewalls, and wherein said first and second sidewalls each have an inward facing surface and an outward facing surface and respectively define first and second passages extending between said inward and outward facing surfaces;
• a compression member is disposed along said central plane and having a first thickness in a direction substantially transverse to said jacket axis, the first thickness being less than a radius of the jacket member in the direction substantially transverse to the jacket axis, said compression member further defining an axially elongate slot extending through said compression member in direction substantially transverse to said jacket axis, the compression member being a bar coupled to a portion of the jacket member;
• first and second spacers, said first spacer extending between said first sidewall and said compression member, said second spacers extending between said compression member and said second sidewall;
• an elongate locking member extending through said first and second passages, channels in said spacers and said axially elongate slot in said compression member, said elongate locking member being repositioned relative to at least one of said jacket member and said bracket member as said jacket member is pivoted relative to said bracket member;
• an actuator assembly operably coupled with a first and a second abutment surface, said actuator assembly being moveable between an unlocked position and a locked position and movement of said actuator assembly moves said steering column assembly between an unlocked position wherein said first and second abutment surfaces define a first distance therebetween, and a locked position wherein said first and second abutment surfaces define a second distance therebetween, said first distance being greater than said second distance wherein, in said locked position, said first and second abutment surfaces exert a compressive force on said first and second opposing sidewalls, said first and second sidewalls deflect inwardly.