# US 8,783,717 B2 · Steering column telescope lock > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,783,717 B2 - Document ID: US8783717B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 12/952,966 - Filed: 2010-11-23 - Published: 2012-05-24 - Granted: 2014-07-22 - Earliest claimed: 2010-11-23 - Assignees: Steering Solutions IP Holding Corporation - Applicants: Melvin Lee Tinnin; Kevin M Burns; John Frank Schulz; Richard K. Riefe - Inventors: Melvin Lee Tinnin; Kevin M Burns; John Frank Schulz; Richard K. Riefe - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8783717B2 ## CPC - B62D 1/184: Mechanisms for locking columns at selected positions - B62D 1/195: {Yieldable supports for the steering column} - 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 A telescope lock mechanism for a steering column includes a plurality of column teeth operably connected to the steering column and an adjustment lever operably connected to the steering column to allow user adjustment of a position of the steering column. A locking bolt extends from the adjustment lever, and a cam is located at the locking bolt and rotatable thereon. The cam includes one or more tab features interactive with the locking bolt such that rotation of the locking bolt engages the tab features with the locking bolt to drive rotation of the cam between a locked and unlocked position. The tab further includes a plurality of cam teeth meshable with the plurality of column teeth when the cam is in a locked position. A spring is operably connected to the cam to maintain the cam position in the locked and/or unlocked position when the cam is rotated thereto. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A telescope lock mechanism for a steering column comprising: a plurality of column teeth operably connected to the steering column; an adjustment lever operably connected to the steering column to allow user adjustment of a position of the steering column; a locking bolt extending from the adjustment lever; a cam disposed at the locking bolt and rotatable thereon, the cam including: one or more tab features interactive with the locking bolt such that rotation of the locking bolt engages the tab features with the locking bolt to drive rotation of the cam between a locked and unlocked position; and a plurality of cam teeth meshable with the plurality of column teeth when the cam is in a locked position; a spring operably connected to the cam to maintain the cam position in the locked and/or unlocked position when the cam is rotated thereto; and a spring axis of the spring disposed between the cam teeth and a bolt axis of the locking bolt when the cam is disposed in the locked position. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The telescope lock mechanism of claim 1, wherein the cam is eccentrically-shaped. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The telescope lock mechanism of claim 1, wherein the plurality of column teeth are disposed at an energy absorbing strap, the locking bolt extending between the energy absorbing strap and the steering column. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The telescope lock mechanism of claim 3, wherein the energy absorbing strap is secured to an upper jacket of the steering column assembly. ### Claim 5 (depends on 3) The telescope lock mechanism of claim 3, wherein the spring is secured at a first end to the cam and at a second end to the steering column. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The telescope lock mechanism of claim 1, wherein the locking bolt is operably connected to the cam via a recess in the cam. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The telescope lock mechanism of claim 6, wherein a bolt driver secured to the locking bolt is at least partially insertable into the recess to operably connect the cam to the locking bolt. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The telescope lock mechanism of claim 1, wherein the meshing of the column teeth with the cam teeth occurs with an application of a crash release load to the steering column. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The telescope lock mechanism of claim 1, wherein when the cam is disposed in the unlocked position, a bolt axis of the locking bolt is disposed between a spring axis of the spring and the cam teeth. ### Claim 10 A steering column assembly comprising: a lower jacket; an upper jacket slidably disposed in the lower jacket; an adjustment lever operably connected to the upper jacket and/or the lower jacket to allow user adjustment of a position of the upper jacket relative to the lower jacket along a column axis; and a telescope lock mechanism in operable communication with the upper jacket and the lower jacket comprising: a plurality of column teeth operably connected to the upper jacket; a locking bolt extending from the adjustment lever; a cam disposed at the locking bolt and rotatable thereon, the cam including: one or more tab features interactive with the locking bolt such that rotation of the locking bolt engages the tab features with the locking bolt to drive rotation of the cam between a locked and unlocked position; and a plurality of cam teeth meshable with the plurality of column teeth when the cam is in a locked position; a spring operably connected to the cam to maintain the cam position in the locked and/or unlocked position when the cam is rotated thereto; and a spring axis of the spring disposed between the cam teeth and a bolt axis of the locking bolt when the cam is disposed in the locked position. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The steering column assembly of claim 10, wherein the cam is eccentrically-shaped. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The steering column assembly of claim 10, wherein the plurality of column teeth are disposed at an energy absorbing strap, the locking bolt extending between the steering column and the energy absorbing strap. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The steering column assembly of claim 12, wherein the energy absorbing strap is secured to the upper jacket. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The steering column assembly of claim 12, wherein the spring is secured at a first end to the cam and at a second end to the steering column. ### Claim 15 (depends on 10) The steering column assembly of claim 10, wherein the locking bolt is operably connected to the cam via a recess in the cam. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The steering column assembly of claim 15, wherein a bolt driver secured to the locking bolt is at least partially insertable into the recess to operably connect the cam to the locking bolt. ### Claim 17 (depends on 10) The steering column of claim 10, wherein the meshing of the column teeth with the cam teeth occurs with an application of a crash release load to the steering column assembly. ### Claim 18 (depends on 10) The steering column assembly of claim 10, wherein when the cam is disposed in the unlocked position, a bolt axis of the locking bolt is disposed between a spring axis of the spring and the cam teeth.