Patent · US Expired

Steering lock for a motor vehicle steering column

US6234039A · kind A · utility

12Cited by
7References
14Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateFeb 7, 2000
Grant dateMay 22, 2001
Priority date
Expiry dateFeb 7, 2020

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY10T74/2066
  • WIPO fieldTransport
  • WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

An antitheft device is provided for locking a motor vehicle steering column against rotation. The steering column includes a gear wheel which is fixed coaxially to the steering column shaft, and a pinion with an axis parallel to the steering column axis. The pinion is mounted for rotation in a moveable pinion support which is displaceable between a disengaged position, in which the pinion is disengaged from the gear wheel, and an engaged position in which the pinion is in mesh with the gear wheel. The steering lock also includes a clutch for preventing rotation of the pinion about its axis on the pinion support below a specific torque.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.