Patent · US Expired

Steering column assembly having break-away device

US7077432B2 · kind B2 · utility

8Cited by
20References
6Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateSep 30, 2003
Grant dateJul 18, 2006
Priority date
Expiry dateJun 15, 2024

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY10T74/20146
  • WIPO fieldTransport
  • WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

The steering column assembly includes a housing having a longitudinal axis, a support member supported by the housing for movement about a shift axis, and a shift lever operatively connected to the support member and extending radially from the shift axis for shifting movement in a limited space. The present invention includes a break-away device having a shear container that extends through a translating bracket and the support member for limiting movement of the shift lever upwardly toward a parallel relationship with the shift axis and for releasing the shift lever for the movement toward the parallel relationship in response to a crash condition.

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