The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
May. 25, 1999
Filed:
Apr. 09, 1998
Clarke Fisk Thacker, Farmington Hills, MI (US);
Robert Daniel Restauri, Madison Heights, MI (US);
Ford Global Technologies, Inc., Dearborn, MI (US);
Abstract
An automotive vehicle steering column lock assembly is disclosed for use with a steering wheel connected to a steering column passing through a steering column housing to which an ignition switch is mounted. The assembly has a lock ring adapted to be mounted to the steering column and having at least one lock recess on an end thereof and a lock pawl movable between a lock position engaged in the lock recess and an unlock position disengaged from the at least one lock recess. A tray is adapted for slidable movement within the steering column housing generally parallel to the steering column, the tray having a lock pawl bed allowing the lock pawl to slide therein generally parallel to the steering column. Tray control means operatively connecting the ignition switch and the tray move the tray between at least two positions in which the lock pawl alternately engages and disengages the lock ring to prevent and allow, respectively, rotation of the steering column. A lock lever, fixed with respect to the steering column housing, is movable between a blocking position preventing the lock pawl from moving into the at least one lock recess on the lock ring, and an unblocking position allowing the lock pawl to enter the at least one lock recess. To control operation of the lock lever relative to a key inserted state of the ignition switch, a control lever operatively connects the ignition switch with the lock lever and is moveable between a release position when a key is inserted into the ignition switch allowing the lock lever to move to the block position, and a depress position when the key is removed from the ignition switch forcing the lock lever to an unblock position to allow the lock pawl to move to the locked position.