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:
Dec. 23, 2003
Filed:
May. 01, 2002
Gregory B. Livengood, Greenfield, IN (US);
TRW Inc., Lyndhurst, OH (US);
Abstract
A steering column ( ) includes a support ( ) through which a steering column member ( ) extends. An over-center locking mechanism ( ) locks the support ( ) in any one of a plurality of positions relative to a mounting bracket ( ). The locking mechanism ( ) has a locking member ( ) that has a first position in which a portion ( ) of the support ( ) and a portion ( ) of the mounting bracket ( ) are urged toward each other to prevent movement of the support ( ) relative to the mounting bracket ( ). The locking member ( ) has a second position in which the support ( ) and the mounting bracket ( ) are movable relative to each other. The locking mechanism ( ) applies a first force to the locking member ( ) to move the locking member from the first position to the second position and applies a second force to the locking member to move the locking member from the second position to the first position. The locking mechanism ( ) only applies a force to the locking member ( ) to move the locking member between the first and second positions.