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. 14, 2004
Filed:
Jan. 25, 2002
Martin Budaker, Heubach, DE;
Gerhard Seitz, Schwäbisch Gmünd-Rechberg, DE;
ZF Lenksysteme GmbH, Schwäbisch Gmünd, DE;
Abstract
An adjustable steering column having two locating couplings which are arranged opposite one another and have, in each case, two coupling parts able to be brought in contact, a pressure element being arranged between the mutually corresponding, medial coupling parts belonging to different couplings, while the two other outer coupling parts are interconnected by a tension element. A sturdy, cost-effective, functionally reliable retention of the couplings is attained, in that; the pressure element is a bending spring which, with mutually opposite ends in an expanded state, pushes the medial coupling parts away from each other and in the direction of the appertaining outer coupling parts, while in a compressed state, the distance between the ends is shortened by bending; and engaging between the ends is an actuating device by which, on the one hand, the bending is able to be produced for releasing the coupling, and on the other hand, the coupling of the locating coupling is able to be produced by reducing the bending.