Adjustable steering column assembly

Abstract

A steering column assembly includes a column jacket adjustable in at least one of a longitudinal direction along a longitudinal axis and a tilt direction transverse to the longitudinal axis. A locking mechanism is coupled to the column jacket and is moveable between a locking position and an adjustment position. A lever is pivotably mounted to the column jacket and pivotable between a neutral position and an actuated position. The lever engages a switch when in the actuated position. The switch engages an actuator to move the locking mechanism into the adjustment position when engaged by the lever in the actuated position, thereby permitting adjustment of the column jacket in at least one of the longitudinal direction and the tilt direction. When the lever is in the neutral position, the switch does not engage the actuator, and a spring urges the locking mechanism into the locking position, thereby preventing adjustment.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A steering column assembly for a vehicle, said assembly comprising:
 a column jacket extending along a longitudinal axis and adjustable in at least one of a longitudinal direction along said longitudinal axis and a tilt direction transverse to said longitudinal axis;   a locking mechanism is coupled to said column jacket and moveable between a locking position preventing adjustment of said column jacket in at least one of said longitudinal direction and said tilt direction and an adjustment position permitting adjustment of said column jacket in at least one of said longitudinal direction and said tilt direction;   an actuator coupled to said locking mechanism for moving said locking mechanism between said locking position and said adjustment position;   a switch mounted to said column jacket and coupled to said actuator and including a first position energizing said actuator and a second position disconnecting said actuator; and   a lever pivotably mounted to said column jacket and pivotable about a pivot axis between a neutral position engaging said switch in said second position to disconnect said actuator and an actuated position engaging said switch in said first position to energize said actuator and move said actuator into said adjustment position to permit adjustment of said column jacket in at least one of said longitudinal direction and said tilt direction;   wherein said column jacket includes a lower jacket and an upper jacket telescopically engaged with and longitudinally moveable relative to said lower jacket along said longitudinal axis.   
     
     
         2 . An assembly as set forth in  claim 1 :
 wherein said locking mechanism includes a telescope locking mechanism with said locking position preventing said longitudinal movement of said upper jacket relative to said lower jacket and said adjustment position permitting said longitudinal movement of said upper jacket relative to said lower jacket;   further comprising a tilt housing pivotably mounted to said upper jacket and pivotably moveable about a tilt axis relative to said upper jacket.   
     
     
         3 . An assembly as set forth in  claim 2  wherein said locking mechanism includes a tilt locking mechanism interconnecting said tilt housing and said upper jacket with said locking position preventing said pivotable movement of said tilt housing relative to said upper jacket and said adjustment position permitting said pivotable movement of said tilt housing relative to said upper jacket. 
     
     
         4 . An assembly as set forth in  claim 1 :
 wherein said locking mechanism includes a telescope locking mechanism with said locking position preventing said longitudinal movement of said upper jacket relative to said lower jacket and said adjustment position permitting said longitudinal movement of said upper jacket relative to said lower jacket;   wherein said telescope locking mechanism includes a first telescope locking member having teeth and mounted to said upper jacket and a second telescope locking member coupled to said lower jacket and having teeth engaging said teeth of said first telescope locking member in interlocking engagement when in said locking position and disengaged from said teeth of said first telescope locking member when in said adjustment position;   wherein said telescope locking mechanism includes a telescope wedge having a telescope ramp engaging said second telescope locking member with said second telescope locking member moveable along said telescope ramp relative to said lower jacket to move said second telescope locking member into and out of interlocking engagement with said first telescope locking member;   wherein said telescope locking mechanism includes a telescope spring coupled to said telescope wedge to urge said second telescope locking member along said telescope ramp into interlocking engagement with said first telescope locking member;   wherein said actuator compresses said telescope spring when engaged by said switch to move said telescope wedge relative to said second telescope locking member to move said second telescope locking member along said telescope ramp into said telescope adjustment position;   further comprising a linkage operatively interconnecting said tilt locking mechanism and said lever for moving said tilt locking mechanism between said locking position and said adjustment position in response to movement of said lever between said neutral position and said actuated position.   
     
     
         5 . An assembly as set forth in  claim 3  wherein said actuator includes a tilt actuator coupled to said tilt locking mechanism and a telescope actuator coupled to said telescope locking mechanism. 
     
     
         6 . An assembly as set forth in  claim 5  wherein said switch includes a telescope switch coupled to said telescope actuator and a tilt switch coupled to said tilt actuator. 
     
     
         7 . An assembly as set forth in  claim 6  wherein said lever includes a telescope lever coupled to said telescope switch and a tilt lever coupled to said tilt switch. 
     
     
         8 . An assembly as set forth in  claim 5  wherein said tilt locking mechanism includes a first tilt locking member having teeth and mounted to said upper jacket and a second tilt locking member coupled to said tilt housing and having teeth engaging said teeth of said first tilt locking member in interlocking engagement when said tilt locking mechanism is in said locking position and disengaged from said teeth of said first tilt locking member when said tilt locking mechanism is in said adjustment position. 
     
     
         9 . An assembly as set forth in  claim 8 :
 wherein said tilt locking mechanism includes a tilt wedge having a tilt ramp engaging said second tilt locking member with said second tilt locking member moveable along said tilt ramp relative to said upper jacket to move said second tilt locking member into and out of interlocking engagement with said first tilt locking member;   wherein said tilt locking mechanism includes a tilt spring coupled to said tilt wedge to urge said second tilt locking member along said tilt ramp into interlocking engagement with said first tilt locking member; and   wherein said tilt actuator compresses said tilt spring when engaged by said tilt switch to move said tilt wedge relative to said second tilt locking member to move said second tilt locking member along tilt ramp into said tilt adjustment position.