US6450058B2 — Vehicle tilt-steering mechanism with universal jo…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 84 words

A tilt-steering mechanism for a vehicle, comprising: a driving shaft; a steering wheel; a universal joint interconnecting the driving shaft and the steering wheel wherein rotation of the steering wheel correspondingly rotates the driving shaft, the universal joint including a yoke defining a cavity therein and a shaft having a first end received within the cavity and pivotable with respect to the cavity; and a locking structure for selectively locking the shaft of the universal joint at a predetermined angle to the driving shaft.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 84 words

A tilt-steering mechanism for a vehicle, comprising: a driving shaft; a steering wheel; a universal joint interconnecting the driving shaft and the steering wheel wherein rotation of the steering wheel correspondingly rotates the driving shaft, the universal joint including a yoke defining a cavity therein and a shaft having a first end received within the cavity and pivotable with respect to the cavity; and a locking structure for selectively locking the shaft of the universal joint at a predetermined angle to the driving shaft.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 21 words

The mechanism of claim 1 wherein the shaft of the universal joint includes a slot, the slot accommodating a woodruff key.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 37 words

The mechanism of claim 2 wherein the steering wheel includes a central hub having a passageway for receiving the shaft of the universal joint therethrough, the passageway defined by a generally cylindrical inner wall of the hub.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 27 words

The mechanism of claim 2 wherein the first end of the shaft of the universal joint includes an enlarged head, the enlarged head including a bore therethrough.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 37 words

The mechanism of claim 4 further comprising an insert receivable within the bore, the insert including a passageway extending therethrough and wherein the bore connects two openings in the enlarged head, the openings aligned with the passageway.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 20 words

The mechanism of claim 4 further comprising an insert receivable within the bore, the insert including a passageway extending therethrough.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 16 words

The mechanism of claim 6 wherein substantially all of the insert is received within the bore.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 22 words

The mechanism of claim 6 wherein the insert is generally disc-shaped and has a predetermined height approximating the height of the bore.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 61 words

The mechanism of claim 6 wherein the yoke includes first and second apertures therethrough, the apertures being in axial alignment with each other, and wherein the shaft of the universal joint is pivotably mounted to the yoke by a pin extending through the apertures in the yoke, through the bore in the enlarged head and through the passageway in the insert.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 26 words

The mechanism of claim 9 wherein upon rotation of the steering wheel to rotate the driving shaft the insert distributes the load of the enlarged head.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 25 words

The mechanism of claim 1 wherein the first end of the shaft of the universal joint is received directly by the cavity of the yoke.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 31 words

The mechanism of claim 1 wherein first end of shaft of the universal joint has an outer surface and the outer surface is in at least partial contact with the yoke.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 55 words

The mechanism of claim 1 wherein the first end includes a bore therethrough and the yoke includes first and second apertures therethrough, the apertures being in axial alignment with each other, and wherein the shaft of the universal joint is pivotably mounted to the yoke by a pin extending through the bore and the apertures.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 24 words

The mechanism of claim 1 wherein the yoke has a slot with a predetermined configuration to form a mating relationship with the driving shaft.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 107 words

The mechanism of claim 14 wherein the driving shaft has a keyed end which mates with the slot in the yoke. 16 .The mechanism of claim 1 further including an insert including a passageway extending therethrough and wherein the first end of the shaft includes a bore therethrough, the bore receiving the insert, the yoke includes first and second apertures therethrough, the apertures being in axial alignment with each other, and the shaft of the universal joint is pivotably mounted to the yoke by a pin extending through the apertures in the yoke, through the bore in the enlarged head and through the passageway in the insert.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 22 words

The mechanism of claim 16 wherein the insert is generally disc-shaped and has a predetermined height approximating the height of the bore.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 134 words

A tilt-steering mechanism for a vehicle, comprising: a driving shaft; a steering wheel including a central hub having a generally cylindrical inner wall defining a passageway and including an elongated recess for receiving a portion of a woodruff key, the recess being in communication with the passageway through the central hub; a universal joint interconnecting the driving shaft and the steering wheel wherein rotation of the steering wheel correspondingly rotates the driving shaft, the universal joint including a yoke defining a cavity therein and a shaft received within the passageway, the shaft including a slot for accommodating the woodruff key and having a first end pivotably supported within the cavity in the yoke; and a locking structure for selectively locking the shaft of the universal joint at a predetermined angle to the driving shaft.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 134 words

A tilt-steering mechanism for a vehicle, comprising: a driving shaft; a steering wheel including a central hub having a generally cylindrical inner wall defining a passageway and including an elongated recess for receiving a portion of a woodruff key, the recess being in communication with the passageway through the central hub; a universal joint interconnecting the driving shaft and the steering wheel wherein rotation of the steering wheel correspondingly rotates the driving shaft, the universal joint including a yoke defining a cavity therein and a shaft received within the passageway, the shaft including a slot for accommodating the woodruff key and having a first end pivotably supported within the cavity in the yoke; and a locking structure for selectively locking the shaft of the universal joint at a predetermined angle to the driving shaft.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 141 words

A tilt-steering mechanism for a vehicle, comprising: a driving shaft; a steering wheel; a universal joint interconnecting the driving shaft and the steering wheel wherein rotation of the steering wheel correspondingly rotates the driving shaft, the universal joint including a yoke defining a cavity therein and a shaft having a first end, the first end pivotably supported within the cavity in the yoke and including an enlarged head having a slot therethrough; a locking structure for selectively locking the shaft of the universal joint at a predetermined angle to the driving shaft; and a generally disc-shaped insert receivable within the slot of the enlarged head of the shaft of the universal joint, the insert having a predetermined height approximating the height of the slot in the enlarged head of the shaft of the universal joint and including a passageway extending therethrough.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 141 words

A tilt-steering mechanism for a vehicle, comprising: a driving shaft; a steering wheel; a universal joint interconnecting the driving shaft and the steering wheel wherein rotation of the steering wheel correspondingly rotates the driving shaft, the universal joint including a yoke defining a cavity therein and a shaft having a first end, the first end pivotably supported within the cavity in the yoke and including an enlarged head having a slot therethrough; a locking structure for selectively locking the shaft of the universal joint at a predetermined angle to the driving shaft; and a generally disc-shaped insert receivable within the slot of the enlarged head of the shaft of the universal joint, the insert having a predetermined height approximating the height of the slot in the enlarged head of the shaft of the universal joint and including a passageway extending therethrough.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	2005-09-16	2006-03-18	2006-09-17	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2009-09-16	2010-03-18	2010-09-17	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2013-09-16	2014-03-18	2014-09-17	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Vehicle tilt-steering mechanism with universal joint

Abstract

Inventors

Bibliographic Details

Claims Analysis

References Cited (Backward Citations)

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Assigned Categories & Tags

Assign Category Tag