Abstract: A steering system includes: a tilt mechanism including a pivotal shaft which extends in a sidewise direction of the vehicle, the tilt mechanism being adapted to pivot the movable column portion upward and downward around the pivotal shaft, the tilt mechanism controlling the movable column portion to be secured in a certain upper pivotal position and a certain lower pivotal position; a telescope mechanism adapted to pull out and push in in a forward-backward direction of the vehicle the movable column portion including the pivotal shaft; a pop up mechanism for allowing the movable column portion to make a popping up over an uppermost pivotal position defined by the tilt mechanism; and a pop up mechanism controlling mechanism for controlling the popping up of the movable column portion by the pop up mechanism until the movable column portion pulled out by the telescope mechanism has a certain length.

Abstract: A stationary jacket is fixed to a vehicle body and a sliding jacket is axially slidably received in the stationary jacket. A steering shaft includes a first shaft part which is axially movable together with the sliding jacket and connected to a steering wheel and a second shaft part which is rotatable together with the first shaft part while being suppressed from moving in an axial direction. An opening is formed in the stationary jacket. An electric drive unit is fixed to an outer side of the stationary jacket. The drive unit has a threaded output shaft. A nut block is operatively engaged with the threaded output shaft. A binding bracket extends between the sliding jacket and the nut block through the opening of the stationary jacket. The binding bracket includes a round gripping portion which is disposed on the sliding jacket and two gripping arms which put therebetween the nut block.

Abstract: A vehicle seat having a folding mechanism is comprised of a locking mechanism allowing or preventing seat sliding, a wire joined to the locking mechanism, unlocking or locking the locking mechanism when pulled or at rest respectively, a base member disposed above the locking mechanism, a first actuating member, rotatably supported on the base member, a second actuating member, rotatably supported on the base member coaxially with the first actuating member and joined to another end of the wire, allowing the wire to be at rest when in a forward position and pulling the wire when rotated by the first actuating member to a backward position when the first actuating member is rotated backward, an upper member rotatably supported on the base member, and an engaging projection member which is contactable with the first actuating member to rotate the first actuating member backward or forward.

Abstract: A seat slide device includes a lock mechanism swingably supported to a bracket and having a lock piece with lock pawls rotatively biased by a coil spring and engaged/disengaged from lock openings of a lower rail, a spring protrusion formed with the bracket and catching one end of the coil spring, a lock releasing lever formed with the lock piece and catching another end of the coil spring, and a provisional spring protrusion formed with the lock piece and located in the neighborhood of the spring protrusion and catching one end of the coil spring provisionally.

Abstract: A steering shaft for an energy absorbing steering column includes a lower shaft, an upper shaft fitted therein, and a projection formed with the lower shaft at a predetermined spot and protruding inwardly from the inner surface of the lower shaft.

Abstract: A seat slide device for a vehicle is provided which comprises a lower rail, an upper rail and a lock mechanism for releasably locking the upper rail to the lower rail. The lock mechanism includes one or more locking fingers pivotally installed on an upper rail side, a plurality of engaged portions provided to a lower rail side, and a biasing unit for urging the one or more locking fingers in the direction to engage a corresponding number of the engaged portions. The one or more locking fingers and the biasing unit are disposed within a space between the upper rail and the lower rail. The lock mechanism further includes a lock plate having the engagement portions. The lock plate is an independent part, disposed within the space and secured to the lower rail.

Abstract: An upper rail is slidably engaged with a lower rail in a manner to define an elongate enclosed space therebetween. A lock plate is placed in the elongate enclosed space and secured to the lower rail. A latch lever includes a pawl portion and an input arm and is placed in the elongate enclosed space. The latch lever is pivotally connected to the upper rail to pivot between a lock position where the pawl portion is engaged with a part of the lock plate to establish a locked engagement between the lower and upper rails and an unlock position where the pawl portion is released from the lock plate to cancel the locked engagement. The latch lever is pivoted in a direction from the lock position to the unlock position when the input arm is applied with an external force. A spring member is placed in the elongate enclosed space to bias the latch lever to pivot toward the lock position, An opening is formed in the upper rail for having a given part of the input arm projected outward therethrough.

Abstract: A steering apparatus for a vehicle has: a steering shaft rotatable with a steering force applied from a steering wheel; a cable unit for transmitting a rotational force with an output member and a pair of cable wires; and a speed reducing gear disposed between the steering shaft and the cable unit. The output member makes a rotation in such a manner that the pair of the cable wires are pulled relative to each other. The rotational force is transmitted from the steering shaft to a side having a tire-and-wheel.

Abstract: A select member has a stopper arm, is pivotally connected to a case and is pivotal about a first axis substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the case. A shift lever is connected to the select member and pivotal about a second axis substantially in parallel with the longitudinal axis and has a portion that passes through a gate slot. A lock lever is pivotal into the window to block gthe stopper arm. An actuating mechanism permits the lock lever to selectively assume a position wherein the lock lever blocks movement of the stopper arm.

Abstract: A shift lock mechanism for an automatic-transmission operating device includes a base bracket having a side wall with a window hole, a lock member rotatably supported to the outer face of the side wall of the base bracket, a hook formed with the lock member and being able to move into and out of the base bracket through the window hole, and an abutment formed on the shift lever and engaged with the hook in the height direction of the base bracket.

Abstract: In an assembled state, a steering column is supported movably on a vehicle body, and a holding member is mounted fixedly relative to the vehicle body. A sliding shaft is formed with a portion having cross sections of different sizes, and is connected with the steering column. An actuating mechanism shifts the position of the sliding shaft inserted in an elongate hole formed in the holding member. The hole is defined between opposite edges elongated in an elongate direction. When the steering column is moved by impact load, the sliding shaft is moved in the elongate direction in the elongate hole so that the sliding shaft contacts the opposite edges so as to absorb impact energy.

Abstract: An impact absorbing structure for vehicle steering systems includes a support and release mechanism for a tilt rotation center which mechanism makes it easy to change an impact load bearing capacity in a head-on collision. A steering column and a steering shaft are coaxially coupled to each other and are longitudinally rigid against compression. The steering column is supported by an upper bracket which can be released from a vehicle body in response to an impact and by a lower bracket which defines a tilt rotation center. A notch which has an open side to the front of the vehicle is formed in the lower bracket. A pivot, which is rigidly coupled to the steering shaft and provides a center of the tilt rotation, is engaged with the notch including a protrusion near the closed end.

Abstract: A shock-absorbing tilt type steering column is disclosed. An upper clamp includes a first side wall and a second side wall formed respectively with a first hole and a second hole. A coupler is inserted into the first and second holes. The first and second side walls have such a height that lower ends are disposed on a level with or above a lowermost section of a column jacket when the coupler is disposed in uppermost positions of the first and second holes. A distance bracket coupling with the column jacket is so sandwiched between the first and second side walls as to move upward and downward, and engages with the coupler in such a manner as to disengage from the coupler when a load over an upper limit is applied in a direction along the column jacket. An energy absorber is interposed between the distance bracket and the coupler.

Abstract: A support apparatus for a steering column of an automotive vehicle. The support apparatus comprises an upper and lower brackets through which a lower housing of the steering column is installed to a vehicle body. The lower housing is releasable from the vehicle body through first and second releasing mechanisms. The second releasing mechanism includes a part defining a through-hole through which the front end section of the lower housing is projectable forward. An engaging and releasing device is provided such that the lower housing is engageable with the lower bracket and releasable from the lower bracket when a forward load is applied to the steering column through the engaging and releasing device. Additionally, a guide member is disposed forward of the through-hole to slidingly guide the bottom surface of the lower housing forward generally when the lower housing gets out of the through-hole.

Abstract: An upper rail is slidably engaged with a lower rail in a manner to define an elongate enclosed space therebetween. A lock plate is placed in the elongate enclosed space and secured to the lower rail. A latch lever includes a pawl portion and an input arm and is placed in the elongate enclosed space. The latch lever is pivotally connected to the upper rail to pivot between a lock position where the pawl portion is engaged with a part of the lock plate to establish a locked engagement between the lower and upper rails and an unlock position where the pawl portion is released from the lock plate to cancel the locked engagement. The latch lever is pivoted in a direction from the lock position to the unlock position when the input arm is applied with an external force. A spring member is placed in the elongate enclosed space to bias the latch lever to pivot toward the lock position, An opening is formed in the upper rail for having a given part of the input arm projected outward therethrough.

Abstract: A seat slide device for a vehicle is provided which comprises a lower rail, an upper rail and a lock mechanism for releasably locking the upper rail to the lower rail. The lock mechanism includes one or more locking fingers pivotally installed on an upper rail side, a plurality of engaged portions provided to a lower rail side, and a biasing unit for urging the one or more locking fingers in the direction to engage a corresponding number of the engaged portions. The one or more locking fingers and the biasing unit are disposed within a space between the upper rail and the lower rail. The lock mechanism further includes a lock plate having the engagement portions. The lock plate is an independent part, disposed within the space and secured to the lower rail.

Abstract: A steering system includes:

Abstract: A steering column for a vehicle has a steering shaft, a column jacket accommodating therein the steering shaft, upper and lower brackets mounted on upper and lower ends of the column jacket, respectively, and upper and lower bearings fixed to the upper and lower brackets, respectively, to support the steering shaft rotatably. The column jacket is integrally formed by bending a metal plate into a substantially U-shape to define a pair of opposed side walls and is arranged with an opening of the U-shape facing downward.

Abstract: A stopper structure for a seat lifter includes a stopper formed at another end of a connecting rod to abut on a connecting shaft when a cushion frame is located in a lifting limit position and a lowering limit position with respect to the base frame. When the cushion frame is located in the lifting limit position, the stopper restricts rotation of a sector gear in the direction of lifting the cushion frame with respect to the base frame. When the cushion frame is located in the lowering limit position, the stopper restricts rotation of the sector gear in the direction of lowering the cushion frame with respect to the base frame.

Abstract: A vehicle seat having a folding mechanism is comprised of a locking mechanism allowing or preventing seat sliding, a wire joined to the locking mechanism, unlocking or locking the locking mechanism when pulled or at rest respectively, a base member disposed above the locking mechanism, a first actuating member, rotatably supported on the base member, a second actuating member, rotatably supported on the base member coaxially with the first actuating member and joined to another end of the wire, allowing the wire to be at rest when in a forward position and pulling the wire when rotated by the first actuating member to a backward position when the first actuating member is rotated backward, an upper member rotatably supported on the base member, and an engaging projection member which is contactable with the first actuating member to rotate the first actuating member backward or forward.