Abstract: In a tilt adjustable steering column assembly for an automotive vehicle, a fixed bracket (8) fixed to a vehicle body supports a rotation center axle of a bell crank lever (22) (bell crank) to enable the rotation center axle (24) of the bell crank lever to swing with respect to the fixed bracket and an engagement portion (20) of the fixed bracket is formed in an elongated hole, the elongated hole being formed to coincide with a pivotal orbit of a tilt input axle about a tilt rotation center (10) of a jacket tubular member (4) (jacket tube).

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 control apparatus for motor vehicles includes an output shaft for steering a steered wheel, a slider arranged on the outer periphery of an end of the output shaft to be slidable axially linearly, a converting mechanism arranged between the output shaft and the slider for converting linear motion of the slider into rotary motion which is transmitted to the output shaft, a drive mechanism for urging the slider to stroke axially, and an ECU for controlling the drive mechanism.

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 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 steering column assembly includes a column jacket provided with upper and lower jacket tubes telescopically coupled with each other for supporting therein a steering shaft rotatably. The column jacket is mounted tiltably on a vehicle body by upper and lower clamps and received between sidewalls of the upper clamp through distance brackets. One of the distance brackets includes lock protrusions that face the outer surface of the upper jacket tube, while the other includes support protrusions that face the outer surface of the lower jacket tube. When an operation lever is set to a lock position, the sidewalls is caused to press the distance brackets against the column jacket with the lock protrusions pushed on the upper jacket tube and the support protrusions pushed on the lower jacket tube. In this state, the column jacket is prevented from tilting and telescoping.

Abstract: A foldable vehicle seat is constructed such that when the seat is placed in a passenger area and that a seat cushion is tipped up from a seating position, a forward-inclination stopper stops once the seat cushion at an upright position by abutting on a lock plate. When the seat is moved from the passenger area to a luggage area, the forward-inclination stopper allows inclination of the seat cushion to the most forward inclined position in accordance with a position of the lock plate.

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: 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 window is formed in a case mounted on a vehicle. The window has opposed inner walls. A select member is pivotally connected to the case in a manner to pivot about a first axis that extends substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the case. The select member has a stopper arm exposed to the window. A shift lever is pivotally connected to the select member in a manner to pivot about a second axis that extends substantially in parallel with the longitudinal axis. The shift lever has a portion that passes through the gate slot. A lock lever is pivotally connected to the case and projectable into the window to block a traveling path of the stopper arm of the select member. A load supporting structure is provided that permits the lock lever to move to and abut against either one of the opposed inner walls of the window when a given force is applied to the lock lever by the stopper arm of the select member.

Abstract: A seat sliding apparatus has left and right rail pairs each including an upper rail for supporting a seat and a lower rail for fixing to a vehicle body. In each of the left and right rail pairs, left and right resin sliders are attached to lateral edges of the upper or lower rails, to facilitate sliding motion of the upper rail along the lower rail. Each resin slider has a larger engaging portion and a smaller engaging portion. The left and right resin sliders are arranged in parallel to each other, but extended in opposite direction, so that the larger engaging portion is ahead of the smaller engaging portion in one of the left and right resin slider whereas, in the other resin slider, smaller engaging portion is ahead of the larger engaging portion.

Abstract: A seat reclining device has a base plate secured to a seat cushion, an arm member secured to a seat back, upper and lower tooth plates pivotally mounted on a base plate and provided with upper and lower teeth, a cam member pivotally mounted on the base plate, and at least one support for the lower tooth plate. When the cam member moves the lower tooth plate in a direction to bring the lower teeth into contact with the upper teeth, the upper tooth plate is locked together with the arm member so that the seat back becomes unable to pivot relative to the seat cushion. In such a locked condition, the support supports the end portion of the lower tooth plate so as to maintain the engagement of the upper and lower teeth. Thus, the seat reclining device can lock the seat back with improved strength.

Abstract: A bolt fastening structure is comprised of a fastened member and a fastening seat. The fastened member has a bolt hole for inserting a bolt and a pair of slits disposed around the bolt hole. The fastening seat has a pair of leg portions and a connecting portion integrally connecting the leg portions. The leg portions have a length which is substantially as same as a depth dimension of the bolt hole of said fastened member. The leg portions are inserted to the slits, respectively. By fastening the bolt with a threaded hole of a second fastened member, upper and lower surfaces of the leg portions are fitted to a head of the bolt and the second fastened member.

Abstract: A column shift device for motor vehicles includes a steering column, and a hand lever secured to the steering column in the vicinity of the upper end and including a knob arranged in the vicinity of the steering wheel and comprising two different and separate portions.

Abstract: A key interlock mechanism for a column automatic-transmission operating device includes a key lock lever having one end with a slot and swingably supporting the lock pin through the slot, a shank formed with the key lock lever, a guide groove formed with a unit base and cooperating with the shank to rotatably support the key lock lever so as to bias a lock pin in the direction of protruding into a key cylinder, and a key lock lever spring wound around the shank for biasing the key lock lever so that the lock pin protrudes into the key cylinder and for returning to a given position another end of the key lock lever which has moved along the guide groove.

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 steering column assembly includes a column jacket provided with upper and lower jacket tubes telescopically coupled with each other for supporting therein a steering shaft rotatably. The column jacket is mounted tiltably on a vehicle body by upper and lower clamps and received between sidewalls of the upper clamp through distance brackets. One of the distance brackets includes lock protrusions that face the outer surface of the upper jacket tube, while the other includes support protrusions that face the outer surface of the lower jacket tube. When an operation lever is set to a lock position, the sidewalls is caused to press the distance brackets against the column jacket with the lock protrusions pushed on the upper jacket tube and the support protrusions pushed on the lower jacket tube. In this state, the column jacket is prevented from tilting and telescoping.

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: An electric steering column for a motor vehicle is provided, which has a steering shaft. A jacket tube extends along the steering shaft to cover the same. A worm wheel is rotatably held by the jacket tube and has a center bore through which a given portion of the steering shaft loosely passes. A collar member is tightly disposed on the given portion of the steering shaft defining an annular clearance between the collar member and the worm wheel. An elastically deformable structure is put and compressed in the annular clearance in such a manner as to induce a rotation of the collar member when the worm wheel is rotated. An electric motor rotates the worm wheel with an electric power. Due to provision of the elastically deformable structure, a possible ill-alignment between the worm wheel and the collar member is absorbed or compensated.

Abstract: A column shift device includes a steering column, a bracket secured to the steering column, a shift lever rotatably supported to the steering column through the bracket, a position plate mounted to the shift lever and including a detent portion, a detent plate swingably supported by the bracket for engaging and disengaging from the detent portion of the position plate, a wire arranged through the shift lever and having one end connected to the detent plate and another end connected to a select button of the shift lever, a cam arranged with the shift lever for unitary rotation and including a cam portion, a key cylinder arranged with the bracket, a support lever rotatably supported by the bracket and having one end biased to engage with the cam portion of the cam and another end which can abut on the detent plate, a key lock lever arranged rotatable with the support lever, and a lock pin connected to the key lock lever for engaging and disengaging from the key cylinder.