Abstract: A steering column assembly comprises a telescopic shroud having an outer shroud portion and an inner shroud portion, a clamp rail fixed to an upper face of the inner shroud portion including a slot, a clamp bolt that extends perpendicular to the shroud, a rocker comprising a body from which extends a lever arm, the body having an opening through which the clamp bolt passes, the rocker converting a rotation of the clamp bolt about its axis in a first direction into an upward motion of the lever arm and into a downward motion when the clamp bolt is rotated in the opposing second direction, a toothed block having two opposed racks of locking teeth that is connected to a carrier element, the carrier element in turn being connected to the lever of the rocker arm such that movement of the lever arm up and down causes movement of the carrier element up and down between an upper position and a lower position.

Abstract: An adjustable steering column assembly comprises a steering column shroud, a support bracket, and a clamp mechanism. The support bracket comprises two arms having a portion of the column shroud located therebetween. The clamp mechanism comprises a pin that passes through slots in the arms and carries a fixed cam portion and moving cam portion, relative rotation of the fixed cam portion and moving cam portion causing the clamp mechanism to move between a locked position and an unlocked position. The fixed cam portion has an anti-rotation feature that sits at least partially within one of the slots in one of the arms and which co-operates with the side walls of the slot to substantially prevent unwanted rotation of the fixed portion of the cam mechanism.

Abstract: A locking lever for a clamp mechanism of a steering column assembly comprises a first portion, a second portion that extends from the first portion, and a connecting portion or region located between the first portion to the second portion about which the second portion will preferentially breakaway from the first portion in the event of an impact by an occupant of the vehicle on the second part, the lever further comprising a flexible tether that prevents the second portion fully separating from the first portion after the lever has broken about the connection portion or region.

Abstract: An adjustable steering column assembly comprises a telescopic shroud which comprises an outer tubular portion and an inner tubular portion where the overall length can be adjusted by relative movement of the two portions, a support bracket secured to a fixed part of a vehicle and a releasable clamp assembly which is movable between an unclamped position in which the shroud can be adjusted telescopically and a clamped position in which the outer tubular portion clamps onto the inner tubular portion thereby preventing telescopic movement of the shroud during normal use of the assembly. The outer tubular portion includes an elongated slot and two clamp rails, each located on a respective side of the slot and including an elongated opening through which a clamp bolt of the clamp assembly passes.

Abstract: A steering column assembly comprises a first support bracket, a second support bracket, a shroud, and an energy absorbing device. The energy absorbing device comprises a laminated strap having discrete first and second layers, each formed from a separate elongate strip of material that is free to slide over the other strip along a major portion of its length, a portion of the laminated strap being coiled into a spiral, a free end portion of the laminated strap passing through passing through an opening in the second support bracket or the shroud, the free end of a first one of the strips having an opening through which a fastener passes that secures the laminated strap to the first support bracket, and the free end of a second one of the straps being connected to the first strip in a region distal from the free end of the first strip.

Abstract: A steering column assembly comprises a shroud having a first part that is fixed in position axially relative to the vehicle and a second part that can in use can move relative to the first part for adjustment of the length of the shroud, a support bracket that in use is secured to a part of the vehicle, and a clamp mechanism that has a locked position in which it locks the position of the moving part of the shroud relative to the first part of the shroud and an unlocked position in which it permits movement between the first and second parts of the shroud.

Abstract: An adjustable steering column assembly which includes an adjustable shroud that supports a steering column shaft, a support bracket that is fixed in position in the vehicle, and a clamp mechanism that selectively secures the shroud to the support bracket, the clamp mechanism comprising a fixed rack that is secured to the shroud or the bracket, and a moving rack that is movable towards and away from the fixed rack during operation of the clamp mechanism, in which the fixed rack comprises a support portion and at least one row of teeth which are carried by the support portion arranged spaced apart from one another, and the moving rack comprises a support portion and at least one row of teeth which are carried by the support portion.

Abstract: A steering column assembly has an adjustable shroud comprising a fixed portion secured to the vehicle body and a moving portion which can be collapsed telescopically through a normal range of adjustment relative to the fixed portion, a support bracket secured to a fixed part of the vehicle and a clamp mechanism. The assembly includes a blocking mechanism which is an integral part of a locking lever of the clamp assembly so arranged that when the clamp mechanism is in unclamped the blocking mechanism prevents the moving portion from collapsing beyond the normal range of movement in the collapse direction by providing a path for axial forces applied to the moving portion to pass through the blocking mechanism to a stopper fixed relative to the vehicle body and when the clamp mechanism is clamped the blocking mechanism is held clear of the stopper to permit additional telescopic movement of the moving portion towards the fixed portion beyond the normal range of adjustment.

Abstract: An adjustable steering column assembly comprises a telescopic shroud which comprises an outer tubular portion and an inner tubular portion where the overall length can be adjusted by relative movement of the two portions, a support bracket secured to a fixed part of a vehicle and a releasable clamp assembly which is movable between an unclamped position in which the shroud can be adjusted telescopically and a clamped position in which the outer tubular portion clamps onto the inner tubular portion thereby preventing telescopic movement of the shroud during normal use of the assembly. The outer tubular portion includes an elongated slot and two clamp rails, each located on a respective side of the slot and including an elongated opening through which a clamp bolt of the clamp assembly passes.

Abstract: A steering column assembly for a vehicle, comprises a shroud comprising an axially movable upper portion and an axially fixed lower portion, which move telescopically to provide adjustment for reach of the steering column assembly, a steering shaft supported by the shroud, a pivot which connects a part of the lower portion to a fixed part of the vehicle, a clamp mechanism which releasably fixes the upper and lower portions and the shroud in position relative to a further fixed part of the vehicle. A sprung support assembly is secured to a fixed part of the vehicle and includes an axle that passes underneath the upper portion of the shroud and a cylindrical roller that surrounds a part of the axle and has an outer surface that engages the underside of the shroud and an inner surface that bears on the axle, the sprung support at least partially supports the weight of the shroud when the clamp mechanism is released, and the cylindrical roller rotating around the axle as the shroud is adjusted for reach.

Abstract: A steering column assembly comprises a shroud having a first part that is fixed in position axially relative to the vehicle and a second part that can in use can move relative to the first part for adjustment of the length of the shroud, a support bracket that in use is secured to a part of the vehicle, and a clamp mechanism that has a locked position in which it locks the position of the moving part of the shroud relative to the first part of the shroud and an unlocked position in which it permits movement between the first and second parts of the shroud.

Abstract: An adjustable steering column assembly comprises a steering column shroud, a support bracket, and a clamp mechanism. The support bracket comprises two arms having a portion of the column shroud located therebetween. The clamp mechanism comprises a pin that passes through slots in the arms and carries a fixed cam portion and moving cam portion, relative rotation of the fixed cam portion and moving cam portion causing the clamp mechanism to move between a locked position and an unlocked position. The fixed cam portion has an anti-rotation feature that sits at least partially within one of the slots in one of the arms and which co-operates with the side walls of the slot to substantially prevent unwanted rotation of the fixed portion of the cam mechanism.

Abstract: A steering column assembly comprises an adjustable shroud which at least partially surrounds a steering shaft and a clamp mechanism operable between a clamped position in which the adjustable shroud part is locked in position and an unclamped position in which the adjustable shroud part can be moved to set the reach and/or rake of the steering column assembly, in which the clamp mechanism comprises a clamp pin, a locking handle and a cam mechanism fitted to the clamp pin, in which the cam mechanism comprises first and second cam portions which can be moved relative to each other by operation of the locking handle to vary the overall length of the cam mechanism, the unclamped position of the cam mechanism being defined by contact of a first end stop of the first cam portion with a second end stop of the second cam portion.

Abstract: A clamp assembly for securing a steering column shroud, comprising: a clamp pin which passes through an opening in the shroud and having a stopper towards one end, a toothed block carried by the clamp pin having a set of rake teeth, the teeth of the block being urged into engagement with a rack of teeth fixed to a support bracket by the stopper when the clamp assembly is in the clamped condition, thereby securing the relative positions of the fixed and moving portions of the steering assembly; and a biasing means that provides a biasing force that acts in an unclamped condition to bias the stopper of the clamp pin away from the moving part to permit the rack of teeth on the block to move clear of the rack of the support bracket, in which a substantial part of the biasing force provided by the biasing means acts upon the clamp pin without passing through the toothed block.

Abstract: An adjustable steering column assembly includes a releasable clamp assembly that clamps a shroud of the assembly in position relative to a support bracket, the clamp assembly including an elongate clamp bolt onto which are stacked: at least a part of an adjustable shroud of the steering assembly, and a cam mechanism comprising a fixed cam part and a moving cam part, the two parts each having a bore through which the clamp bolt passes, a thrust bearing, and a locking nut which includes an internal thread that engages a complimentary thread on the clamp bolt and which is locked down so as to apply an axial load to the thrust bearing. The assembly also includes a tapered compliant bush which is pressed into a space defined between the clamp bolt and the bore of the moving cam part of the cam mechanism with the relatively thick end of the bush nearest the thrust bearing and with the thrust bearing applying an axial load to the bush.

Abstract: A steering column assembly for a vehicle, comprises a shroud comprising an axially movable upper portion and an axially fixed lower portion, which move telescopically to provide adjustment for reach of the steering column assembly, a steering shaft supported by the shroud, a pivot which connects a part of the lower portion to a fixed part of the vehicle, a clamp mechanism which releasably fixes the upper and lower portions and the shroud in position relative to a further fixed part of the vehicle. A sprung support assembly is secured to a fixed part of the vehicle and includes an axle that passes underneath the upper portion of the shroud and a cylindrical roller that surrounds a part of the axle and has an outer surface that engages the underside of the shroud and an inner surface that bears on the axle, the sprung support at least partially supports the weight of the shroud when the clamp mechanism is released, and the cylindrical roller rotating around the axle as the shroud is adjusted for reach.

Abstract: A steering column assembly comprises inner and outer tubes, an elongate slot in the outer tube closed by applying a load to either side of the slot to reduce the internal diameter of the tube, a pair of flanges fixed to the tube on opposing sides of the slot, and a clamp mechanism which connects one flange to the other, the clamp mechanism movable between a clamped position which applies a clamping force to the flanges to reduce the slot width and tighten the outer tube around the inner tube, and an unclamped position which permits the flanges to move away from one another, and a catch secured at one end to one of the flanges and catches a part of the other flange at its other end, to prevent movement of the flanges beyond a position wherein the inner diameter of the outer tube is equal to a predetermined maximum value.

Abstract: A steering column assembly comprises a steering column shroud comprising an inner and an outer tubular member, a support bracket which is fixed to part of the vehicle, and a clamp assembly which includes a cab mechanism having a fixed portion and a moving portion and a clamp pin which passes through arms of the support bracket, the clamp pin being provided with a first reaction member located towards one end of the pin outside of one arm of the support bracket and a second reaction member located towards the other end of the clamp pin outside of the other arm of the support bracket such that the arms of the bracket are located on the clamp pin between the reaction members and with the cam assembly located between the outside of one arm and one of the reaction members.

Abstract: An adjustable steering column assembly includes a releasable clamp assembly that clamps a shroud of the assembly in position relative to a support bracket, the clamp assembly including an elongate clamp bolt onto which are stacked: at least a part of an adjustable shroud of the steering assembly, and a cam mechanism comprising a fixed cam part and a moving cam part, the two parts each having a bore through which the clamp bolt passes, a thrust bearing, and a locking nut which includes an internal thread that engages a complimentary thread on the clamp bolt and which is locked down so as to apply an axial load to the thrust bearing. The assembly also includes a tapered compliant bush which is pressed into a space defined between the clamp bolt and the bore of the moving cam part of the cam mechanism with the relatively thick end of the bush nearest the thrust bearing and with the thrust bearing applying an axial load to the bush.

Abstract: A steering column assembly comprises an adjustable shroud which at least partially surrounds a steering shaft and a clamp mechanism operable between a clamped position in which the adjustable shroud part is locked in position and an unclamped position in which the adjustable shroud part can be moved to set the reach and/or rake of the steering column assembly, in which the clamp mechanism comprises a clamp pin, a locking handle and a cam mechanism fitted to the clamp pin, in which the cam mechanism comprises first and second cam portions which can be moved relative to each other by operation of the locking handle to vary the overall length of the cam mechanism, the unclamped position of the cam mechanism being defined by contact of a first end stop of the first cam portion with a second end stop of the second cam portion.