Claims
- 1. An adjustable steering column comprising:
a steering column shaft; a handlebar; and an adjustable clamp assembly coupling the handlebar to the steering column shaft, the adjustable clamp assembly comprising
a handlebar clamp operatively arranged to secure the handlebar to the adjustable clamp assembly; an extension secured to the handlebar clamp and extending away from the handlebar clamp in a generally transverse direction with respect to the handlebar, the extension having first and second opposing sides; a first clamp surface attached to the steering column, the first clamp surface disposed on the first side of the extension; and a second clamp surface, the second clamp surface disposed on the second side of the vertical extension, the second clamp surface being moveable with respect to the first clamp surface from at least a first position where the extension is immovable with regard to the first and second clamp surfaces to a second position where the extension is moveable with regard to the first and second clamp surfaces.
- 2. The adjustable steering column of claim 1, wherein the adjustable clamp assembly further comprises an actuator operatively arranged to actuate movement of the second clamp surface with respect to the first clamp surface.
- 3. The adjustable steering column of claim 2, wherein the actuator comprises a shaft having a first end coupled to the second clamp surface, the shaft being disposed for movement relative to the extension, the second clamp surface being disposed for movement in a direction parallel to a longitudinal axis of the shaft.
- 4. The adjustable steering column of claim 2, wherein the actuator comprises a threaded shaft having a first end coupled to the second clamp, the threaded shaft being operatively arranged for rotational movement with respect to the second clamp surface, the second clamp surface being disposed for movement in a direction parallel to a longitudinal axis of the threaded shaft.
- 5. The adjustable steering column of claim 4, wherein the first clamp surface is disposed on a wall connected to the steering column shaft and a second end of the threaded shaft is disposed on an opposite side of the wall from the first clamp surface.
- 6. The adjustable steering column of claim 5, wherein a manually adjustable handle is disposed on the threaded shaft second end.
- 7. The adjustable steering column of claim 1, wherein the second clamp surface is configured to interlock with the extension second surface.
- 8. The adjustable steering column of claim 7, wherein the extension second surface includes a series of vertically spaced apart detents.
- 9. The adjustable steering column of claim 8, wherein:
the detents are concave; and the second clamp surface is convex so as to interlock with the concave detents.
- 10. The adjustable steering column of claim 9, wherein the second clamp surface is a portion of an exterior surface of a cylinder.
- 11. The adjustable steering column of claim 1, wherein:
wherein the first clamp surface is disposed on a wall, the wall comprising part of a peripheral wall of an enclosure, the enclosure comprising a recess therein; and the extension is disposed within the recess.
- 12. The adjustable steering column of claim 11, wherein the enclosure includes four walls disposed in a rectangular shape.
- 13. The adjustable steering column of claim 11, wherein the second clamp surface is substantially disposed within the recess.
- 14. The adjustable steering column of claim 13, wherein the second clamp is supported by the enclosure.
- 15. The adjustable steering column of claim 11, wherein the enclosure includes a base configured for mating attachment with the steering column.
- 16. A snowmobile comprising:
a chassis; a track movably mounted on the chassis; an engine supported on the chassis, the engine operatively arranged to drive the track; at least one ski mounted at a forward portion of said chassis to provide steering control of the snowmobile; a steering column shaft coupled to the at least one ski; a handlebar; and an adjustable clamp assembly securing the handlebar to the steering column shaft, the adjustable clamp assembly comprising
a handlebar clamp operatively arranged to secure the handlebar to the adjustable clamp assembly; an extension secured to the handlebar clamp and extending away from the handlebar clamp in a generally transverse direction with respect to the handlebar, the extension having first and second opposing sides; a first clamp surface attached to the steering column, the first clamp surface disposed on the first side of the extension; and a second clamp surface, the second clamp surface disposed on the second side of the vertical extension, the second clamp surface being moveable with respect to the first clamp surface from at least a first position where the extension is immovable with regard to the first and second clamp surfaces to a second position where the extension is moveable with regard to the first and second clamp surfaces.
- 17. A vehicle comprising:
a chassis; a propulsion system movably mounted on the chassis; an engine supported on the chassis, the engine operatively arranged to drive the propulsion system; a steering system to provide steering control to the vehicle; a steering column shaft coupled to the steering system; a handlebar; and an adjustable clamp assembly securing the handlebar to the steering column shaft, the clamp assembly comprising
a handlebar clamp operatively arranged to secure the handlebar to the adjustable clamp assembly; an extension secured to the handlebar clamp and extending away from the handlebar clamp in a generally transverse direction with respect to the handlebar, the extension having first and second opposing sides; a first clamp surface attached to the steering column, the first clamp surface disposed on the first side of the extension; and a second clamp surface, the second clamp surface disposed on a second side of the vertical extension, the second clamp surface being moveable with respect to the first clamp surface from at least a first position where the extension is immovable with regard to the first and second clamp surfaces to a second position where the extension is moveable with regard to the first and second clamp surfaces.
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application is related to and claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Serial No. 60/369,601, which was filed on Apr. 4, 2002. The entirety of the subject matter of that application is incorporated by reference herein.
Provisional Applications (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
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60369601 |
Apr 2002 |
US |