Apparatus and method for connecting a control module to a steering column

1. Apparatus for connecting a steering column control module to a steering column of a vehicle comprising:

a bracket for mounting the steering column control module; and

a collet for interconnecting the bracket and the steering column, the collet snapping into engagement with the bracket and with the steering column,

one of the bracket and the collet including a first projection and the other of the bracket and the collet including a recess for receiving the first projection, the recess including a second projection for engagement with the first projection when the first projection is received in the recess.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the other of the bracket and the collet has a length and a circumference and wherein a first portion of the recess extends in a first direction along said length and a second portion of the recess extends in a second direction transverse to the first direction and partially around said circumference.

3. Apparatus according to claim 2 wherein the first portion of the recess includes the second projection and the second portion of the recess includes a third projection for engagement with the first projection when the first projection is received in the second portion of the recess.

4. Apparatus according to claim 2 wherein the recess is a first recess, the one of the bracket and the collet including a second projection and the other of the bracket and the collet including a second recess for receiving the second projection.

5. Apparatus according to claim 4 wherein the second projection and the second recess are located relative to each other so that when the first projection is received in the second portion of the first recess, the second projection is receivable in the second recess to restrict movement of the first projection along the second portion of the first recess.

6. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein one of the steering column and the collet includes a projection and the other of the steering column and the collet includes a recess for receiving the projection.

7. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the bracket is removable from the steering column after the collet interconnects the bracket and the steering column.

8. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the collet includes a longitudinally extending slit to permit portions of the collet to move relative to one another.

9. Apparatus according to claim 8 wherein the collet has a length and a circumference and the slit extends from an end of the collet along the length of the collet to permit circumferentially adjacent portions of the collet to move relative to one another and thereby to permit the first projection to snap over the second projection.

10. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the bracket includes the first projection and the collet includes the recess for receiving the first projection.

11. Apparatus for connecting a steering column control module to a steering column of a vehicle comprising:

a bracket for mounting the steering column control module; and

a collet for interconnecting the bracket and the steering column, the collet snapping into engagement with the bracket and with the steering column,

one of the bracket and the collet including a projection and the other of the bracket and the collet including a recess for receiving the projection, the other of the bracket and the collet having a length and a circumference, a first portion of the recess extending in a first direction along said length and a second portion of the recess extending in a second direction transverse to the first direction and partially around said circumference.

12. Apparatus according to claim 11 wherein the projection is a first projection and wherein the recess includes a second projection for engagement with the first projection when the first projection is received in the recess.

13. Apparatus according to claim 12 wherein the first portion of the recess includes the second projection and the second portion of the recess includes a third projection for engagement with the first projection when the first projection is received in the second portion of the recess.

14. Apparatus according to claim 11 wherein the projection is a first projection and the recess is a first recess, the one of the bracket and the collet including a second projection and the other of the bracket and the collet including a second recess for receiving the second projection.

15. Apparatus according to claim 14 wherein the second projection and the second recess are located relative to each other so that when the first projection is received in the second portion of the first recess, the second projection is receivable in the second recess to restrict movement of the first projection along the second portion of the first recess.

16. Apparatus according to claim 11 wherein one of the steering column and the collet includes a projection and the other of the steering column and the collet includes a recess for receiving the projection.

17. Apparatus according to claim 11 wherein the bracket is removable from the steering column after the collet interconnects the bracket and the steering column.

18. Apparatus according to claim 11 wherein the collet includes a longitudinally extending slit to permit portions of the collet to move relative to one another.

19. Apparatus according to claim 18 wherein the collet has a length and a circumference and the slit extends from an end of the collet along the length of the collet to permit circumferentially adjacent portions of the collet to move relative to one another and thereby to permit the first projection to snap over the second projection.

20. Apparatus according to claim 11 wherein the bracket includes the projection and the collet includes the recess for receiving the projection.

21. A method for connecting a steering column control module to a steering column of a vehicle comprising the steps of:

mounting the steering column control module to a bracket;

snapping a collet into engagement with the bracket; and

snapping the collet into engagement with the steering column,

the step of snapping a collet into engagement with the bracket including the step of placing a first projection formed in one of the bracket and the collet into a first portion of a first recess formed in the other of the bracket and the collet, the first portion of the first recess extending in a first direction along a length of the other of the bracket and the collet.

22. The method according to claim 21 further comprising the step of locking the bracket and the collet to the steering column.

23. The method according to claim 22 wherein the step of locking the bracket and collet to the steering column includes the step of rotating the bracket and collet relative to one another so that the first projection moves from the first portion of the first recess into a second portion of the first recess, the second portion of the first recess extending in a second direction transverse to the first direction and partially around a circumference of the other of the bracket and the collet.

24. The method according to claim 23 wherein the step of locking the bracket and collet to the steering column also includes the step of placing a second projection formed in the one of the bracket and the collet into a second recess formed in the other of the bracket and the collet so that when the first projection is received in the second portion of the first recess, the second projection is received in the second recess to restrict movement of the first projection along the second portion of the first recess.

25. The method according to claim 24 wherein the step of locking the bracket and collet to the steering column further includes the step of snapping the first projection over a third projection formed in the second portion of the first recess.

26. The method according to claim 21 wherein the step of snapping a collet into engagement with the bracket includes the step of snapping the first projection over a second projection formed in the recess.

27. The method according to claim 21 wherein the step of snapping a collet into engagement with the bracket also includes the step of snapping the first projection over a second projection formed in the first portion of the first recess.

28. A method for connecting a steering column control module to a steering column of a vehicle comprising the steps of:

mounting the steering column control module to a bracket;

snapping a collet into engagement with the bracket; and

snapping the collet into engagement with the steering column,

the step of snapping a collet into engagement with the bracket including the steps of placing a first projection formed in one of the bracket and the collet into a recess formed in the other of the bracket and the collet and snapping the first projection over a second projection formed in the recess.

29. The method according to claim 28 wherein the step of placing a first projection into a recess includes the step of placing the first projection into a first portion of a first recess formed in the other of the bracket and the collet, the first portion of the first recess extending in a first direction along a length of the other of the bracket and the collet.

30. The method according to claim 28 further comprising the step of locking the bracket and the collet to the steering column.

31. The method according to claim 30 wherein

the step of placing a first projection into a recess includes the step of placing the first projection into a recess includes the step of placing the first projection into a first portion of a first recess formed in the other of the bracket and the collet, the first portion of the first recess extending in a first direction along a length of the other of the bracket and the collet, and

the step of locking the bracket and collet to the steering column includes the step of rotating the bracket and collet relative to one another so that the first projection moves from the first portion of the recess into a second portion of the recess, the second portion of the first recess extending in a second direction transverse to the first direction and partially around a circumference of the other of the bracket and the collet.

32. The method according to claim 31 wherein the step of locking the bracket and collet to the steering column also includes the step of placing a third projection formed in the one of the bracket and the collet into a second recess formed in the other of the bracket and the collet so that when the first projection is received in the second portion of the first recess, the third projection is received in the second recess to restrict movement of the first projection along the second portion of the first recess.

33. The method according to claim 31 wherein the step of locking the bracket and collet to the steering column further includes the step of snapping the first projection over a third projection formed in the second portion of the first recess.

34. The method according to claim 28 wherein the step of snapping a collet into engagement with the bracket also includes the step of snapping the first projection over a third projection formed in the first portion of the first recess.