STEERING COLUMN ASSEMBLY
First Claim
1. A steering column assembly for a vehicle, said steering column assembly comprising:
- an energy absorbing bracket including a mounting portion for rigid attachment to the vehicle and a body portion extending from said mounting portion;
an outer jacket spaced from said mounting portion of said energy absorbing bracket and rigidly attached to said body portion of said energy absorbing bracket with said body portion being deformable relative to said mounting portion for absorbing energy in response to movement of said outer jacket relative to said mounting portion;
an inner shaft that is received in and rotatable relative to said outer jacket; and
a tab having a first end and a second end with said first end connected to one of said body portion and said mounting portion of said energy absorbing bracket and said second end spaced from said first end and abutting said outer jacket for applying a resistive force against movement of said outer jacket relative to said mounting portion with said tab being releasable to release said resistive force in response to a predetermined collapsing force for allowing said outer jacket to move relative to said mounting portion while said body portion of said energy absorbing bracket deforms to absorb energy from said outer jacket.
9 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A steering column assembly for a vehicle includes an outer jacket, an inner shaft that is received in and rotatable relative to the outer jacket, and an energy absorbing bracket. The energy absorbing bracket includes a mounting portion rigid attached to the vehicle and a body portion extending from the mounting portion. The outer jacket is rigidly attached to the body portion and the body portion is deformable to absorb energy in response to movement of the outer jacket. A tab is connected to one of the body portion and the mounting portion and abuts the outer jacket for applying a resistive force against movement of the outer jacket. The tab releases the resistive force in response to a predetermined collapsing force to allow the outer jacket to move while the body portion of the energy absorbing bracket deforms to absorb energy from the outer jacket.
35 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A steering column assembly for a vehicle, said steering column assembly comprising:
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an energy absorbing bracket including a mounting portion for rigid attachment to the vehicle and a body portion extending from said mounting portion; an outer jacket spaced from said mounting portion of said energy absorbing bracket and rigidly attached to said body portion of said energy absorbing bracket with said body portion being deformable relative to said mounting portion for absorbing energy in response to movement of said outer jacket relative to said mounting portion; an inner shaft that is received in and rotatable relative to said outer jacket; and a tab having a first end and a second end with said first end connected to one of said body portion and said mounting portion of said energy absorbing bracket and said second end spaced from said first end and abutting said outer jacket for applying a resistive force against movement of said outer jacket relative to said mounting portion with said tab being releasable to release said resistive force in response to a predetermined collapsing force for allowing said outer jacket to move relative to said mounting portion while said body portion of said energy absorbing bracket deforms to absorb energy from said outer jacket. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. An energy absorbing bracket for a steering column of a vehicle, said energy absorbing bracket comprising:
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a mounting portion for rigid attachment to the vehicle; a body portion extending from said mounting portion for rigid attachment to the steering column with said body portion being deformable relative to said mounting portion for absorbing energy in response to movement of the steering column relative to said mounting portion; and a tab having a first end and a second end with said first end connected to one of said body portion and said mounting portion and said second end spaced from said first end for abutting the steering column to apply a resistive force against movement of the steering column relative to said mounting portion with said tab being releasable to release said resistive force in response to a predetermined collapsing force for allowing the steering column to move relative to said mounting portion while said body portion deforms to absorb energy from said steering column. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification