Improvements Relating to Steering Assemblies
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An adjustable steering column assembly includes a first shroud portion comprising an outer tube, a second shroud portion which comprises an inner tube, and a clamp mechanism that includes a part that is fixed relative to the outer tube, the first and second shroud portions being releasably engaged by the clamp mechanism to selectively permit an amount of relative movement between the first and second shroud portions that is required during adjustment of the steering column assembly, the assembly further including an energy absorbing member which includes a strap that interconnects the inner tube and the part of the clamp bolt assembly, the assembly being so arranged that upon collapse the inner tube moves relative to the clamp assembly whereupon the energy absorbing member is deformed beyond its elastic limit, thereby absorbing energy in the system to control the collapse of the assembly.
15 Citations
43 Claims
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- 15. An adjustable steering column assembly which includes a first shroud portion comprising an outer tube, a second shroud portion which comprises an inner tube, and a clamp assembly that includes a part that is fixed relative to the outer tube, the first shroud portion and the second shroud portion being releasably engaged by a clamp assembly to selectively permit an amount of relative movement between the first and the second shroud portion that is required during adjustment of the steering column assembly, the steering column assembly further including an energy absorbing member which includes a strap that interconnects the inner tube and a part of the clamp assembly, the adjustable steering column assembly being so arranged that upon collapse the inner tube moves relative to the clamp assembly whereupon the energy absorbing member is deformed beyond its elastic limit, thereby absorbing energy in the assembly to control the collapse of the adjustable steering column-assembly and further in which the clamp assembly is fixed relative to the outer tube portion when the clamp assembly is both in a clamped condition and a released condition which prevents the first shroud portion and the second shroud portion from sliding apart should the clamp assembly be inadvertently moved to the released position.
- 24. An adjustable steering column assembly which includes a first shroud portion comprising an outer tube, a second shroud portion which comprises an inner tube, and a clamp assembly that includes a part that is fixed relative to the outer tube, the first and the second shroud portion being releasably engaged by a clamp assembly to selectively permit an amount of relative movement between the first shroud portion and the second shroud portion that is required during adjustment of the steering column assembly, the steering column assembly further including an energy absorbing member which includes a strap that interconnects the inner tube and a part of the clamp assembly, the assembly being so arranged that upon collapse the inner tube moves relative to the clamp assembly whereupon the energy absorbing member is deformed beyond its elastic limit, thereby absorbing energy in the system to control the collapse of the assembly and in which the outer tube includes an axial slot which is so positioned that the clamp assembly when clamped partially closes the slot to squeeze the outer tube onto the inner tube, the strap of the energy absorbing member being at least partially located within this slot so that it abuts one edge of the slot to provide an anti-rotation feature.
- 30. An adjustable steering column assembly which includes a first shroud portion comprising an outer tube, a second shroud portion which comprises an inner tube, and a clamp assembly that includes a part that is fixed relative to the outer tube, the first and second shroud portions being releasably engaged by the clamp assembly to selectively permit an amount of relative movement between the first and second shroud portions that is required during adjustment of the steering column assembly, the assembly further including a strap that interconnects the inner tube and the part of the clamp bolt assembly, the assembly being so arranged that upon collapse the inner tube moves relative to the whereupon the strap causes a portion of the inner tube to be torn away, thereby absorbing energy in the system to control the collapse of the assembly.
- 34. An adjustable steering column assembly which includes a first shroud portion comprising an outer tube, a second shroud portion which comprises an inner tube, and a that includes a part that is fixed relative to the outer tube, the first shroud portion and the second shroud portion being releasably engaged by the to selectively permit an amount of relative movement between the first shroud portion and the second shroud portion that is required during adjustment of the steering column assembly, the assembly further including an energy absorbing member which includes a strap that interconnects the inner tube and the part of the clamp bolt assembly, the assembly being so arranged that upon collapse the inner tube moves relative to the whereupon the energy absorbing member is deformed beyond its elastic limit, thereby absorbing energy in the system to control the collapse of the assembly.
Specification