COLLAPSIBLE STEERING COLUMN ASSEMBLY
First Claim
Patent Images
1. ) A collapsing steering column assembly comprising:
- a) a steering shaft support structure;
b) a steering shaft that is supported for rotation at least in part by the steering shaft support structure and having a longitudinal axis;
c) a bracket for at least partially carrying the steering shaft support structure and attaching the assembly within a vehicle;
d) a securing member for fixing a secure engagement position of the steering shaft support structure relative to the bracket; and
e) a breakaway structure associated with the bracket, the securing member, or both;
wherein the securing member is configured relative to the breakaway structure in a manner such that in an event of an impact exceeding a threshold load, at least a portion of the securing member breaks away from the secure engagement position by way of the breakaway structure and allows at least a portion of the steering shaft support structure, at least a portion of the securing member that breaks away, or both to translate forward.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A collapsing steering column assembly for an automotive vehicle, comprising an inner column tube, a steering shaft, a tilt bracket, and a steering wheel adjustment subassembly. During a secondary impact, at least a portion of the steering wheel adjustment subassembly is adapted to detach relative to the tilt bracket by way of at least one breakaway structure and translate (e.g., at least partially longitudinally) during the impact, such as a secondary impact, for moving away from a vehicle operator.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. ) A collapsing steering column assembly comprising:
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a) a steering shaft support structure; b) a steering shaft that is supported for rotation at least in part by the steering shaft support structure and having a longitudinal axis; c) a bracket for at least partially carrying the steering shaft support structure and attaching the assembly within a vehicle; d) a securing member for fixing a secure engagement position of the steering shaft support structure relative to the bracket; and e) a breakaway structure associated with the bracket, the securing member, or both; wherein the securing member is configured relative to the breakaway structure in a manner such that in an event of an impact exceeding a threshold load, at least a portion of the securing member breaks away from the secure engagement position by way of the breakaway structure and allows at least a portion of the steering shaft support structure, at least a portion of the securing member that breaks away, or both to translate forward. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. ) A collapsing steering column assembly, comprising:
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a) an inner column tube; b) a steering shaft that is supported for rotation at least in part by the inner column tube and having a longitudinal axis; c) a bracket for carrying the inner column tube and attaching h assembly within a vehicle; d) a column housing wherein the column housing and the inner column tube each have a longitudinal axis; e) a securing member for fixing the position of the inner column tube relative to the column housing by way of the securing member that applies a force to at least one of the column housing or inner column tube for causing a secure engagement of the inner column tube and the column housing; and f) a breakaway structure; wherein the securing member is configured relative to the breakaway structure in a manner such that in an event of an impact exceeding a threshold load, the securing member breaks away from a secure engagement position by way of the breakaway structure and allows the inner column tube to translate forward relative to the column housing. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. ) A collapsing steering column assembly for an automotive vehicle, comprising:
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a) an inner column tube; b) a steering shaft supported for rotation at least in part by the inner column tube and having a longitudinal axis, c) a tilt bracket adapted for receiving at least a portion of the inner column tube and for mounting the steering column assembly within the automotive vehicle, the tilt bracket including a pair of opposing side walls; d) a manually operated steering wheel adjustment subassembly adapted for; i) selectively adjusting the steering shaft in a fore or aft direction generally along the longitudinal axis, ii) selectively raising or lowering the steering shaft;
oriii) both i) and ii), the steering wheel adjustment subassembly including a lever adapted for manually actuating the steering wheel adjustment subassembly, at least one engagement member that is brought into and out of engagement with the inner column tube for selectively locking the steering shaft into a position desired by a user, at least one breakaway insert that detachably mounts the steering wheel adjustment subassembly relative to the tilt bracket, and a fastener assembly that operatively connects the lever, the at least one engagement member and the at least one breakaway insert; e) a column housing that is pivotally mounted at a pivot mounting location within the automotive vehicle and that at least partially surrounds the inner column tube to permit steering shaft adjustment by way of the steering wheel adjustment subassembly, the column housing including an elongated longitudinally oriented opening that defines opposing inner wall surfaces that are urged toward the inner column tube for clamping the inner column tube into position using the lever, the inner column tube being clampable in position relative to the column housing, the tilt bracket, or both; wherein during a secondary impact, the column housing optionally remains in a generally fixed position relative to the pivot mounting location; wherein at least a portion of the steering wheel adjustment subassembly is adapted to detach from or otherwise become displaced relative to the tilt bracket by way of the at least one breakaway insert and translate during the secondary impact for moving the lever away from the user; and
wherein upon translation of the at least one breakaway insert, the inner column tube becomes undamped relative to the column housing, the tilt bracket or both; andwherein the assembly includes at least one plastically deformable energy absorption device adapted to be carried at least partially by the column housing, wherein the energy absorption device, when employed, absorbs energy by plastic deformation during the secondary impact after the steering wheel adjustment subassembly starts to translate along the column housing. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
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Specification