Shock absorbing device for steering column

• US 6,109,652 A
• Filed: 12/08/1997
• Issued: 08/29/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 12/30/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Mando Corporation
• Original Assignee: Mando Corporation
• Inventors: Kim, Ji-Youl, Park, Young-Moon
• Primary Examiner(s): English, Peter C.
• Application Number:
  US08/986,422
• Time in Patent Office: 995 Days
• Field of Search: 280/777, 188/371, 74/492
• US Class Current: 280/777
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 1/192 Yieldable or collapsible columns

Abstract

A shock absorbing device for a steering column. The shock absorbing device is provided in the interferential fitting junction between the upper and lower columns of the steering column. The shock absorbing device has a plurality of friction members formed on the upper column by a piercing process, with the base part of each friction member facing the outside of the upper column and the remainder being folded down into the internal surface of the upper column to form a friction part. The friction part is brought into frictional contact with the external surface of the lower column, thus increasing the frictional contact surface area of the shock absorbing device. The shock absorbing device effectively absorbs and relieves shock in the initial stage of a car collision, thus effectively preventing the shock from being transmitted to a steering wheel in order to protect the driver in a collision.

Claims

1. A shock absorbing device provided in an interferential fitting junction between upper and lower columns of a steering column, with the lower column being interferentially fitted into the upper column, and adapted for absorbing and relieving shock applied to the steering column in the initial stage of a collision, comprising:

a plurality of friction members formed on the upper column by a piercing process at positions around the interferential fitting junction, each of said plurality of friction members being folded down into the upper column to be brought into frictional contact with an external surface of the lower column when the lower column is fitted into the upper column,

wherein each of said plurality of friction members comprises;

a base part exposed facing the outside of the upper column; and

a friction part integrally extending from said base part and folded down into the upper column to be brought into close contact with an internal surface of the upper column, said friction part coming into frictional contact with the external surface of the lower column when the lower column is fitted into the upper column.

2. The shock absorbing device according to claim 1, further comprising:

a narrowed junction between said base part of each of said plurality of friction members and a main body of the upper column is inwardly rounded on opposite sides, to form a neck having opposingly concave webs.

3. The shock absorbing device according to claim 2, further comprising:

a plurality of inward projections formed on the internal surface of the upper column and brought into frictional contact with the external surface of the lower column.

4. The shock absorbing device according to claim 1, further comprising:

a plurality of inward projections formed on the internal surface of the upper column and brought into frictional contact with the external surface of the lower column.