Collapsible steering column assembly
First Claim
1. A collapsible steering column assembly comprising;
- a support for attachment to a vehicle,a steering column movably supported by said support, andan energy absorbing mechanism interconnecting said steering column and said support for absorbing energy in response to said steering column moving relative to said support during a collision,said energy absorbing mechanism including an elongated element movable along a longitudinal axis in response to the movement of said steering column and a brake for variably resisting the movement of said elongated element;
at least one frictional member in frictional engagement with said elongated element for frictionally resisting the movement of said elongated element and for adding to the resistance to movement of said elongated element by said brake; and
wherein said elongated element is sufficiently flexible to provide insubstantial resistance to bending for allowing frictional engagement with said frictional member while retaining structural integrity for returning to a pre-collision condition.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The subject invention provides a collapsible steering column assembly. The assembly includes a support for attachment to a vehicle. A steering column is movably supported by the support. An energy absorbing mechanism interconnects the steering column and the support for absorbing energy in response to the steering column moving relative to the support during a collision. The energy absorbing mechanism includes a elongated element and a brake for variably resisting the movement of the elongated element and absorbing the energy during the collision. The elongated element, in combination with the brake, is capable of adjustment to absorb energy at forces of various magnitude such that a universal energy absorbing device may be installed on each type of vehicle. Furthermore, the elongated element retains structural integrity after absorbing the energy and need not be replaced.
22 Citations
16 Claims
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1. A collapsible steering column assembly comprising;
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a support for attachment to a vehicle, a steering column movably supported by said support, and an energy absorbing mechanism interconnecting said steering column and said support for absorbing energy in response to said steering column moving relative to said support during a collision, said energy absorbing mechanism including an elongated element movable along a longitudinal axis in response to the movement of said steering column and a brake for variably resisting the movement of said elongated element; at least one frictional member in frictional engagement with said elongated element for frictionally resisting the movement of said elongated element and for adding to the resistance to movement of said elongated element by said brake; and wherein said elongated element is sufficiently flexible to provide insubstantial resistance to bending for allowing frictional engagement with said frictional member while retaining structural integrity for returning to a pre-collision condition. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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Specification