Steering column

Claim 2

An energy absorbing steering column adapted to be installed in an automotive vehicle, comprising a pair of tubular members having a telescoping relationship with one another and adapted to move relative to one another upon the application of force to at least one of the members, at least one projection extending between said members and into engagement with one of said members, said projection being substantially fixed relative to the other of said members and causing deformation of said one member when said members are moved relative to one another in a direction to cause shortening of said column, said projection comprising at least one ridge extending substantially around said other member.

Claim 3

An energy absorbing steering column as set forth in claim 1 including a second ridge extending substantially around said other member and spaced along the axis of said column from the first mentioned ridge.

Claim 4

An energy absorbing steering column as set forth in claim 2 wherein said other member is outside said one member, the inside diameter of each of said ridges is less than the normal outside diameter of said one member.

Claim 5

An energy absorbing steering column as set forth in claim 3 wherein the inside diameter of said second ridge is less than the inside diameter of the first mentioned ridge.

Claim 6

An energy absorbing steering column as set forth in claim 3 wherein at least one of said ridges has a hole therein.

Claim 7

An energy absorbing steering column as set forth in claim 3 when each of said ridges has a hole therein.

Claim 8

An energy absorbing steering column as set forth in claim 3 wherein the first mentioned ridge has a plurality of holes therein, and said second ridge has a plurality of holes therein.

Claim 9

An energy absorbing steering column as set forth in claim 7 wherein the inside diameter of said second ridge is less than the inside diameter of the first mentioned ridge.

Claim 10

An energy absorbing steering column adapted to be connected to a steering gear, comprising a pair of tubular members having a telescoping relationship with one another and adapted to move relative to one another upon the application of force to at least one of the members, one of said members having at least one projection extending into engagement with the other member, said projection being substantially fixed relative to said one member and causing deformation of said other member when said members are moved relative to one another in a direction to cause shortening of said column, a shift tube inside said members, said shift tube being aDapted to collapse upon sufficient impact thereon, a steering shaft inside said shift tube, said steering shaft being adapted to collapse upon sufficient impact thereon, and said projection comprising at least one annular ridge formed in said one of said members, said ridge being in interference with said other member.

Claim 11

An energy absorbing steering column adapted to be connected to a steering gear, comprising a pair of tubular members having a telescoping relationship with one another and adapted to move relative to one another upon the application of force to at least one of the members, one of said members having at least one projection extending into engagement with the other member, said projection being substantially fixed relative to said one member and causing deformation of said other member when said members are moved relative to one another in a direction to cause shortening of said column, a shift tube inside said members, said shift tube being aDapted to collapse upon sufficient impact thereon, a steering shaft inside said shift tube, said steering shaft being adapted to collapse upon sufficient impact thereon, and said projection comprising at least one annular ridge formed in said one of said members, said ridge being in interference with said other member.

Claim 12

An energy absorbing steering column as set forth in claim 9, including a second annular ridge formed in said one member spaced from the first mentioned ridge in an axial direction with respect to said column, said second ridge being in interference with said other member.

Claim 13

An energy absorbing steering column as set forth in claim 10 wherein the first mentioned ridge has a plurality of holes therethrough, said holes being spaced from one another around the first mentioned ridge.

Claim 14

An energy absorbing steering column as set forth in claim 11 wherein said second ridge has a plurality of holes therethrough, said holes in said second ridge being spaced from one another around said second ridge.

Claim 15

An energy absorbing steering column adapted to be installed in an automotive vehicle, comprising a pair of tubular members having a telescoping relationship with one another and adapted to move relative to one another upon the application of force to at least one of the members a projection extending between said members and into engagement with one of said members, said projection being substantially fixed relative to the other of said members and causing deformation of said one member when said members are moved relative to one another in a direction to cause shortening of said column, said projection comprising an annular ridge extending from said other member into engagement with said one member.

Claim 16

An energy absorbing steering column adapted to be installed in an automotive vehicle, comprising a pair of tubular members having a telescoping relationship with one another and adapted to move relative to one another upon the application of force to at least one of the members a projection extending between said members and into engagement with one of said members, said projection being substantially fixed relative to the other of said members and causing deformation of said one member when said members are moved relative to one another in a direction to cause shortening of said column, said projection comprising an annular ridge extending from said other member into engagement with said one member.