Steering column mounting arrangement

Claim 2

In a motor vehicle, a steering column assembly comprising an upper and a lower columnar section, means operatively interconnecting said sections, said means being adapted upon a collision impact of predetermined magnitude on said column in collapsing axially said column in manner to permit the impacted columnar section thereabove or therebelow movement independently of the other, separate mount means for each of said columnar sections to support said column assembly in said vehicle, at least one of said mount means comprising; A member having parallel spaced apart leg sections being joined together at one end by an arcuate section; Means securing the opposite terminal end of one of said leg sections to one of said steering columnar sections, means securing the terminal end of said other leg section to said vehicle, and said leg sections being arranged to spatially support said attached columnar section in said vehicle; and Said member being adapted to deform to an impact loading on said attached columnar section upon said impact being of a magnitude greater than said predetermined magnitude to reform at least said arcuate section substantially to a linear extension to one of said leg sections as said leg section in attachment with said impacted columnar section moves in attachment therewith for controlled guidance thereof.

Claim 3

In a motor vehicle of claim 1, comprising; Said mount means comprising a plurality of members in spaced apart arrangement about said steering column, each member being substantially in like arrangement to cooperatively absorb the energy of an impact to cooperatively provide controlled guidance for the attached impacted section.

Claim 4

In a motor vehicle of claim 1, comprising; Said leg sections being extended from their securement substantially longitudinally relative to said steering column.

Claim 5

In a motor vehicle of claim 3, comprising; Said leg sections being substantially in parallel relation; and Said arcuate section being of diametrical dimension greater than the spacing of said parallel legs and having one end thereof joined tangentially to one of said legs.

Claim 6

In a motor vehicle, a steering column assembly having a coupling arrangement intermediate the ends of said column being adapted to axially fracture said column into separately moveable columnar sections upon either section thereabove or therebelow upon being impacted of a predetermined magnitude, a steering wheel operatively secured to the upper end of said column, a steering column support in said vehicle, means securing said steering column assembly to said steering column support intermediate said coupling arrangement and steering wheel comprising; A plurality of energy absorbing members arranged in spaced circumferential arrangement about said steering column; Each of said members having a pair of spaced apart parallel extending leg sections being joined together adjacent one end by an arcuate section; Means fixedly securing the terminal end of one of said leg sections to said column, means securing the terminal end of said other leg section to said steering column support, and said members each being extended from their securement substantially longitudinally with said column; and Said members each being adapted to deform in a predetermined manner to absorb the energy of an impact on said steering wheel being of a magnitude greater than said predetermined magnitude to cooperatively provide controlled guidance of the attached impacted columnar section.

Claim 7

In a motor vehicle, a steering column assembly having a coupling arrangement intermediate the ends of said column being adapted to axially fracture said column into separately moveable columnar sections upon either section thereabove or therebelow upon being impacted of a predetermined magnitude, a steering wheel operatively secured to the upper end of said column, a steering column support in said vehicle, means securing said steering column assembly to said steering column support intermediate said coupling arrangement and steering wheel comprising; A plurality of energy absorbing members arranged in spaced circumferential arrangement about said steering column; Each of said members having a pair of spaced apart parallel extending leg sections being joined together adjacent one end by an arcuate section; Means fixedly securing the terminal end of one of said leg sections to said column, means securing the terminal end of said other leg section to said steering column support, and said members each being extended from their securement substantially longitudinally with said column; and Said members each being adapted to deform in a predetermined manner to absorb the energy of an impact on said steering wheel being of a magnitude greater than said predetermined magnitude to cooperatively provide controlled guidance of the attached impacted columnar section.

Claim 8

In a motor vehicle of claim 5; Said arcuate section being tangentially joined to at least one of said leg sections.