Energy absorbing steering column

Claim 2

An energy absorbing steering column for a motor vehicle having first and second spaced-apart body structures, said steering column having first and second spaced-apart column support portions, first means constructed to support said first column portion on said first body structure, said first means being constructed to prevent forward displacement of said first column portion, second means supporting said second column portion on said second body structure, said second means being constructed to prevent the rearward displacement of said seCond column portion, adjustable means constructed to increase the effective length of said steering column supported between said first and second body structures, said second means being constructed to permit unrestricted free forward displacement of said second column portion with respect to said second body structure.

Claim 3

An energy absorbing steering column for a motor vehicle having first and second spaced-apart body structures, said steering column having first and second spaced-apart column support portions, first means constructed to support said first column portion on said first body structure, said first means being constructed to prevent forward displacement of said first column portion, second means supporting said second column portion on said second body structure, said second means being constructed to prevent the rearward displacement of said second column portion, One of said first or second means having adjustable means constructed to load a portion of said steering column between said first and second column portions in compression, said second means being constructed to permit unrestricted free forward displacement of said second column portion with respect to said second body structure.

Claim 4

An energy absorbing steering column for a motor vehicle having first and second spaced-apart body structures, said steering column having first and second spaced-apart column support portions, first means constructed to support said first column portion on said first body structure, said first means being constructed to prevent forward displacement of said first column portion, second means supporting said second column portion on said second body structure, said second means being constructed to prevent the rearward displacement of said second column portion, One of said first or second means having adjustable means constructed to load a portion of said steering column between said first and second column portions in compression, said second means being constructed to permit unrestricted free forward displacement of said second column portion with respect to said second body structure.

Claim 5

An energy absorbing steering column for a motor vehicle having first and second spaced-apart body structures, said steering column having first and second spaced-apart column support portions, said steering column having a plastically deformable energy absorbing section situated between said first and second support portions, first means constructed to support said first column support portion on said first body structure, said first means being constructed to prevent forward displacement of said first column support portion, second means supporting said second column support portion on said second body structure, said second means being constructed to prevent the rearward displacement of said second column support portion, one of said first and second means including adjustable means constructed to load a portion of said steering column in compression, said second means being constructed to permit the free disengagement of said second steering column support portion from said second body structure upon deformation of said energy absorbing section when a forwardly directed impact load is exerted against the rearward end of said steering column.

Claim 6

An energy absorbing steering column for a motor vehicle having first and second spaced-apart body structures, said steering column having first and second spaced-apart column support portions, said steering column having a plastically deformable energy absorbing section situated between said first and second support portions, first means constructed to support said first column support portion on said first body structure, said first means being constructed to prevent forward displacement of said first column support portion, second means supporting said second column support portion on said second body structure, said second means being constructed to prevent the rearward displacement of said second column support portion, one of said first and second means including adjustable means constructed to load a portion of said steering column in compression, said second means being constructed to permit the free disengagement of said second steering column support portion from said second body structure upon deformation of said energy absorbing section when a forwardly directed impact load is exerted against the rearward end of said steering column.

Claim 7

An energy absorbing steering column for a motor vehicle having spaced-apart body support structures, said steering column including an outer tube having an axially collapsible energy absorbing section, said outer tube having a first support portion disposed forwardly of said energy absorbing section and a second support portion disposed rearwardly of said energy absorbing section, first means supporting said first outer tube support portion on first body structure against forward displacement, second means supporting said second outer tube support portion on second body structure, said second means being constructed to support said second outer tube support portion against lateral and rearward displacement, said second outer tube support portion being freely displaceable in a forward direction with respect to said second body structure, adjustable means constructed to force said first outer tube support portion into engagement with said first body structure and said second outer tube support portion into engagement with said second body structure.

Claim 8

An energy absorbing steering column for a motor vehicle having spaced-apart body support structures, said steering column including an outer tube having an axially collapsible energy absorbing section, said outer tube having a first support portion disposed forwardly of said energy absorbing section and a second support portion disposed rearwardly of said energy absorbing section, first means supporting said first outer tube support portion on first body structure against forward displacement, second means supporting said second outer tube support portion on second body structure, said second means being constructed to support said second outer tube support portion against lateral and rearward displacement, said second outer tube support portion being freely displaceable in a forward direction with respect to said second body structure, adjustable means constructed to force said first outer tube support portion into engagement with said first body structure and said second outer tube support portion into engagement with said second body structure.

Claim 9

An energy absorbing steering column for a motor vehicle according to claim 4 and including: said steering column including a telescopically collapsible steering shaft rotatably supported in said outer tube.

Claim 10

An energy absorbing steering column for a motor vehicle according to claim 4 and including: said energy absorbing section comprising a corrugated portion constructed to be plastically deformable under an impact load above a predetermIned minimum.

Claim 11

An energy absorbing steering column for a motor vehicle according to claim 4 and including: said steering column including a telescopically collapsible steering shaft rotatably supported in said outer tube, said energy absorbing section comprising a corrugated portion constructed to be plastically deformable under an impact load above a predetermined minimum, said first means engaging the forward end of said corrugated portion.

Claim 12

An energy absorbing steering column according to claim 4 and including: said adjustable means including a plurality of threaded members supported on said second outer tube support portion and having rearwardly pointing tapered portions, said second body structure having openings receiving said tapered portions, said threaded members being extendable to force said steering column forwardly with respect to said second body structure and said first outer tube support portion into engagement with said first body structure.

Claim 13

An energy absorbing steering column according to claim 4 and including: threadedly adjustable means engaging said first outer tube support portion and said first body structure, said threadedly adjustable means being constructed to cause the rearward displacement of said steering column with respect to said second body structure and said second outer tube support portion into engagement with said second body structure.

Claim 14

An energy absorbing steering column for a motor vehicle having a vehicle toe board and a body mounted bracket, said steering column including a telescopically collapsible steering shaft and an outer tube surrounding said shaft, said outer tube having an energy absoring collapsible section, a first column portion situated forwardly of said energy absorbing section, an aperture in said toe board and said first column portion being disposed in said aperture, reaction means supporting said first column portion on said toe board, said body bracket having forwardly opening sockets, said column having a second column portion spaced rearwardly of said energy absorbing section, said second column portion having adjustable means constructed to engage said sockets of said body bracket, said adjustable means being constructed to increase the effective length of said steering column supported between said toe board and said body bracket.

Claim 15

An energy absorbing steering column for a motor vehicle having a vehicle toe board and a body mounted bracket, said steering column including a telescopically collapsible steering shaft and an outer tube surrounding said shaft, said outer tube having an energy absoring collapsible section, a first column portion situated forwardly of said energy absorbing section, an aperture in said toe board and said first column portion being disposed in said aperture, reaction means supporting said first column portion on said toe board, said body bracket having forwardly opening sockets, said column having a second column portion spaced rearwardly of said energy absorbing section, said second column portion having adjustable means constructed to engage said sockets of said body bracket, said adjustable means being constructed to increase the effective length of said steering column supported between said toe board and said body bracket.

Claim 16

An energy absorbing steering column according to claim 10 and including: said adjustable means being constructed to load said energy absorbing section in compression.