Energy absorbing steering column assembly

Claim 2

A pedal and steering shaft support structure for a motor vehicle comprising a forward section, an intermediate section and a rearward section, a collapsible steering shaft supported by said rearward section, a steering wheel connected to said steering shaft, said intermediate section having energy absorbing means constructed to plastically deform under an impact load above a predetermined minimum value, said forward section having pivot means constructed to support at least one of the operating control pedals of said vehicle, said forward section being constructed to be connected to a portion of the body structure of said motor vehicle and said rearward section being constructEd to be connected to another portion of the body structure of said motor vehicle.

Claim 3

A pedal and steering shaft support structure according to claim 1 and including: releasable means adapted to connect said rearward section to an instrument panel, said releasable means being constructed to release under an impact load above a preset minimum to permit the collapse of said intermediate section.

Claim 4

A pedal and steering shaft support structure according to claim 1 and including: said intermediate section comprises a sheet metal member having a generally channel-shape cross sectional configuration, said intermediate section having corrugated side walls and a corrugated top wall interconnecting said side walls.

Claim 5

A pedal and steering shaft support structure according to claim 1 and including: releasable means adapted to connect said rearward section to said other portion of said body structure, said releasable means being constructed to release under an impact load above a preset minimum to permit the collapse of said intermediate section, said intermediate section comprises a sheet metal member having a generally channel-shape cross sectional configuration, said intermediate section having corrugated side walls and a corrugated wall interconnecting said side walls.

Claim 6

A pedal and steering shaft support structure according to claim 1 and including: said forward section and intermediate section comprises an integrally formed sheet metal member having a generally channel-shape cross sectional configuration, said forward section and said intermediate section each having side walls and a wall interconnecting said side walls, said walls of said intermediate section being corrugated.

Claim 7

A pedal and steering shaft support structure for a motor vehicle comprising a forward section, an intermediate section and a rearward section, a collapsible steering shaft supported by said rearward section, a steering wheel connected to said steering shaft, said intermediate section having energy absorbing means constructed to collapse under an impact load, said forward section having pivot means constructed to support at least one of the operating control pedals of said vehicle, said forward section being constructed to be connected to the dash panel of said motor vehicle and said rearward section being constructed to be connected to a portion of the instrument panel structure of said motor vehicle, releasable means connecting said rearward section to said instrument panel structure, said releasable means being constructed to release under an impact load above a preset minimum to permit the collapse of said intermediate section, said forward section and intermediate section comprises an integrally formed sheet metal member having a generally channel-shape cross sectional configuration, said forward section and said intermediate section each having side walls and a top wall interconnecting said side walls, said walls of said intermediate section being corrugated, said steering shaft being contained between said side walls.

Claim 8

A pedal and steering shaft support structure for a motor vehicle comprising a forward section, an intermediate section and a rearward section, a collapsible steering shaft supported by said rearward section, a steering wheel connected to said steering shaft, said intermediate section having energy absorbing means constructed to collapse under an impact load, said forward section having pivot means constructed to support at least one of the operating control pedals of said vehicle, said forward section being constructed to be connected to the dash panel of said motor vehicle and said rearward section being constructed to be connected to a portion of the instrument panel structure of said motor vehicle, releasable means connecting said rearward section to said instrument panel structure, said releasable means being constructed to release under an impact load above a preset minimum to permit the collapse of said intermediate section, said forward section and intermediate section comprises an integrally formed sheet metal member having a generally channel-shape cross sectional configuration, said forward section and said intermediate section each having side walls and a top wall interconnecting said side walls, said walls of said intermediate section being corrugated, said steering shaft being contained between said side walls.

Claim 9

A pedal and steering shaft support structure for a motor vehicle according to claim 6 and including: said pivot means being supported by said side walls of said forward section, an operating control pedal depending from said pivot means.

Claim 10

A steering shaft support structure for a motor vehicle comprising a forward section, an intermediate section and a rearward section, said forward section being constructed to be rigidly connected to a body structure of said motor vehicle, said rearward section being constructed to be releasably connected to a portion of the instrument panel structure of said motor vehicle, said intermediate section comprises a sheet metal member having a generally channel-shape cross sectional configuration, said intermediate section having a pair of generally vertically arranged side walls of Corrugated construction, a top wall of corrugated construction interconnecting the upper edges of said pair of side walls, a collapsible steering shaft rotatably supported by said support structure, said steering shaft being contained between said side walls, the lower edges of said pair of side walls being spaced apart and in part defining an access opening exposing a portion of said steering shaft whereby said steering shaft may be inspected and repaired if necessary.

Claim 11

A steering shaft support structure for a motor vehicle comprising a forward section, an intermediate section and a rearward section, said forward section being constructed to be rigidly connected to a body structure of said motor vehicle, said rearward section being constructed to be releasably connected to a portion of the instrument panel structure of said motor vehicle, said intermediate section comprises a sheet metal member having a generally channel-shape cross sectional configuration, said intermediate section having a pair of generally vertically arranged side walls of Corrugated construction, a top wall of corrugated construction interconnecting the upper edges of said pair of side walls, a collapsible steering shaft rotatably supported by said support structure, said steering shaft being contained between said side walls, the lower edges of said pair of side walls being spaced apart and in part defining an access opening exposing a portion of said steering shaft whereby said steering shaft may be inspected and repaired if necessary.

Claim 12

A steering shaft support structure for a motor vehicle comprising a forward section, an intermediate section and a rearward section, said steering shaft support structure having a generally inverted channel-shape cross sectional configuration, said forward section being constructed to be rigidly connected to a body structure of said motor vehicle, a collapsible steering shaft rotataly supported by said rearward section of said support structure, a steering wheel connected to the rearward end of said steering shaft, said intermediate section being of lesser compressive strength than either said forward section or said rearward sections, said intermediate section being constructed to collapse and plastically deform under an impact load above a predetermined minimum value against said steering wheel, said intermediate section having a pair of generally vertically arranged side walls, a top wall of generally horizontal construction interconnecting the upper edges of said pair of side walls, said side walls and said top wall each having means defining plastically deformable energy absorbing portions of lesser strength than either said forward section or said rearward section, the lower edges of said side walls being spaced apart and in part defining an access opening exposing a portion of said steering shaft whereby said steering shaft may be inspected and repaired if necessary.

Claim 13

A steering shaft support structure for a motor vehicle comprising a forward section, an intermediate section and a rearward section, said steering shaft support structure having a generally inverted channel-shape cross sectional configuration, said forward section being constructed to be rigidly connected to a body structure of said motor vehicle, a collapsible steering shaft rotataly supported by said rearward section of said support structure, a steering wheel connected to the rearward end of said steering shaft, said intermediate section being of lesser compressive strength than either said forward section or said rearward sections, said intermediate section being constructed to collapse and plastically deform under an impact load above a predetermined minimum value against said steering wheel, said intermediate section having a pair of generally vertically arranged side walls, a top wall of generally horizontal construction interconnecting the upper edges of said pair of side walls, said side walls and said top wall each having means defining plastically deformable energy absorbing portions of lesser strength than either said forward section or said rearward section, the lower edges of said side walls being spaced apart and in part defining an access opening exposing a portion of said steering shaft whereby said steering shaft may be inspected and repaired if necessary.

Claim 14

The combination defined in claim 9 and including: said rearward section of said steering shaft support structure being adapted to be releasably connected to a body panel structure of said motor vehicle.

Claim 15

The combination defined in claim 9 and including: said intermediate section of said steering shaft support structure being formed of sheet metal and having transversely extending corrugations.

Claim 16

The combination defined in claim 10 and including: said intermediate section of said steering shaft support structure being formed of sheet metal and having transversely extending corrugations.