Variable length shaft assembly particularly for motor vehicle steering shafts

Claim 1

A shaft assembly capable of length variation, particularly useful as a sterring shaft for a motor vehicle comprising: at least two coaxially arranged shaft members telescopically joined together to effect mechanical transmission of torque, said members comprising an outer tubular member and an inner member slidably inserted within said outer member; said outer member having an inner peripheral wall and said inner member having an outer peripheral wall, with said inner and said outer peripheral walls being shaped for complementary interfitting relationship; a sliding sleeve made of macromolecular material fitted between said inner and outer peripheral walls for effecting sliding interfitting engagement between said shaft members; said sliding sleeve being firmly affixed on one side thereof to one of said inner and outer shaft members; and pairs of resilient fins formed on a side of said sleeve opposite said one side extending longitudinally therealong and radially therefrom into engagement with the other of said shaft members, said fins being subjected to resilient deformation by compression between said shaft members to apply a resilient force between said inner and outer shaft members; said resilient sleeve and said other of said shaft members being configured to provide therebetween a free space into which said resilient fins extend, said free space being larger than a space which would be necessary to merely accommodate said fins.