Energy absorbing assembly for an adjustable steering column
AssigneeSteering Solutions IP Holding Corporation
InventorsMelvin L. Tinnin, Joen C. Bodtker
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An axially adjustable steering column including a first jacket and a second jacket that is axially movable with respect to the first jacket. The second jacket includes a window and the first jacket includes a connector opening. An energy absorbing assembly includes a lock cam that is located in the window and connected to the second jacket and a strap body that is connected to the first jacket with a fastener extending through the strap body and the connector opening. The connector opening includes a ramp for ejecting the fastener from engagement with the first jacket.
Claims17
An axially adjustable steering column comprising:
- a first jacket and a second jacket that is axially movable with respect to the first jacket;
- the first jacket including at least one connector opening;
- an energy absorbing assembly including a strap body that is connected to the first jacket with at least one fastener extending through the strap body and the at least one connector opening, wherein the at least one connector opening includes an ejection aperture and a retaining slot.
An axially adjustable steering column comprising:
- a first jacket and a second jacket that is axially movable with respect to the first jacket;
- the first jacket including at least one connector opening;
- an energy absorbing assembly including a strap body that is connected to the first jacket with at least one fastener extending through the strap body and the at least one connector opening, wherein the second jacket includes a window and the energy absorbing assembly includes a lock cam at least partially located in the window and connected to the second jacket.
An energy absorbing assembly for axially adjustable steering column, the energy absorbing assembly comprising:
- a strap body extending between a first end configured to be located on an exterior of a first jacket and a second end configured to be located on an interior of the first jacket;
- a curved portion located between the first end and the second end;
- a first segment extends between the curved portion and the first end and a second segment extends between the curved portion and the second end;
- the first segment including at least one upper aperture for receiving a fastener to connect the first segment to the exterior of the first jacket,
- wherein the first segment defines a plurality of teeth,
- wherein the at least one upper aperture includes a pair of upper apertures where each upper aperture is located on an opposite side of the teeth.
An energy absorbing assembly for axially adjustable steering column, the energy absorbing assembly comprising:
- a strap body extending between a first end configured to be located on an exterior of a first jacket and a second end configured to be located on an interior of the first jacket;
- a curved portion located between the first end and the second end;
- a first segment extends between the curved portion and the first end and a second segment extends between the curved portion and the second end;
- the first segment including at least one upper aperture for receiving a fastener to connect the first segment to the exterior of the first jacket, wherein the fastener is located in the upper aperture and configured to be ejected from an opening having a ramp in the first jacket to disengage the connection thereto.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.