Steering column with longitudinal stop having an adjustable release function in the event of a crash

A steering column for a motor vehicle comprising:

• a casing unit in which a steering spindle is mounted such that the steering spindle is rotatable about a steering spindle longitudinal axis;
• a bracket unit that is fixed or fixable on the motor vehicle, wherein the casing unit is held in or on the bracket unit such that the casing unit is adjustable in at least one direction of parallel or transverse with respect to the steering spindle longitudinal axis;
• a fixing mechanism including a fixing element that is rotatably mounted about a fixing element pivot axis, with the casing unit being fixable in different positions by the fixing mechanism, wherein in a locked position of the fixing element the casing unit is fixed in position in or on the bracket unit, wherein in a released position of the fixing element the casing unit is adjustable relative to the bracket unit in the at least one direction of parallel or transverse with respect to the steering spindle longitudinal axis;
• and
• a movably mounted stop body that interacts directly or indirectly with the fixing element, with the movably mounted stop body comprising a stop face, wherein in the released position of the fixing element the movably mounted stop body is disposed in a first position in which the movably mounted stop body limits an adjustability of the casing unit relative to the bracket unit in the at least one direction of parallel or transverse with respect to the steering spindle longitudinal axis, wherein in the locked position of the fixing element the movably mounted stop body is disposed in a second position in which the movably mounted stop body is disengaged with the casing unit, wherein a spacing of the stop face from the fixing element pivot axis is greater in the released position of the fixing element than in the locked position of the fixing element.

A method for adjusting a steering column for a motor vehicle, the steering column comprising a casing unit in which a steering spindle is mounted such that the steering spindle is rotatable about a steering spindle longitudinal axis, a bracket unit that is fixed or fixable on the motor vehicle, wherein the casing unit is held in or on the bracket unit such that the casing unit is adjustable in at least one direction of parallel or transverse with respect to the steering spindle longitudinal axis, a fixing mechanism including a fixing element that is rotatably mounted about a fixing element pivot axis, with the casing unit being fixable in different positions by the fixing mechanism, wherein in a locked position of the fixing element the casing unit is fixed in position in or on the bracket unit, wherein in a released position of the fixing element the casing unit is adjustable relative to the bracket unit in the at least one direction of parallel or transverse with respect to the steering spindle longitudinal axis, and a movably mounted stop body that interacts directly or indirectly with the fixing element, with the movably mounted stop body comprising a stop face, wherein in the released position of the fixing element the movably mounted stop body is disposed in a first position in which the movably mounted stop body limits an adjustability of the casing unit relative to the bracket unit in the at least one direction of parallel or transverse with respect to the steering spindle longitudinal axis, wherein in the locked position of the fixing element the movably mounted stop body is disposed in a second position in which the movably mounted stop body is disengaged with the casing unit, the method comprising moving the stop body into a loose position between the locked position and the released position.