Energy absorbing mounting bracket

In a motor vehicle, the combination comprising:

• a body structure of the motor vehicle,
• a steering column having a mast jacket, and
• an energy absorbing mounting bracket for connecting the mast jacket of the motor vehicle steering column to the motor vehicle body structure comprising:
• a frame having a window therein through which the mast jacket protrudes defined by a plurality of integrally connected flat walls each made of a plastically deformable material,
• a support flange rigidly connecting the mast jacket to the frame with a longitudinal centerline of the mast jacket perpendicular to a first flat wall of the plurality of integrally connected flat walls of the frame and with the first flat wall extending laterally on both sides of a longitudinal centerplane of the mast jacket,
• a mounting flange integral with the first flat wall of the plurality of integrally connected flat walls defining a platform whereat the frame is rigidly connected to the motor vehicle body structure in cantilever fashion and with the first flat wall extending laterally in a first direction beyond a first side edge of the mounting flange and in a second direction beyond a second side edge of the mounting flange so that the first flat wall of the frame reacts in twist against a force on the mast jacket in a collapse direction parallel to the longitudinal centerline of the mast jacket, and
• a reinforcing flange around the periphery of the frame integral with and reinforcing each of the first flat wall and the remainder of the plurality of flat walls of the frame against hinge-like beam bending so that at least the first flat wall permanently deforms in twist and not in hinge-like beam bending to absorb energy when the stresses thereon attributable to the twist exceed the yield strength of the plastically deformable material from which the frame is made.