# US 5,704,254 A · Steering column isolator pads

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- Number: US 5,704,254 A
- Document ID: US5704254A
- Status: Granted
- Kind: A
- Application number: 08/181,939
- Filed: 1995-02-13
- Granted: 1998-01-06
- Earliest claimed: 1995-02-13
- Assignees: Chrysler Corporation
- Inventors: David E. Thomas; Thomas S. Kaliszewski; Rodney L. Eaton; Thomas Dziegielewski
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US5704254A

## CPC

- B62D 1/195: {Yieldable supports for the steering column}
- B62D 1/16: Steering columns
- Y10T 403/45: Flexibly connected rigid members
- B62D: MOTOR VEHICLES; TRAILERS (steering, or guiding on a desired track, of agricultural machines or implements A01B69/00; wheels, castors, axles, increasing wheel adhesion B60B; vehicle tyres, tyre inflation or tyre changing B60C; connections between vehicles of a train or the like B60D; vehicles for use on rail and road, amphibious or convertible vehicles B60F; suspension arrangements B60G; heating, cooling, ventilating or other air treating devices B60H; windows, windscreens, non-fixed roofs, doors or similar devices, protective coverings for vehicles not in use B60J; propulsion plant arrangements, auxiliary drives, transmissions, controls, instrumentation or dashboards B60K; electric equipment or propulsion of electrically-propelled vehicles B60L; power supply for electrically-propelled vehicles B60M; passenger accommodation not otherwise provided for B60N; adaptations for load transportation or to carry special loads or objects B60P; arrangement of signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor, for vehicles in general B60Q; vehicles, vehicle fittings or vehicle parts not otherwise provided for B60R; servicing, cleaning, repairing, supporting, lifting, or manoeuvring, not otherwise provided for, B60S; brake arrangements, brake control systems or parts thereof B60T; air-cushion vehicles B60V; motor-cycles, accessories therefor B62J, B62K; testing of vehicles G01M)
- Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION

## Abstract

A steering column support having a bracket on the steering column secured to vehicle support structure by fasteners at the rear edge of the bracket. Isolator pads at the front edge of the bracket are clamped under pressure between the bracket and the support structure The isolator pads dampen vibration of the steering column and also prevent undesirable tilting or rocking of the steering column when the vehicle is in motion.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An apparatus for supporting a steering column of an automotive vehicle having a vehicle frame, and said apparatus dampens vibration of the steering column when the automotive vehicle is in motion and also permitting axial collapse of the steering column in a collision, said apparatus comprising
a support structure secured to the vehicle frame and having laterally spaced, first and second support flanges,
a bracket secured to the steering column and having laterally spaced, first and second bracket flanges at opposite sides of said steering column and respectively opposed to and spaced from said support flanges,
each of said bracket flanges having a rear edge and a front edge,
said first bracket flange having a first recess extending through the rear edge thereof provided with spaced apart side edges which extend parallel to one another and to the steering column,
said second bracket flange having a second recess extending through the rear edge thereof provided with spaced apart side edges which extend parallel to one another and to the steering column,
fastener assemblies connecting said first bracket flange to said first support flange and said second bracket flange to said second support flange for movement of said bracket flanges relative to said support flanges in a direction to permit longitudinal collapse of the steering column in a collision,
said fastener assemblies comprising a first spacer and a second spacer, each of said spacers being made of a resinous, plastic material,
means securing said first spacer to said first support flange and said second spacer to said second support flange,
said first spacer having side edges provided with grooves slidably receiving the side edges of said first recess,
said second spacer having side edges provided with grooves slidably receiving the side edges of said second recess,
a first isolator pad of resinous, plastic material between and in surface-to-surface contact with said first flanges,
a second isolator pad of resinous, plastic material between and in surface-to-surface contact with said second flanges, and
means securing said isolator pads to said respective bracket flanges in positions between said spacers and the front edges of said bracket flanges,
said spacers serving to dampen steering column vibration and said isolator pads serving to dampen steering column vibration and rocking of said steering column about a transverse axis through said spacers.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said first support flange and said first bracket flange have aligned first holes, said second support flange and said second bracket flange have aligned second holes, said first isolator pad has integral pins projecting through said aligned first holes in said first support flange and said first bracket flange, said second isolator pad has integral pins projecting through said aligned second holes in said second support flange and said second bracket flange, said pins having outer ends formed with enlarged heads providing shoulders engaged over said support and bracket flanges to lock said pins in said holes whereby said isolator pads dampen vibration of said support and bracket flanges in directions toward and away from each other, said heads being cone-shaped to facilitate installation in said holes.