Intermediate shaft assembly for steering columns

A steering column assembly, comprising:

• a tubular outer member closed at one end and open at an opposite end;
• at least one tubular resilient member concentrically disposed within and in frictional engagement with an inner wall of said tubular outer member;
• a tubular inner member concentrically disposed within and in frictional engagement with an inner wall of said at least one tubular resilient member, said tubular inner member having one end extending from said open end of said tubular outer member;
• and
• a telescoping shaft assembly concentrically disposed within said inner member, said telescoping shaft assembly including a tubular insert disposed within said inner wall of said inner member and attached to said second end of said inner member, said tubular insert having a polygonal longitudinal axial passage, and a shaft slidably received within said polygonal longitudinal axial passage and rotationally fixed therein.

A collapsible intermediate shaft assembly for a vehicle steering column, comprising:

• first and second tubular members, each tubular member open at both ends, said first tubular member concentrically disposed within said second tubular member such that said first end of said first tubular member extends from said first end of said second tubular member;
• a plurality of resilient tubular isolator members concentrically disposed within said second tubular member and exterior of said first tubular member for fixing said first tubular member within said second tubular member;
• a tubular insert member at least partially received in said first end of said first tubular member and rigidly attached thereto, an inner passage of said tubular insert member having a polygonal cross-section;
• and
• a shaft member, having a polygonal cross-section complimentary to said polygonal cross-section of said inner passage, and having a first end received within said inner passage of said tubular insert member and translatable along a longitudinal axis in and out of said first tubular member.

An intermediate shaft assembly for a steering column, comprising in combination:

• an outer tube having an outer wall and an inner wall defining a first and second ends;
• at least one resilient tube concentrically disposed within and immediately adjacent said inner wall of said outer tube, said at least one resilient tube having an outer wall and an inner wall extending between first and second ends;
• an inner tube having a first end concentrically disposed within said inner wall of said at least one resilient tube and having a second end extending from said second end of said outer tube, said inner tube having an outer wall and an inner wall;
• and
• a telescoping shaft assembly having a first end concentrically disposed within said inner wall of said inner tube intermediate said first and second ends of said outer tube, and rigidly secured to said inner tube, and said shaft assembly having a second end extending from said second end of said inner tube.