Energy absorbing support system for a vehicle steering mechanism

An energy-absorbing support system for a vehicle steering mechanism, comprising:

• an overhead mounting member having a lower surface;
• a rigid one-piece shaft housing slidably engaging said lower surface;
• said one-piece housing having a lower end and an upper end, two spaced ears at said upper end, and a through bore extending between said upper end and said lower end, whereby said ears are adapted to hingedly support a vehicle steering wheel, and said bore is adapted to accommodate a steering shaft extending downwardly from the steering wheel;
• a shaft housing support bracket secured to the lower surface of said overhead mounting member;
• said bracket having an internal guide surface slidably encircling the lower end of said shaft housing;
• shearable fasteners interconnecting said support bracket and said shaft housing for normally holding the housing in a fixed position relative to the bracket;
• and
• an energy-absorbing means positioned to control movement of the shaft housing after said fasteners have been sheared, wherein said energy-absorbing means comprises a strip of bendable material anchored to said mounting member, and a crimp-former carried by said shaft housing, wherein said crimp-former comprises a wall having a semi-circular recess and a circular pin located within said recess;
• said strip of bendable material extending through a space between said pin and said semi-circular recess, so that during movement of said shaft housing successive areas of the strip move through said space.