Structural bridging fastener

Abstract

A mounting bracket and structural bridging fastener comprises an angle mounting bracket attached to a stable base, the bracket comprising a substantially planar main body and a mounting plate oriented perpendicular to the main body, the mounting plate and main body being connected through a complex formation in the angle mounting bracket, a loaded subcomponent configured to be attached to the mounting bracket so that the attachment point of the loaded subcomponent is aligned directly with the main body, a fastener comprising a structural portion adapted to lie between and be rigidly fastened to the mounting plate and to the main body adjacent the complex formation, with the fastener further comprising a threaded portion adapted to connect the loaded subcomponent to the mounting plate. The threaded portion may be an extension of the structural portion adapted to receive a nut, or the threaded portion may be internal to the structural portion and adapted to receive a bolt. The mounting bracket and structural bridging fastener is particularly adapted to secure a vehicular steering column assembly to a vehicular cross-car instrument panel structure.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.