Energy absorption strap assembly for steering column

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10703403-B2
Application number	US-201715845535-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 18, 2017
Priority date	Dec 18, 2017
Publication date	Jul 7, 2020
Grant date	Jul 7, 2020

Abstract

A steering column assembly includes a lower jacket assembly extending along a steering column axis. Also included is an upper jacket assembly at least partially received within the lower jacket assembly, the upper jacket assembly translatable along the steering column axis relative to the lower jacket assembly. Further included is an energy absorption strap operatively coupled to the upper jacket, the energy absorption strap having an aperture defined therein. Yet further included is a rake bolt extending through the lower jacket and through the aperture of the energy absorption strap.

First claim

Having thus described the invention, it is claimed:

1. A steering column assembly comprising:
a lower jacket extending along a steering column axis;
an upper jacket at least partially received within the lower jacket, the upper jacket translatable along the steering column axis relative to the lower jacket;
an energy absorption strap operatively coupled to the upper jacket, the energy absorption strap having an aperture defined therein, wherein a face of the energy absorption strap includes a plurality of teeth disposed thereon; and
a rake bolt extending through the lower jacket and through the aperture of the energy absorption strap.

2. The steering column assembly of claim 1 , wherein the aperture of the energy absorption strap is an elongated slot defined by a first end slot wall, a second end slot wall and a pair of side walls.

3. The steering column assembly of claim 2 , wherein the first end slot wall defines a first translation limit of the upper jacket and the second end slot wall defines a second translation limit of the upper jacket.

4. The steering column assembly of claim 1 , wherein the aperture of the energy absorption strap is located proximate an end of the energy absorption strap.

5. The steering column assembly of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of teeth are only disposed on a portion of the face.

6. The steering column assembly of claim 1 , further comprising an eccentric cam selectively engageable with the plurality of teeth.

7. The steering column assembly of claim 1 , wherein the aperture is an oval shaped slot.

8. An energy absorption strap assembly for a steering column comprising:
a rake bolt; and
an energy absorption strap having an elongated slot defined by a slot wall, a centerline axis of the rake bolt intersecting with the elongated slot, wherein a face of the energy absorption strap includes a plurality of teeth disposed thereon.

9. The energy absorption strap assembly of claim 8 , wherein the rake bolt extends through the elongated slot.

10. The energy absorption strap assembly of claim 8 , wherein the slot wall includes a first end slot wall portion, a second end slot wall portion and a pair of side wall portions.

11. The energy absorption strap assembly of claim 10 , wherein the first end slot wall portion defines a first translation limit of an upper jacket operatively coupled to the energy absorption strap, wherein the second end slot wall portion defines a second translation limit of the upper jacket.

12. The energy absorption strap assembly of claim 8 , wherein the elongated slot of the energy absorption strap is located proximate an end of the energy absorption strap.

13. The energy absorption strap assembly of claim 8 , wherein the plurality of teeth are only disposed on a portion of the face.

14. The energy absorption strap assembly of claim 8 , further comprising an eccentric cam selectively engageable with the plurality of teeth.

Assignees

• Steering Solutions Ip Holding

Inventors

• Reno Tyler M
• Buzzard Donald A
• Anspaugh Michael P
• Jones Randy

Classifications

• B62D1/184

  Mechanisms for locking columns at selected positions · CPC title

• B62D1/195 Primary

  Yieldable supports for the steering column · CPC title

• B62D1/192

  Yieldable or collapsible columns · CPC title

• F16F7/128

  characterised by the members, e.g. a flat strap, yielding through stretching, pulling apart · CPC title

• F16F7/123

  Deformation involving a bending action, e.g. strap moving through multiple rollers, folding of members (F16F7/125, F16F7/128 take precedence) · CPC title