A steering device includes: an inner column having a first hole opened therein; an outer column having a slit; an outer column bracket clamping the outer column along with a telescopic friction plate; a rod supporting the telescopic friction plate; an inner column bracket supported by the telescopic friction plate and having a second hole opened therein; a shear pin separably connecting the inner column and the inner column bracket to each other at a position across the first hole and the second hole; and a rotation stopper provided at a rear side in relation to the rod and contacting the telescopic friction plate when the telescopic friction plate rotates about the rod in the event of a secondary collision.

An energy absorbing member is fixed to an outer periphery of an inner column, extends in a front-rear direction and is introduced into a slit of an outer column. During a secondary collision, a tightening rod is displaced forward together with the outer column, so that the energy absorbing member is vertically restrained to the tightening rod and the inner column from a up-down direction, is crushed by the tightening rod and generates impact absorption load.

According to the present embodiments, locking and unlocking can be smoothly performed even when gears for fixing a steering column during a telescoping operation of the steering column are not properly engaged, a collapse motion for absorbing impact can be smoothly performed even when a vehicle collision occurs in a state in which the gears are not properly engaged, impact is absorbed at the minimum and maximum of strokes so as to enable the prevention of noise generation during the telescoping operation, and the number of components can be reduced and assembly process can be simplified.

Embodiments of the present invention may provide a vehicle steering column comprising: a hollow-shaped upper tube in which a steering shaft is fitted; a middle tube coupled to the outer circumferential side of the upper tube so as to allow the axial telescopic movement of the upper tube; a lower tube coupled to the outer circumferential side of the middle tube so as to allow the axial telescopic movement of the middle tube; a mounting bracket coupled to the outer circumferential side of the lower tube; and a telescopic link member which is coupled at one end thereof to a telescopic motor and a telescopic speed reducer, provided at the lower tube, and is coupled at the other end thereof to the upper tube.

A steering column device includes: an outer column having a tubular shape; an inner column movably inserted in the outer column; a restricting member provided through a tubular wall at a lower section of the outer column in such a way as to be capable of coming in and out of the tubular wall in the thickness direction thereof; and a load absorbing wire including first ends engageable with the restricting member and a second end supported on the inner column side, and configured to be deformed by movement of the second end toward the vehicle front side together with the inner column upon application of a load of a preset value or greater to the inner column toward the vehicle front side, to thereby absorb the load.

In a steering column device, a locking shaft is disposed on a vehicle front side relative to an operating shaft for an operating lever in parallel to the operating shaft. On the locking shaft, a cam member is disposed which is configured to press a locking member against a locked member via a guiderail in such a direction as to engage the locking member with the locked member. On the other hand, on the operating shaft, a linking member is disposed which is configured to bring the cam member into a state where the locking member and the locked member are disengaged from each other when the operating shaft is moved to an unlock position.

A steering column may include a casing unit with a steering spindle that is rotatable about a longitudinal axis and a bracket unit that is fixable on the motor vehicle. The casing unit may be secured to the bracket unit such that the casing unit is adjustable in at least one direction. The casing unit may be fixable in different positions by a fixing mechanism. The fixing mechanism may have a fixing element that is rotatable about a pivot axis. The casing unit may be fixed in position in or on the bracket unit in a locked position of the fixing element, and adjusted relative to the bracket unit in a released position of the fixing element. A movably mounted stop body may interact with the fixing element and, in the released position of the fixing element, is disposed in a first position where it limits adjustability of the casing unit relative to the bracket unit. In the locked position of the fixing element, the stop body may be disposed in a second position where it disengages with the casing unit. The stop body may include a stop face, the spacing of which from the pivot axis is greater in the released position than in the locked position.

An energy absorption module subassembly for a steering column assembly comprising; an energy absorption device; and a retainer assembled with the energy absorption device configured for i) installation into at least a portion of a column housing of the steering column assembly at a first location; ii) supportively carrying the energy absorption device at least partially within the retainer; and enabling the retainer to at least partially deform in response to a load occasioned during an impact collapse stroke of an inner column tube of the steering column assembly that forces the retainer to translate in a forward direction to a second location that is forward in a vehicle relative to the first location.

A steering column for a motor vehicle, with a first casing in which a steering spindle is rotatably mounted about an axis. The first casing and a second casing are arranged to be telescoped one into the other. The second casing can be connected to a body of the motor vehicle. The casings are coupled to one another via an energy absorption device which has at least two deformation sections arranged one behind the other in the direction of the axis. At least one of the deformation sections can be coupled between the casings via a coupling device or decoupled therefrom, and the deformation section can be plastically deformed in the coupled state in the event of relative displacement of the first casing with respect to the second casing. At least two deformation sections are formed on a single-piece energy absorption element.

An article for a steering column assembly (10) including a connection member (60) having a base portion (62) adapted to be attached to a column tube (30) of the steering column assembly (10) and opposing side walls (64) extending from the base portion (62). The article further includes an energy absorption member (80) having a first generally flat segment (82), a second generally flat segment (84) generally parallel to the first generally flat segment (82), and a curved portion (86) therebetween. The energy absorption member (80) extends from the base of the connection member (60). The present teachings also envision a telescoping adjustment subassembly and a steering column assembly (10) employing the article.