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.

A steering system enabling telescopic adjustment within a predetermined range includes a second tooth member supported by a lower jacket, a damper fixed to an upper jacket so as to face the second tooth member, and an abutting contact member fixed to the lower jacket and coming into abutting contact with the second tooth member from a side opposite from a side where the damper faces the second tooth member. The damper includes an inclined surface that is located at a portion (an end) of the damper, which faces the second tooth member and that is inclined so as to gradually be closer to the upper jacket toward the second tooth member. During telescopic adjustment, the second tooth member comes into abutting contact with the inclined surface of the damper at a sliding limit position.

An example arrangement comprising at least one spring body and at least one separately formed locking part for engagement in an engagement element of a steering column of a vehicle may involve pivotably mounting the spring body and the locking part about a common pivoting axis. The spring body may have at least one spring tongue for spring loading the locking part and at least one fastening part for fastening the spring body on a bolt of the steering column. The spring body may have at least one latching device for latching and unlatching the spring body into at least one and from at least one mating latching device of the locking part.

A steering system includes a column jacket including a lower jacket and an upper jacket; an engagement member; a retaining member; and a buffer member that is retained by the retaining member and contacts the engagement member in a contact direction at a time when the upper jacket is displaced to one sliding end. The retaining member includes a support surface that supports the buffer member; paired holding portions that are respectively disposed on both sides of the buffer member in a circumferential direction of the upper jacket and hold the buffer member toward the support surface; and a restriction portion configured to be engaged with an end of the butler member on a side toward which an opposite direction is directed, so as to restrict movement of the buffer member in the opposite direction, the opposite direction being opposite to the contact direction.

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.

A support bracket is arranged inside a slit of an outer column and joined to the inner column so as to be able to detach due to an impact load applied to the inner column at the time of a secondary collision. A base portion of an impact absorbing member is attached to the inner column so as to displace together with the inner column when the inner column displaces toward the front, and a folded portion of the impact absorbing member is made to face a jerking portion of the support bracket in the front-rear direction.

A steering device includes: an inner tube including a steering wheel; a column housing that houses the tube retractably along an axis; a drive mechanism attached to the column housing in such a way as to cause the tube to perform a retraction operation via a drive member that reciprocates along the axis, a first impact absorption member that is provided on one of the drive member and the tube, and includes a deformation portion; and an action member that is provided on another of the drive member and the tube, and plastically deforms the deformation portion. The drive member, the first impact absorption member, and the action member are fixed by a single fixing member. When a predetermined pushing load acts on the tube, fixing between the first impact absorption member and the action member is released.

A steering column assembly includes a column jacket. The column assembly also includes a drive bracket movable in a telescope direction, the drive bracket coupled to the column jacket to move the column jacket in the telescope direction. The column assembly further includes a plate operatively coupled to the column jacket and operatively coupled to the drive bracket, the plate defining a slot extending from an open end of the plate. The column assembly yet further includes a tab disposed within the slot to prevent pivoting of the drive bracket.