A steer-by-wire steering apparatus comprises a plurality of locking projections that project radially outward of a upper shaft; a rotation range limiting projection that is fixed to the upper shaft and has an engaged portion located on the radially outer side of outer peripheral ends of the locking projections; a radially movable lock member that is located on the radially outer side than the locking projections when a drive source switch is ON, and has at least a part located at the same radial position as the locking projections when the switch is OFF; and a rotation range limiting member that has at least a part located at the same radial position as the engaged portion regardless of whether or not a steering actuator that changes steered angle of steered wheels is in an operable state when the switch is at least ON.

A steering lock locks a steering member with a lockbolt movable along an axis between locking and unlocking positions. A first member having a first cam surface is rotatable by an actuator in a first direction for locking the lockbolt. A second member having a second cam surface is engaged with the first cam surface. The second member is translatable along the axis in a locking direction by rotation of the first member. An unlocking spring is compressible through a range of movement of the second member in the first direction to store increasing potential energy. The cam surfaces are engaged such that unlocking of the lockbolt is carried out by the stored energy in the unlocking spring, which is released in a continuously increasing manner controlled by the actuator as the first member is rotated by the actuator in a second direction opposite the first direction.

A steering column device includes a cylindrical inner tube, and a cylindrical outer tube which is fixed to the inner tube by being externally fitted to slide in an axial direction of the inner tube and being elastically reduced in diameter, wherein the outer tube is configured to have a first slit and a second slit to be reduced in diameter. A stress alleviation portion is provided at the second slit. A contour shape of the stress alleviation portion is set to include an elliptic arc-shaped portion of which a direction of a major axis is a direction intersecting the second slit.

A vehicle theft prevention device includes a shaft, a tilt drive unit, and an expansion and contraction drive unit. A steering wheel that changes and operates a direction of a wheel in a vehicle is mounted on the shaft. The tilt drive unit adjusts an up-down angle of the shaft. The expansion and contraction drive unit adjusts a front-back position of the shaft. A lock mechanism is provided in which an engaging portion and an engaged portion that engage with each other and block rotation of the shaft when the shaft is at a preset tilt position and expansion-and-contraction position are arranged so as to be allocated to the shaft and the vehicle.

A steering assist system of a steering column assembly is provided. The system includes a worm rotatably driven by an actuator. The system also includes a worm gear having a first set of teeth and a second set of teeth, the first set of teeth in meshed engagement with the worm, the worm gear operatively coupled to a steering shaft. The system further includes a lock feature moveable into and out of engagement with the second set of teeth of the worm gear to define a locked condition and an unlocked condition of the worm gear.

A steering column device includes a cylindrical inner tube, and a cylindrical outer tube which is fixed to the inner tube by being externally fitted to slide in an axial direction of the inner tube and being elastically reduced in diameter, wherein the outer tube is configured to have a first slit and a second slit to be reduced in diameter. A stress alleviation portion is provided at the second slit. A contour shape of the stress alleviation portion is set to include an elliptic arc-shaped portion of which a direction of a major axis is a direction intersecting the second slit.

A steer-by-wire steering apparatus comprises a plurality of locking projections that project radially outward of a upper shaft; a rotation range limiting projection that is fixed to the upper shaft and has an engaged portion located on the radially outer side of outer peripheral ends of the locking projections; a radially movable lock member that is located on the radially outer side than the locking projections when a drive source switch is ON, and has at least a part located at the same radial position as the locking projections when the switch is OFF; and a rotation range limiting member that has at least a part located at the same radial position as the engaged portion regardless of whether or not a steering actuator that changes steered angle of steered wheels is in an operable state when the switch is at least ON.

A steering column assembly includes a jacket assembly and a bracket. The bracket has a first end portion defining a first opening and a second end portion defining a second opening. The second end portion overlaps the first end portion such that the second opening and the first opening are proximately aligned.

A fragile part (15) which is set to have lower load resistance than other positions of a frame (10) is provided on a guide part (12) at a position that overlaps with a linkage portion (50a) between a hanger (52) and a lock body (51) of a lock member (50) positioned in a steering lock release position.

A steering assist system of a steering column assembly is provided. The system includes a worm rotatably driven by an actuator. The system also includes a worm gear having a first set of teeth and a second set of teeth, the first set of teeth in meshed engagement with the worm, the worm gear operatively coupled to a steering shaft. The system further includes a lock feature moveable into and out of engagement with the second set of teeth of the worm gear to define a locked condition and an unlocked condition of the worm gear.