Patent ID: 9610969
Date: 2017-04-04
CPC Classifications: B62D

Claim:
1. A steering column for a motor vehicle, which is adjustable at least in a longitudinal direction thereof, the steering column comprising: a support unit connectable with a chassis of the motor vehicle, the support unit having side jaws; a securement part disposed between the side jaws of the support unit; a setting unit disposed between the side jaws of the support unit; a counter-securement part connected with the setting unit; and a clamping mechanism which has an opened state and a closed state and which includes a clamp bolt which penetrates openings in the side jaws of the support unit, the clamp bolt having an axis and rotating about the axis during opening and closing of the clamping mechanism, wherein the clamping mechanism is operably engaged with the setting unit such that, in the opened state of the clamping mechanism, the setting unit is displaceable with respect to the support unit at least in the longitudinal direction of the steering column, and, in the closed state of the clamping mechanism, the setting unit is secured at a set position with respect to the support unit, wherein the securement part is displaced through the rotation of the clamp bolt during the opening and closing of the clamping mechanism, wherein the securement part engages into the counter-securement part in the closed state of the clamping mechanism or comes into engagement with the counter-securement part during dislocation of the setting unit with respect to the support unit in an event of a motor vehicle crash, wherein the securement part is spaced apart from the counter-securement part in the opened state of the clamping mechanism, wherein the counter-securement part is disposed on or formed by a wall which is parallel to the axis of the clamp bolt, wherein the counter-securement part is connected with the setting unit via a tear plate or a flexural plate or a combination of a flexural and tear plate, wherein, in the event of the motor vehicle crash, the counter-securement part is shiftable with respect to the setting unit with a consumption of energy by tearing the tear plate or by flexing the flexural plate or by tearing and flexing the combination of the flexural and tear plate, wherein the tear plate or the flexural plate or the combination of the flexural and tear plate is a U-shaped element with two shanks wherein one of the shanks comprises several engagement elements for engaging the securement part into the counter-securement part, and wherein the engagement elements are one succeeding another in the longitudinal direction of the steering column.