Patent ID: 6062100
Filing Date: 2000-05-16
Classification: B62D,Y10S

Abstract:
A connection between a motor vehicle body and a mast jacket of a steering column collapsible in the direction of a longitudinal centerline of said steering column in response to an impact thereon comprising:a mounting bracket rigidly attached to said mast jacket having a planar flange parallel to said longitudinal centerline of said steering column,a V-shaped slot in said planar flange having an open side and a pair of converging side edges,a V-shaped capsule having a pair of converging sides matching the convergence of said side edges of said V-shaped slot,a clamp means operative to rigidly clamp said V-shaped capsule to said vehicle body,a pair of side channels in respective ones of said converging sides of said V-shaped capsule each slidably receiving a corresponding one of said sided edges of said V-shaped slot so that said mast jacket is supported vertically on said vehicle body,a first retaining notch in a first one of said pair of side edges of said V-shaped slot,a second retaining notch in a second one of said pair of side edges of said V-shaped slot,a first integral lug on said V-shaped capsule in a first one of said pair of side channels therein seated in said first retaining notch,a second integral lug on said V-shaped capsule, anda spring means operative to support said second integral lug on said V-shaped capsule in a second one of said pair of side channels thereof for translation perpendicular to the corresponding one of said pair of converging sides of said V-shaped capsule and resiliently biasing said second integral lug into said second retaining notch,said first and said second integral lugs cooperating with said first and said second retaining notches in preventing dislodgment of said mounting bracket from said V-shaped capsule except when fractured by forces of said impact on said steering column.