Patent ID: 7168741
Filing Date: 2007-01-30
Classification: B62D

Abstract:
1. A steering apparatus comprising: a steering shaft having an end portion coupled to a steering member; a first housing for rotatably supporting the steering shaft; and a second housing engaged with the first housing via two impact energy absorbing rings separate from each other in an axial direction, the first housing and the second housing being relatively movable in an axial direction, wherein one of the first housing and the second housing has a plurality of first impact energy absorbing protrusions and a plurality of second impact energy absorbing protrusions, the first and second impact absorbing protrusions are projected from positions between the impact energy absorbing rings separately from each other in the axial direction and are in contact with a circumferential surface of the other of the first housing and the second housing, the first impact energy absorbing protrusions are arranged separately from each other in a circumferential direction, the second impact energy absorbing protrusions are arranged separately from each other in a circumferential direction, one of the impact energy absorbing rings has a ring portion in contact with an end face of one of the first housing and the second housing, and a plurality of plate pieces are disposed continuously with the ring portion separately from each other in a circumferential direction at intervals corresponding to the impact energy absorbing protrusions.