Patent ID: 7344157
Filing Date: 2008-03-18
Classification: B62D

Abstract:
1. A vehicle steering assembly with a movable steering column, including: a mounting plate adapted to be carried by the vehicle; a bracket adapted to support at least a portion of a steering column, and coupled to the mounting plate for movement relative to the mounting plate when a sufficient force is applied to the steering column; a bend mandrel carried by the mounting plate; and a bend strap operably associated with the bracket for movement with the bracket and including a pair of legs on opposed sides of the bend mandrel and a bight interconnecting the legs and arranged so that upon movement of the bracket relative to the mounting plate the bend strap engages the bend mandrel and one leg is progressively deformed about the mandrel to absorb energy from the moving bracket and steering column, and a portion of the leg progressively deformed about the mandrel upon movement of the bracket engages a reaction surface defined by at least one of the mounting plate or the bracket, wherein at least one of the bracket or the mounting plate includes a track defining a space between the bracket and mounting plate in which a portion of the leg progressively deformed about the mandrel is received.