Patent ID: 7455320

Claim:
A shock absorbing steering apparatus for use in a vehicle, comprising: a steering column to be fixed to a portion of a body of the vehicle such that the steering column is releasable from the body of the vehicle and movable in a forward direction of the vehicle in the event of a secondary collision of an occupant of the vehicle upon a collision of the vehicle, one of the steering column and said portion of the body of the vehicle including a mounting portion, and the other of the steering column and said portion of the body of the vehicle including a holding portion; an impact energy absorbing member to be mounted on the mounting portion, the impact energy absorbing member including an engaging portion which is engageable with the holding portion and being deformable as the steering column is moved in the forward direction of the vehicle while the engaging portion is held in engagement with the holding portion, whereby the impact energy absorbing member absorbs an impact energy generated by the secondary; and an engagement adjusting mechanism operable to permit or inhibit an engagement between the engaging portion of the impact energy absorbing member and said holding portion; wherein the impact energy absorbing member is arranged to be positioned relative to the mounting portion such that the engaging portion and the holding portion are spaced from each other by a predetermined free-running distance in said forward direction before the steering column is moved in the forward direction relative to the portion of the body of the vehicle.