Patent ID: 8500168

Claim:
An automotive vehicle steering column arrangement that is adjustable in depth and/or height, comprising: (a) a fixed support assembly ( 6 ) including a fixed support member ( 8 ); (b) a movable support assembly ( 9 ) connected for movement relative to said fixed support assembly, said movable support assembly including: (1) a hollow carrier member ( 10 ); (2) a body tube ( 2 ) arranged for longitudinal displacement within said carrier member; and (3) a steering shaft ( 1 ) journalled in said body tube, said steering shaft having a steering axis ( 3 ); and (c) clamping means ( 4 ) for clamping said carrier member in a desired height position relative to said fixed support assembly, and for clamping said body tube at a desired longitudinal depth position relative to said carrier member; and (d) press means ( 50 ) connecting said body tube against longitudinal displacement relative to said carrier member, said press means including: (1) a housing ( 30 ) connected with said carrier member, said housing containing a chamber ( 55 ) opposite said body tube; (2) a keeping member ( 51 ) arranged in said housing chamber for displacement normal to said body tube; (3) two corresponding sets of serrated teeth ( 40 , 41 ) arranged on the adjacent surfaces of said keeping member and said body tube, respectively, said sets of teeth extending generally parallel with said steering axis; and (4) spring means ( 61 ) biasing said keeping member toward said body tube, thereby to normally effect locking engagement between said sets of teeth; (5) said teeth having shape, size, and material characteristics which are so defined that said teeth have a predetermined breaking force value corresponding to a predetermined strain peak value on said steering column, wherein upon the application of an excessive impact force, said teeth will break at the beginning of a steering column retraction stroke, thereby allowing said body tube to move with respect to said carrier member in a direction parallel to said steering axis.