Patent ID: 7441808

Claim:
A steering column assembly, comprising: a bracket operatively situated on a vehicle, a steering column having a column jacket and a steering shaft mounted therein so as to be rotatable, wherein the steering column has modifiable tilt and length and a clamping mechanism for adjustably fixing the steering column, the steering column being operatively connected with the clamping mechanism, via a bracket slide, to the bracket to be displaceable when fasteners between the bracket slide and bracket are disengaged during a crash, an energy absorbing element arranged to absorb energy during a displacement of the bracket slide in relation to the bracket that occurs only after the clamping mechanism has withstood a force of predetermined amount during the crash, the energy absorption resulting from deformation work, wherein the energy absorbing element is guided along the bracket or on a deformation element situated on the bracket during displacement and is simultaneously deformed.