Patent ID: 7963561

Claim:
A motor vehicle steering column adjustable at least in a longitudinal direction of said steering column, said steering column comprising: a support unit to be connected to a chassis of a motor vehicle, said support unit comprising side jaws; a setting unit, said side jaws of said support unit being located on opposite sides of said setting unit; a securement element connected to said setting unit; a clamping mechanism including a clamp bolt penetrating through openings in said side jaws, and including an arrest element cooperating with said securement element, said setting unit being displaceable with respect to said support unit at least in the longitudinal direction of said steering column when said clamping mechanism is in an open state, and said setting unit being non-displaceable in a secure set position with respect to said support unit when said clamping mechanism is in a closed state; and an energy absorption mechanism retaining said securement element to said setting unit such that, during a normal operation of said steering column, said securement element is held to said setting unit so as to be non-displaceable in the longitudinal direction of said steering column with respect to said setting unit, and such that, in the event of an impact to said steering column, said securement element is displaceable in the longitudinal direction of said steering column with respect to said setting unit; wherein said support unit, said setting unit, said securement element, and said clamping mechanism are arranged and configured such that: when said clamping mechanism is in the open state, said arrest element is in a first position spaced apart from said securement element in an axial direction of said clamp bolt of said clamping mechanism; during closing of said clamping mechanism, said arrest element is displaced in the axial direction of said clamp bolt toward said securement element and into a second position, said arrest element being engaged with and clamped to said securement element in the second position when said clamping mechanism is in the closed state; and said arrest element penetrates through an opening in one of said side jaws of said support unit, said opening having edges for retaining said arrest element within said one of said side jaws such that said arrest element is non-displaceable in the longitudinal direction of said steering column, wherein said arrest element is located entirely on one side of said clamp bolt.