Patent ID: 8684411

Claim:
An impact absorbing steering apparatus adapted for installation on a vehicle body defining forward and rearward directions, the impact absorbing steering apparatus comprising: a steering column located on a column side of the impact absorbing steering apparatus, the steering column having a front end toward the forward direction of the vehicle body, a rear end toward the rearward direction of the vehicle body, an inside between the front and read ends, an opening at the rear end, and an axis that defines an axial direction; a steering shaft that is rotatably supported on the inside of the steering column, the steering shaft having a rear end section that protrudes from the opening on the rear end of the steering column and is adapted to support and fasten to a steering wheel; a first bracket on the column side of the impact absorbing steering apparatus, the first bracket being supported by the steering column and adapted to fasten the steering column to the vehicle body so that the steering column can displace in the axial direction thereof during a secondary collision; an electric power steering apparatus that comprises a housing located on a housing side of the impact absorbing steering apparatus and supported by the front end of the steering column, and an electric motor supported by and fastened to the housing, wherein the electric motor functions as a power source that provides auxiliary torque for rotating the steering shaft; a member adapted to be fastened to the vehicle body, to support the housing, and fasten the housing to the vehicle body so that the housing can displace in the axial direction of the steering column during the secondary collision; a second bracket on the housing side of the impact absorbing steering apparatus, the second bracket comprising an installation plate section having a forward region, the installation plate section being connected to a portion of the member adapted to be fastened to the vehicle body so that the installation plate section can drop away toward the forward direction of the vehicle body due to an impact load in the forward direction during the secondary collision; and a support plate section that is formed on the member, located at a position below the forward region of the installation plate section so as to have a portion that faces the installation plate section in a direction transverse to the axial direction of the steering column, the installation plate section being capable of moving over the portion of the support plate section facing the installation plate section from a first position to which the installation plate section is connected in a normal state, wherein the member continues to support the second bracket when the installation plate section is displaced from the first position in the forward direction due to the secondary collision.