Patent ID: 8596160

Claim:
A steering apparatus comprising: an inner column; an outer column fitted with the inner column in such a manner that it can be moved in a telescopic manner; a steering shaft rotatably supported by the inner and outer columns, with a steering wheel mountable on the vehicle body rearward side thereof; a lock apparatus including a lock pin actuatable by an actuator for preventing the rotation of the steering shaft; a lock housing formed integrally with the outer column for storing the lock apparatus therein, wherein the lock housing projects from the outer column in the direction of the width of a vehicle or toward the lower side of a vehicle body; the outside diameter of a connecting portion between the outer column and lock housing is set larger than the outside diameter of the outer column, a rib extending parallel to the axis of the outer column is formed between the lock housing and the outer periphery of the outer column, the rib is formed integrally with the lock housing and outer column, the height of the lock housing is set substantially equal to the outside diameter dimension of the cylindrical outer periphery of the outer column, the height of the connecting portion between the outer periphery of the outer column and lock housing is set larger than the outside diameter dimension of the outer periphery of the outer column, and wherein a slit, formed along the axial direction and opening at the extremity of the outer column, is provided on area of the outer column, and a clumping device is provided on an area of the front end portion, where the slit is not provided and a through hole is provided, the clumping device changes a width of the slit to reduce or expand a diameter of the front end portion of the outer column, and to prevent or allow the move of the steering shaft.