Patent ID: 7096993

Claim:
A steering mechanism for a motor vehicle, comprising a steering wheel ( 1 ), a steering shaft ( 20 ) having opposite ends and being mounted with one end to the steering wheel ( 1 ), and a steering gear arrangement ( 16 ) mounted to the other end of the steering shaft ( 20 ), said steering shaft ( 20 ) comprising a first vibration damping element ( 27 ) and a second element ( 26 ) having lower damping characteristics than the first element ( 27 ), the second element ( 26 ) being a slotted tube so as to form an axial slot ( 28 ) which closes when the second element ( 26 ) is subjected to a predetermined torque whereby the spring rate of the second element is increased and the first element ( 27 ) is disposed within, and firmly connected to, the second element ( 26 ).