Patent ID: 7360793

Claim:
A structure for fastening a column side member linked to a steering column of a vehicle, to a vehicle-body side member linked to a portion of a body of the vehicle, so as to fix the steering column relative to the vehicle body such that the steering column is movable relative to the vehicle body in event of application of an excessively large load to the steering column, wherein one of the column side member and the vehicle-body side member provides a first clamped member having a slot formed therein and elongated in a direction parallel to a direction in which the steering column is movable, while the other of the column side member and the vehicle-body side member provides a second clamped member, said structure comprising: (a) a fastener including (a-1) a gripper body cooperating with the second clamped member to grip the first clamped member which is interposed between said gripper body and the second clamped member, and (a-2) a shaft body passing through the slot of the first clamped member and connected to the second clamped member and said gripper body; and (b) a disk spring mounted on said shaft body of said fastener and held in a deformed state thereof, for generating a clamping force with which the first and second clamped members are fastened to each other, wherein said disk spring has axially opposite end surfaces in the form of tapered surfaces, and wherein said disk spring is forced against at least one of the first and second clamped members and is plastically deformed.