Patent ID: 7527295

Claim:
An energy absorbing steering column, comprising: a first cylindrical member for accommodating a steering shaft of a vehicle and rotatably supporting the steering shaft about an axis thereof, the first cylindrical member including a first press-fit portion formed on an outer surface thereof at a predetermined distance in an axial direction from a front open end of the first cylindrical member relative to the vehicle; a second cylindrical member for accommodating the first cylindrical member and normally supporting the first cylindrical member at a predetermined position, the second cylindrical member including a first supporting portion formed on an inner surface thereof near a rear open end of the second cylindrical member relative to the vehicle; and a metallic elastic bush provided between the first press-fit portion and the first supporting portion for applying elastic force in a radial direction for biasing the first press-fit portion and the first supporting portion in the radial direction for supporting the steering shaft to restrict an axial movement of the first cylindrical member relative to the second cylindrical member, wherein the metallic elastic bush allows the axial movement of the first cylindrical member relative to the second cylindrical member when a load applied to the steering shaft is equal to or larger than a predetermined value, and each of the first and second supporting portions includes a ring-shaped protruding portion provided on the inner surface of the second cylindrical member.