Steering Solutions IP Holding Corporation

Benjamin D Reichard

Nicholas M Messing

Michael C Vermeersch

Robert W Dubay

Scott A Stinebring

Arthur W Nellett

Jason L Myers

Carl T Seamon

Joel T Cerva

Justin M Pegley

Joseph A Beck

Matthew J-t Vincent

Ronald J Huntley

Greg D Brzezinski

Malgorzata R Szeliga

A steering column assembly having a tubular jacket assembly bounding a bore extending along a central axis between a jacket lower end and a jacket upper end and a steering shaft assembly extending along the central axis through the bore between a steering shaft lower end and a steering shaft upper end. A breakaway device extending between the tubular jacket assembly and the steering shaft assembly. The breakaway device having a first state, where the steering shaft assembly is prevented from being able to rotate relative to the tubular jacket assembly, and a second state, where the steering shaft assembly is free to rotate relative to the tubular jacket assembly. The breakaway device having at least one frangible tab having non-fractured state, where the breakaway device is in the first state, and a fractured state, where the breakaway device is in the second state.

Steering column assembly and steering shaft anti-rotation breakaway device therefor

A telescope mechanism for a steering column includes a jacket. The telescope mechanism also includes a telescope actuator housing mounted to the jacket. The telescope mechanism further includes a capture bracket positioned on the telescope actuator housing and mechanically fastened to the jacket on a first side of the telescope actuator housing and on a second side of the telescope actuator housing.

Dual sided bracket in steering column for energy absorption robustness

A steering column assembly includes an upper jacket. The steering column assembly also includes a lower jacket that the upper jacket is telescopingly coupled to. The steering column assembly further includes an energy absorbing strap operatively coupled to the upper jacket and the lower jacket, the energy absorbing strap having a first leg, a second leg and a U-shaped portion connecting the first leg and the second leg. The steering column assembly yet further includes a pin located within a slot defined by the first leg and the second leg of the energy absorbing strap.

Energy absorbing strap assembly for a steering column

A shroud guidance mechanism for a steering column is provided. The shroud guidance mechanism includes a bracket operatively coupled to an upper jacket. Also included is an interface feature retained to the bracket in a first condition of the steering column. Further included is a shroud operatively coupled to the interface feature and to the upper jacket, the interface feature, the upper jacket and the shroud moveable with each other to decouple the interface feature from the bracket in a second condition of the steering column.

Shroud guidance mechanism for steering column

A buckling control assembly for a steering column energy absorption strap assembly is provided. The buckling control assembly includes an inner energy absorption strap operatively coupled to a steering column jacket. Also included is an outer energy absorption strap surrounding at least a portion of the inner energy absorption strap and operatively coupled to the steering column jacket. Further included is a strap constraining structure disposed on a constraint side of the outer energy absorption strap to inhibit buckling of the outer energy absorption strap in a first direction, the outer energy absorption strap having a free side unconstrained to accommodate buckling of the outer energy absorption strap.

Buckling control assembly for a steering column energy absorption strap assembly

A steering column assembly includes a lower jacket assembly extending along a steering column axis. Also included is an upper jacket assembly at least partially received within the lower jacket assembly, the upper jacket assembly extendable along the steering column axis relative to the lower jacket assembly. Further included is a telescope actuator assembly configured to translate the upper jacket assembly relative to the lower jacket assembly. Yet further included is a telescope drive bracket of the telescope actuator assembly, the telescope drive bracket operatively coupled to the upper jacket assembly with a mechanical fastener disposed in a bracket slot located within the telescope drive bracket, the mechanical fastener moveable with the upper jacket assembly in a single axial direction along the steering column axis.

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Saginaw, MI, United States of America

Benjamin D Reichard