Chrysler Corporation

Michael F Halacka

Mirjana Jurik

William M Snell

Thomas Dziegielewski

Thomas Grzybowski

David E Thomas

Alexander L Dominique

John Perri

James P Badhorn

Wayne L Grubaugh, Jr

Kenneth G Kamm

Robert A Welchko

An energy-absorbing device for a steering column of an automotive vehicle comprising energy-absorbing straps on opposite sides of the steering column. The straps are made of relatively stiff, bendable, flexible strip material. Each strap has a laterally inner leg and a laterally outer leg secured to the inner leg by one or more rivets. The legs of each strap extend lengthwise of the steering column and have corresponding ends laterally connected together by a curved loop portion. The inner leg of each strap is rigidly connected to the steering column. The outer leg of each strap is rigidly connected to the instrument panel. The rivets are adapted to shear in a frontal impact to allow the inner leg of each strap to move with the steering column as it collapses, with the loop portion of each strap resisting such collapse to gradually absorb energy and prevent excessive reaction forces of the steering column against the driver.

Energy absorbing device for a steering column

A column-mounted shift control assembly includes a gate and mounting bracket, a shift lever unit rotatably mounted on the bracket, a shift handle pivotally mounted on the shift lever unit, and resilient means for urging the terminal end of the shift handle toward the bracket. The latter includes a planar gate portion having detents formed on an edge thereof for selective cooperation with the shift handle terminal end to select a desired transmission shift position. An ignition interlock mechanism cooperates with the terminal end of the shift handle to prevent its movement out of the Park detent position unless the ignition switch key is turned on, and further prevents the ignition switch from being turned back to Lock unless the terminal end is in Park position, thus preventing key extraction.

Ignition interlock mechanism for a column-mounted shift control assembly

A tilt mechanism for a steering column is pivotally attached to vehicle structure including a bracket member attached to vehicle structure, a collar disposed within the bracket member and adapted to receive the steering column, and structure disposed between the bracket member and the collar for selectively positioning the collar relative to the bracket member.

Low pivot steering column tilt mechanism

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Bloomfield Hills, MI, United States of America

Michael F Halacka