The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Mar. 02, 1999
Filed:
Oct. 18, 1996
Satoshi Kinoshita, Kozakai, JP;
Haruhide Kurita, Kosai, JP;
Fuji Kiko Co., Ltd., Tokyo, JP;
Abstract
A steering column for an automotive vehicle comprises a jacket tube and a steering shaft which is axially contractible and rotatably disposed through bearings inside the jacket tube. A lower bracket is fixed to a lower end section of the jacket tube. An upper bracket is fixed to a generally intermediate section of the jacket tube. In this steering column, the upper bracket includes a body installation section to be connected to a vehicle body. The body installation section has first and second side portions which are separate from each other. First and second front wall sections respectively extend from and are integral with the first and second side portions of the body installation section. The first and second front wall sections are respectively generally perpendicular to the first and second side portions of the installation section. First and second column installation sections are respectively integral with and generally perpendicular to the first and second front wall sections. The first and second column installation sections extend generally rearward relative to a vehicle body. First and second bent sections is provided such that each is located between each side portion of the body installation section and each of first and second front wall section. Each bent section is adapted to be deformable under a load over a predetermined level such that an angle between the side portion of the body installation section and each of the first and second bend sections decreases. A predetermined clearance is defined between an upper end edge of each of the first and second column installation sections and the body installation section. Additionally, the lower bracket is formed of a plate material and includes a main body section. A body installation section is integral with the main body section and to be connected to the vehicle body. An opening through which the jacket tube extends is formed at least in the main body section and defined by an inner peripheral edge of the lower bracket, in which the jacket tube is securely connected to a part of the inner peripheral edge.