Shock absorbing steering column device for vehicle

Abstract

An impact absorption type steering column apparatus for a vehicle includes a car body securing bracket taking substantially an L-shape as viewed from its side. The car body securing bracket is constructed so that a bent portion and a couple of plate-shaped support wall portions are disposed at the rear side of the vehicle on the car body securing portion, and a couple of column fastening fixation portions are disposed at the front side of the vehicle on these plate-shaped support wall portions. With this layout, when a secondary collision happens, the support wall portions of the car body securing bracket and the column fastening fixation portions start moving in the direction of their rotating about the bent portion as a fulcrum, however, this direction is substantially the horizontal direction and is substantially coincident with an input direction (substantially the horizontal direction) of a load of impact from a driver. Therefore, the start of motion of the car body securing bracket at the secondary collision can be stabilized. In a state where the fastening lever is fixed in a tilt adjusted position, a portion to be hand-held of the fastening lever is disposed on a more anterior side of the vehicle than the proximal end portion, and, when the secondary collision happens, the fastening lever moves towards the front of the vehicle, whereby the safety against the collision on a knee of a passenger can be further enhanced.