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:
Sep. 21, 2010
Filed:
May. 02, 2008
Juan A. Lopez, Juarez, MX;
David Komiyama, Juarez, MX;
Laura Irigoyen, Juarez, MX;
Douglas M. Schneider, El Paso, TX (US);
Juan A. Lopez, Juarez, MX;
David Komiyama, Juarez, MX;
Laura Irigoyen, Juarez, MX;
Douglas M. Schneider, El Paso, TX (US);
GM Global Technology Operations, Inc., Detroit, MI (US);
Abstract
A steering column assembly for a vehicle includes an outer jacket, an inner shaft that is received in and rotatable relative to the outer jacket, and an energy absorbing bracket. The energy absorbing bracket includes a mounting portion rigid attached to the vehicle and a body portion extending from the mounting portion. The outer jacket is rigidly attached to the body portion and the body portion is deformable to absorb energy in response to movement of the outer jacket. A tab is connected to one of the body portion and the mounting portion and abuts the outer jacket for applying a resistive force against movement of the outer jacket. The tab releases the resistive force in response to a predetermined collapsing force to allow the outer jacket to move while the body portion of the energy absorbing bracket deforms to absorb energy from the outer jacket.