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:
Oct. 20, 2015
Filed:
Sep. 18, 2014
Nsk Americas, Inc., Ann Arbor, MI (US);
Simon Read, Dexter, MI (US);
Victor C. Martinez, Ann Arbor, MI (US);
NSK Americas, Inc., Ann Arbor, MI (US);
Abstract
A collapsible steering column assembly comprising an inner tube operatively connectable with a steering wheel; a top bracket for mounting the steering column assembly; a column housing pivotally coupled with the top bracket and configured to telescopically receive the inner tube; a telescoping actuator device operatively attached to the column housing and the inner tube by one or more drive members; and an energy absorption device housed at least partially within or carried at least partially on the telescoping actuator device and fixed in place to the column housing; wherein the column housing remains generally fixed in place relative to the top bracket in an event of a secondary impact, and during the secondary impact, the inner tube telescopically translates into the column housing; and wherein, during the secondary impact, the energy absorption device undergoes plastic deformation to absorb energy from a load caused by the secondary impact.