System and method for energy management in a steering column of a motor vehicle

摘要

A steering column mounting system that includes a mounting bracket fixedly attached to a steering column and at least one pull strap made of a resiliently bendable material, the pull strap having a first leg with a slot through which extends a fastener fixedly attached to a motor vehicle structure and having a free second leg substantially parallel to the first leg. The pull strap has at least two portions having different widths. The widths of the portions of the pull strap may be selected so as to provide a predetermined amount of resiliency to the unwinding of the pull straps. The widths of the portions of the pull strap may also be selected so as to provide differing amounts of resiliency at different stages of the unwinding of the pull straps. A support frame is attached to the mounting bracket and maintains the first leg and the second leg of the pull strap substantially parallel relative to each other. Upon relative movement between the mounting bracket and the fastener, the pull strap is caused to unwind. The mounting bracket may also include a slot through which extends a fastener fixedly attached to a motor vehicle structure, the mounting bracket having a tapered cross-section over a length of the slot such that frictional force between the fastener and the mounting bracket is reduced when the fastener is caused to move from a first end of the slot to a second end of the slot.