US 12,434,755 B1
Steering column assembly and steering shaft anti-rotation breakaway device therefor
Benjamin D. Reichard, Saginaw, MI (US); Joseph A. Beck, Bay City, MI (US); and Malgorzata R. Szeliga, Essexville, MI (US)
Assigned to Steering Solutions IP Holding Corporation, Saginaw, MI (US)
Filed by Steering Solutions IP Holding Corporation, Saginaw, MI (US)
Filed on Jun. 11, 2024, as Appl. No. 18/739,761.
Int. Cl. B62D 1/16 (2006.01)
CPC B62D 1/16 (2013.01) 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A steering column assembly, comprising:
a tubular jacket assembly bounding a bore extending along a central axis between a jacket lower end and a jacket upper end;
a steering shaft assembly extending along the central axis through the bore between a steering shaft lower end and a steering shaft upper end; and
a breakaway device extending between the tubular jacket assembly and the steering shaft assembly, the breakaway device having a first state, where the steering shaft assembly is prevented from being able to rotate relative to the tubular jacket assembly, and a second state, where the steering shaft assembly is free to rotate relative to the tubular jacket assembly, the breakaway device having at least one frangible tab, the at least one frangible tab having non-fractured state, where the breakaway device is in the first state, and a fractured state, where the breakaway device is in the second state.