In the automobile industry, vehicle cross-support members, crossbeams, cross car beams, and other similar components (collectively referred hereinafter as “vehicle cross-support members” or “cross-support members”) are utilized as part of the vehicular body structure. The vehicle cross-support member normally spans between or fastened to a pair of laterally disposed vertical pillars, or A-pillars, in the region generally below the windscreen and a cowl top, and between a forward engine compartment and a rearward passenger compartment, so as to extend in a direction transverse to the length of an automobile. As part of a motor vehicle body, the cross-support member provides for cross car stiffness and rigidity against for example side load impacts.
Located forwardly of the driver and the front-row passenger, the cross-support member also supports or provides mounting surfaces for various vehicle components, including an instrument panel, a glove and/or storage compartment, a center console, a dashboard and a steering column member. Although direct attachment may be possible, various attachment devices or assemblies could be utilized to effect attachment of such vehicle components to the cross-support member. The attachment devices and assemblies are preferably designed such that the noise and vibrations transferring from the vehicle engine, drivetrain, transmission or any other moving parts are reduced for optimal passenger comfort. For vehicle components subject to or exerting a load or force, the attachment devices and assemblies preferably incorporate constructions adapted for improving load transfer, dispersion and/or distribution. Reduction of weight and production costs are also of important consideration in designing and implementing the attachment devices and assemblies.
A number of attachment or mounting assemblies for securing a steering column member in a vehicle are known. By way of an example, U.S. Pat. No. 8,256,830 to Hitz describes a plurality of standardized support arms, a number of which are configured in the form of steering column support arms each having a U-shaped cross section defined by a pair of legs. Each of the legs forming part of the steering column support arm of Hitz include an area secured in a preformed transversal slot of a vehicle cross-support member on the driver side. Hitz furthermore describes reinforcement members having the same U-shaped cross section, and which are coupled to the steering column support arms to form a rectangular cross section. Hitz suggests that the standardized support arms may alternatively be formed as other support or reinforcement components secured to the cross-support member, such as a transmission tunnel support arm and a splash shield support arm, so as to permit reduction of production costs associated with fabricating multiple vehicle components.
U.S. Pat. No. 8,146,986 to Bierkamp describes a holder configured for attachment to a tubular vehicle cross-support member to effect securement of different vehicle components. The holder of Bierkamp possesses a U shaped configuration defined by two limbs interconnected by a bridge, and which are sized to be received in a parallel spaced slots transversely oriented to a longitudinal axis of the cross-support member. Bierkamp suggests that two or more holders may be secured to the cross-support member to effect steering column attachment. The specific configuration of the holder of Bierkamp is described as advantageous in that it allows for sliding and rotational adjustment or positioning of the holder on the tubular cross-support member prior securing or welding the holder thereto.
The attachment devices described in Hitz and Bierkamp may suffer disadvantages in that forces generated by a steering column member, such as rotational forces, may not be transferred or distributed efficiently to other structural elements of the vehicle. Furthermore, as the generated forces are mainly channeled to the vehicle cross-support member, deficiencies in the attachment between the cross-support member and the devices of Hitz and Bierkamp may possibly lead to structural and/or functional failures. Given the increasing complexity and components included with steering column members, such as airbags and various control and adjustment elements, improvements to the load transfer and distribution from the steering column member may be desired.