Patent ID: 7562548

Claim:
A steering column assembly for a vehicle, said assembly comprising: a steering shaft defining a longitudinal axis and rotatable about said longitudinal axis; a plurality of first plates fixedly mounted to said steering shaft for concurrent rotation of said first plates and said steering shaft about said longitudinal axis with said first plates spaced from each other to define a gap between said first plates; a locking member movable between a locked position for impeding rotation of said steering shaft about said longitudinal axis and an unlocked position for permitting free rotation of said steering shaft about said longitudinal axis; and a plurality of second plates disposed about said steering shaft and rotatable about said longitudinal axis relative to said steering shaft with at least one of said second plates disposed in each of said gaps and said first and second plates abutting each other for providing a frictional engagement therebetween to cause concurrent rotation of said steering shaft and said plates when said locking member is in said unlocked position and said locking member engaging said second plates when in said locked position for preventing rotation of said second plates with said steering shaft and said first plates continuing to be impeded from rotating relative to said second plates until said frictional engagement is overcome thereby allowing relative rotation of said steering shaft and said first plates relative to said second plates.