Patent ID: 7827880

Claim:
A steering column assembly for a vehicle comprising: a steering column operable to adjustably support a steering wheel in the vehicle; a releasably engaged locking bracket adjacent to said steering column and moveable along a path for collapsing movement; a locking member supported in two-way movement by said locking bracket between a first position to lock said locking bracket and said steering column member together and a second position spaced from said first position wherein said steering column member is moveable relative to said locking bracket; at least one incendiary bolt engaged with said locking bracket to selectively release said locking bracket with respect to the vehicle, said incendiary bolt being a single piece bolt and being selectively divisible into at least two portions independently of said collapsing movement of said locking bracket along said path; a sensor configured to sense a vehicle impact condition and to communicate the vehicle impact condition to a controller; and the controller configured to transmit a signal to the incendiary bolt to induce the incendiary bolt to divide into the at least two portions, in response to the vehicle impact condition.