Patent ID: 7347451

Claim:
A steering column assembly ( 10 ) for a vehicle comprising: first and second steering column members ( 12 , 14 ) engaged for movement relative to one another along one of a tilting path ( 16 ) and a telescoping path; an electric lock ( 18 ) operable in a locked configuration wherein said first and second steering column members ( 12 , 14 ) are locked with respect to one another and an unlocked configuration wherein said first and second steering column members ( 12 , 14 ) are moveable with respect to one another to selectively lock said first and second steering column members ( 12 , 14 ); a sensor ( 20 ) operable to sense a crash condition corresponding to a vehicle crash and to emit a crash signal corresponding to the crash condition; and a controller ( 22 ) operable to receive said crash signal and to control said electric lock ( 18 ) to change from said locked configuration to said unlocked configuration in response to said crash signal; and said electric lock ( 18 ) having a locking portion ( 26 ) movable between a locked configuration and an unlocked configuration, an actuator ( 28 ) supported by said first steering column member ( 12 ) and operable to move said locking portion ( 26 ) between both of said locked and unlocked configurations, and an aperture ( 34 ) in said second steering column member ( 14 ) for receipt of said locking portion ( 26 ) when in said locked configuration.