Patent ID: 8596684

Claim:
A steering column assembly comprising: a steering column including a first member having a steering wheel supporting end operable to engage a steering wheel and a second member telescopically engaged with said first member and extending to a pivot end and being moveable along a first predetermined telescoping collapse path in response to an impacting force acting on said steering wheel supporting end and having a cam-follower surface in fixed relation to said steering wheel supporting end; and a cam surface spaced from said steering column and slidably engaging said cam-follower surface, said cam surface and said cam-follower surface configured to cooperate during movement of said steering column to define a second predetermined substantially horizontal collapse path in continuous fixed relation to said first predetermined telescoping collapse path so as to guide said steering column in rotation upwardly about said pivot end in response to movement of said steering wheel supporting end toward said pivot end, said cam surface being further defined as a rake bolt, said cam-follower surface being further defined as a first arcuate slot, said first arcuate slot receiving said rake bolt; wherein said second predetermined substantially horizontal collapse path is disposed such that the steering wheel supporting end translates in a substantially horizontal direction as said steering wheel supporting end moves toward said pivot end.