Patent ID: 8272291

Claim:
A steering column comprising: a. A sleeve portion having an open area extending the length of said sleeve portion; b. a steering shaft portion disposed within said sleeve portion adapted to rotate within said sleeve portion and having at least one terminal end portion extending beyond said sleeve portion; c. a main body portion fixed about said sleeve portion having i. a central aperture extending through said main body adapted to receive said sleeve portion; ii. a groove about said central aperture extending partially through said main body; iii. a locking aperture extending through said main body and extending into said groove; iv. a locking mechanism extending through said locking aperture so as to allow all or some portion of said locking mechanism to extend through said groove, with such locking mechanism adapted to be reversibly removed; d. a second body portion having i. a perimeter wall, a bottom end, and a top end; ii. at least one side opening extending partially or completely through said perimeter wall and positioned so as to allow said locking mechanism of said main body portion to extend into said at least one side opening; iii. said bottom end having a portion extending into said groove of said main body portion, said bottom end being adapted to rotate with respect to said main body portion between an unlocked position wherein said locking aperture and said at least one side opening are not aligned and a locked position wherein said locking aperture and said at least one side opening are aligned; and iv. said top end having an opening.