Patent ID: 8167502

Claim:
A steering column assembly having an adjustable shroud comprising a fixed portion arranged to be secured to a body of a vehicle and a moving portion which can be moved telescopically relative to said fixed portion, a clamp mechanism which releasably fixes said moving portion in position relative said vehicle body, said clamp mechanism being movable between a first, unclamped, position in which said fixed portion and said moving portion can move relative to one another and a second, clamped, position in which said fixed portion and said moving portion are prevented from relative movement, and a lock mechanism, wherein said assembly is so arranged that when said clamp mechanism is in said first, unclamped, position said lock mechanism limits a range of movement of said moving portion relative to the fixed portion at least in a collapse direction by providing a path for collapse forces from said moving portion through said lock mechanism to said fixed portion, and when said clamp mechanism is in said second, clamped, position said lock mechanism permits additional telescopic movement of said moving portion towards said fixed portion beyond said limited range of movement by removing said force path; and wherein said lock mechanism comprises at least one movable tooth which engages in a first slot in said fixed portion of said shroud and which is located within a second slot provided in said moving portion when said clamp mechanism is in said first, unclamped, position, and which tooth is free of said slots when said clamp mechanism is in said second, clamped, position, said tooth striking an end of both of said slots at a point which corresponds to said limited range of movement of said assembly in said unclamped position during collapse.