Patent ID: 7516682

Claim:
A steering column assembly comprising: a steering column jacket operable to support a steering shaft; a collar presenting a surface for guiding movement of said steering column jacket; a locking member operable to move in a first direction from an unlocked position to a locked position to increasingly urge said steering column jacket and said surface of said collar together to lock relative movement between said steering column jacket and said collar; a shaft operable to rotate in a first angular direction about a first axis to move said locking member in said first direction; a crank extending radially outwardly from said shaft; a lever operable to rotate in a second angular direction about a second axis spaced from said first axis; and a link pivotally interconnecting said crank and said lever to transmit rotation of said lever to rotate said crank thereby rotating said shaft; wherein said link, said crank and said lever cooperate to define an over-center mechanism.