Patent ID: 7322609

Claim:
An apparatus comprising: first and second steering column members disposed for movement relative to one another; an anvil associated with one of said first and second steering column members and spaced from the other of said first and second steering column members with said anvil defining a bending surface; a strap having a first portion defining a mounting end fixedly associated with said other of said first and second steering column members and a second portion of substantially constant width and constant thickness having a free end spaced from said mounting end defining a length of said strap wherein said strap is drawable over said anvil in response to said movement and wherein said strap includes a slot formed in said second portion and extending away from said mounting end along at least a portion of said length and having a variable width; said strap extending along a first length at a first width, a second length at a second width, and a third length at a third width with said second length disposed between said first and third lengths and said second width being greater than said first and third widths to define a greater rate of energy dissipation when said first and third lengths are drawn over said anvil relative to when second length is drawn over said anvil: and said second portion of said strap including a bend portion disposed about said bending surface and correspondingly shaped with respect to said bending surface for facilitating said energy dissipation as said strap is drawn over said anvil.