Patent ID: 7228755

Claim:
A vehicular steering column assembly comprising: an outer sleeve defining a longitudinal axis and having an upper end; an inner steering shaft rotatably carried in said sleeve; a support bracket fixedly joined to said sleeve adjacent said upper end, said support bracket having a releasable mounting surface; a release capsule for fixed connection to a vehicular body, said release capsule engaging said mounting surface of said support bracket and automatically releasable therefrom upon the application of sufficient force along said longitudinal axis of said sleeve; at least one of said mounting surface and said release capsule having a crown protruding therefrom, and the other of said mounting surface and said release capsule having an elongated furrow generally parallel to said longitudinal axis and corresponding in shape to said crown, said crown being seated in said furrow whereby the automatic release of said release capsule from said mounting surface causes relative movement of said crown along said furrow thereby improving release force predictability during a collision and improving resonance control over said steering column assembly during normal operation.