Patent ID: 7878543

Claim:
A clamping mechanism for an adjustable steering column assembly, said clamping mechanism comprising: a static plate defining a plurality of static lifting ramps with each of said plurality of static lifting ramps including a release section and a lock section, said static plate configured for attachment to the adjustable steering column assembly; a dynamic plate in spaced parallel relationship to said static plate and rotatable relative to said static plate between a lock position and a release position about a transverse axis extending perpendicular to said dynamic plate with said dynamic plate defining a plurality of dynamic lifting ramps with each of said plurality of dynamic lifting ramps including a release section and a lock section and opposing one of said plurality of static lifting ramps to define opposing pairs of ramps; a plurality of rollers with each of said plurality of rollers disposed within one of said opposing pairs of ramps and moveable between a raised position within said opposing pair of ramps when said dynamic plate is in said lock position to bias said dynamic plate outward along said transverse axis away from said static plate and a recessed position within said opposing pair of ramps; said plurality of static lifting ramps spaced from said transverse axis a first radial release distance and said lock section of each of said plurality of static lifting ramps spaced from said transverse axis a first radial lock distance less than said first radial release distance said release section of each of said plurality of dynamic lifting ramps spaced from said transverse axis a second radial release distance, and said lock section of each of said plurality of dynamic lifting ramps spaced from said transverse axis a second radial lock distance less than said second radial release distance; at least one of said plurality of static lifting ramps including a first rate of change along an inclined profile extending between said release section and said lock section of said static lifting ramps, and at least one of said plurality of dynamic lifting ramps including a second rate of change along an inclined profile extending between said release section and said lock section of said dynamic lifting ramps, at least one of said first rate of change and said second rate of change being variable.