Patent ID: 7798526

Claim:
A steering column assembly for a vehicle, said steering column assembly comprising: an energy absorbing bracket including a mounting portion for rigid attachment to the vehicle and a body portion extending from said mounting portion; an outer jacket spaced from said mounting portion of said energy absorbing bracket and having a first connection to said energy absorbing bracket comprising a rigid attachment to said body portion of said energy absorbing bracket with said body portion being deformable relative to said mounting portion for absorbing energy in response to movement of said outer jacket relative to said mounting portion; an inner shaft that is received in and rotatable relative to said outer jacket; and a tab having a first end and a second end with said first end connected to one of said body portion and said mounting portion of said energy absorbing bracket and said second end spaced from said first end, said second end forming a second connection between the energy absorbing bracket and the outer jacket comprising a rigid attachment to the outer jacket or an abutment against the outer jacket for applying a resistive force, through said second connection, against movement of said outer jacket relative to said mounting portion with said tab being releasable to release said resistive force in response to a predetermined collapsing force for allowing said outer jacket to move relative to said mounting portion while said body portion of said energy absorbing bracket deforms to absorb energy from said outer jacket.