Patent ID: 7497470

Claim:
An energy absorbing apparatus for a steering column comprising: a first member having a telescoping end and a side wall; a second member having a telescoping end and a side wall and being disposed for collapsing telescoping movement with said first member; a bushing extending annularly between said first member and said second member and fixed to one of said first member and said second member; at least one projection integrally formed with said bushing and extending longitudinally and radially along said side wall of said one of said first member and said second member and spaced from said telescoping end of the other of said first member and said second member for being sheared by said telescoping end of said other of said first member and said second member during said collapsing telescoping movement; and wherein said telescoping end of said other of said first member and said second member is further defined as being operable to at least partially separate said at least one projection from said bushing during said collapsing telescoping movement.