Patent ID: 8863610

Claim:
A steering column for a motor vehicle, comprising: a mounting for securement to a vehicle body; a carriage received in a guideway of the mounting for movement along a predefined path between a rearward starting position in which the carriage is positioned proximal to a driver during normal travel and a forward end position to which the carriage is movable away from the driver when an impacting predefined crash force is exceeded in the event of a crash; a telescoping column portion arranged in an area of the mounting and having a telescope section connected to a steering wheel and to the carriage; and an actuatable locking device arranged between the carriage and the mounting, said locking device being constructed to lock the starting position of the carriage during normal travel and, when being released, to allow a shift of the carriage to the forward end position together with the steering wheel to thereby facilitate entry of the driver, said locking device having at least one predetermined breaking element dimensioned to either break or to become deformed sufficient to release the locking device and to allow the carriage to move from the starting position to the end position, when the impacting predefined crash force is exceeded in the event of a crash.