Patent ID: 8056436

Claim:
An adjustable steering column assembly comprising: a lower column member slidingly engaged at one end with an upper column member; an adjustment mechanism having a locked state in which said upper column member is secured and an unlocked state in which said upper column member can be moved; a ride down mechanism engaging said upper column member to permit ride down of said upper column member when a force above a predetermined level is applied to the upper column member, the ride down mechanism comprising; a mounting bracket fixed to part of a body structure of a motor vehicle; a carriage connected to the upper column member; a clamping means to apply a predetermined clamping force between the mountings bracket and the carriage so as to inhibit relative sliding between the carriage and the mounting bracket during normal use but allowing relative movement between the carriage and the mounting bracket when an axial force above a predetermined magnitude is applied to the upper column member in the event of a vehicle crash, the clamping means provides a slidable connection between the carriage and the mounting bracket; wherein when said adjustment mechanism is in the unlocked state a load transfer means is engaged to bypass said ride down mechanism to prevent the transfer of axial load from said upper column member through said ride down mechanism during adjustment of said upper steering column member, said load transfer means comprises: a retention strap having one end connected to the mounting plate; and at least one detent formed at an opposite end that interacts with the carriage when the adjustment mechanism is in the unlocked state so as to prevent relative movement between the carriage and the mounting bracket, the at least one detent being retracted when the adjustment mechanism is in the locked state so as to permit relative movement between the carriage and the mounting bracket when an axial force above the predetermined magnitude is applied to the upper column member in the event of a vehicle crash.