Patent ID: 7178834

Claim:
An apparatus for supporting a steering wheel in a vehicle comprising: a member for attachment to a vehicle; a steering column connected to said member for sliding movement; a capsule connecting said member and said steering column to one another to prevent said sliding movement between said member and said steering column up to a first predetermined level of force and to allow said siding movement between said member and said steering column in response to the first predetermined level of force acting on said steering column; an adjusting device associated with said capsule for adjusting said capsule to allow sliding movement between said member and said steering column in response to a second predetermined level of force lower than the first predetermined level of force and said adjusting device includes a portion disposed between said capsule and said steering column and a moving device associated with said portion to move said portion relative to said capsule; and said portion defines a first distance between said capsule and said steering column prior to movement and said moving device is operable to move said portion and decrease said first distance to a second distance.