Patent ID: 7421925

Claim:
A steering column tilt adjusting system, comprising: a pawl including a body, the body defining a first trunnion mount, a first slotted opening and a plurality of pawl teeth; a rack including a body, the body defining a second trunnion mount, a second set of slotted openings and a plurality of rack teeth, the second trunnion mount and the rack teeth being configured to meshingly engage the pawl teeth; and a pair of side slide plates that slidably engage the rack and pawl, causing the rack teeth to meshingly engage or to disengage the pawl teeth, wherein sliding the pair of side plates along the axis of the first slotted opening and the second set of slotted openings disengages the rack and pawl teeth permitting the rack to slide along the axis of the pawl and whereas sliding the pair of slide plates along the axis of the first and second slotted openings engages the rack and pawl teeth limiting movement between the rack and the pawl.