Patent ID: 7503234

Claim:
A steering column assembly comprising: a steering column including a first steering column jacket extending along a longitudinal axis, a second steering column jacket telescopically engaged with said first steering column jacket, and a tilt housing pivotally engaged with said second steering column jacket, wherein said steering column is disposable in a vehicle for tilting movement between said tilt housing and said second steering column jacket and telescoping movement between said first and second steering column jackets; a wedge lock coupled to said steering column and moveable between a first unlocked position and a first locked position along a first path to selectively lock said steering column with respect to said telescoping movement; a lever pivotally coupled to said steering column for rotation about a pivot axis between an adjusting position and a locking position and attached to said wedge lock for moving said wedge lock from said first unlocked position to said first locked position along said first path in response to rotation of said lever from said adjusting position to said locking position; a cable assembly including a cable having first and second ends and a sheath substantially encircling said cable with said first end of said cable coupled to said lever and linearly moveable relative to said sheath in response to rotation of said lever between said adjusting position and said locking position; a tilt lock member coupled to said steering column and moveable from a second unlocked position into a second locked position along a second path to selectively lock said tilt housing relative to said second steering column jacket to prevent said tilting movement, with said second end of said cable attached to said tilt lock member such that said tilt lock member moves from said second unlocked position to said second locked position along said second path in response to rotation of said lever from said adjusting position to said locking position; and a biasing device coupled to said cable and biasing against said sheath for urging said tilt lock member into said locked position and cooperating with said lever to offset a force required to move said wedge lock from said first unlocked position to said first locked position along said first path; wherein said tilt lock member is coupled to one of said second steering column jacket and said tilt housing and slideably moveable along said second path into interlocking engagement with the other of said second steering column jacket and said tilt housing such that said tilt lock member is linearly moveable between said second unlocked position and said second locked position.