Patent ID: 6910558

Claim:
A telescoping column comprising: a first tube and a second tube arranged in telescoping fashion; a surface disposed on the first tube; a ramp disposed on the second tube and extending at an angle relative to the surface; a locking structure disposed between the ramp and the surface, the locking structure contacting the ramp at a first elongated area of contact, and the locking structure contacting the surface at a second elongated area of contact, the locking structure comprising a multi-segment ring-shaped locking structure; and a plurality of fingers extending between the segments of the ring-shaped locking structure; wherein relative movement of the first and second tubes in response to an impact force applied to one of the first and second tubes causes the fingers to move relative to the ramp, and causes the locking structure to become wedged between the ramp and the surface for transmitting at least a portion of the impact force between the first and second tubes through the first and second elongated areas of contact.