Patent ID: 7703804

Claim:
A steering column assembly for a vehicle, said assembly comprising: a support bracket configured for attachment to the vehicle; a column jacket coupled to said support bracket and extending along a longitudinal axis and defining a telescope slot extending along said longitudinal axis with said telescope slot including an adjustment portion and an continuation portion, and said column jacket being adjustable along said longitudinal axis relative to said support bracket and collapsible along said longitudinal axis relative to said support bracket in response to a collision event; a shaft coupled to said support bracket and extending through said telescope slot with said telescope slot moveable relative to said shaft during said adjustment and said collapse of said column jacket; a stop detachably coupled to said column jacket and at least partially blocking a portion of said telescope slot with said stop limiting movement of said shaft to within said adjustment portion of said telescope slot during said adjustment of said column jacket and said stop detachable from said column jacket during said collapse of said column jacket to permit movement of said shaft into said continuation portion of said telescope slot.