Patent ID: 8702112

Claim:
A steering linkage adapted for use in a vehicle steering system comprising: a first member and a second member disposed at least partially within the first member and operatively secured together by at least a mechanical point of connection; wherein the second member includes a stop feature provided thereon at a remote end thereof which is separate and distinct from the mechanical point of connection, wherein the first member is a hollow tubular member having a reduced diameter end, the second member is a tubular member having a stepped body defining at least a first tube outer diameter and a second tube outer diameter which is less than the first tube outer diameter, wherein at least a portion of the second tube outer diameter is disposed within the reduced diameter end of the first member and is secured thereto by the mechanical point of connection, and wherein the first outer tube diameter defines the stop feature of the second member and the first tube outer diameter is greater than the reduced diameter end of the first member, wherein the stop feature is configured such that in the event the mechanical point of connection between the first member and the second member is disrupted, the stop feature is operative to prevent the first member and the second member from completely separating from each other by the stop feature not being capable of passing through the reduced diameter end of the first member so that at least the stop feature of the second member remains within the first member so as to operatively couple the first and second members together.