Patent ID: 7331608

Claim:
An apparatus for positioning a steering wheel of a vehicle in a desired position comprising: a steering column including a steering wheel supporting portion for supporting a steering wheel and also including first and second members movable relative to one another to move said steering wheel supporting portion along at least one of a tilting path of movement and a telescoping path of movement; a locking device selectively engageable with said first and second members to lock said first and second members with respect to one another and substantially prevent movement along said at least one of said tilting path and said telescoping path, said locking device including an electric motor and a moveable portion wherein said electric motor moves said moveable portion between first and second positions such that said first and second members being locked with respect to one another when said moveable portion is in said first position and being unlocked with respect to one another when said moveable portion is in said second position; said locking device includes a first shaft wherein said activation of said electric motor rotates said first shaft; and said locking device includes a squeeze-lock engaged with said first shaft wherein said squeeze-lock compresses said steering column in response to rotation of said first shaft in a first direction.