Patent attributes
A steering column assembly comprises a shroud having a first part that is fixed in position axially relative to the vehicle and a second part that can in use can move relative to the first part for adjustment of the length of the shroud, a support bracket that in use is secured to a part of the vehicle, and a clamp mechanism that has a locked position in which it locks the position of the moving part of the shroud relative to the first part of the shroud and an unlocked position in which it permits movement between the first and second parts of the shroud. The assembly further comprises an end of travel protection mechanism which comprises a cam that is free to rotate around an axis and a lock bolt, in a locked position the end of travel protection mechanism urging the lock bolt into a position where it limits the amount of collapse of the shroud and in an unlocked position the end of travel protection mechanism the lock bolt being withdrawn into a position where it permits additional collapse of the shroud beyond that permitted when in the locked position, in which the mechanism converts a rotary movement of the cam into the required linear motion of the lock bolt, the rotation of the cam in use being created by a linkage that is connected to a part of the clamp mechanism arranged such that with the clamp mechanism in the unlocked position the secondary lock mechanism is in the locked position and with the clamp mechanism in the locked position the secondary lock mechanism is in the unlocked position.
