Adjustable steering column

Claim 1

In a selectively axially extensible steering column, the combination comprising inner and outer telescopically related steering shaft sections adapted for connection respectively to a steering wheel and a steering gear of an automotive vehicle, said inner shaft section being longitudinally centrally bored completely therethrough, the inner end portion of said shaft section having at least one transverse slot like opening in the distal end wall thereof, means in said inner end portion defining at least one transverse bore through said inner shaft section end portion communicating with said slot like opening, said slot like opening and said bore defining yieldable leg elements in said inner end portion, means forming segments of a tapered bore interiorly of said leg elements merging with said slot like opening and said transverse bore, and a manually actuable longitudinally shiftable push rod received within the longitudinal central bore of said inner shaft section, said push rod being selectively manually projectible inwaRdly of said inner shaft section to effect locking engagement between said inner and outer shaft sections and to outwardly withdrawable to release said locking engagement, the remote inner end of said push rod having a tapered surface cooperable with said tapered bore segments under selected inward projection of said push rod to radially spread said leg elements into locking engagement with the inner wall of said outer shaft section.