Steering column assembly

1. A steering column assembly for a vehicle, said assembly comprising:

a steering shaft defining a longitudinal axis and rotatable about said longitudinal axis;

a plurality of first plates fixedly mounted to said steering shaft for concurrent rotation of said first plates and said steering shaft about said longitudinal axis with said first plates spaced from each other to define a gap between said first plates;

a locking member movable between a locked position for impeding rotation of said steering shaft about said longitudinal axis and an unlocked position for permitting free rotation of said steering shaft about said longitudinal axis; and

a plurality of second plates disposed about said steering shaft and rotatable about said longitudinal axis relative to said steering shaft with at least one of said second plates disposed in each of said gaps and said first and second plates abutting each other for providing a frictional engagement therebetween to cause concurrent rotation of said steering shaft and said plates when said locking member is in said unlocked position and said locking member engaging said second plates when in said locked position for preventing rotation of said second plates with said steering shaft and said first plates continuing to be impeded from rotating relative to said second plates until said frictional engagement is overcome thereby allowing relative rotation of said steering shaft and said first plates relative to said second plates.

2. An assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein each of said first plates include an outer periphery defining an outer diameter and wherein each of said second plates include an outer perimeter defining an outer diameter greater than said outer diameter of said first plates for preventing engagement of said locking member with said first plates.

3. An assembly as set forth in claim 2 wherein said outer perimeter of each of said second plates define at least one notch for receiving said locking member.

4. An assembly as set forth in claim 3 wherein said at least one notch is further defined as a plurality of notches spaced substantially equally from each other for receiving said locking member.

5. An assembly as set forth in claim 4 wherein each of said notches of each of said second plates extend toward said longitudinal axis to a base surface with said base surface spaced a predetermined distance radially from said longitudinal axis and said outer periphery of each of said first plates spaced a predetermined distance radially from said longitudinal axis less than said predetermined distance of said base surface of each of said second plates.

6. An assembly as set forth in claim 4 wherein said second plates include an interconnection portion for coupling each of said second plates to each other such that said second plates rotate together.

7. An assembly as set forth in claim 6 wherein said interconnection portion defines at least one orifice disposed through each of said second plates and spaced from said notches between said outer perimeter of said second plates and said outer periphery of said first plates.

8. An assembly as set forth in claim 7 wherein said interconnection portion includes at least one pin disposed through said orifice of each of said second plates.

9. An assembly as set forth in claim 6 wherein said interconnection portion includes a plurality of fingers extending from each of said second plates along said longitudinal axis with said fingers spaced from said notches and spaced substantially equally away from each other.

10. An assembly as set forth in claim 9 wherein said interconnection portion defines a plurality of recesses disposed through each of said second plates and spaced from said notches and said fingers with said recesses spaced substantially equally away from each other such that said fingers of one of said second plates is disposed in said recesses of an other one of said second plates.

11. An assembly as set forth in claim 1 further including a housing disposed about said steering shaft with said first and second plates disposed in said housing.

12. An assembly as set forth in claim 11 wherein said housing includes a first end and a second end spaced from each other along said longitudinal axis with said first and second plates disposed between said first and second ends.

13. An assembly as set forth in claim 12 wherein said housing includes a body portion defining a plurality of slots disposed between said first and second ends and spaced substantially equally from each other for receiving said locking member.

14. An assembly as set forth in claim 12 further including a biasing member abutting said first end and one of said first and second plates for biasing said first and second plates into said frictional engagement with each other.

15. An assembly as set forth in claim 12 further including a washer abutting said second end and one of said first and second plates for spacing said first and second plates away from said second end.

16. An assembly as set forth in claim 13 wherein at least one of said housing and said second plates further include an interconnection portion for coupling each of said second plates to each other such that said second plates rotate together.

17. An assembly as set forth in claim 16 wherein said interconnection portion includes a plurality of tabs extending from said body portion adjacent said slots with said tabs extending inwardly toward said first plates and abutting said second plates.

18. An assembly as set forth in claim 17 wherein each of said second plates include an outer perimeter defining a plurality of notches spaced from each other with a pair of said tabs disposed in each of said notches of each of said second plates.

19. An assembly as set forth in claim 16 wherein said interconnection portion includes at least one projection extending inwardly from said body portion toward said longitudinal axis between said first and second ends and spaced from said slots.

20. An assembly as set forth in claim 19 wherein each of said second plates include an outer perimeter defining a plurality of notches spaced from each other and wherein said interconnection portion defines at least one depression disposed in each of said second plates and spaced from said notches with said depression abutting said projection.