Propeller shaft slip member with crash collapse assembly

A shaft assembly, comprising:

• a coupling assembly comprising a first joint member, a second joint member and a third joint member drivingly connecting said first joint member to said second joint member;
• wherein said second joint member has a first end portion, a second end portion and an intermediate portion interposed between said first and second end portions of said second joint member;
• wherein said second joint member has a substantially cylindrical body portion extending therefrom;
• a first shaft having a first end portion, a second end portion and an intermediate portion interposed between said first and second end portions of said first shaft;
• wherein at least a portion of said first shaft is drivingly connected to at least a portion of said substantially cylindrical body portion of said second joint member;
• wherein said second end portion of said first shaft has an increased diameter portion with a plurality of axially extending increased diameter portion splines circumferentially extend along at least a portion of an outer surface thereof;
• wherein a retaining member groove circumferentially extends along at least a portion of said outer surface of said increased diameter portion of said first shaft;
• a crash collapse adapter having an inner surface and an outer surface defining a hollow portion therein;
• wherein a plurality of axially extending crash collapse adapter splines circumferentially extend along at least a portion of said inner surface of said crash collapse adapter that are complementary to and meshingly engaged with said plurality of axially extending increased diameter portion splines on said outer surface of said increased diameter portion of said first shaft;
• wherein a crash collapse feature circumferentially extends along at least a portion of said inner surface of said crash collapse adapter;
• wherein said crash collapse feature comprises, in axial order, a first decreasing diameter portion, a substantially cylindrical portion, an increased diameter portion, and a second decreasing diameter portion;
• a retaining member;
• wherein at least a portion of said retaining member is disposed within said retaining member groove in said outer surface of said increased diameter portion of said first shaft and said increased diameter portion of said crash collapse feature in said inner surface of said crash collapse adapter;
• wherein said retaining member radially collapses into said retaining member groove in said outer surface of said increased diameter portion of said first shaft when a pre-determined amount of force is applied to said retaining member;
• a flexible boot having a first end portion and a second end portion;
• wherein at least a portion of said first end portion of said flexible boot is connected to at least a portion of said substantially cylindrical body portion of said second joint member;
• wherein at least a portion of said second end portion of said flexible boot is connected to at least a portion of said first shaft;
• a second shaft having an inner surface and an outer surface defining a hollow portion therein;
• and
• wherein at least a portion of a first end portion of said second shaft is drivingly connected to at least a portion of said crash collapse adapter.