Adjustable automotive steering column with adjustable tilt and top-position lock

An adjustable tilt steering column comprising:

• a steering column receiving a steering shaft with a steering wheel attached to its free end, said steering column including a first stationary component and a second movable component which is pivotable with said steering shaft for allowing tilt adjustment of the steering shaft relative to said first component;
• a first locking means associated with said steering column for locking said second component of said steering column at a selected angular position, said angular position being variable between a first upper and a second lower extremes said first locking means including interengageable first and second members, each having engagement means, for latching said second component as a selected angular position;
• second means allowing said second component to move upwardly beyond said first extreme to a third upper most position;
• a third locking means associated with said second means and responsive to operation of the latter to lock said second component at said third uppermost position;
• and
• a fourth means, manually operable, for selectably releasing engagement between said first and second members of said first locking means to allow adjustment of the said annular position to set a driving position within an adjusting range defined by said first and second extremes, for selectably activating said second means to move said second component to said uppermost position by means of said third means, and for selectably disabling said third locking means to allow downward movement of said second component within said adjusting range to said set driving position from said uppermost position.