Steering column protective jacket

Claim 1

In a vehicle, the combination comprising: a steering column; an ignition key housing having a generally tubular wall with an ignition key opening in the end thereof, mounted on one side of the steering column; a turn signal lever mounted on the opposite side of the steering column; steering column cover means mounted on the steering column adjacent the turn signal lever and the ignition key housing; a generally semi-cylindrical jacket member removably mounted on the steering column cover means, the jacket member having a length at least as long as the length of the steering column cover means, the jacket member having an opening for passing substantially the entire tubular wall of the ignition key housing therethrough to an unenclosed position permitting manipulation of the ignition switch by a key; a protective housing having an opening receiving the turn signal lever therethrough; the protective housing and the jacket member having a first pair of adjacent side edges; hinge means connecting the first pair of adjacent side edges such that the jacket member is pivotal with respect to the protective housing between an open position in which the protective housing and the jacket member may be removed from the steering column cover means, and a closed position in which the protective housing and the jacket member receive the turn signal lever and the ignition key housing through their respective openings; the protective housing and the jacket member having a second pair of adjacent side edges; means releasably connecting together the second pair of adjacent side edges of the jacket member and the protective housing; whereby the jacket member and the protective housing protect the steering column cover means and steering wheel locking components mounted within the steering column cover means, but permit the user to insert and operate the ignition key mechanism without removing the jacket member and the protective housing from the steering column cover means.