Patent ID: 6923086

Claim:
In a safety device for a motor vehicle having an elongated steering column having a central longitudinal axis on which a steering wheel is mounted at one end, said steering column having a horizontal profile and extending at an acute angle, the steering column providing a substantially cylindrical enclosure for a vehicle steering shaft, said steering column provided with length adjustment and height adjustment for placing the column in a multiplicity of positions from a lowest to a highest position and from a most retracted position to a most pulled out position, wherein the length adjustment is effected with slot guidance, which runs linearly in the longitudinal direction of the steering column arrangement, an engagement mechanism cooperating with the slot guidance for making length adjustment, and a lock for locking the steering column in a fixed position the improvement comprising: a) the height adjustment contains a swiveling mechanism, which engages with the engagement mechanism of the length adjustment, b) the safety device is so constructed and arranged that the length adjustment and the height adjustment in all positions of the steering column are above the lowest point of the horizontal profile of the steering column, c) whereby the space through and above the steering wheel is unobstructed to view instruments on dashboard and space below the steering column is unobstructed to give greater protection to legs and knees of a driver in the event of an accident.