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US5855144A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Steering wheel

Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1994-01-19
•
Granted: 1999-01-05
•
Expires: 2014-01-19
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Abstract

Abstract A steering wheel of a transportation device includes controls positioned on the wheel. The controls are operable by operator's fingers and may be connected to the various electrical and electronic devices of the transportation device. Further, in one of the embodiments, controls are positioned on a circular grip member of the wheel. In one of the embodiments, the steering wheel includes a display positioned on the hub-like connecting member of the wheel, which can show radio frequency, time, temperature, etc.

Inventors

  • 👤 Nikolay Parada

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-04 20:39
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60Q; B60Q1/00; B60Q1/0076; B60Q1/0082; B60K; B60K35/00; B60K35/10; B62; B62D; B62D1/00; B62D1/02; B62D1/04; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T74/00; Y10T74/20; Y10T74/20012; Y10T74/20201; Y10T74/20207; Y10T74/20256; Y10T74/20576; Y10T74/20732; Y10T74/20834; Y10T74/2087

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 24
Claim 1
Independent Claim 119 words
A steering wheel for a transportation device, comprising: a gripping member of a circular shape having a gripping surface; at least one connecting member connecting said gripping member with a steering column, and a control means positioned on said steering wheel for controlling various devices of said transportation device, wherein said control means include a plurality of control pads positioned for operation by fingertips of a driver on said gripping member in at least one open at one side recess so said control pads do not project beyond said gripping surface, which are reachable by the fingertips of the driver, wherein each said at least one open at one side recess contains more than one of said control pads.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 119 words
A steering wheel for a transportation device, comprising: a gripping member of a circular shape having a gripping surface; at least one connecting member connecting said gripping member with a steering column, and a control means positioned on said steering wheel for controlling various devices of said transportation device, wherein said control means include a plurality of control pads positioned for operation by fingertips of a driver on said gripping member in at least one open at one side recess so said control pads do not project beyond said gripping surface, which are reachable by the fingertips of the driver, wherein each said at least one open at one side recess contains more than one of said control pads.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 27 words
A steering wheel of claim 1, wherein said devices are selected from a group consisting of a radio, air conditioner, heater, defroster, window controls, and windshield wipers.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 20 words
A steering wheel of claim 1, wherein said control means are positioned on an internal side of said gripping member.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 29 words
A steering wheel of claim 1, wherein said at least one connecting member include a hub-like member comprising a display positioned on a front side of said hub-like member.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 18 words
A steering wheel of claim 4, wherein said display includes a radio frequency display and an am/fm display.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 22 words
A steering wheel of claim 4 wherein said display includes a time display positioned on a front side of said hub-like member.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 23 words
A steering wheel of claim 4 wherein said display includes a temperature control display positioned on a front side of said hub-like member.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 38 words
A steering wheel of claim 1 wherein each of said control pads is positioned below said gripping surface of said gripping member allowing unobstructed gripping of any part of said gripping member by a hand of the driver.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 14 words
A steering wheel of claim 8, wherein said control means are touch-sensitive control means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 14 words
A steering wheel of claim 8 wherein said control means are heat-sensitive control means.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 15 words
A steering wheel of claim 1, wherein said control means are a pressure-sensitive control means.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 20 words
A steering wheel of claim 1, wherein said control means are located at a predetermined positions on said gripping member.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 113 words
A steering wheel, comprising: a gripping member of a circular shape having a gripping surface; at least one connecting member connecting said gripping member with a steering column, and a control means positioned on said steering wheel for controlling various electric and electronic devices of said transportation device, wherein said control means include a plurality of control pads each of which is positioned for operation by fingertips of a driver on said gripping member in a separate open at one side recess, said pads being reachable by the fingertips of the driver, wherein said devices are selected from a group consisting of a radio, air conditioner, heater, defroster, window controls, and windshield wipers.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 113 words
A steering wheel, comprising: a gripping member of a circular shape having a gripping surface; at least one connecting member connecting said gripping member with a steering column, and a control means positioned on said steering wheel for controlling various electric and electronic devices of said transportation device, wherein said control means include a plurality of control pads each of which is positioned for operation by fingertips of a driver on said gripping member in a separate open at one side recess, said pads being reachable by the fingertips of the driver, wherein said devices are selected from a group consisting of a radio, air conditioner, heater, defroster, window controls, and windshield wipers.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim 38 words
A steering wheel of claim 13, wherein each of said control pads is positioned below said gripping surfaces of said gripping member allowing unobstructed gripping of any part of said gripping member by a hand of the driver.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim 14 words
A steering wheel of claim 14, wherein said control means are touch-sensitive control means.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim 14 words
A steering wheel of claim 14, wherein said control means are heat-sensitive control means.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim 15 words
A steering of wheel of claim 13, wherein said control means are pressure-sensitive control means.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim 20 words
A steering wheel of claim 13, wherein said control pads are located at a predetermined positions on said gripping member.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim 132 words
A transportation device, comprising: a steering wheel, said steering wheel including a gripping member of a circular shape having a gripping surface; at least one connecting member connecting said gripping member with a steering shaft; various electrical and electronic devices; a control means positioned on said gripping member for controlling said various electrical and electronic devices of said transportation device, said control means including a plurality of control pads being positioned for operation by fingertips of a driver on said gripping member in at least one open at one side recess, so said control pads do not project beyond said gripping surface, which are reachable by the fingertips of a driver, wherein said devices are selected from a group consisting of a radio, air conditioner, heater, defroster, window controls, and windshield wipers.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim 132 words
A transportation device, comprising: a steering wheel, said steering wheel including a gripping member of a circular shape having a gripping surface; at least one connecting member connecting said gripping member with a steering shaft; various electrical and electronic devices; a control means positioned on said gripping member for controlling said various electrical and electronic devices of said transportation device, said control means including a plurality of control pads being positioned for operation by fingertips of a driver on said gripping member in at least one open at one side recess, so said control pads do not project beyond said gripping surface, which are reachable by the fingertips of a driver, wherein said devices are selected from a group consisting of a radio, air conditioner, heater, defroster, window controls, and windshield wipers.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim 18 words
A steering wheel of claim 19, wherein each of said control pads is positioned below said gripping surface.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim 29 words
A steering wheel of claim 20, wherein said control means are selected from a group consisting of a pressure-sensitive control means, touch-sensitive control means and a heat-sensitive control means.

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 2002-01-04 2002-07-06 2003-01-05 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 2006-01-04 2006-07-06 2007-01-05 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2010-01-04 2010-07-06 2011-01-05 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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