Detachable steering wheel

• US 10,308,215 B2
• Filed: 10/23/2017
• Issued: 06/04/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 05/05/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Primax Electronics Limited
• Original Assignee: Primax Electronics Limited
• Inventors: Ting, Kuan-Pao
• Primary Examiner(s): Ilan, Ruth
• Application Number:
  US15/790,415
• Publication Number:
  US 20180319367A1
• Time in Patent Office: 589 Days
• Field of Search: 74552
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/0222 by disjoining steering wheel and column
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/252 Fingerprint recognition
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 1/04 Hand wheels
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 1/10 Hubs; Connecting hubs to steering columns, e.g. adjustable B62D1/11 takes precedence

Abstract

A detachable steering wheel includes a steering wheel body, an electric sleeve, a fixing mechanism, a controlling module and an identifying module. The steering wheel body includes a direction grip and a connection shaft. The connection shaft is inserted into a steering column. Moreover, plural indentations are formed in the connection shaft. The electric sleeve is movably sheathed around the steering column. The fixing mechanism includes plural rolling balls and plural openings. The plural openings are penetrated through the corresponding openings and connected with the corresponding indentations. The controlling module is installed in the steering column and electrically connected with the electric sleeve. The identifying module is installed in the direction grip and electrically connected with the controlling module. Due to these structures, the intelligent anti-theft purpose is achieved.

Claims

1. A detachable steering wheel installed on a steering column, the detachable steering wheel comprising:

a steering wheel body comprising a direction grip and a connection shaft, wherein the connection shaft is protruded from the direction grip, the connection shaft is inserted into the steering column, and plural indentations are formed in an outer surface of the connection shaft;

an electric sleeve movably sheathed around the steering column;

a fixing mechanism comprising plural rolling balls and plural openings, wherein the plural rolling balls are connected with an inner wall of the electric sleeve, and the plural openings are formed in the steering column, wherein when a side of each rolling ball is penetrated through a corresponding opening and connected with a corresponding indentation, the connection shaft is fixed in the steering column;

a controlling module installed in the steering column and electrically connected with the electric sleeve; and

an identifying module installed in the direction grip and electrically connected with the controlling module, wherein an identification data is stored in the identifying module,

wherein when a capturing signal obtained by the identifying module matches the identification data, the controlling module drives movement of the electric sleeve in a direction away from the steering wheel body and the plural rolling balls are moved out of the corresponding indentations, so that the connection shaft is disengaged from the steering column and removed from the steering column.

2. The detachable steering wheel according to claim 1, wherein the electric sleeve comprises a sleeve body and at least one electric retractable element, wherein the sleeve body is movably sheathed around the steering column, the plural rolling balls are connected with an inner wall of the sleeve body, a first end of the electric retractable element is connected with an end of the sleeve body away from the direction grip, a second end of the electric retractable element is connected with a side of the steering column away from the direction grip, and the controlling module is electrically connected with the electric retractable element.

3. The detachable steering wheel according to claim 2, wherein the plural indentations are annularly arranged on the outer surface of the connection shaft, and the plural rolling balls are annularly arranged on the inner wall of the sleeve body.

4. The detachable steering wheel according to claim 2, wherein the plural rolling balls are elastically movable on the inner wall of the sleeve body.

5. The detachable steering wheel according to claim 2, wherein the fixing mechanism further comprises a raised ring, wherein the raised ring is externally protruded from an end of the steering column away from the steering wheel body, and a side of the electric retractable element away from the sleeve body is connected with the steering column through the raised ring, wherein when the controlling module drives a retracting action of the electric retractable element, the electric sleeve is moved toward the raised ring.

6. The detachable steering wheel according to claim 5, wherein the raised ring and the steering column are collaboratively formed as a combination structure with a T-shaped cross section.

7. The detachable steering wheel according to claim 5, wherein the electric retractable element is an annular electric retractable element, and the electric retractable element is arranged around the steering column.

8. The detachable steering wheel according to claim 5, wherein the at least one electric retractable element comprises plural electric retractable elements, and the plural electric retractable elements are electric retractable rods, wherein the plural electric retractable elements are annularly and discretely arranged around the steering column at regular spacing intervals.

9. The detachable steering wheel according to claim 8, wherein the raised ring comprises plural fixing holes corresponding to the respective electric retractable elements, wherein a side of each electric retractable element away from the sleeve body is connected with and fixed in the corresponding fixing hole.

10. The detachable steering wheel according to claim 2, wherein the identifying module comprises a capturing element and a controlling unit, wherein the capturing element is electrically connected with the controlling module and the controlling unit, and the capturing signal is obtained by the capturing element.

11. The detachable steering wheel according to claim 10, wherein the identifying module further comprises a storage element, wherein the storage element is electrically connected with the controlling unit, and the identification data is stored in the storage element.

12. The detachable steering wheel according to claim 11, wherein the capturing element is a fingerprint capturing element, the controlling unit is a microcontroller, and the storage element is a memory.

13. The detachable steering wheel according to claim 10, wherein the controlling module comprises a controlling element, and the controlling element is electrically connected with the controlling unit and the at least one electric retractable element.

14. The detachable steering wheel according to claim 13, wherein the controlling module further comprises a power supply element, and the power supply element is electrically connected with the controlling element, the controlling unit and the at least one electric retractable element.

15. The detachable steering wheel according to claim 14, wherein the controlling element is an automotive microcontroller, and the power supply element is a battery.