Data device mountable on the steering wheel of a vehicle

• US 20050076815A1
• Filed: 10/08/2003
• Published: 04/14/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 10/08/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Datalux Corporation
• Original Assignee: Datalux Corporation
• Inventors: Twyford, Robert H.
• Granted Patent: US 7,093,545 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 108/44
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 3/005 mounted on the steering wheel
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0202 Constructional details or processes of manufacture of the input device

Abstract

The present invention generally relates to a data device which is mountable on the steering wheel of a vehicle. The device for mounting the data device on the steering wheel of the vehicle comprises a T-shaped arrangement including a member or members extending perpendicularly from the periphery of a frame of the data device, and connected to a further member disposed horizontally and in parallel with the periphery of the frame, that is, parallel to the width of the data device. As a result, the occupant of a vehicle is provided with the capability of quickly mounting the data device on, and quickly dismounting the data device from, the steering wheel of the vehicle. The data device is mounted on the steering wheel in such a manner as to provide for stability of the data device during its use. Preferably, the members extending perpendicularly from the periphery of the frame are connected by hinges to the periphery of the frame so that the device for mounting the data device on the steering wheel of the vehicle can be folded back against the rear or underside of the data device when the data device is not in use.

Claims

1. A data device mountable on a steering wheel of a vehicle, comprising:

a main portion;

a frame including a periphery surrounding said main portion, said periphery including a front portion and a rear portion; and

mounting means disposed on said front portion of said frame for mounting said data device on the steering wheel of the vehicle.

2. The data device of claim 1, wherein said mounting means comprises at least two members connected to said periphery of said frame and extending forward from said data device, and a further member connected to forward ends of said at least two members and extending in a direction parallel to a width of said data device, said further member being of such a length as to have end portions which extend to the left and right, respectively, from said at least two members.

3. The data device of claim 2, wherein said further member has a length large enough to pass through a center portion of the steering wheel, but small enough that the end portions of said further member contact a rear surface of a lower portion of the steering wheel once said data device is lowered into a rest position.

4. The data device of claim 3, said mounting means further comprising hinges, one for each of said at least two members, for connecting said at least two members to said periphery of said frame, whereby said at least two members and said further member can be folded back along an underside of said data device when said data device is not in use.

5. The data device of claim 2, said mounting means further comprising hinges, one for each of said at least two members, for connecting said at least two members to said periphery of said frame, whereby said at least two members and said further member can be folded back along an underside of said data device when said data device is not in use.

6. The data device of claim 1, further comprising hinges for connecting said mounting means to said periphery of said frame, whereby said mounting means can be folded back along an underside of said data device when said data device is not in use.

7. The data device of claim 1, wherein said mounting means comprises a T-shaped member connected to said periphery of said frame and extending forward from said data device, said T-shaped member having a horizontal portion extending in a direction parallel to a width of said data device.

8. The data device of claim 7, wherein said horizontal portion has a length large enough to pass through a center portion of the steering wheel, but small enough that ends of said horizontal portion contact a rear surface of a lower portion of the steering wheel once said data device is lowered into a rest position.

9. The data device of claim 8, said mounting means further comprising at least one hinge for connecting said T-shaped member to said periphery of said frame, whereby said T-shaped member and said horizontal portion can be folded back along an underside of said data device when said data device is not in use.

10. The data device of claim 7, said mounting means further comprising at least one hinge for connecting said T-shaped member to said periphery of said frame, whereby said T-shaped member can be folded back along an underside of said data device when said data device is not in use.

11. A data device mountable on a steering wheel of a vehicle, comprising:

a frame which includes a front portion and a rear portion; and

mounting means disposed on said front portion of said frame for mounting said data device on the steering wheel of the vehicle.

12. The data device of claim 11, wherein said mounting means comprises at least two members connected to said front portion of said frame and extending forward from said data device, and a further member connected to forward ends of said at least two members and extending in a direction parallel to a width of said data device, said further member being of such a length as to have end portions which extend to the left and right, respectively, from said at least two members.

13. The data device of claim 12, wherein said further member has a length large enough to pass through a center portion of the steering wheel, but small enough that the end portions of said further member contact a rear surface of a lower portion of the steering wheel once said data device is lowered into a rest position.

14. The data device of claim 13, said mounting means further comprising hinges, one for each of said at least two members, for connecting said at least two members to said front portion of said frame, whereby said at least two members and said further member can be folded back along an underside of said data device when said data device is not in use.

15. The data device of claim 12, said mounting means further comprising hinges, one for each of said at least two members, for connecting said at least two members to said front portion of said frame, whereby said at least two members and said further member can be folded back along an underside of said data device when said data device is not in use.

16. The data device of claim 11, further comprising hinges for connecting said mounting means to said front portion of said frame, whereby said mounting means can be folded back along an underside of said data device when said data device is not in use.

17. The data device of claim 11, wherein said mounting means comprises a T-shaped member connected to said front portion of said frame and extending forward from said data device, said T-shaped member having a horizontal portion extending in a direction parallel to a width of said data device.

18. The data device of claim 17, wherein said horizontal portion has a length large enough to pass through a center portion of the steering wheel, but small enough that ends of said horizontal portion contact a rear surface of a lower portion of the steering wheel once said data device is lowered into a rest position.

19. The data device of claim 18, said mounting means further comprising at least one hinge for connecting said T-shaped member to said front portion of said frame, whereby said T-shaped member and said horizontal portion can be folded back along an underside of said data device when said data device is not in use.

20. The data device of claim 17, said mounting means further comprising at least one hinge for connecting said T-shaped member to said front portion of said frame, whereby said T-shaped member can be folded back along an underside of said data device when said data device is not in use.