WHEEL WATCHER

• US 20110115617A1
• Filed: 11/13/2009
• Published: 05/19/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 11/13/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: William Bennett
• Original Assignee: William Bennett
• Inventors: BENNETT, WILLIAM
• Granted Patent: US 8,405,496 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/439
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/509 specific to unauthorised use, e.g. for indicating stolen vehicles or infringements of traffic rules
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/544 for indicating other states or conditions of the vehicle occupants, e.g. for indicating disabled occupants
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 9/00 Arrangement or adaptation of signal devices not provided for in one of main groups B60Q1/00 - B60Q7/00 , e.g. haptic signalling
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2520/10 Longitudinal speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2540/18 Steering angle
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2556/50 of positioning data, e.g. GPS [Global Positioning System] data
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 1/046 Adaptations on rotatable parts of the steering wheel for accommodation of switches

Abstract

Disclosed is a vehicle driver safety device that serves the purpose of helping and encouraging drivers to drive attentively and with alertness with a degree of vehicle control that adapts to driver experience, vehicle speed and road conditions. Should the unsafe habits persist the system warns nearby cars and officials and records the incidents for review by a parent or mentor to serve as a deterrent. The new and unique wheel watcher utilizes a steering wheel with sensor arrays that determine the number and position of the drivers hands on the wheel, a vehicle speed and road condition sensor to judge the degree of control that is appropriate, a clock/timer to determine the length a unsafe practice persists and a driver identification device that affects the degree of safety practices that are encouraged by the system. An internal alarm is provided to alert the driver to an unsafe condition and indicators such as lights grouped with the sensors alert the driver to the safe positions for their hands that will satisfy the system that the vehicle is under adequate control.

Claims

1. A vehicle having a steering wheel watcher system, comprising:

a plurality of steering wheel sensors for detecting a presence of a drivers hands;

wherein the steering wheel sensors are arranged in two or more groups;

wherein a first group of steering wheel sensors is located to the left of a vertical center line of the steering wheel;

wherein a second group of steering wheel sensors is located to the right of a vertical center line of the steering wheel;

one or more vehicle speed detectors;

an in vehicle alarm for alerting the driver of an unsafe driving condition;

a timer for determining elapsed time;

a control system;

wherein the control system is connected to the plurality of sensors, one or more detectors, the timer and the in vehicle alarm;

wherein the control system does nothing in response to the indications of the steering wheel sensors when the speed detector indicates a vehicle speed of zero;

wherein the control system starts the timer when the vehicle speed only one of the first group of steering wheel sensors or second group of steering wheel sensors indicates hand presence and the vehicle is traveling above a preset high speed and sounds the in vehicle alarm when the timer reaches a predetermined elapsed time.

2. the system of claim 1, wherein:

the control system activates the in vehicle alarm and external alarm when the vehicle is moving and none of the groups of steering wheel sensors indicates hand presence.

3. the system of claim 1, wherein:

the plurality of steering wheel sensors detects the electrical conductivity of the drivers hands.

4. the system of claim 3, further comprising:

one or more conductive gloves for covering one or more hands of the driver for having an electrical conductivity similar to the electrical conductivity of the drivers hands.

5. the system of claim 1, wherein:

the vehicle speed detector is a wireless device.

6. the system of claim 5, wherein:

the vehicle speed detector is a GPS.

7. the system of claim 1, wherein:

the system control activates the in vehicle alarm at or above a preset speed.

8. the system of claim 1, further comprising:

a driver identification device;

wherein the system controller alters at least one of a hand positions considered safe, preset period of time, internal alarm external alarm or data recording based on the driver identification;

9. the system of claim 8, wherein:

the driver identification device is a key pad for input of a password.

10. the system of claim 1, further comprising:

a data recording and output device for keeping a record of alarm activations;

wherein the data recording and output device keeps a record of at least one of driver identification the internal alarms, repeated internal alarms and external alarms or vehicle speed and road conditions of the wheel watcher system.

11. the system of claim 1, further comprising:

an external vehicle alarm for indicating an unsafe driving condition outside of the vehicle;

wherein the control system activates the external vehicle alarm when only one group of steering wheel sensors senses the presence of a hand for a predetermined period of time at or above a preset speed or no groups of steering wheel sensors senses the presence of hands above a speed of zero.

12. the system of claim 1, further comprising:

one or more active steering wheel sensor group indicators;

wherein the one or more active steering wheel sensor group indicators is located on the steering wheel in the proximity of a active steering wheel sensor group to inform the driver of the position of the hands on the steering wheel that will avoid activation of the alarms or alarm recording.

13. the system of claim 1, further comprising:

a road condition detector;

wherein the road condition detector is a wireless device;

wherein the system controller alters at least one of a hand positions considered safe, preset period of time, internal alarm external alarm of data recording based on the road conditions.

14. the system of claim 1, further comprising:

a hand comfort device for providing comfort to the driver;

wherein the hand comfort device is a hand warmer;

wherein the hand comfort device is a vibrator;

wherein the system controller activates the hand comfort device based on the driver identification or a trip history.

15. the system of claim 1, further comprising:

a cruise control cluster of driver inputs and indicators.

16. the system of claim 1, further comprising:

a clock positioned for ease of driver observation.

17. the system of claim 1, further comprising:

a wheel watcher system housing that is attachable to an existing steering wheel.

18. A method of operating a wheel watcher system for a vehicle comprising the steps:

supplying one or more vehicle speed determining devices;

supplying one or more steering wheel sensors for a drivers left hand position;

supplying one or more steering wheel sensors for a drivers right hand position;

supplying a elapsed time determining device;

supplying an alarm inside of the vehicle;

activating the alarm when a pre-set time elapses while the vehicle is traveling above a pre-set speed without the steering wheel sensors for a drivers left hand and a steering wheel sensor for a drivers right hand are both activated.

19. The method of claim 18 further comprising the step:

Supplying a road condition determining device;

altering any of the pre-set time, pre-set speed, steering wheel sensors for a drivers left hand or the steering wheel sensors for the drivers right hand in response to a change in the road conditions.

20. The method of claim 18 further comprising the step:

Supplying a driver identification determining device;

altering any of the pre-set time, pre-set speed, steering wheel sensors for a drivers left hand or the steering wheel sensors for the drivers right hand in response to a change in the driver identification.