Steering wheel attached cellular phone interface device for communication with alert system

• US 20120028682A1
• Filed: 07/28/2011
• Published: 02/02/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 07/29/2010
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Chris Danne
• Original Assignee: Chris Danne
• Inventors: Danne, Chris
• Application Number:
  US13/136,321
• Publication Number:
  US 20120028682A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/557
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/02 for radio sets, television sets, telephones, or the like; Arrangement of controls thereof
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/0241 for telephones
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/001 Vehicle control means, e.g. steering-wheel or column
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0059 using clips, clamps, straps or the like
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0071 using latches, clips, clamps, straps or the like
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6083 by interfacing with the vehicle audio system

Abstract

A cell phone communications device for use with an automotive steering wheel including; a screen attached to a steering wheel. The screen includes a first visual alert device such as a message and flashing arrow. A first hand unit attached to the steering wheel adjacent the left hand of the user at the 10 O'"'"'clock position and a second hand unit adjacent the right hand of said user. The first hand unit includes a communications control keyboard for texting and a second vibration alert device. The second hand unit includes a second communications control keyboard for texting and a third alert device. When the user is driving and communicating the user receives a visual alert from the first alert on a regular basis during scrolling, reading and composing text functions. When the first alert is triggered during reading the user also receives a regular second and third alert vibration; during composition the user receives the second and third alert every other time and during reading the second and third. Thus the second and third alerts become associated with the first alert and in this way the driver is trained to look up at the road.

Claims

1. A communications device for use with an automotive steering wheel including;

a screen attached to a steering wheel;

said screen including a first alert device;

a first hand unit attached to said steering wheel adjacent the left hand of the user;

a second hand unit attached to said steering wheel adjacent the right hand of said user;

wherein said first hand unit includes a first communications control and a second alert device;

wherein said second hand unit includes a second communications control and a third alert device;

such that when said user is driving and communicating the user receives an alert from said first alert on a regular basis and an alert from said second and third alerts on a variable basis.

2. The communications device of claim 1 wherein said first communications control includes a first alpha-numeric keyboard suitable for texting with the left thumb and said second communications control includes a second alpha-numeric keyboard suitable for texting with the right thumb wherein said first alpha-numeric keyboard includes some but not all of the letters of the alphabet and said second alpha-numeric keyboard includes at least those letters of the alphabet not on said first alpha-numeric keyboard.

3. The communications device of claim 1 wherein said first alert device includes flashing arrows and a message on said screen directing the driver to look up at the road.

4. The communications device of claim 1 wherein said second alert includes a first vibratory motor in said first hand unit and said third alert includes a second vibratory motor in said second hand control and said communications device includes a controller to send an alert signal to said first and second vibratory motors, said alert signal being triggered by some but not all instances of text communications.

5. The communications device of claim 1 wherein said first alert is triggered automatically after each instance of entering texting communication information into said first or second communications controls and said second and third alerts are triggered by some but not all instances of said first alert.

6. The communications device of claim 5 wherein said text information includes at least one of texting, scrolling and composing.

7. A communication device for use with a vehicle steering device including;

a screen attached to a steering device using a first attachment;

a first hand unit having a first alpha-numeric keyboard and attached to said steering device adjacent the left hand of the user using a second attachment;

a second hand unit having a second alpha-numeric keyboard and attached to said steering device adjacent the right hand of the user using a third attachment;

wherein said first, second and third attachments can be released from said steering device to thereby remove the screen and first and second hand units from said steering device and

wherein said first and second hand units can be attached to said screen for portability.

8. The communication device of claim 7 wherein said first hand unit includes a grip portion wrapped around a portion of said steering device such that a user can simultaneously grip said steering device and said grip portion with a single hand.

9. The communication device of claim 7 wherein said first keyboard and said second keyboard form a complete qwerty keyboard suitable for texting.

10. The communications device of claim 7 wherein said screen, first keyboard and second keyboard are in wireless communication to a cell phone in said vehicle.

11. The communications device of claim 9 wherein said screen includes a controller generated alert triggered by texting, scrolling or composing using said first or second keyboard.

12. The communications device of claim 9 wherein said first and second hand units include a second alert triggered by texting, sometimes by scrolling and randomly by composing.

13. The communications device of claim 9 wherein said steering device is a steering wheel.

14. A communications device for use with an vehicle steering device including;

a screen attached to a steering device;

said screen including a first alert device;

a first hand unit attached to said steering device;

a second hand unit attached to said steering device;

wherein said first hand unit includes a first communications control and a second alert device;

wherein said second hand unit includes a third alert device;

such that when said user is driving and communicating the user receives an alert from said first alert device on a regular basis and an alert from said second and third alerts on a variable basis.

15. The communications device of claim 14 wherein said steering device is a steering wheel.

16. The communications device of claim 15 wherein said first communications control includes a first alpha-numeric keyboard suitable for texting with the left thumb and a second communications control includes a second alpha-numeric keyboard suitable for texting with the right thumb wherein said first alpha-numeric keyboard includes some but not all of the letters of the alphabet and said second alpha-numeric keyboard includes at least those letters of the alphabet not on said first alpha-numeric keyboard.

17. The communications device of claim 15 wherein said screen, first keyboard and second keyboard are in wireless communication to a cell phone in said vehicle.

18. The communications device of claim 15 wherein said first alert device includes flashing arrows and a message on said screen directing the driver to check the road.