Automobile steering wheel and turn signal indicator

• US 5,469,338 A
• Filed: 07/28/1994
• Issued: 11/21/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 07/28/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Christopher A. Sims
• Original Assignee: Christopher A. Sims
• Inventors: Sims, Christopher A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Husar, Stephen F.
• Application Number:
  US08/281,597
• Time in Patent Office: 481 Days
• Field of Search: 362/361, 362/61, 362/80, 362/83.3, 340/475, 340/476, 200/61.27, 200/61.54
• US Class Current: 362/540
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/1484 mounted on the steering wheel

Abstract

An automobile steering wheel and turn signal indicator comprising an automobile steering wheel having an annular handle, a hub adapted to be coupled to a steering column of an automobile, and at least one spoke extended therebetween; a turn signal indicator formed of a right push button switch and a left push button switch coupled to the hub with the right push button switch having an electrically conductive terminal adapted to be coupled between the right turn signal lights and an associated power supply of an automobile and the left push button switch having an electrically conductive terminal adapted to be coupled between the left turn signal lights and an associated power supply of an automobile, the right push button switch having a depressed orientation for activating the right turn signal lights and a released orientation for de-activating the right turn signal lights, the left push button switch having a depressed orientation for activating the left turn signals and a released orientation for de-activating the left turn signals.

Claims

1. An automobile steering wheel and turn signal indicator for allowing a driver of an automobile to signal for a turn without removing his hands from the steering wheel comprising, in combination:

an automobile steering wheel having an annular handle, a generally circular central hub adapted to be coupled to a steering column of an automobile, a first pair of spokes symmetrically disposed about the hub and horizontally extended linearly outwards therefrom to the handle to form an angle of 180 degrees therebetween, a second pair of spokes symmetrically disposed about the hub below the first pair of spokes and angularly extended downwards and linearly outwards therefrom to the handle to form an angle of 60 degrees therebetween and with each spoke of the first pair and second pair having a length equal to the radial extent of the hub, and a diametrical pair of recessed switch holes disposed on the hub near the periphery thereof and aligned with the first pair of spokes; and

a turn signal indicator formed of a pair of disk-shaped push button switches with each push button switch extended through a separate switch hole to thereby define a left push button switch and a right push button switch, the right push button switch having an electrically conductive terminal adapted to be coupled between flasher circuitry and right turn signal lights of an automobile, the left push button switch having an electrically conductive terminal adapted to be coupled between flasher circuitry and left turn signal lights of an automobile, the right push button switch having a depressed orientation adapted for completing a circuit between the right turn signal lights, flasher circuitry, and power supply of an automobile to thereby activate the right turn signal lights and a released orientation for breaking the circuit to thereby de-activate the right turn signal lights, the left push button switch having a depressed orientation adapted for completing a circuit between the left turn signal lights, flasher circuitry, and power supply of an automobile to thereby activate the left turn signal lights and a released orientation for breaking the circuit to thereby de-activate the left turn signal lights, whereby when a driver wishes to indicate a right turn, he can depress the right push button switch while simultaneously holding the steering wheel with both hands, and when a driver wishes to indicate a left turn, he can depress the left push button switch while simultaneously holding the steering wheel with both hands.