Steering wheel control attachment apparatus

• US 5,520,071 A
• Filed: 09/30/1994
• Issued: 05/28/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Braun Crow River, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Crow River Industries, Inc.
• Inventors: Jones, Michael B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bonck, Rodney H.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Battista, Mary Ann
• Application Number:
  US08/315,563
• Time in Patent Office: 606 Days
• Field of Search: 74/557, 24/339, 24/336, 24/136 K, 24/134 L, 24/115 K
• US Class Current: 74/557
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 1/043 with a device allowing single-hand operation of the steering wheel
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/20864 Handles

Abstract

A hand control attachment apparatus, for attaching a hand control member to a steering wheel or the like. A web is extended from a housing of the hand control attachment apparatus. The web member cooperates with an outer surface of the housing so as to secure the hand control attachment apparatus onto the steering wheel or the like. A first end of the web member is secured in a slot of a rotatable bar member which is received in the housing. A second end of the web member loops around a rod which is removably received in the housing. The web member is wound onto the bar member by rotating the bar member so as to tightly secure the hand control attachment apparatus onto the steering wheel or the like. The apparatus is released from the steering wheel by releasing the web member and removing the rod out of the looped end of the web member and the housing. The hand control member is mounted on the housing of the hand control attachment apparatus by a spring member, so as to form a hand control device.

Claims

1. An apparatus having a control member attachable to a steering device, comprising:

a housing having an outer surface adapted to a shape of the steering device;

a rod, having first and second ends, being received in the housing;

a web member having first and second ends, the first end of the web member being looped around the rod;

winding means, mounted on the housing, for winding the web member onto the winding means, a length of the web member between the winding means and the rod being adjustable by winding the winding means;

locking means for locking the winding means, the locking means being mounted on the housing;

wherein the outer surface of the housing and the web member cooperate with each other to secure the apparatus to the steering device; and

wherein the winding means includes a rotatable bar member being removably received in the housing, the rotatable bar member having a slot, the second end of the web member being secured in the slot, whereby as the rotatable bar member is rotated, the web member is wound onto the rotatable bar member.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the housing defines an open cavity.

3. An apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the rod and the winding means are longitudinally disposed through the open cavity.

4. An apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the web member between the rod and the winding means extends from the open cavity.

5. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control member has a head portion and a shaft, the shaft having a distal end.

6. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the winding means includes a ratchet member having teeth at a peripheral edge, the locking means being engageable with the teeth of the ratchet member for locking the winding means.

7. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the rotatable bar member of the winding means includes means for receiving a winding tool.

8. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the rotatable bar member is a longitudinal bar member.

9. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the rod is a longitudinal rod member.

10. An apparatus having a control member attachable to a steering device, comprising:

a housing having an outer surface adapted to a shape of the steering device;

a rod, having first and second ends, being received in the housing;

a web member having first and second ends, the first end of the web member being looped around the rod;

winding means, mounted on the housing, for winding the web member onto the winding means, a length of the web member between the winding means and the rod being adjustable by winding the winding means;

locking means for locking the winding means, the locking means being mounted on the housing;

wherein the outer surface of the housing and the web member cooperate with each other to secure the apparatus to the steering device;

means for mounting the control member on the housing, the mounting means including a bore extending through the housing and a spring member; and

the spring member is bent at first and second ends, the first end of the spring member extending along a top side of the housing and the second end of the spring member extending along a bottom side of the housing.

11. An apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the first end of the spring member has an opening being disposed about a projecting member at one end of the housing, the second end of the spring member having an opening being disposed in a recess of the housing proximate to the other end of the housing, the opening of the second end of the spring member being biased partially out of alignment with the housing.

12. An apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the control member has a head portion and a shaft, the shaft passing through the housing, the shaft having a distal end, the distal end extending from the housing.

13. An apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the distal end is tapered, the tapered distal end biasedly engaging with-the opening of the second end of the spring member, so that the spring member is pushed toward the housing when the tapered distal end passes through the opening of the second end of the spring member.

14. An apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the shaft has a groove disposed adjacent the tapered distal end of the shaft, wherein the second end of the spring member biasedly snaps into the groove.

15. A method of releasing an apparatus from a steering device, comprising the steps of:

pushing a locking member of the apparatus away from a bar member of the apparatus so as to allow the bar member to be rotatable;

rotating the bar member by use of a winding tool, such that a web member is loosened from a rod, the rod being attachably received in a housing, a first end of the web member being attached to the bar member, a second end of the web member being looped around the rod;

pushing the rod out of the housing and out of the second end of the web member; and

disengaging the steering device from the web member and the housing through the second end of the web member.

16. A method of releasing an apparatus from a steering device, comprising the steps of:

pushing a locking member of the apparatus away from a bar member of the apparatus, the bar member being received in a housing of the apparatus and securing a first end of a web member;

pulling the web member to loosen the web member from a rod, the rod being detachably received in the housing, a second end of the web member being looped around the rod;

pushing the rod out of the housing and out of the second end of the web member; and

disengaging the steering device from the web member and the housing through the second end of the web member.

17. A method of attaching an apparatus to a steering device, comprising the steps of:

positioning a housing of the apparatus, having an outer surface contoured to correspond to an outer surface of the steering device, proximate the steering device;

extending a looped end of a web member from the housing around the steering device;

inserting a rod into a bore of the housing and the looped end of the web member which is proximate the bore of the housing;

rotating a bar member, which is received in the housing and secures a second end of the web member, by use of a winding tool, such that the web member is wound onto the bar member, wherein a length of the web member is adjustable, and the outer surface of the housing and the web member cooperate with each other to secure the apparatus onto the steering device; and

pulling a locking member to lock the bar member, so that the web member tightly secures the apparatus on the steering device.