Steering arrangement incorporated with a display/control panel

• US 6,474,688 B1
• Filed: 10/11/2000
• Issued: 11/05/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 10/12/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha (Honda Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha (Honda Motor Company)
• Inventors: Starke, Norman, Bogren, Helen
• Primary Examiner(s): Dickson, Paul N.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Sliteris, Joselynn Y.
• Application Number:
  US09/685,570
• Time in Patent Office: 755 Days
• Field of Search: 280/775, 280/779, 280/771, 745/52, 744/92, 744/93, 200/61.54
• US Class Current: 280/771
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/00 Instruments specially adapted for vehicles; Arrangement of instruments in or on vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/10 Input arrangements, i.e. from user to vehicle, associated with vehicle functions or specially adapted therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/0235 of flat type, e.g. LCD
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/0264 for control means
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/001 Vehicle control means, e.g. steering-wheel or column
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0084 with adjustment by linear movement in their operational position
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 1/04 Hand wheels
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/20834 Hand wheels

Abstract

In a steering arrangement, an arm is connected to a pivot shaft pivotally supported by a fixed steering column for a manual steering input at its inner end, and is connected to a steering wheel at its outer end while a display/control panel is fixedly attached to the steering column by a bracket extending axially from the steering column so as not to interfere with the arm. Thus, the display panel is placed centrally with respect to the steering wheel, but remains stationary even when the steering wheel is turned. The vehicle operator can operate the control panel and/or the switch on the steering wheel without looking away from the display panel because all of them are placed close to each other and at a substantially same distance from the vehicle operator.

Claims

1. A steering arrangement incorporated with a display panel, comprising:

a steering column fixedly attached to a vehicle body;

an arm including an inner end connected to one end of a pivot shaft pivotally supported by said steering column and an outer end connected to a steering wheel, the arm extending in a radial direction;

a steering input shaft accommodated in the steering column and connected to the other end of the pivot shaft; and

a display panel fixedly attached to said steering column by a bracket so as not to interfere with said arm, said display panel including a display surface located radially inside a part of said steering wheel adapted to be held by a hand.

2. A steering arrangement according to claim 1, wherein said display panel is additionally incorporated with a control panel.

3. A steering arrangement according to claim 1, wherein said display panel is additionally incorporated with a horn switch.

4. A steering arrangement according to claim 1, wherein said steering wheel is connected to said outer end of said arm via an annular member which is substantially concentric with a rotational center of said arm.

5. A steering arrangement according to claim 4, wherein said annular member and said display panel are provided with a substantially conformal peripheral profile.

6. A steering arrangement according to claim 4, wherein said bracket connecting said display panel to said steering column extends from said steering column axially through said annular member at a position diametrically opposite said arm when said steering wheel is at its neutral position.

8. A steering arrangement according to claim 1, wherein said steering wheel is provided with at least one switch.

7. A steering arrangement incorporated with a display panel, comprising:

a steering column fixedly attached to a vehicle body;

an arm including an inner end pivotally supported by said steering column and an outer end connected to a steering wheel;

a display panel fixedly attached to said steering column by a bracket so as not to interfere with said arm, said display panel including a display surface located radially inside a part of said steering wheel adapted to be held by a hand; and

a linear damper connected between a part of said arm and a part of said steering column which is located diagonally opposite to said arm part with respect to the rotational center of said arm at a neutral position of said steering wheel.