Portable cockpit yoke assembly

• US 9,522,726 B1
• Filed: 05/27/2014
• Issued: 12/20/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 05/08/2012
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Richard A. Bowers
• Original Assignee: Richard A. Bowers
• Inventors: Bowers, Richard A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Dennis, Michael
• Assistant Examiner(s): Collins, Dolores
• Application Number:
  US14/287,519
• Time in Patent Office: 938 Days
• Field of Search: 446/34
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A63H 30/04 using wireless transmission
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 13/0423 yokes or steering wheels for primary flight controls
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 2203/00 Flying model aircraft, flying toy aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: G05G 1/10 Details, e.g. of discs, knobs, wheels or handles G05G1/085 takes precedence

Abstract

A cockpit yoke assembly adapted for mounting on top of a RC transmitter for controlling the operation of a model airplane. The yoke assembly includes a first control arm with a throttle knob. The first control arm is attached to a first ball and socket linkage adapted for attachment a first joystick on the transmitter. A rudder control lever is attached to the first control arm. The yoke assembly includes a second control arm with an elevator knob. The second control arm is attached to a second ball and socket linkage adapted for attachment to a second joystick on the transmitter. An aileron control lever is attached to the second control arm. The first and second ball and socket linkage are used for moving the first and second joysticks fore or aft and left or right during the operation of the model airplane.

Claims

1. A portable cockpit yoke assembly for controlling a model airplane, the yoke assembly adapted for mounting on a handheld standard radio controller transmitter or RC transmitter, the handheld RC transmitter having a first joystick for controlling the plane'"'"'s throttle and rudder, the RC transmitter having a second joystick for controlling the plane'"'"'s elevators and ailerons, the yoke assembly comprising:

a yoke body adapted for mounting on top of the handheld RC transmitter;

a first control arm slidably mounted on the yoke body;

a throttle knob, attached to one end of the first control arm, for moving the first control arm on the yoke body;

first linkage means attached to the first control arm and adapted for attachment to the first joystick, whereby when the throttle knob is moved on the yoke body, the first linkage means for moving the first joystick and controlling the throttle on the airplane;

a rudder control lever attached to the first control arm, whereby when the rudder control lever is moved upward or downward, the first linkage means for moving the first joystick and controlling the rudder on the airplane;

a second control arm slidably mounted on the yoke body;

an elevator knob attached to one end of the second control arm for moving the second control arm on the yoke body;

second linkage means attached to the second control arm and adapted for attachment to the second joystick, whereby when the elevator knob is moved on the yoke body, the second linkage means for moving the second joystick and controlling the elevators on the airplane; and

an aileron control lever attached to the second control arm, whereby when the elevator control lever is moved the second linkage means moving the second joystick for controlling the ailerons on the airplane.

2. The yoke assembly as described in claim 1 wherein the first linkage means includes a first lever arm attached to the first control arm and a first ball and socket linkage attached to the first lever arm and adapted for attachment to the first joy stick.

3. The yoke assembly as described in claim 2 wherein the second linkage means includes a second lever arm attached to the second control arm and a second ball and socket linkage attached to the second lever arm and adapted for attachment to the second joy stick.

4. The yoke assembly as described in claim 1 wherein the second control arm includes a coil spring therearound for returning the second control arm to a neutral position after the second control arm has been moved.

5. The yoke assembly as described in claim 1 further including a vertical post having an upper end attached to the yoke body, a lower end of the vertical post is adapted for attachment to the top of the RC transmitter.

6. The yoke assembly as described in claim 1 further including a dashboard attached to the top of the yoke body and extending upwardly therefrom, the dashboard adapted for receiving a telemetry unit thereon.

7. The yoke assembly as described in claim 1 further including a hand grip mounted in front of the yoke body, the hand grip including a pair of hand grip handles.

8. The yoke assembly as described in claim 7 further including a stomach rest having a threaded end for attachment to a center of the hand grip, the stomach rest having a stomach engaging round plate adapted for placing against a model plane pilot'"'"'s stomach and providing stability during the flight operation of the model plane.

9. The yoke assembly as described in claim 7 further including a shoulder strap having shoulder strap fasteners for attachment to the hand grip handles.

10. A portable cockpit yoke assembly for controlling a model airplane, the yoke assembly adapted for mounting on a handheld standard radio controller transmitter or handheld RC transmitter, the RC transmitter having a first joystick for controlling the plane'"'"'s throttle and rudder, the RC transmitter having a second joystick for controlling the plane'"'"'s elevators and ailerons, the yoke assembly comprising:

a yoke body adapted for mounting on top of the handheld RC transmitter;

a hand grip mounted in front of the yoke body;

a first control arm slidably mounted on the yoke body;

a throttle knob attached to one end of the first control arm for moving the first control arm on the yoke body;

first linkage means attached to the first control arm and adapted for attachment to the first joystick, whereby when the throttle knob is moved on the yoke body, the first linkage means moving the first joystick and controlling the throttle on the airplane;

a rudder control lever attached to the first control arm, whereby when the rudder control lever is moved the first linkage means for moving the first joystick and controlling the rudder on the airplane;

a second control arm slidably mounted on the yoke body, the second control arm having a coil spring mounted therearound;

an elevator knob attached to one end of the second control arm, for moving the second control arm on the yoke body;

second linkage means attached to the second control arm and adapted for attachment to the second joystick, whereby when the elevator knob is moved on the yoke body the second linkage means for moving the second joystick and controlling the elevators on the airplane; and

an aileron control lever attached to the second control arm, whereby when the elevator control lever is moved, the second linkage means for moving the second joystick and controlling the ailerons on the airplane.

11. The yoke assembly as described in claim 10 wherein the first linkage means includes a first lever arm attached to the first control arm and a first ball and socket linkage attached to the first lever arm and adapted for attachment to the first joy stick.

12. The yoke assembly as described in claim 11 wherein the second linkage means includes a second lever arm attached to the second control arm and a second ball and socket linkage attached to the second lever arm and adapted for attachment to the second joy stick.

13. The yoke assembly as described in claim 10 further including a vertical post having a threaded upper end attached to the yoke body, a threaded lower end of the vertical post adapted for attachment to the top of the RC transmitter.

14. The yoke assembly as described in claim 10 further including a stomach rest having a threaded end for attachment to a center of the hand grip, the stomach rest having a round plate adapted for placing against a model plane pilot'"'"'s stomach for providing stability during the flight operation of the model plane.

15. A portable model airplane control system for controlling a model airplane, the model airplane having a receiver mounted thereon for receiving radio signals, the control system comprising:

a handheld standard radio controller transmitter or handheld RC transmitter, the RC transmitter having a first joystick for controlling the plane'"'"'s throttle and rudder, the RC transmitter having a second joystick for controlling the plane'"'"'s elevators and ailerons;

a portable yoke assembly having a yoke body mounted on top of the handheld RC transmitter;

a first control arm slidably mounted on the yoke body;

a throttle knob attached to one end of the first control arm for moving the first control arm on the yoke body;

first linkage means attached to the first control arm and attached to the first joystick, whereby when the throttle knob is moved on the yoke body the first linkage means for moving the first joystick and controlling the throttle on the airplane;

a rudder control lever attached to the first control arm, whereby when the rudder control lever is moved the first linkage means for moving the first joystick and controlling the rudder on the airplane;

a second control arm slidably mounted on the yoke body;

an elevator knob, attached to one end of the second control arm, for moving the second control arm on the yoke body;

second linkage means attached to the second control arm and adapted for attachment to the second joystick, whereby when the elevator knob is moved on the yoke body, the second linkage means for moving the second joystick and controlling the elevators on the airplane; and

an aileron control lever attached to the second control arm, whereby when the elevator control lever is moved, the second linkage means for moving the second joystick and controlling the ailerons on the airplane.

16. The control system as described in claim 15 wherein the first linkage means includes a first lever arm attached to the first control arm and a first ball and socket linkage attached to the first lever arm and adapted for attachment to the first joy stick.

17. The control system as described in claim 16 wherein the second linkage means includes a second lever arm attached to the second control arm and a second ball and socket linkage attached to the second lever arm and attached to the second joy stick.

18. The control system as described in claim 15 wherein the second control arm includes a coil spring therearound for returning the second control arm to a neutral position after the second control arm has been moved.

19. The yoke assembly as described in claim 15 further including a hand grip mounted in front of the yoke body.

20. The yoke assembly as described in claim 19 further including a stomach rest having a threaded end for attachment to a center of the hand grip, the stomach rest having a stomach engaging round plate adapted for placing against a model plane pilot'"'"'s stomach and providing stability during the flight operation of the model plane.