Wireless controllers

• US 9,847,797 B2
• Filed: 02/22/2011
• Issued: 12/19/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 02/22/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Shur-Co LLC
• Original Assignee: Shur-Co LLC
• Inventors: Knight, Steven J., Gilmore, Timothy Jack, Dangler, Wade Anthony
• Primary Examiner(s): Troost, Aaron L
• Application Number:
  US13/032,169
• Publication Number:
  US 20110203865A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,492 Days
• Field of Search: 701 2, 701 36, 340 554, 340540, 34081545, 341176
• CPC Class Codes: B60J 7/0573 power driven arrangements, e.g. electrical
• CPC Class Codes: B60P 1/4471 General means for controlling movements of the loading platform, e.g. hydraulic systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/034 Portable transmitters

Abstract

A wireless controller for operably controlling at least two devices. The wireless controller includes a cover portion, a base portion, a transmission mechanism and a component activation mechanism. The base portion is operably attached to the cover portion. The transmission mechanism and the component activation mechanism are each mounted to at least one of the cover portion and the base portion. The component activation mechanism causes the transmission mechanism to transmit a communication signal to the at least one of the at least two devices. When the cover portion and the base portion are in a closed configuration, the component activation mechanism is substantially covered.

Claims

1. A product transportation system comprising:

a vehicle capable of having at least two electrically operable accessories associated therewith, the vehicle having a first said electrically operable accessory comprising a rolling tarp system for selectively covering a hopper associated with the vehicle, the rolling tarp system being movable between an unrolled configuration substantially covering the hopper and a rolled configuration uncovering the hopper; and

a wireless controller configured to control at least two electrically operable accessories, the wireless controller controlling the rolling tarp system of the first electrically operable accessory, the wireless controller comprising;

a cover portion;

a base portion operably attached to the cover portion;

a transmission mechanism mounted to at least one of the cover portion and the base portion;

a visually-perceptible listing of identifiers for each of the at least two electrically operable accessories, the listing being located on at least one of the cover portion and the base portion;

a single component selection mechanism comprising a depressible button mounted to at least one of the cover portion and the base portion, wherein the component selection mechanism is capable of selecting one of the electrically operable accessories including the rolling tarp system;

an activated component indicator, wherein the activated component indicator indicates the electrically operable accessory selected by the component selection mechanism; and

a component activation mechanism mounted to at least one of the cover portion and the base portion, wherein actuation of the component activation mechanism causes the transmission mechanism to transmit a communication signal to the selected electrically operable accessory to operate the selected electrically operable accessory, wherein when the rolling tarp system is the selected electrically operable accessory, the communication signal includes at least one of a signal to move the rolling tarp system to the unrolled condition and a signal to move the rolling tarp system to the rolled condition;

wherein when the cover portion and the base portion are positioned in a closed configuration, the component activation mechanism is substantially covered in a manner such that the component activation mechanism is not actuatable by contact with the mechanism to reduce a potential of inadvertent actuation of the component activation mechanism and activation of the rolling tarp system by the wireless controller; and

wherein the component selection mechanism is configured such that depression of the depressible button of the component selection mechanism toggles the selected one of the electrically operable accessories between a series of the at least two electrically operable accessories, with each depression of the button changing the selected one of the electrically operable components to another one of the electrically operable components to be operated by actuation of the component activation mechanism.

2. A wireless controller for operably controlling at least two devices, wherein one device of the at least two devices includes a rolling tarp system for selectively covering a hopper associated with the vehicle, the rolling tarp system being movable between an unrolled configuration substantially covering the hopper and a rolled configuration uncovering the hopper, the wireless controller comprising:

a cover portion;

a base portion operably attached to the cover portion;

a transmission mechanism mounted to at least one of the cover portion and the base portion;

a visually-perceptible listing of identifiers for each of the at least two electrically operable accessories, the listing being located on at least one of the cover portion and the base portion;

a single component selection mechanism comprising a depressible button mounted to at least one of the cover portion and the base portion, wherein the component selection mechanism is capable of selecting one of the electrically operable accessories including the rolling tarp system;

an activated component indicator, wherein the activated component indicator indicates the electrically operable accessory selected by the component selection mechanism; and

a component activation mechanism mounted to at least one of the cover portion and the base portion, wherein actuation of the component activation mechanism causes the transmission mechanism to transmit a communication signal to the selected electrically operable accessory to operate the selected electrically operable accessory, wherein when the rolling tarp system is the selected electrically operable accessory, the communication signal includes at least one of a signal to move the rolling tarp system to the unrolled condition and a signal to move the rolling tarp system to the rolled condition;

wherein when the cover portion and the base portion are positioned in a closed configuration, the component activation mechanism is substantially covered in a manner such that the component activation mechanism is not actuatable by contact with the mechanism to reduce a potential of inadvertent actuation of the component activation mechanism and activation of the rolling tarp system by the wireless controller; and

wherein the component selection mechanism is configured such that depression of the depressible button of the component selection mechanism toggles the selected one of the electrically operable accessories between a series of the at least two electrically operable accessories, with each depression of the button changing the selected one of the electrically operable components to another one of the electrically operable components to be operated by actuation of the component activation mechanism.