Heated steering wheel cover

• US 8,101,887 B2
• Filed: 02/03/2009
• Issued: 01/24/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 02/03/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Rodger M. Pate
• Original Assignee: Rodger M. Pate
• Inventors: Pate, Rodger M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Pelham, Joseph M
• Assistant Examiner(s): DUNIVER, DIALLO IGWE
• Application Number:
  US12/320,736
• Publication Number:
  US 20100193495A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,085 Days
• Field of Search: 219/204
• US Class Current: 219/204
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 1/02 to electric heating circuits
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 1/065 Steering wheels with heating and ventilating means heating and ventilation of steering wheel when connected to vehicle HVAC B60H1/00292

Abstract

The heated steering wheel cover includes a resilient, flexible, substantially annular member having an open bottom portion enabling the substantially annular member to be removably fitted over a vehicle'"'"'s steering wheel. A heating element is disposed inside of the steering wheel cover. A battery pack is electrically connected to the heating element. A switch is electrically connected to the battery pack and selectively turns the heating element on or off. The battery pack is removably attachable to a portion of the vehicle proximate the steering wheel so that safe operation of the heating element is possible while the vehicle is being driven.

Claims

1. A heated steering wheel cover, comprising:

a resilient cover having an exterior layer and an interior layer, the resilient cover being removably fittable over a vehicle'"'"'s steering wheel;

an electric heating element disposed between the exterior layer and the interior layer, the electric heating element extending laterally from side-to side in a serpentine configuration and extending substantially the entire circumference of the layers; and

a power-switching accelerometer operable by motion of the steering wheel to activate the electric heating element; and

a timeout timer operably connected to the power-switching accelerometer, the timeout timer limiting power cycling between periods of steering wheel activity and periods of steering wheel rest,

wherein when activated, the heating element warms the exterior layer of the cover, thereby warming a driver'"'"'s hands placed on the heated steering wheel cover.

2. The heated steering wheel cover according to claim 1, further comprising a battery pack attachable to a portion of the vehicle proximate the steering wheel, the battery pack being in operable communication with said power-switching accelerometer to supply power to the heating element.

3. The heated steering wheel cover according to claim 1, wherein said battery pack includes:

a case;

a battery holder removably disposed therein;

at least one battery removably disposed in the battery holder;

a flap having a fastener, the flap being attached to the case, the fastener retaining the battery holder inside of the case; and

a fastening strip extending from the case, the fastening strip being adapted for removably securing the battery pack to a portion of the vehicle proximate the steering wheel.