GB2326560A

GB2326560A - Vehicle steering wheel mounts or incorporates telephone handset

Info

Publication number: GB2326560A
Application number: GB9821886A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Brian Lawrence Birch
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1998-04-09
Filing date: 1998-10-08
Publication date: 1998-12-23
Anticipated expiration: 2018-10-08
Also published as: GB9821886D0; GB9807623D0; GB2326560B

Description

IMPROVEMENTS TO CAR PHONES

Field of the Invention The present invention relates to improvements to car phones for their safer operation in automobiles.

Backaround to the Invention Increasingly widespread usage of car phones by motorists while driving has lead to a rise in numbers of related road accidents. The motorist may have his attention dangerously distracted from concentrating on the road while dialling, responding to a phone call or engaging in a telephone conversation. The dangers of use of car phones by motorists while driving have lead to demands for it to be treated as an offence. This has, however, so far served only as a limited deterrent.

Fundamentally, there is a need for a car phone system for use by motorists that at least ensures that the motorist retains control of the steering wheel of the vehicle at all times.

Here there is the potential to substantially reduce the incidence of related road traffic accidents.

Summarv of the Invention In accordance with a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a car phone for use by motorists, which phone is characterised in that the handset is integrally formed or assembled with or adapted to be mounted to a steering wheel for a motor vehicle.

In accordance with a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a steering wheel for a motor vehicle, which steering wheel is characterised in that it is adapted to have a phone handset operably mounted thereto in use.

With limited re-engineering, the key pad and part or all of the electronics of a phone can readily be built into the central structure of a steering wheel radially inward of the rim of the wheel where it will not interfere with handling of the steering wheel and where nonetheless it is readily accessible to the user for operation of the keys of the phone without need to move hands away from the steering wheel.

Indeed, the configuration of the present invention induces the driver to remain with his hands gripping the steering wheel substantially at all times. In contrast to other car phones adapted for hands free operation, this system at no stage distracts the driver's attention away from the steering wheel and nor does it cause him to move his hands away from the wheel.

The componentry of the phone is substantially conventional and suitably the phone is battery powered and has no need for any electrical connections with any base unit elsewhere on the vehicle. Given the small size of some modern mobile phones the unit built into the steering wheel might be entirely self- contained. However, the majority of conventional in-car phones are installed with the dashboard-mounted handset linked by a main wiring loom to the antenna and transceiver mounted in the boot of the vehicle (see Figure 2). The transceiver and aerial components of the system must generally be far more powerful than those of a self-contained hand held mobile phone and are bulky and spread throughout the vehicle to optimise signal transmission and reception as the vehicle moves into and out of range of the aerials of the phone network.

Accordingly, a feature of the present invention in its preferred form, adapted for use with such a system, is that the hand set in the steering wheel is connected for operation to other components of the phone within the vehicle, in use, by a wire or wireless link.

Preferably the link is by wire with a commutator brush type of arrangement or similar to avoid excessive length of wire and or risk of tangling of the wire.

Power may thereby be derived from the car battery. Alternatively the handsetlphone may have its own power source and, if desired, there may be a facility for re-charging through the car's electrical system, for example via the cigarette lighter.

Where the phone is self-contained and battery powered it suitably has a compartment with a removable lid to install or replace the battery.

The phone may be adapted to be mountable to and demountable from a socket built into the steering wheel rather than permanently fixed into the steering wheel. In this particular embodiment it may be preferable to render the phone inoperative or liable to substantial power drain until it is installed securely within the steering wheel in order to force the motorist to properly secure it in place before embarking upon a journey and attempting to use the phone.

The socket in the steering wheel may have an electrical plug or socket for electrical connection with the phone.

Where the phone is demountable this may enable it to be carried by the owner for use as a portable pocket phone and/or may be useful as an anti-theft measure.

One embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying Figure 2, in which a phone handset 5 is illustrated as located within the rim of the wheel irremovably built into the right hand quadrant of the wheel for ease of operation by the right hand of the motorist. If desired, an alternative configuration may be provided with the telephone on the left hand side of the wheel for use by left handed motorists.

Although in the preferred embodiment the apparatus of the present invention is suitably mounted to the steering wheel during manufacture of the steering wheel further models may be designed to be retro-fitted to existing steering wheels. Furthermore steering wheels may be manufactured with sockets for later installation of the phone handset, whether the handset is then demountable or not. Indeed, in one preferred embodiment of the invention the handset may be irremovably installed into the socket.

Claims

1. A phone for use by a motorist, which phone is characterised in that the handset is integrally formed or assembled with or adapted to be mounted to a steering wheel for a motor vehicle.

2. A phone as claimed in claim 1, wherein the handset is irremovably built into the steering wheel.

3. A phone as claimed in claim 1, wherein the phone is adapted to be mountable to and, optionally, demountable from a socket built into the steering wheel.

4. A phone as claimed in claim 3, wherein the phone is inoperative or vulnerable to greater power drain until it is installed securely within the socket of the steering wheel.

5. A phone as clamed in claim 2, 3 or 4 wherein there is an electrical plug to electrical socket connection between the phone handset and the socket of the steering wheel to link the handset to the antenna of the phone.

6. A steering wheel for a motor vehicle, which steering wheel is characterised in that it is adapted to have a phone handset operatively mounted thereto in use.

7. A steering wheel for a motor vehicle as claimed in claim 6 wherein the wheel has a socket to irremovably receive a phone hand set.

8. A phone or steering wheel substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawing.