GB1580408A

GB1580408A - Device for the practice and demonstration of motor vehicle steering technique

Info

Publication number: GB1580408A
Application number: GB1698277A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1977-04-23
Filing date: 1977-04-23
Publication date: 1980-12-03

Description

(54) A DEVICE FOR THE PRACTICE AND DEMONSTRATION OF MOTOR VEHICLE STEERING TECHNIQUE (71) I, JONATHAN PERRY, a British subject, of 1, The Avenue, Longdon Heath, Upton-on-Severn, Worcestershire, do hereby declare the invention, for which I pray that a patent may be granted to me, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement :-- The invention relates to a device for the practice and demonstration of motor vehicle steering technique.

Driving instructors frequently experience difficulty in conveying to a pupil the correct method of handling the steering wheel of a motor vehicle when effecting turns. The correct technique may normally only be demonstrated effectively while the vehicle is being driven and, similarly, the pupil can only practise the correct technique while actually driving the vehicle. While the vehicle is under way, the major part of the attention of both the driving instructor and the pupil must necessarily be directed to road conditions and other aspects of handling the vehicle, making it difficult to give adequate and continuous attention to the technique employed in turning the steering wheel. In view of this problem many drivers never succeed in learning correct steering techniques.

In an effort to overcome this problem there have been produced steering simulators comprising, in their simplest form, a conventional vehicle steering wheel rotatably mounted at an appropriate angle on a console intended to be placed at a suitable height on a table so that the user can sit at the table in a position approximating to a driving position.

However such simulators are expensive and cumbersome and are not suitable for a learnerdriver to purchase or hire for private practice.

Also, the demonstration or practice of steering technique using such a device must necessarily take place away from the vehicle and out of the context of a driving lesson.

Learners thus experience difficulty in applying what they have learnt on the simulator to actual driving conditions.

The invention sets out to provide a steering practice device which is simple and cheap to manufacture and which can conveniently be used in a vehicle in which the driving lesson is taking place.

According to the invention, a device for the practice and demonstration of motor vehicle steering technique comprises a support structure having means for detachably mounting the structure on a motor vehicle steering wheel, and a circular member attached to the support structure by guide means on the support structure, which guide means engage the periphery of the circular member in a manner to locate the circular member on the support structure while permitting rotation of the circular member relative thereto.

When, during the course of a lesson, a driving instructor wishes to demonstrate steering technique with the vehicle stationary, he may simply mount the device on the vehicle steering wheel, so that by turning the circular member relative to the support structure, and hence relative to the vehicle steering wheel, he may demonstrate the correct method of handling the steering wheel. The technique may then also be practised by the pupil while the vehicle is stationary.

One of the most important points which requires to be taught to a lerner driver is the avoidance of movement of the hands through the "12 o'clock" position at the top of the steering wheel. The support structure of the device according to the invention therefore preferably includes stop means so positioned relative to the circular member as to prevent movement past the stop means of a user's hand gripping the periphery of the circular member. Preferably the support structure is adapted for mounting on the motor vehicle steering wheel in a plurality of alternative positions so that the stop means may also be located in a plurality of alternative positions, including for example the "12 o'clock" position, in relation to a user sitting at the vehicle wheel.The aforesaid guide means may constitute the stop means and may be in the form of an element mounted on the support structure and embracing a portion of the periphery of the circular member in such manner that the periphery of the circular member slides through the guide element as the circular member is rotated.

The circular member may be in the form of a hoop and there may be provided two guide elements embracing diametrically opposed portions of the periphery of the hoop.

The following is a more detailed description of one embodiment of the invention, reference being made to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a front view of a device in accordance with the invention, and Figure 2 is a sectional view showing the device of Figure 1 fitted to the steering wheel of a motor vehicle.

The device comprises a support structure in the form of an elongated support bar 10 formed, for example, from resiliently flexible plastics material and having enlarged end portions 11 and 12. The enlarged portions 11 and 12 carry resilient plastics clips 13 and 14 respectively which are engageable with the rim 15 of a vehicle steering wheel 16 so as to mount the support bar 10 detachably on the steering wheel. Normally the bar 10 will be mounted diametrically across the steering wheel.

Mounted on the opposite face of the bar 10 to the clips 13 and 14 are two further plastics clips 17 and 18 which receive diametrically opposed portions of a hoop 19. The hoop 19 may conveniently be formed from a length of circular cross-section plastics tubing, the ends of the length of tubing being brought together and joined by welding or, more simply, by the insertion of a dowel plug in the ends of the tubing.

The dimensions of the clips 17 and 18 in relation to the diameter of the tubing of the hoop 19 are such that the tubing may slide freely through the clips to permit rotation of the hoop 19 relative to the support bar 10 and hence relative to the vehicle steering wheel 16. The surface of the hoop may be wax polished to facilitate its sliding through the clips.

In use the device can be clipped on to a steering wheel as shown in Figure 2 with the support bar 10 extending diametrically of the wheel from the "6 o'clock" to the "12 o'clock" position. A user wishing to demonstrate or practice steering technique may then rotate the hoop 19 relative to the support bar in a manner corresponding to steering movements of a steering wheel. Portions of the hoop, as indicated at 20, may be differently coloured at the "10 to 2" position which is the normal position for the hands when the vehicle is not effecting a turn. The contrasting colour of the portions 20 also shows up the movement of the hoop. The presence of the clip 17 at the "12 o'clock" position prevents either of the user's hands passing through the 12 o'clock position while gripping the hoop. It is accepted that it is bad steering technique for either hand to pass through this position.

It will also be noted that the clips 17 and 18, in the embodiment shown, constitute the sole attachment of the hoop 19 to the support bar 10 and the hoop 19 is not therefore constrained to turn about a fixed axis, as is the case with a wheel mounted on a fixed hub. Consequently, in order to avoid eccentric movement of the hoop, the correct "pull-push" steering technique should be used, since incorrect technique may cause the hoop to bind in the clips 17 and 18 or even to become dislodged from them.

Practice with the device therefore encourages correct and smooth steering technique. As mentioned above, the device is also useful to enable a driving instructor to demonstrate the correct technique to a pupil while the vehicle is stationary.

Since the support bar 10 is formed from resiliently flexible material, the device may be clipped to steering wheels of different diameters by bowing of the bar 10. The clips 17 and 18 are so disposed in relation to the clips 13 and 14 that, when the support bar 10 is bowed to bring the clips 13 and 14 closer to one another, the distance apart of the clips 17 and 18 remains substantially unchanged so that the hoop 19 is not distorted.

The clips 13 and 14 have smooth internal surfaces so as not to scratch the rim 15 of the steering wheel. The clips 13 and 14 may conveniently be of the same type as the clips 17 and 18, and a number of such clips may be provided side-by-side at each end of the support bar 10 to ensure a firm grip on the steering wheel.

Although, as described above, the device is primarily intended to be used when attached to a vehicle steering wheel, it may also be attached to any other form of suitable support on which the clips 13 and 14 can firmly engage. Alternatively, the device may simply be supported by the user, the lower end of the support bar 10 being held, for example, between the user's knees. To facilitate this, the support bar 10 may be made rather longer than shown in the drawing.

WHAT I CLAIM IS:-- 1. A device for the practice and demonstration of motor vehicle steering technique comprising a support structure having means for detachably mounting the structure on a motor vehicle steering wheel, and a circular member attached to the support structure by guide means on the support structure, which guide means engage the periphery of the circular member in a manner to locate the circular member on the support structure while permitting rotation of the circular member relative thereto.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. manner that the periphery of the circular member slides through the guide element as the circular member is rotated. The circular member may be in the form of a hoop and there may be provided two guide elements embracing diametrically opposed portions of the periphery of the hoop. The following is a more detailed description of one embodiment of the invention, reference being made to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a front view of a device in accordance with the invention, and Figure 2 is a sectional view showing the device of Figure 1 fitted to the steering wheel of a motor vehicle. The device comprises a support structure in the form of an elongated support bar 10 formed, for example, from resiliently flexible plastics material and having enlarged end portions 11 and 12. The enlarged portions 11 and 12 carry resilient plastics clips 13 and 14 respectively which are engageable with the rim 15 of a vehicle steering wheel 16 so as to mount the support bar 10 detachably on the steering wheel. Normally the bar 10 will be mounted diametrically across the steering wheel. Mounted on the opposite face of the bar 10 to the clips 13 and 14 are two further plastics clips 17 and 18 which receive diametrically opposed portions of a hoop 19. The hoop 19 may conveniently be formed from a length of circular cross-section plastics tubing, the ends of the length of tubing being brought together and joined by welding or, more simply, by the insertion of a dowel plug in the ends of the tubing. The dimensions of the clips 17 and 18 in relation to the diameter of the tubing of the hoop 19 are such that the tubing may slide freely through the clips to permit rotation of the hoop 19 relative to the support bar 10 and hence relative to the vehicle steering wheel 16. The surface of the hoop may be wax polished to facilitate its sliding through the clips. In use the device can be clipped on to a steering wheel as shown in Figure 2 with the support bar 10 extending diametrically of the wheel from the "6 o'clock" to the "12 o'clock" position. A user wishing to demonstrate or practice steering technique may then rotate the hoop 19 relative to the support bar in a manner corresponding to steering movements of a steering wheel. Portions of the hoop, as indicated at 20, may be differently coloured at the "10 to 2" position which is the normal position for the hands when the vehicle is not effecting a turn. The contrasting colour of the portions 20 also shows up the movement of the hoop. The presence of the clip 17 at the "12 o'clock" position prevents either of the user's hands passing through the 12 o'clock position while gripping the hoop. It is accepted that it is bad steering technique for either hand to pass through this position. It will also be noted that the clips 17 and 18, in the embodiment shown, constitute the sole attachment of the hoop 19 to the support bar 10 and the hoop 19 is not therefore constrained to turn about a fixed axis, as is the case with a wheel mounted on a fixed hub. Consequently, in order to avoid eccentric movement of the hoop, the correct "pull-push" steering technique should be used, since incorrect technique may cause the hoop to bind in the clips 17 and 18 or even to become dislodged from them. Practice with the device therefore encourages correct and smooth steering technique. As mentioned above, the device is also useful to enable a driving instructor to demonstrate the correct technique to a pupil while the vehicle is stationary. Since the support bar 10 is formed from resiliently flexible material, the device may be clipped to steering wheels of different diameters by bowing of the bar 10. The clips 17 and 18 are so disposed in relation to the clips 13 and 14 that, when the support bar 10 is bowed to bring the clips 13 and 14 closer to one another, the distance apart of the clips 17 and 18 remains substantially unchanged so that the hoop 19 is not distorted. The clips 13 and 14 have smooth internal surfaces so as not to scratch the rim 15 of the steering wheel. The clips 13 and 14 may conveniently be of the same type as the clips 17 and 18, and a number of such clips may be provided side-by-side at each end of the support bar 10 to ensure a firm grip on the steering wheel. Although, as described above, the device is primarily intended to be used when attached to a vehicle steering wheel, it may also be attached to any other form of suitable support on which the clips 13 and 14 can firmly engage. Alternatively, the device may simply be supported by the user, the lower end of the support bar 10 being held, for example, between the user's knees. To facilitate this, the support bar 10 may be made rather longer than shown in the drawing. WHAT I CLAIM IS:--

1. A device for the practice and demonstration of motor vehicle steering technique comprising a support structure having means for detachably mounting the structure on a motor vehicle steering wheel, and a circular member attached to the support structure by guide means on the support structure, which guide means engage the periphery of the circular member in a manner to locate the circular member on the support structure while permitting rotation of the circular member relative thereto.

2. A device according to claim 1, wherein

the support structure includes stop means so positioned relative to the circular member as to prevent movement past the stop means of a user's hand gripping the periphery of the circular member.

3. A device according to claim 2, wherein the support structure is adapted for mounting on a motor vehicle steering wheel in a plurality of alternative positions so that said stop means may be located in a plurality of alternative positions in relation to a user sitting at the vehicle steering wheel.

4. A device according to claim 2 or claim 3, wherein a part of the aforesaid guide means constitutes said stop means.

5. A device according to any of claims 1 to 4, wherein said guide means comprise an element mounted on the support structure and embracing a portion of the periphery of the circular member in such manner that the periphery of the circular member slides through the guide element as the circular member is rotated.

6. A device according to claim 5, wherein there are provided two of said elements embracing diametrically opposed portions of the periphery of the circular member.

7. A device according to any of claims 1 to 6, wherein the circular member is in the form of a hoop.

8. A device according to claim 7, wherein the hoop is formed from resiliently flexible material.

9. A device according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the means for detachably mounting the support structure on a vehicle steering wheel comprise a plurality of spring clips mounted on the support structure and engageable with the rim of the steering wheel.

10. A device according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the support structure comprises an elongated bar adapted, in use, to extend substantially diametrically of the motor vehicle steering wheel to which it is attached.

11. A device according to claim 10, wherein said elongated bar is formed from resiliently flexible material.

12. A device for the practice and demonstration of motor vehicle steering technique substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.