GB2350680A

GB2350680A - A position indicator for a vehicle steering wheel

Info

Publication number: GB2350680A
Application number: GB9913065A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Den-Fuw Wang
Original assignee: WANG DEN FUW
Current assignee: WANG DEN FUW
Priority date: 1999-06-04
Filing date: 1999-06-04
Publication date: 2000-12-06
Also published as: FR2795833A3; GB9913065D0; DE29910066U1

Abstract

A position indicator for a vehicle steering wheel has a base (2) which can be fixed to a vehicle steering wheel. The base (2) has an axial rod (24) at its centre with a driving gear (23) attached around the axial rod (24). A panel (3) has a central hole (31) which engages with a hollow shaft (81) around which a transmission gear (8) is disposed. The hollow axle (81) is rotatably disposed around the axial rod (24) and the transmission gear (8) engages with a driven gear (7) which in turn engages with the driving gear(23). The panel (3) also has an off centre heavy weight (9). An indicator plate (4) is attached to the end of the axial rod (24), the panel (3) being disposed between the base (2) and the indicator plate (4). When the steering wheel is turned, the panel (3) stays in its original orientation due to the off centre heavy weight (9) and the indicator plate (4) is turned through an angle to give an indication of the steering wheel angle.

Description

2350680 POSITION INDICATOR FOR CAR STEERING WHEEL

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the invention

This invention relates to a position indicator for car steering wheel, particularly to a position indicator pivoting in same direction with a steering wheel to show wheel angle by means of angular displacement of an indication plate, wherein a panel of the position indicator can keep itself in a steady state due to a heavy weight.

2. Description of the prior art

One is liable to ignore whether he has the front wheels directed due forwards when parking a car, and needless to say to presuppose that an improper parking may result in an unexpected slanting dash next time when he starts the car to incur an unnecessary bump or even danger, besides, it may do harm to link lever system connected with the wheels, and it is the case especially true for a roadside parking on a jammed street. On the other hand, it troubles the one who is aware of the latent danger to check or recheck the front wheels and adjust the steering wheel satisfactorily before he can leave at ease.

In view of the abovesaid imperfections, after years of constant effort in research, the inventor of this invention has consequently developed and proposed this auxiliary device pertaining to the subject matter.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This invention is proposed to provide a position indicator for car steering wheel that is used to indicate orientation of wheels for auxiliary steering purpose.

Another object of this invention is to provide a position indicator that can be adhered to the car steering wheel to present a lively and cute modeling for decoration in addition to practicability.

A further object of this invention is to provide a position indicator that can be adhered to the car steering wheel, wherein memorandum papers may be clamped to both lateral faces of the position indicator ready for use anytime.

With abovesaid advantages, the position indicator for car steering wheel of this invention comprises a base, a panel, an indication plate, and a housing, wherein an axial rod disposed at center of the base is female-jointed with a driving 3 gear; a driven gear and a transmission gear engaged with each other is located on bottom face of the panel in proper upper positions, and a hollow shaft in center of the transmission gear penetrates a center hole of the panel and protrudes over surface thereof for collaring the indication plate; tnd a heavy weight is attached on I bottom face of the panel at a proper lower position. After combination of the base and the panel, the driving and the driven gears are engaged together, and the base of the position indicator can be seated on center of a steering wheel. So that, when the steering wheel pivots, in virtue of transmission of gears and the attached weight, the panel can keep itself in a steady state, while the indication plate will pivot an angular displacement to present a dual efficacy of wheel angle indication and interior decoration.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a better understanding to the present invention, together with further advantages or features thereof, at least one preferred embodiment will be elucidated below with reference to the annexed drawings in which:

Fig. I is a schematic front view of a position indicator for car steering wheel of this invention-, Fig. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the position indicator for car steering wheel of this invention, Fig, _3 is a lateral view of the position indicator for car steering wheel of this invention-, Fig. 4 is a schematic view showing action process of the position indicator for car steering wheel of this invention; Fig. 5 is a schematic view showing a 2nd embodiment of the position indicator for car steering wheel of this invention, Fig. 6 is a schematic view showing a 3rd embodiment of the position indicator for car steering wheel of this invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

As shown in Fig. I and 2 -a front view and an exploded perspective view of a position indicator for car steering wheel of this invention, the position indicator I is composed of a base 2, a panel 3, an indication plate 4, a housing 5, and a transparent cover 6. A circular receptacle 21 formed on the base 2 is provided with three clamping portions 22 located oppositely at outer rim respectively and an axial rod 24 formed at center female-jointed with a driving gear 23. A hollow shaft 81 disposed at center of a transmission gear 8 penetrates a center hole 31 of the panel 3 and protrudes over surface thereof to permit collaring the indication plate 4, wherein the transmission gear 8 is engaged with a driven gear 7 which is provided to the panel 3 at a proper position in upper portion of its bottom face.

The transparent cover 6 is placed on the indication plate 4, and a heavy weight 9 is disposed at a proper lower position in bottom face of the panel 3. After the panel 2 3 is combined with the base 2, the driven gear 7 will be engaged with the driving gear 23 to construct the position indicator I which can be packed in the housing 5 Jn various models (such as a bat, heart, lotus, tire, and petal, etc) for beautification purpose. And when the position indicator I turns an angle, the panel can be kept in a steady state owing to the weight 9, while the indication plate 4 is supposed to deviate in the same direction to indicate angular offset of the wheels.

As shown in Fig. 2 and 3 -an exploded perspective view and a lateral view of this invention, a groove 10 is formed in each of two lateral edges of the housing 5 respectively. The groove 10 used for clamping memorandums comprises three clamping portions 22 which is provided with a protrusion dot 221 at its front end to contact with the housing 5.

As Fig. 4 shows, this invention is to be fixed by adhering the base 2 to center of a steering wheel and keeping a sign 32 on the panel 3 vertically and the indication plate 4 horizontally (as shown in Fig. 4(A) and 4(B)). When the steering wheel is pivoting, the panel 3 keeps itself in a steady state due to the weight 9, while the indication plate 4 is driven by the driving gear 8 and the linked driven gear 7 to produce an angular displacement in the same direction with the steering wheel that represents an angle of the wheels (as shown in Fig. 4(C) and 4(D)).

Referring to Fig. 5 and 6 -a 2nd and a 3rd embodiment of this invention the housing 5 of the position indicator I may be designed in diversified visages, such as heart-like housing 5a in Fig. 5 or lotus-like housing 5b in Fig 6, etc.

The merits of this invention may be summarized as the following:

1. The position indicator for car steering wheel of this invention serves as an auxiliary device that can indicate direction of the wheel for a driver.

2. The beautiful and lively modeling of the position indicator for car steering wheel of this invention possesses not only practicability but also decoration effect.

3. The housing of the position indicator for car steering wheel of this invention provides an additional function of memorandum clamping.

Although, this invention has been described in terms of preferred embodiments, it is apparent that numerous variations and modifications may be made without departing from the true spirit and scope thereof, as set forth in the following claims.

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Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A position indicator of car steering wheel, comprising: a base having an axial rod disposed at center position, wherein said axial rod is female-jointed with a driving gear, and 3) clamping portions are arranged at each of two lateral edges in rim of said base respectively: a panel having an engaged driven gear and a transmission gear disposed at a proper upper portion and a heavy weight at proper lower position on bottom face of said panel, an indication plate placed on top face of said panel being female-jointed with said axial rod in said base, a housing, and by means of construction of disposing said axial rod at center of said base, female-jointing the driving gear to said axial rod, disposing said driven gear and transmission gear at an upper portion and a heavy weight at a lower portion on bottom face of said panel, permitting a hollow shaft of said transmission gear to penetrate a central hole of said panel and protrude over surface thereof for collaring said indication plate, and seating said base at center of a steering wheel to enable said panel to keep itself in a steady state in virtue of gear transmission as well as said weight and enable said indication plate to displace an angular offset for wheel angle indication during rotation of the steering wheel. wherein said housing may be made in diverse forms for additional decoration purpose.

2. The position indicator for car steering wheel of claim L wherein a groove is formed at each of two lateral edges of said housing respectively for clamping memorandums.

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