Patent Application
20160073184
The disclosure relates to steering wheel devices and more particularly pertains to a new steering wheel device for facilitating listening to audio while riding a bicycle.
An embodiment of the disclosure meets the needs presented above by generally comprising a ring and a housing coupled to the ring. The housing is positioned in a center of the ring and extends across the center of the ring. A speaker and an audio player are coupled to the housing. The audio player is operationally coupled to the speaker to broadcast audio provided to the speaker by the audio player. A mounting bracket is coupled to a back face of the housing for coupling to a handlebar riser of a bicycle.
There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the disclosure in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the disclosure that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto.
The objects of the disclosure, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the disclosure, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure.
The disclosure will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein:
With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to
As best illustrated in
Each of a pair of spaced mounting brackets 36 is coupled to the housing 14 proximate a respective side 38 of the ring 12. Each mounting bracket 36 is coupled to a back face 40 of the housing 14 wherein the housing 14 is configured for coupling to a handlebar riser 42 of a bicycle 44. Each of a pair of brake levers 46 is coupled to the ring 12. Each brake lever 46 is positioned on the back face 40 of the ring 12. Each brake lever 46 is configured for coupling to a respective brake cable 48 of the bicycle 44. Each brake lever 46 is positioned on one of the respective sides 38 of the ring 12.
A number of additional functions may be provided including a compass 50 coupled to the housing 14 and positioned on the front face 26 so the compass 50 is visible to a rider of the bicycle 44. A horn 52 is coupled to the housing 14. The horn 52 may or may not be incorporated into the speaker 24. A horn button 54 is coupled to the housing 14 and positioned on the front face 26. The horn button 54 is operationally coupled to the horn 52 wherein the horn 52 is actuated by manipulation of the horn button 54. A light 56 is coupled to the housing 14. The light 56 is positioned on a top side 58 of the housing 14. The light 56 is directed away from the housing 14 such that the light 56 is configured to illuminate an area in front of the bicycle 44. A plurality of controls 62 is provided on the front face 26 of the housing 14. Each of the controls 62 is operationally coupled to the processor 22. The controls 62 are positioned proximate each of the concave outer sides 18 of the housing 14 to be readily accessible and manipulatable by a thumb while fingers are grasping the ring 12 for maintaining control of the ring 12. Each of the controls 62 controls a function of the audio player 28, radio receiver 60, light 56, or other functional aspects of the device 10. Thus, manipulation of the controls 62 allows for volume control, track selection, audio source selection, and the like in a conventional manner.
Each of a plurality of spokes 64 is coupled to and extends between the housing 14 and the ring 12. Each of a plurality of solar cells 66 is coupled to an associated one of the spokes 64. Each of the solar cells 66 is positioned on a front face 70 of the associated spoke 64. A battery 68 is coupled to the housing 14. Each of the solar cells 66 is electrically coupled to the battery 68 wherein the solar cells 66 charge the battery 68. The audio player 28, light 56, radio receiver 60, processor 22, horn 52, and any other electrically powered aspects of the device are electrically coupled to the battery such that each is electrically powered by the battery 68.
In use, the housing 14 is mounted to the handlebar riser 42, or the like, of the bicycle 44 coupling the ring 12 to the bicycle 44. Each brake lever 46 is coupled to the respective brake cable 48. Thus, the device 10 functionally replaces a conventional handlebar. The device 10 provides use of the audio player 28, light 56, radio receiver 60, and horn 52 as desired while riding the bicycle 44.
With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of an embodiment enabled by the disclosure, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by an embodiment of the disclosure.
Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the disclosure. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the disclosure to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the disclosure. In this patent document, the word “comprising” is used in its non-limiting sense to mean that items following the word are included, but items not specifically mentioned are not excluded. A reference to an element by the indefinite article “a” does not exclude the possibility that more than one of the element is present, unless the context clearly requires that there be only one of the elements.
