BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to steering wheel knobs and in particular to a quick release bluetooth audio steering wheel knob.
Drivers, and truck drivers in particular, often desire to attach a steering wheel knob (also known as a brody knob) to a vehicles steering wheel to allow rapid turning of the steering wheel. Such rapid turning is desirable while parking and in particular while backing into a narrow area. However, once the need for the steering wheel knob has passed, the knob may become obstructive. Thus a need is present for an easily removable steering wheel knob.
Further, drivers often carry bluetooth devices containing audio material. Wireless battery powered bluetooth speakers are often used with these devices. Because wireless speakers may discharge the batteries quickly, there is a need for a wireless speaker positioned close to the driver to allow low volume levels to extend battery life.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention addresses the above and other needs by providing a bluetooth audio steering wheel knob which is quickly attachable and detachable without tools and includes a bluetooth circuit and at least one audio transducer. The bluetooth audio steering wheel knob includes a housing having a shaft inserted into a bracket mounted to a steering wheel. The shaft may include a spring loaded ball detent which engages a recess ring inside a shaft passage in the bracket, allowing the bluetooth audio steering wheel knob to be detached by a firm tug, or a mounting block may include a spring loaded lock which engages a stud extending down from a housing base. The batteries, a bluetooth circuit and at least one audio transducer is housed inside the bluetooth audio steering wheel knob and is rechargeable using a plug in charger or separate base
In accordance with one aspect of the invention, there is provided a bluetooth audio steering wheel knob incorporation a battery powered bluetooth circuit and at least one audio transducer. Incorporating the at least one audio transducer inside the bluetooth audio steering wheel knob provides a synergistic result of easily positioning the at least one audio transducer close to the driver to allow low volume levels and long battery life.
In accordance with another aspect of the invention, there is provided a quick releasable bluetooth audio steering wheel knob incorporation a battery powered bluetooth circuit and audio transducer. The quick release allows a driver to switch the bluetooth audio steering wheel knob between vehicles or to carry the bluetooth audio steering wheel knob into a hotel room, etc.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING
The above and other aspects, features and advantages of the present invention will be more apparent from the following more particular description thereof, presented in conjunction with the following drawings wherein:
FIG. 1A is a top rear view of an bluetooth audio steering wheel knob according to the present invention.
FIG. 1B is a top front view of the bluetooth audio steering wheel knob according to the present invention.
FIG. 1C is a bottom rear view of the bluetooth audio steering wheel knob according to the present invention.
FIG. 1D is a bottom front view of the bluetooth audio steering wheel knob according to the present invention.
FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the bluetooth audio steering wheel knob according to the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a cut-away view of the bluetooth audio steering wheel knob according to the present invention showing at least one audio transducer inside the bluetooth audio steering wheel knob.
FIG. 4 shows a side view of the housing bottom of the bluetooth audio steering wheel knob according to the present invention.
FIG. 5 shows a bottom view of the housing bottom of the bluetooth audio steering wheel knob according to the present invention.
FIG. 6 shows a cross-sectional view of the housing bottom of the bluetooth audio steering wheel knob according to the present invention taken along line 6-6 of FIG. 5B.
FIG. 7 is a top and side view of a mounting block according to the present invention.
FIG. 7A is a rear view of the housing block according to the present invention.
FIG. 7B is a top view of the housing block according to the present invention.
FIG. 7C is a cross-sectional view of the housing block according to the present invention taken along line 7C-7C of FIG. 7A.
FIG. 8A shows a side view of a charging base of the bluetooth audio steering wheel knob according to the present invention.
FIG. 8B shows a top view of the charging base of the bluetooth audio steering wheel knob according to the present invention.
FIG. 8c shows a cross-sectional view of the charging base of the bluetooth audio steering wheel knob according to the present invention taken along line 8-8 of FIG. 7A.
FIG. 9 shows a side view of the housing body of the bluetooth audio steering wheel knob according to the present invention.
FIG. 10 shows a top cross-sectional view of the housing body of the bluetooth audio steering wheel knob according to the present invention.
FIG. 11 shows detail A of FIG. 9 of the housing body of the bluetooth audio steering wheel knob according to the present invention.
FIG. 12 shows a side view of the housing bottom of the bluetooth audio steering wheel knob according to the present invention.
FIG. 13 shows a top view of the housing bottom of the bluetooth audio steering wheel knob according to the present invention.
FIG. 14 shows a cross-sectional view of the housing bottom of the bluetooth audio steering wheel knob according to the present invention taken along line 14-14 of FIG. 13.
FIG. 15 shows a mount of the bluetooth audio steering wheel knob according to the present invention.
FIG. 16A shows a side view of the mount of the bluetooth audio steering wheel knob according to the present invention.
FIG. 16B shows a top view of the mount of the bluetooth audio steering wheel knob according to the present invention.
FIG. 16C shows an end view of the mount of the bluetooth audio steering wheel knob according to the present invention.
FIG. 17 shows a top and side view of a mount plate of the bluetooth audio steering wheel knob according to the present invention.
FIG. 18A shows a side view of the mount plate of the bluetooth audio steering wheel knob according to the present invention.
FIG. 18B shows a top view of the mount plate of the bluetooth audio steering wheel knob according to the present invention.
FIG. 18C shows an end view of the mount plate of the bluetooth audio steering wheel knob according to the present invention.
FIG. 20 shows a top and side view of a first strap of the bluetooth audio steering wheel knob according to the present invention.
FIG. 21A shows an end view of the first strap of the bluetooth audio steering wheel knob according to the present invention.
FIG. 21B shows a side view of the first strap of the bluetooth audio steering wheel knob according to the present invention.
FIG. 22 shows a top and side view of a second strap of the bluetooth audio steering wheel knob according to the present invention.
FIG. 23A shows an end view of the second strap of the bluetooth audio steering wheel knob according to the present invention.
FIG. 23B shows a side view of the second strap of the bluetooth audio steering wheel knob according to the present invention.
FIG. 24 shows a top and side view of a third strap of the bluetooth audio steering wheel knob according to the present invention.
FIG. 25A shows an end view of the third strap of the bluetooth audio steering wheel knob according to the present invention.
FIG. 25B shows a side view of the third strap of the bluetooth audio steering wheel knob according to the present invention.
FIG. 26 shows a trop and side view of a fourth strap of the bluetooth audio steering wheel knob according to the present invention.
FIG. 27A shows an end view of the fourth strap of the bluetooth audio steering wheel knob according to the present invention.
FIG. 27B shows a side view of the fourth strap of the bluetooth audio steering wheel knob according to the present invention.
FIG. 28 shows a side view of a charging base of the bluetooth audio steering wheel knob according to the present invention.
FIG. 29 shows a top view of the charging base of the bluetooth audio steering wheel knob according to the present invention.
FIG. 30 shows a cross-sectional view of the charging base of the bluetooth audio steering wheel knob according to the present invention taken along line 30-30 of FIG. 28.
FIG. 31A is a side view of a second bluetooth audio steering wheel knob according to the present invention.
FIG. 31B is a top view of the second bluetooth audio steering wheel knob according to the present invention.
FIG. 31C is a bottom view of the second bluetooth audio steering wheel knob according to the present invention.
FIG. 32A is a side view of the second bluetooth audio steering wheel knob according to the present invention with a clamp lever closed.
FIG. 32B is a side view of the second bluetooth audio steering wheel knob according to the present invention with a clamp lever open.
FIG. 33 is a bottom and side view of a housing lid of the second bluetooth audio steering wheel knob according to the present invention.
FIG. 34A is a side view of the housing lid of the second bluetooth audio steering wheel knob according to the present invention.
FIG. 34B is a top view of the housing lid of the second bluetooth audio steering wheel knob according to the present invention.
FIG. 35 is a bottom and side view of a housing center of the second bluetooth audio steering wheel knob according to the present invention.
FIG. 36A is a side view of the housing center of the second bluetooth audio steering wheel knob according to the present invention.
FIG. 36B is a top view of the housing center of the second bluetooth audio steering wheel knob according to the present invention.
FIG. 37 is a bottom and side view of a housing base of the second bluetooth audio steering wheel knob according to the present invention.
FIG. 38A is a side view of the housing base of the second bluetooth audio steering wheel knob according to the present invention.
FIG. 38B is a top view of the housing base of the second bluetooth audio steering wheel knob according to the present invention.
FIG. 39 is a cutaway side view of the housing base retained on a mounting block of the second bluetooth audio steering wheel knob according to the present invention.
FIG. 40 is a cross sectional view of the mounting block of the second bluetooth audio steering wheel knob according to the present invention taken along line 40-40 of FIG. 39.
FIG. 41 shows a circuit according to the present invention.
FIG. 42 shows a second circuit according to the present invention.
FIG. 43 shows a third circuit according to the present invention
Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding components throughout the several views of the drawings.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The following description is of the best mode presently contemplated for carrying out the invention. This description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of describing one or more preferred embodiments of the invention. The scope of the invention should be determined with reference to the claims.
Where the terms “about” or “generally” are associated with an element of the invention, it is intended to describe a feature's appearance to the human eye or human perception, and not a precise measurement.
A top rear view of a bluetooth audio steering wheel knob 10 according to the present invention is shown in FIG. 1A, a top front view of the bluetooth audio steering wheel knob 10 is shown in FIG. 1B, a bottom rear view of the bluetooth audio steering wheel knob 10 is shown in FIG. 1C, and a bottom front view of the bluetooth audio steering wheel knob 10 is shown in FIG. 1D. The bluetooth audio steering wheel knob 10 includes a housing 12 and a mounting block 20. Straps 22 attach the mounting block 20 to a steering wheel.
An exploded view of the bluetooth audio steering wheel knob 10 is shown in FIG. 2. The housing 12 is formed from a generally cylindrical housing body 12a, a housing top 12b, and a housing bottom 12c. The housing bottom 12c is preferably threadably attached to the housing body 12a. A shaft 14 is attached to the housing bottom 12c through bearings (or bushings) 16 and the housing 12 is free to rotate on the shaft 14. A push nut 18 preferably slides onto the shaft 14 and retains attachment of the shaft 14 and the bearings 16 to the housing bottom 12c.
The shaft 14 includes a retaining ball 14a biased to partially extending out of the shaft 14 for retaining the steering wheel knob housing 12 on the housing block 20. A low friction material, for example nylon, spacer 19 resides on the shaft 14 between the housing bottom 12c and the mounting block 20. The straps 22 are attached to the mounting block 20 by strap screws 26 and a plate 20 including 4 recesses 25 (see FIG. 18B) aligned with threaded passages 27 which receive plate screws 28 to tighten the mounting block 20 against the steering wheel.
A cut-away view of the bluetooth audio steering wheel knob 10 showing an audio transducer (or speaker) 30 inside the housing 12 is shown in FIG. 3. The housing body 12a includes sound ports 32 above the audio transducer 30 and the housing bottom 12c includes bottom ports 34 below the audio transducer 30. The audio transducer 30 receives power from a bluetooth circuit (see FIGS. 41-43), but may include any wireless technology circuit. An example of suitable components are 360 Acoustics Little Phoenix model 360mdla-rev1 locking sound assemblies.
A side view of the housing bottom 12c is shown in FIG. 4, a bottom view of the housing bottom 12c is shown in FIG. 5, and a cross-sectional view of the housing bottom 12c taken along line 6-6 of FIG. 5 is shown in FIG. 6. The housing bottom 12c includes male threads 13 for attachment to the housing body 12a, the bottom ports 34, and bearing (or bushing) seats 36 for the bearings or bushings 16 (see FIG. 2).
A top and side view of the mounting block 20 is shown in FIG. 7, a rear view of the housing block 20 is shown in FIG. 7A, a top view of the housing block 20 is shown in FIG. 7B, and is a cross-sectional view of the housing block 20 is shown in FIG. 7, taken along line 7C-7C of FIG. 7A. The mounting block 20 includes a shaft passage 21 and a shaft retaining annular recess 21a. The retaining ball 14a (see FIG. 2) engages the shaft retaining annular recess 21a to retain the housing 12 on the mounting block 20, while allowing the housing 12 to be detached from the mounting block 20 without tools.
A side view of a charging base (or stand) 40 of the bluetooth audio steering wheel knob 10 is shown in FIG. 8A, a top view of the charging base 40 is shown in FIG. 8B, and a cross-sectional view of the charging base 40, taken along line 8C-8C of FIG. 8A, is shown in FIG. 8C. The charging base 40 includes a shaft passage 44 for accepting the shaft 14 of the bluetooth audio steering wheel knob 10, and matching ports 42 which may be aligned with the bottom ports 34 (see FIG. 3) during charging. The bluetooth audio steering wheel knob 10 includes batteries for powering a bluetooth circuit and the audio transducer 30, and the charging base 40 connects to the bluetooth audio steering wheel knob 10 to charge the batteries. The charging base 40 may electrically connect to a vehicle cigarette lighter, or to a residential AC power outlet.
A side view of the housing body 12a is shown in FIG. 9, a top cross-sectional view of the housing body 12a is shown in FIG. 10, and a partial side view of the housing body 12a showing detail A of FIG. 9 of the sound port 32 is shown in FIG. 11.
A side view of the housing bottom 12c is shown in FIG. 12, a top view of the housing bottom 12c is shown in FIG. 13, and a cross-sectional view of the housing bottom 12c taken along line 14-14 of FIG. 13 is shown in FIG. 14.
A top and side view of the mounting block 20 is shown in FIG. 15, a side view of the mounting block 20 is shown in FIG. 16A, a top view of the mounting block 20 is shown in FIG. 16B, and an end view of the mounting block 20 is shown in FIG. 16C.
A top and side view of the mount plate 24 is shown in FIG. 17, a side view of the mount plate 24 is shown in FIG. 18A, a top view of the mount plate 24 is shown in FIG. 18B, and an end view of the mount plate 24 is shown in FIG. 18C.
A top and side view of a first strap 22a is shown in FIG. 20, a top view of the first strap 22a is shown in FIG. 21A, and a side view of the first strap 22a is shown in FIG. 21B. The first strap 22a is for a small rimmed steering wheel.
A top and side view of a second first strap 22b is shown in FIG. 22, a top view of the second strap 22b is shown in FIG. 23A, and a side view of the second strap 22b is shown in FIG. 23B. The second strap 22b is for a slightly larger rimmed steering wheel than the first strap 22a.
A top and side view of a third strap 22c is shown in FIG. 24, a top view of the third strap 22c is shown in FIG. 25A, and a side view of the third strap 22c is shown in FIG. 25B. The third strap 22c is for a slightly larger rimmed steering wheel than the second strap 22b.
A top and side view of a fourth strap 22d is shown in FIG. 26, a top view of the fourth strap 22d is shown in FIG. 27A, and a side view of the fourth strap 22d is shown in FIG. 27B. The fourth strap 22d is for a large rimmed steering wheel.
A side view of a charging base 40 is shown in FIG. 28, a top view of the charging base 40 is shown in FIG. 29, and a cross-sectional view of the charging base 40 taken along line 30-30 of FIG. 28 is shown in FIG. 30.
A second embodiment of the bluetooth audio steering wheel knob 10a is shown in a side view in FIG. 31A, in a top view in FIG. 31B, and in a bottom view in FIG. 31C. The bluetooth audio steering wheel knob 10a includes a solid wall housing center 52a, a sound vented housing top 52b, and a housing base 52c. The housing top 52b includes sound vents 51. Advantageously, the sound vents 51 are near the driver, and directed towards the driver, to allow reduced volume, increasing battery life.
A clamp assembly 54 is provided to attach the bluetooth audio steering wheel knob 10a to a vehicle steering wheel (not shown). The clamp assembly 54 includes a fixed half 62a and a moving half 62b.
A side view of the second bluetooth audio steering wheel knob 10a with the clamp lever closed is shown in FIG. 32A and a side view of the second bluetooth audio steering wheel knob 10a with the clamp lever 56 opened is shown in FIG. 32B. The clamp assembly 54 is closed to grasp the steering wheel by adjusting and then closing the clamp lever 56. The clamp lever 56 is adjusted by turning the clamp lever 56 to rotate the lever screw 58 into the lever drum 57, and rotating the clamp lever 56 along arc A1 to compress the rubber grommet 60 against the moving half 62b to draw the moving half 62b along arc A1 towards the fixed half 62a. The clamp assembly 54 is loosened by rotating the lever 56 along arc A1′ to move the moving half along arc A2′.
A bottom and side view of the housing lid 52b of the second bluetooth audio steering wheel knob 10a is shown in FIG. 33, a side view of the housing lid 52b is shown in FIG. 34A, and a top view of the housing lid 52b is shown in FIG. 43B. The housing lid 52b includes the sound ports 51 facing the driver.
A bottom and side view of a housing center 52a of the second bluetooth audio steering wheel knob 10a is shown in FIG. 35, a side view of the housing center 52a is shown in FIG. 36A, and a top view of the housing center 52a is shown in FIG. 36B. The housing center 52a has solid walls with no sound ports, and male threads at opposite ends for attaching the top 52b and the base 52c.
A bottom and side view of a housing base 52c of the second bluetooth audio steering wheel knob 10a is shown in FIG. 37, a side view of the housing base 52c is shown in FIG. 38A, and a top view of the housing base 52c is shown in FIG. 38b. The housing base 52c includes a housing stud 68 for attaching to the mount block 50.
A cutaway side view of the housing base 52c retained on the mounting block 50 of the second bluetooth audio steering wheel knob 10a is shown in FIG. 39 and a cross-sectional view of the mounting block 50 taken along line 40-40 of FIG. 39 is shown in FIG. 40. The mounting block 50 includes a stepped passage 63 and a stepped lock 64 urged against a step 65 in the stepped passage 63 to retain the housing 52 on the housing base 50. An end 64a of the stepped lock 64 extends from the housing base 50, and depressing the end 64a releases the housing 52 from the housing base 50.
The bluetooth audio steering wheel knob 10a is otherwise similar to the audio steering wheel knob 10 described in FIGS. 1-30.
A circuit for the bluetooth audio steering wheel knobs 10 and 10a is shown in FIG. 41. The circuit includes at least one audio transducer 30, a bluetooth circuit 82, and batteries 84 residing in the housings 12 and 52, and a charging port 86 on the exterior of the housings 12 and 52. The batteries 84 provide a power signal through leads 85 to the bluetooth circuit 82 and are recharged through the bluetooth circuit 82 by power provided through leads 87 from the charging port 86. The bluetooth circuit 82 provides signal 83 through leads 83 to drive the at least one audio transducer 30 and receive signals from the at least one audio transducer 30.
A bluetooth device 88 communicates with the bluetooth circuit 82 via bluetooth signals 90. The bluetooth device 88 may be an audio content (for example, music) device, a smart phone, a lap top computer, a notebook computer, a CB radio including bluetooth capability, or any bluetooth equipped device capable of sending or receiving audio content.
A second circuit is shown in FIG. 42. The second circuit replaces the port 86 with electrical connections in the stud 68 (see FIG. 37) which is electrically connect to a electrical source 92 in the stand 40 for charging the batteries 84.
A third circuit is shown in FIG. 43. The third circuit includes coils 94 and 96 for inductively charging the batteries 84.
The housings 12, 52, mounting blocks 20, 50, clamp assembly 54, and straps 22 are preferably made from aluminum, but may be a suitably strong plastic material.
While the invention herein disclosed has been described by means of specific embodiments and applications thereof, numerous modifications and variations could be made thereto by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention set forth in the claims.
Patent Application
20180170276
