Illumination – Supported by vehicle structure – Automobile
Reexamination Certificate
1999-03-18
2001-10-02
O'Shea, Sandra (Department: 2875)
Illumination
Supported by vehicle structure
Automobile
C362S224000, C362S249070, C362S253000, C362S263000, C362S488000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06296380
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to lighted steering wheels and more particularly pertains to a new lighted steering wheel for illuminating the steering wheel of a vehicle.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The use of lighted steering wheels is known in the prior art. More specifically, lighted steering wheels heretofore devised and utilized are known to consist basically of familiar, expected and obvious structural configurations, notwithstanding the myriad of designs encompassed by the crowded prior art which have been developed for the fulfillment of countless objectives and requirements.
Known prior art includes U.S. Pat. No. 5,008,782; U.S. Pat. No. 4,319,307; U.S. Pat. No. 4,547,655; U.S. Pat. No. Des. 103,962; U.S. Pat. No. 5,634,707; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,683,164.
While these devices fulfill their respective, particular objectives and requirements, the aforementioned patents do not disclose a new lighted steering wheel. The inventive device includes an outer ring defining a central space has a center. A hub for mounting to a steering column of a vehicle is located in the central space. A plurality of elongate spokes radially extend between the outer ring and the hub in the central space. The outer ring and the spokes comprise a translucent material for permitting the passage of light therethrough. An outer light source is provided in the outer ring. The outer light source has an elongate portion extending into a first of the spokes. A pair of elongate light sources. One of the elongate light sources is provided in a second of the spokes and another of the elongate light sources is provided in a third of the spokes. The outer light source and the elongate light sources are electrically connected together.
In these respects, the lighted steering wheel according to the present invention substantially departs from the conventional concepts and designs of the prior art, and in so doing provides an apparatus primarily developed for the purpose of illuminating the steering wheel of a vehicle.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known types of lighted steering wheels now present in the prior art, the present invention provides a new lighted steering wheel construction wherein the same can be utilized for illuminating the steering wheel of a vehicle.
The general purpose of the present invention, which will be described subsequently in greater detail, is to provide a new lighted steering wheel apparatus and method which has many of the advantages of the lighted steering wheels mentioned heretofore and many novel features that result in a new lighted steering wheel which is not anticipated, rendered obvious, suggested, or even implied by any of the prior art lighted steering wheels, either alone or in any combination thereof.
To attain this, the present invention generally comprises an outer ring defining a central space has a center. A hub for mounting to a steering column of a vehicle is located in the central space. A plurality of elongate spokes radially extend between the outer ring and the hub in the central space. The outer ring and the spokes comprise a translucent material for permitting the passage of light therethrough. An outer light source is provided in the outer ring. The outer light source has an elongate portion extending into a first of the spokes. A pair of elongate light sources. One of the elongate light sources is provided in a second of the spokes and another of the elongate light sources is provided in a third of the spokes. The outer light source and the elongate light sources are electrically connected together.
There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the invention 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 invention that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto.
In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.
As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception, upon which this disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention.
Further, the purpose of the foregoing abstract is to enable the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally, and especially the scientists, engineers and practitioners in the art who are not familiar with patent or legal terms or phraseology, to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and essence of the technical disclosure of the application. The abstract is neither intended to define the invention of the application, which is measured by the claims, nor is it intended to be limiting as to the scope of the invention in any way.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a new lighted steering wheel apparatus and method which has many of the advantages of the lighted steering wheels mentioned heretofore and many novel features that result in a new lighted steering wheel which is not anticipated, rendered obvious, suggested, or even implied by any of the prior art lighted steering wheels, either alone or in any combination thereof.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a new lighted steering wheel which may be easily and efficiently manufactured and marketed.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a new lighted steering wheel which is of a durable and reliable construction.
An even further object of the present invention is to provide a new lighted steering wheel which is susceptible of a low cost of manufacture with regard to both materials and labor, and which accordingly is then susceptible of low prices of sale to the consuming public, thereby making such lighted steering wheel economically available to the buying public.
Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new lighted steering wheel which provides in the apparatuses and methods of the prior art some of the advantages thereof, while simultaneously overcoming some of the disadvantages normally associated therewith.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide a new lighted steering wheel for illuminating the steering wheel of a vehicle.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new lighted steering wheel which includes an outer ring defining a central space has a center. A hub for mounting to a steering column of a vehicle is located in the central space. A plurality of elongate spokes radially extend between the outer ring and the hub in the central space. The outer ring and the spokes comprise a translucent material for permitting the passage of light therethrough. An outer light source is provided in the outer ring. The outer light source has an elongate portion extending into a first of the spokes. A pair of elongate light sources. One of the elongate light sources is provided in a second of the spokes and another of the elongate light sources is provided in a third of the spokes. The outer light source and the elongate light sources are electrically connected together.
Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new lighted steering wh
O'Shea Sandra
Ward John Anthony
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