Measuring and testing – Vehicle chassis – Steering
Reexamination Certificate
1997-11-21
2001-10-23
McCall, Eric S. (Department: 2855)
Measuring and testing
Vehicle chassis
Steering
C073S116070, C224S276000, C248S027300, C340S425500, C340S438000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06305217
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
This invention relates in general to diagnostic test devices for use in automobiles to retrieve data from the automobile and to verify proper functioning of various components and systems of the automobile and, in particular, this invention relates to the mounting of such devices onto the automobile's steering wheel.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Most modern automobiles now come equipped with a communications interface for retrieval of data and other diagnostic information from the automobile. This information is accessed by a diagnostic test device using an electrical connector that plugs into the communications interface. These test devices are mostly portable units that are easily carried by the test operator. They can include a display and input buttons used to provide input commands to the automobile through the communications interface.
Typically, the testing process requires the operator to sit in the driver's seat of the automobile and to input commands into the test device, view information displayed by the test device, and operate some or all of the driver controls, including the ignition switch, transmission shift lever, climate control system, windshield wiper switch, acceleration and brake pedals, headlight switches, and so forth. This usually requires that the test device be placed in the operator's lap or on the vehicle seat next to the operator, making it more difficult to access the input buttons or view the display.
One possible solution to this problem is to temporarily mount the test device onto the steering wheel for easy, hands-free access by the test operator. However, diagnostic and validation testing of the type contemplated herein is typically carried out after assembly of the vehicle is substantially or entirely complete. For most modern vehicles, this means that a driver's side airbag has already been installed into the center hub of the steering wheel. The existence of an operational driver's side airbag carries with it the possibility of an unintentional deployment of the airbag during the testing process. For a test device mounted on the steering wheel either partially or wholly overlapping the center hub, there is also the possibility that deployment of the airbag could cause the test device to become disengaged from the steering wheel and create a potential hazard for the test operator or others nearby.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention overcomes the above-noted shortcomings of conventional diagnostic test devices by providing a test device which includes a housing having at least one support for mounting the device onto the outer ring of the steering wheel, with the support being located relative to the lower surface of the housing such that the lower surface is located above the center hub of the steering wheel when the device is mounted onto the steering wheel. In this way, the test device sits above the center hub so that it is not located in the path of the airbag should an unexpected deployment occur.
Preferably, the test device is designed so that the distance between the lower surface of the housing and the geometric center of the steering wheel is greater than or equal to seventy percent (70%) of the radius of the outer ring. The support can be an arcuate slot located in the bottom of the housing, with the curvature of the arcuate slot being equal to that of the outer ring of the steering wheel. To further remove the device from the deployment area of the airbag, the support can be located toward the front of the housing so that most of the housing and its contents are located behind the steering wheel.
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a diagnostic test device in which the housing has a lower surface that includes a middle region and a pair of end regions, each of which extends downwardly from an opposite end of the middle region such that the middle region is located above the hub of the steering wheel when the device is secured to the steering wheel. As a result, the test device housing generally follows the curvature of the outer ring, thereby keeping any part of the housing away from the center hub where deployment of the airbag occurs. Preferably, each of the end regions of the lower surface of the housing extend downwardly from the middle region at an obtuse angle.
In accordance with yet another aspect of the invention, there is provided a diagnostic test device in which the housing is mounted to the outer ring of the steering wheel using a clamp that when latched, prevents the test device from becoming disengaged from the steering wheel, even under the forces exerted by an expanding airbag, while allowing the test device to rotate about the outer ring away from the operator and toward the instrument panel. By so limiting the movement of the test device, this arrangement helps prevent injury to the operator and others. Preferably, the test device also includes one or more support blocks that partially support the test device on the steering wheel, yet do not interfere with rotation of the test device about the outer ring in the event of an airbag deployment.
The clamp can include a latching member that latches the test device into place automatically upon mounting of the test device on the outer ring. This can be accomplished using a control link that rotates when the test device is being mounted and that causes concomitant rotation of the latching member into the latched position. Preferably, the clamp includes a locking pawl that, following movement of the latching member to the latched position, automatically engages the latching member to prevent it from rotating back to the unlatched position. The locking pawl can be manually disengaged from the latching member by the operator to allow the test device to be removed from the steering wheel.
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patent: 2810221 (1957-10-01), Reifsnyder
patent: 4638287 (1987-01-01), Umebayashi et al.
patent: 4850015 (1989-07-01), Martin
patent: 4917130 (1990-04-01), Sweder
patent: 5177665 (1993-01-01), Frank et al.
patent: 5487521 (1996-01-01), Callahan
patent: 5541572 (1996-07-01), Okamoto et al.
patent: 5542314 (1996-08-01), Sullivan et al.
Mansfeld Jurgen
Schulz Eckhard
McCall Eric S.
Reising Ethington, Barnes, Kisselle, Learman & McCulloch, P.C.
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