Steering wheel cover
AssigneeAuto-Grip LLC
InventorGrant M. Simmons
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A steering wheel cover is provided. The steering wheel cover is attachable to steering wheels for a variety of vehicles including, but not limited to, all-terrain vehicles (for example, side by side all-terrain vehicles), automobiles, boats, and golf carts. The steering wheel cover may include one or more resiliently-deformable regions configured to increase a user's grip strength, for example. The resiliently-deformable regions may include resiliently-deformable members, such as gel cushions or pads, that resiliently deform under pressure applied by a user and return to their original shape when the pressure is no longer applied by the user.
Claims17
A steering wheel cover, comprising:
- a base layer defining a toroid, the base layer having first and second inner circumferential edges spaced laterally apart from each other to define an opening for receiving a steering wheel;
- multiple resilient members spaced circumferentially apart from one another along an outer surface of the base layer, each resilient member wrapping around the outer surface of the base layer from the first inner circumferential edge to the second inner circumferential edge of the base layer;
- an outer layer covering the multiple resilient members and wrapping around the first and second inner circumferential edges of the base layer;
- a first inner layer located between the base layer and the resilient members;
- and
- a second inner layer located between the first inner layer and the resilient members, wherein the second inner layer permits the resilient members to move relative to the first inner layer.
A steering wheel cover for a vehicle, comprising:
- a base layer;
- two or more resilient gel cushions attached to the base layer for use as an exercise device, the two or more resilient gel cushions spaced circumferentially apart from one another along the base layer;
- an outer layer covering the two or more resilient gel cushions;
- and
- a foam pad located between the outer layer and the two or more resilient gel cushions.
A method of manufacturing a steering wheel cover, comprising:
- positioning multiple resilient members around an outer surface of a base layer defining a toroid, wherein the resilient members are spaced circumferentially apart from one another along the outer surface of the base layer, wherein the base layer includes first and second inner circumferential edges spaced laterally apart from each other to define an opening for receiving a steering wheel;
- wrapping an outer layer covering around the multiple resilient members and around the first and second inner circumferential edges of the base layer;
- positioning a first inner layer between the base layer and the resilient members;
- positioning a second inner layer between the first inner layer and the resilient members, the second inner layer permitting the resilient members to move relative to the first inner layer;
- and
- attaching the resilient members and the outer layer covering to the base layer along lines of attachment located adjacent the first and second inner circumferential edges of the base layer such that each resilient member wraps around the outer surface of the base layer from the first inner circumferential edge to the second inner circumferential edge.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.