Marine steering wheel assembly
OwnerA. Michel Despreauxinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A steering wheel assembly for use on marine craft or other vehicles including a support frame having a preferably annular configuration, and further including at least one wheel section. Each wheel section comprises two segments connected to one another and the support frame. Each of the two segments of each wheel section are independently formed to include anyone of a plurality of predetermined, decorative surface finishes and are secured to the support frame subsequent to the surface finishing thereof. At least one gripping portion may also be provided on the support frame which is structured to facilitate the gripping thereof by the hands of an operator of the vehicle.
Claims22
A steering wheel assembly designed for use on any one of a variety of different vehicles, said assembly comprising:
- a) a spoke assembly including an attachment portion structured to be secured to a steering column and a plurality of spokes extending radially outward from said attachment portion,
- b) a support frame attached to said plurality spokes substantially at an outer end thereof,
- c) at least one wheel section having an elongated configuration and structured to define an exposed portion of a steering wheel, said one wheel section dimensioned and configured to be maintained on and extend along a first length of said support frame,
- d) said one wheel section including two segments structured to be secured together in supported attachment on said support frame,
- e) said two segments cooperatively configured to define a receiving channel when secured together, said receiving channel disposed interiorly of said one wheel section and extending along the length thereof,
- f) said two segments cooperatively structured to define a substantially snap-fit connection therebetween, said snap-fit connection comprising a tongue and groove attachment structure formed and cooperatively disposed on interior confronting surfaces of said two segments,
- g) said tongue and groove attachment structure comprising two elongated tongues integrally formed on and extending along a length of said interior surface of one of said two segments and disposed on opposite sides of said receiving channel and two elongate grooves integrally formed on and extending along a length of said interior surface of the other of said two segments;
- said two tongues and said two grooves cooperatively disposed and structured for a fixed, mating engagement of said two segments, and
- h) a gripping portion fixedly secured to said support frame and configured to extend along at least a second length of said support frame.
A steering wheel assembly comprising:
- a) a support frame comprising a continuous, substantially annular configuration, said support frame structured for interconnection to a steering column of a vehicle,
- b) at least one wheel section having an elongated, substantially curvilinear configuration and mounted on said support frame and extending along at least a first length thereof,
- c) said one wheel section comprising two segments cooperatively structured for fixed attachment with one another in surrounding supported relation along said first length of said support frame,
- d) said two segments cooperatively configured to define a receiving channel disposed interiorly of said one wheel section and extending along the length thereof;
- e) said receiving channel dimensioned and configured to receive said first length of said support frame therein and disposed to position said two segments substantially on opposite sides of said support frame,
- f) said two segments further comprising correspondingly disposed interior surfaces positioned in confronting relation to one another and cooperatively structured to define a substantially snap-fit connection for mating engagement of said two segments,
- g) said snap-fit connection comprising two elongate tongues integrally formed on and extending along the length of said interior surface of one of said two segments of said one wheel section,
- h) said snap-fit connection further comprising two elongate grooves integrally formed on and extending along the length of said -interior surface of the other of said two segments of said one wheel section, and
- i) said two tongues and said two grooves cooperatively disposed and structured for-fixed, mating engagement of said two segments of said one wheel section.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.