Tiller knob assembly for steering wheel

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9783219-B2
Application number	US-201414255438-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 17, 2014
Priority date	Apr 17, 2014
Publication date	Oct 10, 2017
Grant date	Oct 10, 2017

Abstract

A tiller knob has a top section having a lower periphery with a first plurality of indented segments and a bottom section having an upper periphery with a second plurality of indented segments. When the lower periphery and the upper periphery are mated with one another, the first plurality of indented segments cooperates with the second plurality of indented segments to form separate openings around an outer circumference of the tiller knob. A center section is located between the top section and the bottom section so that outer surfaces of extending segments are exposed through the separate openings. A multi-sectional tiller knob having top and bottom sections formed of a first material and a center section formed of a second material is also disclosed.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A tiller knob assembly for a steering wheel, comprising:
a top section having a lower periphery, wherein the lower periphery comprises a first plurality of indented segments;
a bottom section having an upper periphery, wherein the upper periphery comprises a second plurality of indented segments, and the first and second plurality of indented segments are arranged such that when the lower periphery and the upper periphery are mated with one another along a mating interface, each of the first plurality of indented segments cooperates with a respective complimentary one of the second plurality of indented segments to form one of a plurality of separate openings around an outer circumference of the mating interface; and
a center section located between the top section and the bottom section, the center section including a plurality of extending segments, wherein each extending segment extends through a respective one of the plurality of separate openings so that an outer surface of each respective extending segment is exposed through a respective one of the plurality of openings.

2. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein a top section outer surface and a bottom section outer surface are comprised of a first material and the outer surface of each respective extending segment exposed through a respective one of the plurality of separate openings is comprised of a second material, the first material differing from the second material.

3. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the center section comprises:
an annular ring configured to encircle an axis that passes through substantially the center of the top section and the bottom section when mated with one another and, wherein, each of the plurality of extending segments extend radially outward from the annular ring.

4. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein:
the top section includes a plurality of first engagement surfaces; and
the bottom section includes a plurality of second engagement surfaces, wherein each of the plurality of second engagement surfaces interlocks with a respective one of the first engagement surfaces when the top section and bottom section are mated with one another.

5. The assembly of claim 4 , wherein the first and second engagement surfaces detachably interlock with one another.

6. The assembly of claim 4 wherein:
the plurality of first engagement surfaces comprise a plurality of recesses; and
the plurality of second engagement surfaces comprise a plurality of flexible locking fingers each with a respective protrusion configured to fit within one of the plurality of recesses.

7. The assembly of claim 1 , comprising:
a hollow cylinder having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end is configured to be coupled with a portion of the steering wheel and the second end extends, along a central axis, away from the first end and extends at least partially through each of the bottom section, the center section, and the top section.

8. The assembly of claim 7 , wherein the top section, bottom section and center section are rotatable around the central axis of the hollow cylinder.

9. The assembly of claim 7 , comprising:
a locking member configured to pass through the portion of the steering wheel and securely couple with the hollow cylinder.

10. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein:
each of the first plurality of indented segments is concavely shaped; and
each of the second plurality of indented segments is concavely shaped.

11. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of separate openings has a substantially oval shape.

12. A steering wheel assembly for a materials handling vehicle, comprising:
a steering wheel;
a tiller knob assembly, comprising:
a top section having a lower periphery, wherein the lower periphery comprises a first plurality of indented segments;
a bottom section having an upper periphery, wherein the upper periphery comprises a second plurality of indented segments, and the first and second plurality of indented segments are arranged such that when the lower periphery and the upper periphery are mated with one another along a mating interface, each of the first plurality of indented segments cooperates with a respective complimentary one of the second plurality of indented segments to form one of a plurality of separate openings around an outer circumference of the mating interface, and
a center section located between the top section and the bottom section, the center section including a plurality of extending segments, wherein each extending segment includes a respective outer surface exposed through a respective one of the plurality of separate openings; and

coupling structure securely coupling the tiller knob assembly with the steering wheel.

13. A tiller knob assembly for a steering wheel, comprising:
a top section comprised of a first material and having a lower periphery, wherein the lower periphery comprises a first plurality of indented segments;
a bottom section comprised of the first material and having an upper periphery, wherein the upper periphery comprises a second plurality of indented segments, and the first and second plurality of indented segments are arranged such that when the lower periphery and the upper periphery are mated with one another along a mating interface, each of the first plurality of indented segments cooperates with a respective complimentary one of the second plurality of indented segments to form one of a plurality of separate openings around an outer circumference of the mating interface; and
a center section located between the top section and the bottom section, the center section including a plurality of extending segments, wherein each extending segment extends through a respective one of the plurality of separate openings so that an outer surface of each respective extending segment is exposed through a respective one of the plurality of openings and is comprised of a second material differing from the first material, wherein the second material comprises soft polymeric material.

14. The assembly of claim 12 , wherein a top section outer surface and a bottom section outer surface are comprised of a first material and the exposed respective outer surface of each extending segment is comprised of a second material, the first material differing from the second material.

15. The assembly of claim 14 , wherein the second material comprises soft polymeric material.

16. A steering wheel assembly for a materials handling vehicle, comprising:
a steering wheel;
a tiller knob assembly, comprising:
a top section having a lower periphery, wherein the lower periphery comprises a first plurality of indented segments;
a bottom section having an upper periphery, wherein the upper periphery comprises a second plurality of indented segments, and the first and second plurality of indented segments are arranged such that when the lower periphery and the upper periphery are mated with one another along a mating interface, each of the first plurality of indented segments cooperates with a respective complimentary one of the second plurality of indented segments to form one of a plurality of separate openings around an outer circumference of the mating interface, and
a center section located between the top section and the bottom section, the center section including a plurality of extending segments, wherein each extending segment includes a respective outer surface exposed through a respective one of the plurality of separate openings; and

coupling structure securely coupling the tiller knob assembly with the steering wheel, the coupl

Assignees

• Crown Equip Corp

Inventors

• Boyd William S
• Quinlan Jr Roger J
• White Daniel L
• Gilliland Kevin A
• Shuret Edward E
• Sprague Allen D

Classifications

• B62D1/043 Primary

  with a device allowing single-hand operation of the steering wheel · CPC title

• G05G1/085

  Crank handles (G05G1/082 takes precedence) · CPC title