Technical Field
[0001] The present invention relates to a wireless control transmitter, and a wireless control
transmitter having a steering wheel conveniently operational for any of left-handed
and right-handed users.
Background of The Art
[0002] In a wireless control transmitter for controlling a wireless control type toy vehicle
and the like, two types of control section exist, that is a stick type and a wheel
type. The stick type is a wireless control transmitter for controlling with a stick
both control signal generating resistance of a steering and control signal generating
resistance of speed. In a wireless control transmitter with usual transmission signal
of two channels, two sticks are arranged both right and left, the shapes of the sticks
are same, and difference of the sticks on the right and left is small.
[0003] While, the wheel type is a wireless control transmitter for controlling the control
signal generating resistance of the steering with a wheel of miniature of a steering
wheel and for controlling the control signal generating resistance of the speed with
a throttle trigger. Control is convenient because the steering is controlled in rotational
motion and rotational movements of a vehicle and the wheel are consistent.
[0004] However, means for controlling is the wheel and the throttle trigger, which are completely
different in shape and arrangement in the wireless control transmitter is asymmetry.
Usually, the throttle trigger is arranged to be controlled by a left hand and the
wheel is arranged to be operated by a right hand. In this case, the arrangement is
conceived for a right-handed user, which is not always convenient for a left-handed
user to operate.
[0005] The shapes of the controlling means are also completely different, since simple exchange
of both functions, such as electrical control of the wheel velocity, control of the
steering by the throttle trigger and the like, may not overcome the problem at all.
[0006] Manufacturing a wireless control transmitter only for a left-handed user is too costly
for manufacturers of the wireless control transmitter so that manufacturing has been
substantially difficult, because the number of manufactured products is small.
[0007] In Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication H10-314463, a main body provided with the
steering wheel and a grip are attachable and detachable and the directions of the
steering wheel and the grip are variable. Size of the structure, however, increases
by accompanying a replaceable contact section, which causes a problem of wearing.
[0008] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a wireless control transmitter
which is compact and easy to operate for any of a right-handed user and a left-handed
user
Disclosure of The Invention
[0009] In order to solve the aforementioned problems, a wireless control transmitter according
to the present invention comprises a grip to be grasped by a dominant hand of a user,
a throttle trigger lever slidably protruding along a lower surface of a controller
provided at a head portion of this grip and for controlling forward and backward movements
of the controlled body, and a steering wheel arranged on the upper surface of an end
portion of the controller and for controlling right and left turns of the controlled
body. This steering wheel can be fixed by tilting its axial direction toward a particular
direction with respect to the controller.
[0010] A back surface of the steering wheel is provided with a position fixing part, and
cylindrical portions are protruded on the upper and lower ends of this position fixing
part. The end part of this cylindrical portion is provided with a partially-toothed-gear
edge comprising a partially-toothed-gear and the vicinity of joint of the other cylindrical
portion with the position fixing part is provided with a cylindrical end part comprising
a partially-toothed-gear. A controller is provided with two circular pores. When this
position fixing part moves so that inner teeth of both inner circumferences of these
circular pores and the partially-toothed-gear edge are engaged, the position fixing
part is fixed on the controller, and when the position fixing part moves to a position
such that the cylindrical end parts are mounted in the circular pores, the position
fixing part becomes slidable to the controller.
[0011] A guiding axis is protruded parallel to a cylinder from the position fixing part
in the hollow inner part of the partially-toothed-gear edge, and a spring is arranged
on the guiding axis for integration, whereby this spring surpresses the controller
to engage the partially-toothed-gear edge into the circular pores.
Brief Description of the Drawings
[0012]
Figure 1 is an overall view showing an example of a wireless control transmitter in
accordance with the present invention.
Figure 2 (a) is a top view showing an example of a wireless control transmitter in
accordance with the present invention, wherein a steering wheel is tilted to the right
and (b) is a top view thereof, and is tilted to the left,
Figure 3 (a) is a perspective view of an engaging part of a steering wheel showing
an example of a wireless control transmitter in accordance with the present invention,
(b) is a side view thereof, (c) is a top view thereof in the engaged condition and
(d) is a top view thereof in the fitted condition,
Figure 4 (a) is a back view of a steering wheel and a position fixing part showing
an example of a wireless control transmitter in accordance with the present invention,
(b) is a front view of the position fixing part thereof, and (c) is a perspective
view of combination thereof.
Best Mode for Working The Invention
[0013] Other details, advantages, and features of the present invention are described in
following embodiments with reference to accompanied drawings.
[0014] As shown in Figure 1, in a wireless control transmitter in accordance with the present
invention, a main body 2 of the wireless control transmitter is joined with a grip
4 and a controller 6 at an upper part of this grip 4. An upper surface of an end of
a grip joining side of the controller 6 is provided with a steering wheel 8 in a rotatable
and tiltable manner. While, a throttle trigger lever 10 is slidably provided in the
vicinity of the grip 4 on a lower surface of the controller 6.
[0015] The steering wheel 8 is capable of tilting in the right and left as shown in Figure
2 (a) and (b). This steering wheel 8 is needed to be structured so as to rotate around
a center axis of the steering wheel 8 for performing intrinsic function thereof and
further to tilt with reference to an axis which is perpendicular to the center axis
and also parallel to a rotational plane of the steering wheel 8, whereby the steering
wheel 8 is capable of tilting.
[0016] A rotation mechanism of a direction of an tilting axis is described using Figure
3 and a steering rotation mechanism centered on a steering trim is described in reference
to Figure 4.
[0017] Figure 3 (a) is a perspective view of an engaging part of a steering wheel showing
an example of a wireless control transmitter in accordance with the present invention,
(b) is a side view thereof, (c) is a top view thereof in the engaged condition and
(d) is a top view thereof in the fitted condition.
[0018] A position fixing part 12 is arranged in a horizontal direction of the backside of
the steering wheel 8. The steering rotation mechanism is incorporated in the inner
part of the position fixing part 12. An upper pillar portion 14 is protruded upwardly
on a center part of an upper surface of the position fixing part 12, a lower pillar
portion 16 is protruded downwardly on a center part of a lower surface of the position
fixing part 12. The upper end of this upper pillar portion 14 is a pillar and further
teeth 20 are provided in a partially-toothed-gear shape around the pillar in a vicinity
of a joint with the position fixing part 12. While, teeth 22 are provided in a partially-toothed-gear
shape at a lower end of the lower pillar portion 16 and vicinity of the joint with
the position fixing part 12 is formed into cylinder shape.
[0019] The steering wheel 8 is arranged by inserting the position fixing part 12 into a
position fixing pore 25 formed at a top of the controller 6. An upper part and a lower
part of the position fixing pore 25 are provided with inner toothed pores 27 and 29
toothed with inner teeth 26 and 27, respectively. When the position fixing part 12
is inserted into the position fixing pore 25, the pillar portions 14, and 22 are inserted
into the inner toothed pores 27 and 29, respectively.
[0020] As shown in Figure 3 (b), the lower pillar portion 16 is hollow, and a spring axis
24 is protruded along the inside of the lower pillar portion 16 from the lower surface
of the position fixing part 12. When the lower pillar portion 16 is inserted into
the inner toothed pore 29, a spring 18 is arranged between an outer plate 34 of the
controller 6 and the spring axis 24. This spring 18 is longer than distance between
the outer plate 34 and the spring axis 24 to press the outer plate 34 and the spring
axis 24, whereby a whole of the steering wheel 8 is constituted to be always pressed
upwardly to the position fixing pre 25.
[0021] Namely, as shown in Figure 3 (c), the steering wheel 8 and the position fixing part
12 are arranged to be pressed toward the upper part of the controller 6, that is upper
right in the drawing. Then, the teeth 20 toothed in the upper pillar portion 14 and
the inner teeth 26 in the side of the inner toothed pore 27 are engaged and the teeth
22 toothed in the lower pillar portion 16 and the inner teeth 32 in the side of the
inner toothed pore 29 are engaged. Therefore, when the pillar portion is an axis,
the steering wheel 8 is fixed and unable to rotate.
[0022] While, as shown in Figure 3 (d), when pressing the steering wheel 8 toward the lower
side of the controller 6, that is lower left in the drawing, by an external force,
the spring 18 decreases in length and the steering wheel 8 and each pillar portion
move toward lower left side. Therefore, the engagement of the teeth 20 toothed in
the upper pillar portion 14 and the inner teeth 26 of the side of the inner toothed
pore 27 is released so that the upper pillar portion 14 is inserted into the inner
teeth 26 and also engagement of the teeth 22 toothed in the lower pillar portion 16
and the inner teeth 32 of the side of the inner toothed pore 29 is released so that
the lower pillar portion 16 is inserted into the inner teeth 32. Thus, in this time
the steering wheel 8 is constituted in a rotatable manner around an axis of the pillar
portion. Namely, as shown in Figure 2 (a) and (b), the steering wheel 8 is capable
to tilting in the right and left without interfering with a rotation of a steering
rotation mechanism, in accordance with a dominant hand of the user for the controller
6.
[0023] In reference to Figure 4, a steering rotation mechanism centered on a steering wheel
rotational axis is described. Figure 4 shows (a) a back surface of the steering wheel
8, (b) a layout plan of the position fixing part 12 and (c) a perspective view combining
the steering wheel 8 and the position fixing part 12.
[0024] As shown in Figure 4 (a), in the rotation mechanism of this steering wheel 8, the
position fixing part 12 and the steering wheel 8 are installed in a rotatable manner
at a steering trim 53 as the axis.
[0025] A left screw tubular pillar 48 and a right screw tubular pillar 50 are protruded
on a horizontal line passing through a wheel axis on the back surface of the steering
wheel 8, respectively. When the steering wheel 8 is combined with the position fixing
part 12, these screw tubular pillars are inserted into a beans-type opening 62 for
left screw tubular pillar and a beans-type opening 64 for right screw tubular pillar
provided in the right and left of the position fixing part 12, where a rotational
angle of the steering wheel 8 is defined by length of the opening 62 for the left
screw tubular pillar and opening 64 for the right screw tubular pillar.
[0026] An upper fixing plate 44 is arranged in an uppermost part of a rotational axis in
the back surface of the steering wheel 8, and a lower fixing plate 46 is also arranged
directly under the rotational axis in the back surface.
[0027] A pivot shaft 56 is protruded in a direction of the steering wheel 8 at the center
of the bottom of the position fixing part 12. A pivot plate 54 with an axis hole 57
at its end is arranged on this pivot shaft 56 in a rotatable manner around the pivot
shaft 56. The middle part of the whole length of the pivot plate 54 is curved in a
semicircle shape, and a terminal part of the pivot plate 54 opposite to the axis hole
57 with reference to the semicircular part is provided with a pivot plate spring fixture
68. A spring fixture 66 of the position fixing part side is arranged on an upper surface
of the position fixing part 12 in relation to the pivot plate spring fixture 68. A
spring 70 for pivot plate is arranged between the pivot plate spring fixture 68 and
the spring fixture 66 of the position fixing part side.
[0028] The steering wheel 8 and the position fixing part 12 are arranged in this manner,
thereby when the steering wheel 8 is rotated in a clockwise direction on the drawing
in Figure 4 (a), the upper fixing plate 44 presses an upper fixing plate joint position
60 of the upper part of the pivot plate 54. Therefore, the pivot plate spring fixture
68 and the spring fixture 66 of the position fixing part side are spaced and the spring
70 for pivot plate is extended. Force toward a neutral direction acts on the pivot
plate 54 by resilience of the spring 70 for pivot plate.
[0029] While, when the steering wheel 8 is rotated counterclockwise on the drawing in Figure
4 (a), the lower fixing plate 46 presses a lower fixing plate joint position 58 of
the lower part of the pivot plate 54. Similarly, the pivot plate spring fixture 68
and the spring fixture 66 of position fixing part side are spaced and the spring 70
for pivot plate is extended. Therefore, the force toward the neutral direction acts
on the pivot plate 54 by resilience of the spring 70 for the pivot plate.
[0030] Namely, even if the steering wheel 8 is rotated in any direction, the force acts
in the neutral direction that the steering wheel 8 returns.
[0031] The steering wheel 8 is constituted as described above, thereby the steering wheel
8 is arranged in a rotatable manner around the axis direction without being interfered
by the rotation mechanism of a tilting axis direction. Namely, even if the steering
wheel 8 is tilted in a direction of either right or left with reference to the controller
6 in accordance with a dominant hand of a user, steering control function is not affected.
[0032] Consequently, because of the above-mentioned movement, the wheel type wireless control
transmitter is easy to operate for both a right-handed user and a left-handed user.
[0033] For instance, no matter what a tilting direction due to a dominant hand is, operationality
is equal and a user can use in no way inferior. Obviously, wheel operation with a
hand convenient for a user is enabled regardless of innate dominant hand.
[0034] The steering wheel is also capable of returning to a neutral position of a wheel
by using only one spring, whereby malfunction during operation such as lock of the
steering wheel in the rotating condition can be prevented from occurring.
[0035] Manufacturing the wheel type wireless control transmitter for purpose of both a right-handed
and left-handed users can eliminate the need for separately manufacturing wheel type
wireless control transmitters for each dominant hand.
1. A wireless control transmitter for remotely controlling a controlled body of a wireless
control apparatus by an electromagnetic wave, comprising a grip to be grasped by a
dominant hand of a user, a throttle trigger lever slidably protruding along a lower
surface of a controller provided at a head portion of the grip and for controlling
forward and backward movement of the controlled body, and a steering wheel arranged
on the upper surface of an end portion of the controller and for controlling right
and left turns of the controlled body, wherein the steering wheel is capable of tilting
and fixing its axial direction toward a particular direction with respect to the controller.
2. A wireless control transmitter as claimed in claim 1, wherein a back surface of the
steering wheel is provided with a position fixing part, cylindrical portions are protruded
at upper and lower ends of the position fixing part, an end part of the cylincrical
portion is provided with a partially-toothed-gear edge comprising a partially-toothed-gear,
the vicinity of joint of the other cylindrical portion with the position fixing part
is provided with a cylindrical end part comprising the partially-toothed-gear, the
controller is provided with two circular pores, when the position fixing part moves
so that inner teeth of both inner circumferences of these circular pores and the partially-toothed-gear
edge are engaged, the position fixing part is fixed on the controller, and when the
position fixing part moves to a position such that the cylindrical end parts are mounted
in the circular pores, the position fixing part becomes slidable to the controller.
3. A wireless control transmitter as claimed in claim 2, wherein a guiding axis is protruded
parallel to a cylinder from the position fixing part in a hollow inner part of the
partially-toothed-gear edge, a spring is arranged on this guiding axis to unify, whereby
this spring presses the controller to engage the partially-toothed-gear edge into
the circular pores.