Motor vehicle steering wheel with built-in controls

摘要

The steering wheel has a number of press tab type switches (6 to 15) positioned on the inside edges of the steering wheel allowing the driver to turn the wheel without hindrance and to operate the switches by finger/thumb pressure. Three switches are positioned on the top edge of the central spoke assembly and on the inside of the wheel rim on each side of the steering wheel. Two more switches each side are on the inside of the steering wheel under the central spoke assembly. For some of the switches an indicator panel can be fitted into the spoke assembly. This provides an illuminated display of the switch settings eg. the transmission setting. Another indicator can be a telephone number, selected from a memory, for a mobile telephone. The switches are recessed into their mountings and are covered with the outer covering layer of the steering wheel trim.