초록 ▼

An auxiliary vehicle steering system includes a user interface for receiving a user input and transmitting a control output signal associated with the input signal. The interface is located within the vehicle. A mechanism is included for rotating a vehicle's front wheels along an arcuate path offset

An auxiliary vehicle steering system includes a user interface for receiving a user input and transmitting a control output signal associated with the input signal. The interface is located within the vehicle. A mechanism is included for rotating a vehicle's front wheels along an arcuate path offset 90 degrees from equilibrium. The front wheel rotating mechanism includes grooved plates that have tapered outer edge portions extending along an outer perimeter thereof. A mechanism is included for rotating a vehicle's rear wheels along an arcuate path offset 90 degrees from equilibrium. The rear wheel rotating mechanism includes grooved plates that have tapered outer edge portions extending along an outer perimeter thereof. A controller is coupled to the interface that receives the control output signal and instructs the front wheel and the rear wheel rotating mechanisms to contemporaneously register the wheels orthogonal to the vehicle so that same can be laterally displaced.

대표청구항 ▼

The invention claimed is: 1. An auxiliary vehicle steering system for assisting a driver to laterally park a vehicle into space-limited areas, said auxiliary vehicle steering system comprising: a user interface for receiving a user input and transmitting a control output signal associated with said

The invention claimed is: 1. An auxiliary vehicle steering system for assisting a driver to laterally park a vehicle into space-limited areas, said auxiliary vehicle steering system comprising: a user interface for receiving a user input and transmitting a control output signal associated with said user input signal, said user interface being located within the vehicle; means for rotating a vehicle's front wheels along an arcuate path offset 90 degrees from equilibrium; means for rotating a vehicle's rear wheels along an arcuate path offset 90 degrees from equilibrium such that the vehicle's front and rear wheels align in sync and parallel to each other during operating conditions; and a controller electrically coupled to said user interface, said controller receiving said control output signal and automatically instructing said front wheel rotating means and said rear wheel rotating means to contemporaneously register the front and rear wheels orthogonal to a longitudinal length of the vehicle so that the vehicle can be laterally displaced without moving along a longitudinal path. 2. The system of claim 1, wherein said front wheel rotating means is operably connected to a front wheel drive axle, said front wheel rotating means comprising: a pair of oppositely spaced and rotatable gear assemblies including a plurality of respective housings provided with diametrically opposed annular openings, the front wheel drive axle being medially situated between said gear assemblies and operably linked to said controller; a pair of medially disposed driven axles interfitted into selected ones of said housing openings; a pair of laterally disposed driven axles interfitted into other ones of said housing openings; a plurality of universal joints directly coupling said laterally disposed driven axles to the front wheel drive axle, said laterally disposed driven axles being detachable from the front wheel drive axle for allowing an operator to retrofit said gear assemblies onto a variety of front wheel drive axles associated with a variety of vehicles; wherein said laterally disposed driven axles are directly conjoined to an associated wheel hub of the vehicle respectively, said housings having an annular shape and being provided with an arcuate slot extending along a partial circumference of said housings respectively, wherein said housings further include a monolithically formed and outwardly protruding lever directly engaged with one said driven axles such that said laterally disposed driven axles rotate along said arcuate path based upon said user input signal; a plurality of spindles including a pair of monolithically formed flange portions extending parallel to each other and rotatably conjoined to said housings respectively, said flange portions being directly connected to top and bottom surfaces of said housings and further being registered parallel to the front wheel drive axle, said spindles further including an outwardly protruding lever directly linked to one said driven axles such that said one driven axle rotates along said arcuate path while said drive axle rotates along a rectilinear axis, said medially disposed driven axles being telescopically positioned through said spindles respectively; and a pair of arms directly conjoined to said flange portions, said arms being operably coupled to said controller in such a manner that said arms cause said spindles to articulate said housings based upon said user input signal; wherein said laterally disposed driven axles and said housings rotate in sync along said arcuate paths and thereby displace associated ones of the vehicle's wheels parallel to the longitudinal length of the front wheel drive axle. 3. The system of claim 1, wherein said rear wheel rotating means is operably connected to a rear driven axle of a front wheel drive vehicle, said rear wheel rotating means comprising: a pair of oppositely spaced and rotatable gear assemblies including a plurality of respective housings provided with diametrically opposed annular openings, the rear wheel drive axle being medially situated between said gear assemblies and operably linked to said controller; wherein said housings include a monolithically formed and outwardly protruding lever operably linked to the rear driven axle; a plurality of spindles including a pair of monolithically formed flange portions extending parallel to each other and rotatably conjoined to said housings respectively, said flange portions being directly connected to top and bottom surfaces of said housings and further being registered parallel to the rear driven axle of the front wheel drive vehicle; and a pair of arms directly conjoined to said flange portions, said arms being operably coupled to said controller in such a manner that said arms cause said spindles to articulate said housings based upon said user input signal; wherein said housings rotate in sync along said arcuate paths and thereby displace associated ones of the vehicle's wheels parallel to the longitudinal length of the rear driven axle of the front wheel drive vehicle. 4. The system of claim 1, wherein said front wheel rotating means is operably connected to a front driven axle of a rear wheel drive vehicle, said front wheel rotating means comprising: a pair of oppositely spaced and rotatable gear assemblies including a plurality of respective housings provided with diametrically opposed annular openings, the front driven axle being medially situated between said gear assemblies and operably linked to said controller; said housings having an annular shape and including a monolithically formed and outwardly protruding lever operably linked to said controller; a plurality of spindles including a pair of monolithically formed flange portions extending parallel to each other and rotatably conjoined to said housings respectively, said flange portions being directly connected to top and bottom surfaces of said housings and further being registered parallel to the front driven axle, said spindles further including an outwardly protruding lever operably linked to said controller; and a pair of arms directly conjoined to said flange portions, said arms being operably coupled to said controller in such a manner that said arms cause said spindles to articulate said housings based upon said user input signal; wherein said housings rotate in sync along said arcuate paths and thereby displace associated ones of the vehicle's wheels parallel to the longitudinal length of the front driven axle of the rear wheel drive vehicle. 5. The system of claim 1, wherein said rear wheel rotating means is operably connected to a rear wheel drive axle, said rear wheel rotating means comprising: a pair of oppositely spaced and rotatable gear assemblies including a plurality of respective housings provided with diametrically opposed annular openings, the rear wheel drive axle being medially situated between said gear assemblies and operably linked to said controller; a pair of medially disposed driven axles interfitted into selected ones of said housing openings; a pair of laterally disposed driven axles interfitted into other ones of said housing openings; a plurality of universal joints directly coupling said laterally disposed driven axles to the rear wheel drive axle, said laterally disposed driven axles being detachable from the rear wheel drive axle for allowing an operator to retrofit said gear assemblies onto a variety of rear wheel drive axles associated with a variety of vehicles; p1 wherein said laterally disposed driven axles are directly conjoined to an associated wheel hub of the vehicle respectively, said housings having an annular shape and being provided with an arcuate slot extending along a partial circumference of said housings respectively, wherein said housings further include a monolithically formed and outwardly protruding lever directly engaged with one said driven axles such that said laterally disposed driven axles rotate along said arcuate path based upon said user input signal; a plurality of spindles including a pair of monolithically formed flange portions extending parallel to each other and rotatably conjoined to said housings respectively, said flange portions being directly connected to top and bottom surfaces of said housings and further being registered parallel to the rear wheel drive axle, said medially disposed driven axles being telescopically positioned through said spindles respectively; and a pair of arms directly conjoined to said flange portions, said arms being operably coupled to said controller in such a manner that said arms cause said spindles to articulate said housings based upon said user input signal; wherein said laterally disposed driven axles and said housings rotate in sync along said arcuate paths and thereby displace associated ones of the vehicle's wheels parallel to the longitudinal length of the rear wheel drive axle. 6. An auxiliary vehicle steering system for assisting a driver to laterally park a vehicle into space-limited areas, said auxiliary vehicle steering system comprising: a user interface for receiving a user input and transmitting a control output signal associated with said user input signal, said user interface being located within the vehicle; means for rotating a vehicle's front wheels along an arcuate path offset 90 degrees from equilibrium, said front wheel rotating means comprising a plurality of grooved plates having tapered outer edge portions extending along an outer perimeter of said plates; means for rotating a vehicle's rear wheels along an arcuate path offset 90 degrees from equilibrium such that the vehicle's front and rear wheels align in sync and parallel to each other during operating conditions; and a controller electrically coupled to said user interface, said controller receiving said control output signal and automatically instructing said front wheel rotating means and said rear wheel rotating means to contemporaneously register the front and rear wheels orthogonal to a longitudinal length of the vehicle so that the vehicle can be laterally displaced without moving along a longitudinal path. 7. The system of claim 6, wherein said front wheel rotating means is operably connected to a front wheel drive axle, said front wheel rotating means comprising: a pair of oppositely spaced and rotatable gear assemblies including a plurality of respective housings provided with diametrically opposed annular openings, the front wheel drive axle being medially situated between said gear assemblies and operably linked to said controller; a pair of medially disposed driven axles interfitted into selected ones of said housing openings; a pair of laterally disposed driven axles interfitted into other ones of said housing openings; a plurality of universal joints directly coupling said laterally disposed driven axles to the front wheel drive axle, said laterally disposed driven axles being detachable from the front wheel drive axle for allowing an operator to retrofit said gear assemblies onto a variety of front wheel drive axles associated with a variety of vehicles; wherein said laterally disposed driven axles are directly conjoined to an associated wheel hub of the vehicle respectively, said housings having an annular shape and being provided with an arcuate slot extending along a partial circumference of said housings respectively, wherein said housings further include a monolithically formed and outwardly protruding lever directly engaged with one said driven axles such that said laterally disposed driven axles rotate along said arcuate path based upon said user input signal; a plurality of spindles including a pair of monolithically formed flange portions extending parallel to each other and rotatably conjoined to said housings respectively, said flange portions being directly connected to top and bottom surfaces of said housings and further being registered parallel to the front wheel drive axle, said spindles further including an outwardly protruding lever directly linked to one said driven axles such that said one driven axle rotates along said arcuate path while said drive axle rotates along a rectilinear axis, said medially disposed driven axles being telescopically positioned through said spindles respectively; and a pair of arms directly conjoined to said flange portions, said arms being operably coupled to said controller in such a manner that said arms cause said spindles to articulate said housings based upon said user input signal; wherein said laterally disposed driven axles and said housings rotate in sync along said arcuate paths and thereby displace associated ones of the vehicle's wheels parallel to the longitudinal length of the front wheel drive axle. 8. The system of claim 6, wherein said rear wheel rotating means is operably connected to a rear driven axle of a front wheel drive vehicle, said rear wheel rotating means comprising: a pair of oppositely spaced and rotatable gear assemblies including a plurality of respective housings provided with diametrically opposed annular openings, the rear wheel drive axle being medially situated between said gear assemblies and operably linked to said controller; wherein said housings include a monolithically formed and outwardly protruding lever operable linked to the rear driven axle; a plurality of spindles including a pair of monolithically formed flange portions extending parallel to each other and rotatably conjoined to said housings respectively, said flange portions being directly connected to top and bottom surfaces of said housings and further being registered parallel to the rear driven axle of the front wheel drive vehicle; and a pair of arms directly conjoined to said flange portions, said arms being operably coupled to said controller in such a manner that said arms cause said spindles to articulate said housings based upon said user input signal; wherein said housings rotate in sync along said arcuate paths and thereby displace associated ones of the vehicle's wheels parallel to the longitudinal length of the rear driven axle of the front wheel drive vehicle. 9. The system of claim 6, wherein said front wheel rotating means is operably connected to a front driven axle of a rear wheel drive vehicle, said front wheel rotating means comprising: a pair of oppositely spaced and rotatable gear assemblies including a plurality of respective housings provided with diametrically opposed annular openings, the front driven axle being medially situated between said gear assemblies and operably linked to said controller; said housings having an annular shape and including a monolithically formed and outwardly protruding lever operably linked to said controller; a plurality of spindles including a pair of monolithically formed flange portions extending parallel to each other and rotatably conjoined to said housings respectively, said flange portions being directly connected to top and bottom surfaces of said housings and further being registered parallel to the front driven axle, said spindles further including an outwardly protruding lever operably linked to said controller; and a pair of arms directly conjoined to said flange portions, said arms being operably coupled to said controller in such a manner that said arms cause said spindles to articulate said housings based upon said user input signal; wherein said housings rotate in sync along said arcuate paths and thereby displace associated ones of the vehicle's wheels parallel to the longitudinal length of the front driven axle of the rear wheel drive vehicle. 10. The system of claim 6, wherein said rear wheel rotating means is operably connected to a rear wheel drive axle, said rear wheel rotating means comprising: a pair of oppositely spaced and rotatable gear assemblies including a plurality of respective housings provided with diametrically opposed annular openings, the rear wheel drive axle being medially situated between said gear assemblies and operably linked to said controller; a pair of medially disposed driven axles interfitted into selected ones of said housing openings; a pair of laterally disposed driven axles interfitted into other ones of said housing openings; a plurality of universal joints directly coupling said laterally disposed driven axles to the rear wheel drive axle, said laterally disposed driven axles being detachable from the rear wheel drive axle for allowing an operator to retrofit said gear assemblies onto a variety of rear wheel drive axles associated with a variety of vehicles; wherein said laterally disposed driven axles are directly conjoined to an associated wheel hub of the vehicle respectively, said housings having an annular shape and being provided with an arcuate slot extending along a partial circumference of said housings respectively, wherein said housings further include a monolithically formed and outwardly protruding lever directly engaged with one said driven axles such that said laterally disposed driven axles rotate along said arcuate path based upon said user input signal; a plurality of spindles including a pair of monolithically formed flange portions extending parallel to each other and rotatably conjoined to said housings respectively, said flange portions being directly connected to top and bottom surfaces of said housings and further being registered parallel to the rear wheel drive axle, said medially disposed driven axles being telescopically positioned through said spindles respectively; and a pair of arms directly conjoined to said flange portions, said arms being operably coupled to said controller in such a manner that said arms cause said spindles to articulate said housings based upon said user input signal; wherein said laterally disposed driven axles and said housings rotate in sync along said arcuate paths and thereby displace associated ones of the vehicle's wheels parallel to the longitudinal length of the rear wheel drive axle. 11. An auxiliary vehicle steering system for assisting a driver to laterally park a vehicle into space-limited areas, said auxiliary vehicle steering system comprising: a user interface for receiving a user input and transmitting a control output signal associated with said user input signal, said user interface being located within the vehicle; means for rotating a vehicle's front wheels along an arcuate path offset 90 degrees from equilibrium, said front wheel rotating means comprising a plurality of grooved plates having tapered outer edge portions extending along an outer perimeter of said plates; means for rotating a vehicle's rear wheels along an arcuate path offset 90 degrees from equilibrium such that the vehicle's front and rear wheels align in sync and parallel to each other during operating conditions, said rear wheel rotating means comprising a plurality of grooved plates having tapered outer edge portions extending along an outer perimeter of said plates; and a controller electrically coupled to said user interface, said controller receiving said control output signal and automatically instructing said front wheel rotating means and said rear wheel rotating means to contemporaneously register the front and rear wheels orthogonal to a longitudinal length of the vehicle so that the vehicle can be laterally displaced without moving along a longitudinal path. 12. The system of claim 11, wherein said front wheel rotating means is operably connected to a front wheel drive axle, said front wheel rotating means comprising: a pair of oppositely spaced and rotatable gear assemblies including a plurality of respective housings provided with diametrically opposed annular openings, the front wheel drive axle being medially situated between said gear assemblies and operably linked to said controller; a pair of medially disposed driven axles interfitted into selected ones of said housing openings; a pair of laterally disposed driven axles interfitted into other ones of said housing openings; a plurality of universal joints directly coupling said laterally disposed driven axles to the front wheel drive axle, said laterally disposed driven axles being detachable from the front wheel drive axle for allowing an operator to retrofit said gear assemblies onto a variety of front wheel drive axles associated with a variety of vehicles; wherein said laterally disposed driven axles are directly conjoined to an associated wheel hub of the vehicle respectively, said housings having an annular shape and being provided with an arcuate slot extending along a partial circumference of said housings respectively, wherein said housings further include a monolithically formed and outwardly protruding lever directly engaged with one said driven axles such that said laterally disposed driven axles rotate along said arcuate path based upon said user input signal; a plurality of spindles including a pair of monolithically formed flange portions extending parallel to each other and rotatably conjoined to said housings respectively, said flange portions being directly connected to top and bottom surfaces of said housings and further being registered parallel to the front wheel drive axle, said spindles further including an outwardly protruding lever directly linked to one said driven axles such that said one driven axle rotates along said arcuate path while said drive axle rotates along a rectilinear axis, said medially disposed driven axles being telescopically positioned through said spindles respectively; and a pair of arms directly conjoined to said flange portions, said arms being operably coupled to said controller in such a manner that said arms cause said spindles to articulate said housings based upon said user input signal; wherein said laterally disposed driven axles and said housings rotate in sync along said arcuate paths and thereby displace associated ones of the vehicle's wheels parallel to the longitudinal length of the front wheel drive axle. 13. The system of claim 11, wherein said rear wheel rotating means is operably connected to a rear driven axle of a front wheel drive vehicle, said rear wheel rotating means comprising: a pair of oppositely spaced and rotatable gear assemblies including a plurality of respective housings provided with diametrically opposed annular openings, the rear wheel drive axle being medially situated between said gear assemblies and operably linked to said controller; wherein said housings include a monolithically formed and outwardly protruding lever operable linked to the rear driven axle; a plurality of spindles including a pair of monolithically formed flange portions extending parallel to each other and rotatably conjoined to said housings respectively, said flange portions being directly connected to top and bottom surfaces of said housings and further being registered parallel to the rear driven axle of the front wheel drive vehicle; and a pair of arms directly conjoined to said flange portions, said arms being operably coupled to said controller in such a manner that said arms cause said spindles to articulate said housings based upon said user input signal; wherein said housings rotate in sync along said arcuate paths and thereby displace associated ones of the vehicles wheels parallel to the longitudinal length of the rear driven axle of the front wheel drive vehicle. 14. The system of claim 11, wherein said front wheel rotating means is operably connected to a front driven axle of a rear wheel drive vehicle, said front wheel rotating means comprising: a pair of oppositely spaced and rotatable gear assemblies including a plurality of respective housings provided with diametrically opposed annular openings, the front driven axle being medially situated between said gear assemblies and operably linked to said controller; said housings having an annular shape and including a monolithically formed and outwardly protruding lever operably linked to said controller; a plurality of spindles including a pair of monolithically formed flange portions extending parallel to each other and rotatably conjoined to said housings respectively, said flange portions being directly connected to top and bottom surfaces of said housings and further being registered parallel to the front driven axle, said spindles further including an outwardly protruding lever operably linked to said controller; and a pair of arms directly conjoined to said flange portions, said arms being operably coupled to said controller in such a manner that said arms cause said spindles to articulate said housings based upon said user input signal; wherein said housings rotate in sync along said arcuate paths and thereby displace associated ones of the vehicle's wheels parallel to the longitudinal length of the front driven axle of the rear wheel drive vehicle. 15. The system of claim 11, wherein said rear wheel rotating means is operably connected to a rear wheel drive axle, said rear wheel rotating means comprising: a pair of oppositely spaced and rotatable gear assemblies including a plurality of respective housings provided with diametrically opposed annular openings, the rear wheel drive axle being medially situated between said gear assemblies and operably linked to said controller; a pair of medially disposed driven axles interfitted into selected ones of said housing openings; a pair of laterally disposed driven axles interfitted into other ones of said housing openings; a plurality of universal joints directly coupling said laterally disposed driven axles to the rear wheel drive axle, said laterally disposed driven axles being detachable from the rear wheel drive axle for allowing an operator to retrofit said gear assemblies onto a variety of rear wheel drive axles associated with a variety of vehicles; wherein said laterally disposed driven axles are directly conjoined to an associated wheel hubs of the vehicle respectively, said housings having an annular shape and being provided with an arcuate slot extending along a partial circumference of said housings respectively, wherein said housings further include a monolithically formed and outwardly protruding lever directly engaged with one said driven axles such that said laterally disposed driven axles rotate along said arcuate path based upon said user input signal; a plurality of spindles including a pair of monolithically formed flange portions extending parallel to each other and rotatably conjoined to said housings respectively, said flange portions being directly connected to top and bottom surfaces of said housings and further being registered parallel to the rear wheel drive axle, said medially disposed driven axles being telescopically positioned through said spindles respectively; and a pair of arms directly conjoined to said flange portions, said arms being operably coupled to said controller in such a manner that said arms cause said spindles to articulate said housings based upon said user input signal; wherein said laterally disposed driven axles and said housings rotate in sync along said arcuate paths and thereby displace associated ones of the vehicle's wheels parallel to the longitudinal length of the rear wheel drive axle.