Patent attributes
The present provides a system which integrates motor vehicle turn signal operation into actuators located in the rim of a motor vehicle steering wheel. The actuators of the system of the present invention, one for controlling the right-hand turn signal and one for controlling the left-hand turn signal, are located in an arc segment of the steering wheel defined by the three o'clock and 12 o'clock positions for the right-hand actuator and the nine o'clock and 12 o'clock positions for the left-hand actuator. The actuators may operate in parallel with a conventional stalk switch and only turn on the respective turn signal lights when activated and subsequently depressed. The turn signal lights turn off when the actuators are released. The integrated turn signal system of the present invention further provides for turn signal operation which does not require a driver to remove his or her hands from the steering wheel.
