JP7435542B2 - handle - Google Patents

Description

The present invention includes a steering section that rotates around the steering center axis during steering, a boss section located on the center side of the steering section on the steering center axis side, and a spoke section that connects the steering section and the boss section. The present invention also relates to a handle configured by disposing an airbag device and functional parts such as a camera in a boss portion.

Conventionally, in handles in which an airbag device and functional parts such as a camera are disposed, the functional parts are held in a core part of the handle, or are embedded in a pad on the upper surface of a boss part. (For example, see Patent Document 1). There has also been a handle in which a functional component is held by a bendable and deformable holding member so as to open integrally with the door portion of the pad (for example, see Patent Document 2).

International Publication No. 2016/109227 JP 2020-63017 Publication

However, in a conventional airbag device, as described in Patent Document 1, in a configuration in which the functional component is held in the core part of the handle, the sense of unity between the functional component and the airbag device is hindered. The design of the boss portion of the handle is no longer good. Further, although Patent Document 1 provides an example in which a functional component is illustrated as being embedded in a pad, the specific attachment state of the functional component and the airbag device is unknown. A problem arises in arranging the airbag device and the functional components side by side so that the operation of the airbag device itself is not hindered. Further, as described in Patent Document 2, in a configuration in which the functional component moves integrally with the opening operation of the door portion of the airbag device, a configuration in which the airbag device and the functional component are installed side by side in the boss portion. Although the design is good, it is necessary to consider the strength of the member that holds the moving functional component, and it is difficult to easily mount the functional component on the handle.

The present invention solves the above-mentioned problems, and aims to provide a handle that has a good design and allows an airbag device and a functional component to be easily installed side by side in the boss portion of the handle. .

A first handle according to the present invention includes a steering section that rotates around a steering center axis during steering, a boss section located on the center side of the steering section on the side of the steering center axis, the steering section and the steering section. A handle comprising: a spoke portion that connects to a boss portion; and an airbag device and a functional component disposed in the boss portion;
The airbag device includes:
An airbag that inflates by letting inflation gas flow in when activated;
a pad that is disposed on the upper side of the boss portion, covers the folded airbag, and has a door portion that opens when pushed by the airbag when inflated;
an inflator that supplies inflation gas to the airbag;
a holder that holds the airbag, the pad, and the inflator and is connected to the main body of the handle;
Equipped with
The functional component is held and disposed in the holder in an area adjacent to the door that does not interfere with the door when it is opened, and as an area on the upper surface side of the boss that is visible in a plan view. It is characterized by

In the first handle according to the present invention, the functional component is attached to a holder connected to the main body of the handle, holding the airbag, the pad, and the inflator, which are the main components of the airbag device. It has a structure that allows it to be held easily and stably in the boss portion. In addition, the functional parts are held in a holder, which is a component of the airbag device itself, in an area that does not interfere with the door when it opens and can be seen in a plan view. It is possible to create a sense of unity with the bag device, improve the design, and arrange it, and also because it can be arranged without interfering with the door part of the pad when the airbag is inflated. The airbag device can be installed without any trouble in operating the airbag device.

Therefore, in the first handle according to the present invention, the airbag device and the functional parts are easily attached to the boss portion of the handle, without causing any hindrance to the operation of the airbag device, and with a good design. and can be installed in parallel.

A second handle according to the present invention includes a steering section that rotates around the steering center axis during steering, a boss section located on the center side of the steering section on the side of the steering center axis, and the steering section and the steering section. A handle comprising: a spoke portion that connects to a boss portion; and an airbag device and a functional component disposed in the boss portion;
The airbag device includes:
An airbag that inflates by letting inflation gas flow in when activated;
a pad that is disposed on the upper side of the boss portion, covers the folded airbag, and has a door portion that opens when pushed by the airbag when inflated;
an inflator that supplies inflation gas to the airbag;
a holder that holds the airbag, the pad, and the inflator and is connected to the main body of the handle;
Equipped with
The pad is
A bag cover part that covers the upper part of the folded airbag and has the door part disposed thereon, and an area that does not interfere with the door part when opened, and whose upper surface side is the upper surface side of the bag cover part. a ceiling wall portion including a component placement portion arranged so as to be continuous with a design surface and for arranging the functional component;
a side wall portion extending downward from the lower surface of the ceiling wall portion and held by the holder;
Equipped with
It is characterized in that the functional component is held and disposed by the pad or the holder.

In the second handle according to the present invention, the functional component is arranged in the component arrangement part in the ceiling wall part of the pad, and the component arrangement part is arranged in the design on the upper surface side of the bag cover part in which the door part of the pad is arranged. Since it is arranged so as to be continuous with the surface, functional parts can be placed on the ceiling wall of the pad, which creates a sense of unity between the bag cover part and the parts placement part, with a good design. Become. Furthermore, the functional component is held directly or indirectly with a pad interposed in the holder, which is a component of the airbag device itself, in an area that does not interfere with the door when it is opened. Therefore, it can be easily and stably installed on the boss part, and when the airbag is inflated, it can be installed without interfering with the door part of the pad, so it does not interfere with the operation of the airbag device. There is no.

Therefore, even in the second handle according to the present invention, the airbag device and the functional parts can be easily attached to the boss portion of the handle, without causing any hindrance to the operation of the airbag device, and with a good design. and can be installed in parallel.

As the functional component, a camera capable of photographing the driver can be exemplified.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of a handle according to a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is an enlarged plan view of the airbag device at the boss portion of the handle according to the first embodiment. 3 is a schematic vertical sectional view of the airbag device of the first embodiment, corresponding to the section III-III in FIG. 2. FIG. 4 is a schematic enlarged cross-sectional view of the airbag device of the first embodiment, showing the vicinity of the IV portion of FIG. 3. FIG. 3 is a schematic vertical cross-sectional view of the airbag device for the handle according to the first embodiment, and corresponds to the section VV in FIG. 2. FIG. FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view of the handle airbag device of the first embodiment as seen from the bottom side. FIG. 2 is a schematic exploded perspective view of the airbag device and functional components in the first embodiment as seen from the top side. FIG. 2 is a schematic exploded perspective view of the airbag device and functional components in the first embodiment, viewed from the bottom side. FIG. 3 is a bottom view of the pad of the first embodiment. It is a top view of the handle of 2nd Embodiment. FIG. 7 is an enlarged plan view of a handle airbag device according to a second embodiment. 12 is a schematic longitudinal sectional view of the airbag device of the second embodiment, corresponding to the section XII-XII in FIG. 11. FIG.

Hereinafter, the first embodiment of the present invention will be described based on the drawings. The airbag device 20 of the first embodiment and the camera 60 as a functional component are designed to be used by a driver in a vehicle as shown in FIGS. 1 to 3. It is mounted on the steering wheel W. The handle W includes a substantially annular steering portion R that rotates around the steering center axis CO during steering, a boss portion B located at the center of the steering portion R on the side of the steering center axis CO, and a steering portion R and the boss. The airbag device 20 and the boss portion B are provided with three spoke portions S connecting the portion B, and an airbag device 20 and a camera 60 as a functional component are disposed on the boss portion B.

Note that the vertical, horizontal, and longitudinal directions in this specification are based on the state in which the steering wheel W is connected to the vehicle's steering shaft SS (see FIG. 3) with a nut N and the vehicle is steered in a straight line. The direction corresponds to the vertical direction along the axial direction of the steering shaft SS, the left-right direction corresponds to the left-right direction of the vehicle in the direction perpendicular to the axis of the steering shaft SS, and the longitudinal direction corresponds to the direction perpendicular to the axis of the steering shaft SS. This corresponds to the longitudinal direction of the vehicle (see Fig. 1).

The main body (handle main body) 1 of the handle W includes a core bar 2 disposed to interconnect the steering section R, boss section B, and spoke sections S, and the steering section R and spokes near the steering section R. A covering layer 7 made of urethane or the like covers the part of the core bar 2 of the part S. Furthermore, a bezel 13 for decoration is arranged on the upper surface side of each spoke part S from the outer peripheral edge of the boss part B.

The core metal 2 includes a ring core metal part 3 arranged in the steering part R, a boss core metal part 4 arranged in the boss part B and connected to the steering shaft SS, and a ring core part arranged in each spoke part S. It is composed of a spoke core metal part 5 that connects the metal part 3 and the boss core metal part 4. In the case of the embodiment, the spoke core metal parts 5 are arranged in each of the three spoke parts S on the left, right, and rear sides, and one each is arranged in the left and right spoke parts S on the front side. , Two spokes S branching to the left and right are disposed on the rear spoke portion S.

A fixing part 9 for fixing an assembly pin 58 of each horn switch body 57, which will be described later, of the airbag device 20 is provided on the periphery of the boss core part 4 of the core bar 2 (FIG. 1, (See 3). The fixing part 9 includes a locking hole 10 penetrating in a tapered shape that narrows downward, and a locking pin 11 that is disposed on the lower surface side of the boss core metal part 4 and locks the tip of the assembly pin 58. It is configured with the following settings. The locking pin 11 is made of a spring material that can be bent along the lower surface of the boss core metal part 4 so that the locking pin 11 can be restored.

Further, the handle body 1 is configured by disposing a lower cover (not shown) on the lower surface side of the boss portion B.

As shown in FIGS. 1 to 8, the airbag device 20 includes an airbag 32 that is inflated by introducing inflation gas, an inflator 26 that supplies the inflation gas to the airbag 32, and a cover that covers the folded airbag 32. A pad 37 made of synthetic resin is arranged on the upper surface side of the boss part B, a holder 21 made of sheet metal that holds the airbag 32, the inflator 26, and the pad 37, and a retainer 28. There is.

The airbag 32 has a fully inflated shape of a thick, generally circular disk that approximates a spherical shape, and includes an inflow opening 33 that is circularly opened to allow inflation gas to flow into the lower side, and the peripheral edge of the inflow opening 33 34 is formed with four through holes 34a through which the bolts 28b of the retainer 28 pass.

The inflator 26 includes a cylindrical main body 26a having a plurality of gas discharge ports 26b at the top for discharging inflation gas, and a square annular flange 26c protruding from the outer peripheral surface of the main body 26a. There is. A through hole 26d through which a bolt 28b of the retainer 28 passes is formed in the flange portion 26c.

The retainer 28 includes a rectangular ring-shaped main body 28a made of sheet metal, and bolts 28b projecting downward are provided at the four corners. The retainer 28 is arranged around the periphery 34 of the inflow opening 33 in the airbag 32, and each bolt 28b is inserted into a through hole 34a of the airbag 32, a through hole 22b of the holder 21, and a through hole of the flange portion 26c of the inflator 26. The airbag 32 and the inflator 26 are attached to the holder 21 by sequentially passing through the bolts 26d and tightening nuts 29 to each bolt 28b.

As shown in FIGS. 2 to 8, the holder 21 is made of a metal plate and includes a bottom wall portion 22, a front edge of the outer peripheral edge of the bottom wall portion 22, and three side wall portions 23 extending upward from diagonally rearward on the left and right sides. (F, L, R). The bottom wall portion 22 has a circular insertion hole 22a in the center thereof into which the main body portion 26a of the inflator 26 can be inserted from below, and a through hole 22a on the periphery of the insertion hole 22a to allow the bolt 28b described above to pass therethrough. A hole 22b is provided. Further, near the outer peripheral edge of the bottom wall portion 22, locking holes 22c for attaching and fixing the pads 37 are provided at four locations. Each locking hole 22c is a portion that locks a locking leg portion 53 of the pad 37, which will be described later. A tongue piece 22e is provided to strengthen the locking of the locking leg 53 by bending it upward so as to enter the locking hole 22c and pressing the locking leg 53 toward the locking edge 22d. (See Figure 5).

Further, a plurality of (three in the embodiment) horn switch bodies 57 are attached to each assembly seat 22f of the bottom wall portion 22, and the assembly pins 58 of these horn switch bodies 57 are used to attach the horn switch bodies 57. , an airbag device 20 is attached and fixed to the boss core metal part 4 of the handle body 1.

The horn switch body 57 has a movable contact and a fixed contact (not shown in the figure) arranged therein, and when the airbag device 20 is pushed down, the movable contact contacts the fixed contact and the horn is turned on. used to operate.

Further, the side wall portions 23 (F, L, R) are disposed on the outer edge side of the locking holes 22c, and the vicinity of the locking leg portions 53 that are locked in the respective locking holes 22c in the pad 37 are connected to the airbag. 32 is configured so that it can be supported when it expands outward.

The front side wall 23F constitutes a holding piece 24 that holds the imaging main body 61 of the camera 60 as a functional component, and extends forward at the upper end to hold the imaging main body 61. A holding seat 24a is provided. The holding seat 24a has a mounting hole 24b, which is disposed below a component arrangement section 44 (to be described later) of the pad 37, through which a bolt 67 for fixing the imaging main body part 61 is inserted, and a positioning protrusion 61a of the imaging main body part 61. A positioning hole 24c into which is fitted.

As shown in FIGS. 1 to 9, the pad 37 is made of synthetic resin such as an olefin thermoplastic elastomer and is disposed on the upper surface side of the boss B near the center of the handle W. The pad 37 includes a substantially disk-shaped ceiling wall portion 38 and a substantially cylindrical side wall portion 50 extending downward from the lower surface side of the ceiling wall portion 38 . The ceiling wall part 38 constitutes the design surface 37a on the upper surface side of the pad 37, and includes a substantially circular plane part 38a and an edge part 38b located at the outer periphery of the plane part 38a and gently curved downward. It has a shape that allows for

Furthermore, as an area of the ceiling wall part 38, a bag cover part 39 that covers the upper part of the folded airbag 32 and has a door part 40 (L, R) arranged therein, and a bag cover part 39 that interferes with the door part 40 when opened. a component placement section 44 in which a camera 60 as a functional component is disposed so that the top surface 44a side is connected to the rear part 37ab of the design surface 37a on the top surface 39a side of the bag cover part 39; It is configured with. The component arrangement section 44 is arranged on the front edge side of the ceiling wall section 38, has an arcuate area in the center of the front edge side of the ceiling wall section 38, and has an arrangement hole penetrating vertically so as to attach the cover 65 of the camera 60. 45 are installed. The upper surfaces 39a and 44a of the bag cover section 39 and the component placement section 44 constitute a design surface 37a of the pad 37 that is continuous. In other words, the upper surface 39a of the bag cover part 39 constitutes the rear part 37ab of the design surface 37a, and the upper surface 44a of the component arrangement part 44 constitutes the front part 37aa of the design surface 37a, and the rear part 37ab and the front The portion 37aa forms a continuous design surface 37a on the ceiling wall portion 38 of the pad 37 with a sense of unity.

The cover 65 is made of polycarbonate or the like and has a filter function that blocks visible light and transmits infrared rays, and furthermore, the upper surface 65a side is connected to the periphery of the arrangement hole 45 of the component arrangement section 44. They are configured to be continuous, and together with the periphery of the arrangement hole 45, constitute a front portion 37aa of the designed surface 37a of the pad 37 on the upper surface 44a side of the component placement portion 44.

The side wall portion 50 is disposed so as to surround the area of the bag cover portion 39 on the lower surface side of the ceiling wall portion 38, and is a generally rectangular plate-shaped front wall extending downward along the approximately left-right direction on the front side. 51 and a substantially cylindrical rear wall portion 52 extending downward from the lower surface of the ceiling wall portion 38 so as to connect both left and right edges of the front wall portion 51 in a substantially annular shape. There is. The area in front of the front wall part 51 in the ceiling wall part 38 serves as a component placement part 44 .

The aforementioned locking legs 53 are disposed near both left and right edges of the lower end of the front wall portion 51 and near both left and right edges of the lower end of the rear wall portion 52. Each locking leg 53 is configured by disposing a locking head 53b projecting outward at the lower end of a neck 53a extending downward from the side wall 50. It will be locked to the locking edge 22d in the locking hole 22c of the holder 21.

The door portions 40 (L, R) of the bag cover portion 39 in the ceiling wall portion 38 are arranged so as to be pushed by the inflating airbag 32 and open to the left and right sides like a double door. The portions 40L and 40R are provided with a thin-walled rupture portion 42 that is easily ruptured around the periphery. As shown in FIG. 9, the planned rupture portion 42 includes a vertical line portion 42a extending rearward from near the center in the left-right direction on the inner edge side of the front wall portion 51, and a vertical line portion 42a extending rearward from the front end 42aa of the vertical line portion 42a to the inner edge of the front wall portion 51. and a front horizontal line portion 42b extending on both left and right sides of the inner edge of the front side of the rear wall portion 52, and a rear horizontal line portion 42c extending from the rear end 42ab of the vertical line portion 42a to both left and right sides of the inner edge of the rear side of the rear wall portion 52. It is configured with the following. Further, the inner edge sides of the rear wall portion 52 at the left and right portions between the front horizontal line portion 42b and the rear horizontal line portion 42c serve as hinge portions 41L and 41R when the left and right door portions 40L and 4R are opened, respectively. Since the door parts 40L and 40R open diagonally backward to the left and right with the hinge parts 41L and 41R as rotation centers (see the two-dot chain line in FIG. 1), the door parts 40L and 40R can be opened without interfering with the component placement part 44. can.

A mounting hole 45 is provided in the component arrangement section 44 of the ceiling wall section 38 for installing a cover 65 that cuts visible light and transmits infrared rays. An image pickup main body 61 including a lens portion 62 is installed below the cover 65 .

The camera 60 as a functional component uses infrared rays to photograph the vicinity of the driver's eyes, and determines whether the driver is in a drivable state where the driver can smoothly steer the steering wheel W, or is in a drivable state due to a state such as falling asleep. The photographic data is output to a determining means. The camera 60 includes a cover 65 that is assembled into the arrangement hole 45 of the component arrangement section 44, and an imaging main body section 61 that includes a lens section 62 below the cover 65 and an infrared LED 63 that emits infrared light. The imaging main body 61 includes a mounting hole 64 through which a bolt 67 for assembling the imaging main body 61 to the holding seat 24a of the holder 21 is inserted, and a positioning protrusion 61a that fits into the positioning hole 24c of the holding seat 24a. is installed. Therefore, the imaging main body part 61 of the camera 60 is arranged on the upper surface of the holding seat 24a of the holder 21, the positioning protrusion 61a is fitted into the positioning hole 24c, and the bolt 67 is inserted between the mounting hole 64 and the mounting hole of the holding seat 24a. 24b, and by tightening the nut 68 to the bolt 67, it is held on the holding seat 24a of the holder 21.

In the airbag device 20 of the first embodiment, when assembled, the main body 28a of the retainer 28 is inserted into the airbag 32, and each bolt 28b is projected outside the airbag 32 using the through hole 34a. Then, fold the airbag 32.

Further, the horn switch body 57 is attached to the holder 21 using each assembly seat 22f, and the positioning protrusion 61a is fitted into the positioning hole 24c, and the bolt 67 is fitted to the holding seat 24a of the holding piece 24. and nuts 68 to attach the imaging main body 61 of the camera 60. Then, the bolt 28b protruding from the lower surface side of the folded airbag 32 is passed through the through hole 22b of the holder 21, and the main body 26a of the inflator 26 is inserted from below into the insertion hole 22a of the holder 21. , each bolt 28b is passed through each through hole 26d of the flange portion 26c of the inflator 26, and a nut 29 is fastened to each bolt 28b to fix the airbag 32 and the inflator 26 to the holder 21.

Thereafter, each locking leg 53 of the pad 37 with the cover 65 already assembled is inserted into each locking hole 22c of the holder 21, and each tongue piece 22e is pressed against the inner peripheral surface of the locking leg 53. The camera 60 can be held by attaching and fixing the pad 37 to the holder 21 so that the locking head 53b of each locking leg 53 is locked to the locking edge 22d of each locking hole 22c. Airbag device 20 can be assembled.

Thereafter, the assembly pins 58 of each horn switch body 57 of the airbag device 20 are inserted and locked into the locking holes 10 of each fixing part 9 of the handle body 1 which has already been fastened to the steering shaft SS, and the air By attaching the bag device 20 to the handle body 1, the air bag device 20 with the camera 60 arranged side by side can be mounted on the vehicle together with the handle W.

Note that lead wires (not shown) for outputting photographic data and inputting power extending from the camera 60 are connected to predetermined connectors extending from the handle body 1, along with lead wires (not shown) for inputting operating signals of the inflator 26.

In the handle W of the first embodiment mounted on a vehicle, in the state before the airbag device 20 is activated, the imaging main body part 61 of the camera 60 arranged in the component arrangement part 44 of the ceiling wall part 38 of the pad 37 is The vicinity of the driver's eyes is photographed and the photographed data is output to a predetermined determination means. Note that the camera 60 for photographing the driver is mounted on the upper surface side of the boss portion B of the steering wheel W, and can photograph the driver without being obstructed by the spoke portions S of the steering wheel W during steering. It is suitable for photographing drivers.

When the airbag device 20 is activated, the inflator 26 discharges inflation gas from the gas discharge port 26b, so the airbag 32 is inflated, and each door section of the bag cover section 39 on the ceiling wall section 38 of the pad 37 is inflated. 40L, 40R, each door part 40L, 40R breaks the surrounding planned breakage part 42, and opens the hinge parts 41L, 41R as shown by the two-dot chain line in FIG. 1 and B in FIG. The bag cover part 39 of the ceiling wall part 38 of the pad 37 opens the protruding opening 47 of the air bag 32 when it is pushed open as the center of rotation. Therefore, the inflating airbag 32 protrudes from the protrusion opening 47, expands and inflates to cover the steering portion R, and completes the inflation while protecting the driver.

As described above, in the handle W of the first embodiment, the camera 60 as a functional component holds the air bag 32, the pad 37, and the inflator 26, which are the main components of the air bag device 20, and It is configured to be held by a holder 21 connected to 1, and can be easily and stably disposed on the boss portion B. Further, the camera 60 as a functional component is held in a holder 21, which is a component of the airbag device 20 itself, in an area that does not interfere with the door parts 40L and 40R when opened and can be seen in a plan view. , since it is arranged, it is possible to create a sense of unity with the airbag device 20 and improve the design, and when the airbag 32 is inflated, the door portion 40L of the pad 37 , 40R, it can be installed without interfering with the operation of the airbag device 20.

Therefore, in the handle W of the first embodiment, the airbag device 20 can be easily attached to the boss portion B of the handle W without causing any hindrance to the operation of the airbag device 20, while improving the design. A camera 60 as a functional component can be installed in parallel.

Note that the camera 60 of the first embodiment is held in the holder 21 in such a way that the imaging main body part 61 of the camera 60 is directly attached and held to the holding seat 24a of the holding piece part 24 of the holder 21, and the camera 60 is held by the holding seat 24a of the holding piece part 24 of the holder 21. The cover 65 of 60 is indirectly held on the bottom wall 22 of the holder 21 with the component placement portion 44 of the pad 37 and the side wall 50 interposed therebetween. That is, in the camera 60 of the first embodiment, the imaging main body part 61 is directly held by the holder 21 using the holding seat 24a, and the cover 65 is held by the component placement part 44 of the pad 37. Although the structure is such that the cover 65 is indirectly held by the holder 21 , the cover 65 is connected to the imaging main body 61 and protrudes from the installation hole 45 . It is also possible to have a structure in which it is directly held.

In addition, in the handle W of the first embodiment, the pad 37 covers the upper part of the folded airbag 32 and includes a bag cover part 39 in which the door parts 40L and 40R are arranged, and the door part 40L and the door part 40L when opened. 40R, the camera 60 as a functional component (in detail, the cover 65 ), a ceiling wall section 38 having a component placement section 44 for arranging a camera 60 ( An imaging main body section 61) is held and disposed in the holder 21.

That is, in this handle W, the camera 60 as a functional component is arranged in the component arrangement part 44 of the ceiling wall part 38 of the pad 37, and the upper surface 44a of the component arrangement part 44 is located on the upper surface 65a of the cover 65 as well as the upper surface 65a of the cover 65. The camera 60 is arranged as the front part 37aa of the design surface 37a so as to be continuous with the rear part 37ab of the design surface 37a on the top surface 39a side of the bag cover part 39 on which the door parts 40L and 40R are arranged. The bag cover part 39 and the component arrangement part 44 can be arranged in the ceiling wall part 38 of the pad 37 with a sense of unity, with good design. Further, the camera 60 is mounted directly or indirectly to the holder 21, which is a component of the airbag device 20 itself, in an area that does not interfere with the door portions 40L and 40R when opened, or indirectly through a pad 37. Since the pad 37 is held in place, it can be easily and stably disposed on the boss portion B, and when the airbag 32 is inflated, it can be disposed without interfering with the door portions 40L and 40R of the pad 37. Therefore, there is no problem in the operation of the airbag device 20.

Therefore, from the viewpoint of the design surface 37a, the handle W of the first embodiment has a good design without causing any hindrance to the operation of the airbag device 20, and the boss of the handle W can be easily used. In part B, an airbag device and functional parts can be installed side by side.

In the camera 60 as a functional component of the first embodiment, the imaging main body 61 is directly held by the holding piece 24 of the holder 21, and the cover 65 is held with the pad 37 interposed (in detail, It is indirectly held in the holder 21 by interposing the ceiling wall part 38 and the side wall part 50 at the periphery of the arrangement hole 45 of the arrangement part 44, but the second embodiment shown in FIGS. The imaging main body 61 of the camera 60 may be held by the pad 37A using a bracket 70 attached to the front wall 51 of the side wall 50A of the pad 37A like the handle WA.

The handle WA of the second embodiment includes a handle body 1 similar to the first embodiment, a camera 60 as a functional component, and an airbag device 20A that is slightly different from the first embodiment. .

In the airbag device 20A, the structure of the holder 21A and the pad 37A is partially different from the structure of the first embodiment. In the holder 21A, the holding piece 24 of the holder 21 of the first embodiment is not provided, and in the pad 37A, a mounting piece for fixing the mounting piece 72 of the bracket 70 is provided on the front wall 51A of the side wall 50A. A hole 55 is provided.

The bracket 70 is made of sheet metal and has an L-shape including a mounting piece 72 extending in the vertical direction and a holding seat 71 extending forward at the upper end of the mounting piece 72. A mounting hole 72a through which a bolt 74 is inserted is formed together with the mounting hole 55 of the front wall portion 51A. A nut 75 is fastened to the bolt 74, and the mounting piece 72 of the bracket 70 is attached to the front wall 51A of the side wall 50A of the pad 37A. Similar to the holding seat 24a of the holding piece part 24 of the first embodiment, the holding seat 71 has a positioning hole (not shown) into which the positioning protrusion of the imaging main body part 61 is fitted, and a nut 68 to hold the camera 60. A mounting hole 71a is formed through which a bolt 67 for fixing the imaging main body part 61 with a bolt 67 is passed.

In the handle WA of the second embodiment, as a holding structure for the camera 60, the cover 65 of the camera 60 is fixed to the periphery of the arrangement hole 45 of the component arrangement portion 44 of the pad 37A, as in the first embodiment, and The imaging main body part 61 equipped with the lens part 62 and the infrared LED 63 in 60 is held by the holding seat 71 of the bracket 70 attached to the front wall part 51A of the pad 37A, and both are indirectly , the camera 60 is configured to be held by the holder 21A.

Note that, similarly to the first embodiment, the pad 37A itself is configured to be held by the holder 21A using a locking leg (not shown) provided at the lower end of the side wall 50A.

This second embodiment also provides the same functions and effects as those of the first embodiment.

Further, in each embodiment, the camera 60 is illustrated as a functional component, but a display device using an LED or the like may also be used.

1... Handle body, 20, 20A... Airbag device, 21, 21A... Holder, 24... Holding piece, 24a... Holding seat, 26... Inflator, 32... Airbag, 37, 37A... Pad, 37a... Design surface, 37aa...Front part, 37ab...Rear part, 38...Ceiling wall part, 39...Bag cover part, 39a...Top surface, 40 (L, R)...Door part, 44...Component placement part, 44a...Top surface, 45...Easing hole , 50, 50A...Side wall part, 51...Front wall part, 55...Mounting hole, 60...(Functional parts) Camera, 61...Imaging body part, 62...Lens part, 63...Infrared LED, 65...Cover, 65a...Top surface , 70... Bracket, 71... Holding seat, 72... Mounting piece, 72a... Mounting hole,
R... Steering section, B... Boss section, S... Spoke section, W, WA... Handle.

Claims (3)

A steering section that rotates around a steering center axis during steering, a boss section located on the center side of the steering section on the side of the steering center axis, and a spoke section that connects the steering section and the boss section. A handle comprising an airbag device and a functional component disposed in the boss portion,
The airbag device includes:
An airbag that inflates by letting inflation gas flow in when activated;
a pad that is disposed on the upper side of the boss portion, covers the folded airbag, and has a door portion that opens when pushed by the airbag when inflated;
an inflator that supplies inflation gas to the airbag;
a holder that holds the airbag, the pad, and the inflator and is connected to the main body of the handle;
Equipped with
The functional component is held and disposed in the holder in an area adjacent to the door that does not interfere with the door when it is opened, and as an area on the upper surface side of the boss that is visible in a plan view. A handle that is characterized by: The pad is
A bag cover part that covers the upper part of the folded airbag and has the door part disposed thereon, and an area that does not interfere with the door part when opened, and whose upper surface side is the upper surface side of the bag cover part. a ceiling wall portion including a component placement portion arranged so as to be continuous with a design surface and for arranging the functional component;
a side wall portion extending downward from the lower surface of the ceiling wall portion and held by the holder;
A handle according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises:. 3. The steering wheel according to claim 1, wherein the functional component includes a camera capable of photographing the driver.

Images