JPS5826673A - Steering wheel - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To reduce the coat of a steering wheel without deteriorating its quality and performance, by providing engaging portions which hold a horn cover so that the engaging portions keep the horn cover from moving in such a direction as to go off the wheel but do not hinder the sideward movement of the horn cover under an abnormal shock. CONSTITUTION:Engaging portions 4 are provided between the body 2 of a steering wheel and the body 32 of a horn cover 3 so that the engaging portions are placed near the grasped parts of the wheel which are located near the ends of the horn cover. In each engaging portion 4, the outside wall 35a of the bottom seat 35 of a horn button 31 is extended downwards so that an engaging jut 41 is formed and an engaging hole 42 is opened in the jut. An engaging jut 43 is formed on the wheel body 42 in a position corresponding to that of the former engaging jut 41. A hook 44 is provided on the tip of the engaging jut 43 and fitted in the engaging hole 42. A strut 45 for the engaging jut 43 is provided with a notch 46 which reduces the strength of the strut so that it is broken when the horn cover 3 receives an abnormal sideward shock.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a steering wheel that reduces cost without sacrificing safety.

As shown in Figure 1, the steering wheel (1) is
A spoke part (2) extends toward the center of the wheel from an annular grip part Q1) that constitutes the wheel body (2), and a horn cover (3) is attached to the spoke part (C). (Company) has various shapes, and the horn cover (3) also has a shape that follows them. For example, in the case shown in Fig. 1(a), the spoke part @ and the horn cover (3) are in the shape of a single letter, in the case shown in Fig. 1(b), the spoke part @ and the horn cover (3) are in the shape of an inverted ■ character, and in the case shown in Fig. 1(C). It has a single character shape and there are many other types including oshi. A horn button C11l is located in a part of the horn cover (3), depending on the shape of the spoke part, but is usually located at a location close to the connection part +211 and easy to operate.

In a conventional steering wheel (1), for example, as shown in Fig. 2, the wheel body (2) has one end of the spoke core material (material) attached to a nigiri core material (c) made of a solid iron rod or pipe. It is welded and extends to the center of the wheel, where the other end is welded to the hub core (c), and it is made of resin material such as polypropylene or urethane with the spoke part core material (c) as the core. A grip part Q1) and a spoke part Q1 are molded. Spoke part c! A horn cover (3) is attached to cover the surface of the horn cover (3).

In the horn cover (3), a cover body C3 made of AB8 resin, polyglopylene resin, etc. is attached to the hub core (C24) of the spoke core material C24 via bosses cla and ea that are integrally bored in the cover body G3. 5) on the side closest to the screw (3)
3 → It is stopped. The surface of the cover body c32 is coated with a surface covering material (2) made of a soft material such as polyurethane or polyvinyl chloride. There is a button seat (c) in which the horn button Gυ is housed on the three outer parts of the cover body c from the boss so (c), and the horn button e
It is passed between the boss 2, which is integrally bored at t+, and the boss 0, which is integrally bored at the cover body C (3), and the plate spring (39ahh) is passed between the boss 2, which is integrally bored at ), (to)
A horn button 01) is supported. The screw (to) that is screwed onto the boss (to) of the horn button OD forms a contact point, and the leaf spring-like contact terminal is tightened together with the boss (to) to the core material of the spoke part. Facing (a), screw 0
1 and a contact terminal (4) constitute a horn switch.

In such a conventional example, the surface covering material that covers the three surfaces of the cover body is a soft material that forms the outer surface and is directly exposed to the outside air and sunlight, so it is not weather resistant. The material had to be made with consideration to its properties, etc., and was expensive. However, if the surface covering material is simply removed and the cover body 02 is exposed to direct sunlight, the bosses that fix the cover body 02 will become attached to the hub core (c), as in the conventional example shown in the figure. If the horn cover (3) is located close to the
) may wobble or the appearance may deteriorate. However, if the outer end of the cover body near the G spring part (c) is strongly fixed to the wheel body (2), If the core material of the spoke part (24) is deformed and the attachment part to the horn cover (3) is destroyed, the horn cover (3) is also destroyed and cracks occur in the cover body when the core material (24) of the spoke part is deformed and the horn cover (3) is also destroyed. There was a risk that a sharp piece like a knife could easily be formed, which could injure the driver and passengers.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problem, and it is necessary to prevent movement of the horn cover in the peeling direction between the cover body and the wheel body near the outer end of the horn cover. By locking the horn cover with a retaining part that does not prevent lateral movement when the horn cover receives an abnormal impact, we have created a steering wheel that reduces costs without sacrificing durability or safety. This is what we provide.

The present invention will be explained below based on illustrated embodiments.

Note that the same parts as in the conventional example are given the same reference numerals.

FIG. 3 is a longitudinal section of a steering wheel (1) showing one embodiment of the present invention.

The configuration of the wheel body (2) is similar to that of the conventional example.

The surface covering material is removed from the horn cover (3), and an engaging portion (4) is formed between the cover body and the wheel body (2).
is provided, and the other configurations are the same as the conventional example. The retaining portion (4) is provided at a position near the grip portion near the outer end of the horn cover (3).

The retaining part (4) extends downwardly the outer wall (35a) of the button seat (to) of the horn button Gυ, and forms there a retaining piece (41) on the horn cover (3) side. Holding piece (41
) is provided with an engagement hole (4 holes).On the other hand, at a corresponding position on the wheel body (2), a retaining piece (4 holes) is provided protruding from the wheel body (2) side. As shown in Fig. 4, the retaining piece (43) has a hook (44) formed at its tip, and is attached to the side of the horn cover (3) so as to stop the horn cover (3) from moving in the peeling direction. It engages with the retaining hole (42) drilled in the retaining piece (4]).Then, the wheel body (
2) side retaining piece (43 pillars (four are pillars (4! 9)
There is a cutout ■ that makes it vulnerable.

In the steering wheel (1) having the above configuration, even if a load is applied to the cover main body 02 in the direction of peeling off due to heat, it will not move because it is locked to the hooks (4 chrysanthemums) in the retaining portion (4). Also, use normal force to remove the horn cover (3).
Even if you try to move it horizontally, it won't move.

It is fixed at
When the cover (3) is subjected to an abnormal impact that generates a strong force that moves it laterally, horizontally in Figure 3, the boss (
c), (33 are bent, and the horn cover (3) tries to move laterally. At this time, the holding part (4) on one side holds the holding hole (c) apart from the hook (b). There is no resistance in the direction of the misalignment, but on the other side, the hook (44) is strongly pushed by the retaining piece αD on the horn cover (3) side, and when the post (49) crosses the bending angle, the post ( Four have cut throats and are vulnerable, so they will be destroyed.Therefore, the horn cover (
3) The lateral movement is hindered.

5 to 7 show various embodiments, and FIG. 5 shows a notch (4?) on the side of the engagement hole (c) of the engagement piece (4) on the horn cover (3) side. (47) is engraved to make it weaker, Figure 6 shows the engagement hole (thickness (1) on the side of the 4th edge).
(1) is made thinner and more brittle, as shown in Fig. 7. The support (c) of the retaining piece (41) is bent into a crank shape, and there are through-holes (41, (41. It is a series of...

Thus, any retaining piece may be weakened, and any other suitable structure may be used.

Figure 8 shows a structure that does not impede the lateral movement of the horn cover (3) without making the retaining piece fragile. Engagement hole of 1υ of engagement piece (increase the width of engagement piece (41), (4
8(b) while increasing the relative movement amount of 3.
As shown in K, when the hook (44) is contacted from behind, the retaining piece (43) is bent and comes off from one retaining hole.

FIG. 9 shows still another embodiment, in which the wheel body (2
) side hook (4) with the direction reversed, so that when the horn pad (3) moves in the direction of arrow A in the figure, it does not hinder the movement at all.

Fig. 10 shows still another embodiment, in which a leaf spring supporting a horn spring (horn button ch1) is attached from the outer end of the cover body (3), and the end of the leaf spring is bent. The retaining piece @D on the side of the horn cover (3) is formed by forming the retaining piece @D on the side of the horn cover (3), and since it is sufficient to mold the plate spring (toward), there is an advantage that the structure is simple and the cost is further reduced.

According to the steering wheel according to the present invention, even if the surface covering material of the horn cover is abolished, the horn cover does not undergo thermal deformation and safety from impact is ensured. cost) can be significantly reduced.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

Fig. 1 is a front view of various steering wheels, Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of a conventional example, Figs. 3 and 4 show an embodiment of the present invention, Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view, and Fig. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view. is a perspective view of a retaining piece, FIGS. 4 to 7 are perspective views of a retaining piece in various embodiments, FIG. 8 is a partial cross-sectional view of a retaining part in other embodiments, and FIGS. 9 and 10 are Each of the figures is a partial cross-sectional view of yet another embodiment. (1) Steering wheel (2) Wheel body (3), horn cover (4) Retaining part (41), (43... Engagement piece No. 45! I Fig. 5 1) ( b) 9th m 70th [

Claims (2)

[Claims] (1) In a steering wheel equipped with a horn cover that does not have a surface covering material, there is a space between the cover body of the horn cover and the wheel body near the outer end of the horn cover in the direction in which the horn cover is peeled off. A steering wheel characterized by being provided with a retaining portion that locks movement. (2) The steering wheel according to claim 1, wherein the retaining portion is formed by engaging a portion of the horn spring with a retaining piece protruding from the wheel body.