Steering wheel

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10167017-B2
Application number	US-201715603047-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 23, 2017
Priority date	May 25, 2016
Publication date	Jan 1, 2019
Grant date	Jan 1, 2019

Abstract

A steering wheel includes a steering hub portion, a wheel portion and a spoke portion. The spoke portion extends from the steering hub portion and is connected with the wheel portion. The wheel portion includes a core metal and a cover layer. The core metal circles around the steering wheel. The cover layer covers the core metal. A vibrator housing portion is provided at a part in a circling direction of the core metal. The core metal includes a U-shaped cross section in the vibrator housing portion in a radial direction of the wheel portion. A partition wall is provided inside of the core metal to divide and form the vibrator housing portion. A case is attached to the core metal to cover the vibrator housing portion. The vibrator is disposed in the vibrator housing portion between the core metal and the case. The vibrator is attached to the case.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A steering wheel comprising:
a steering hub portion;
a wheel portion; and
a spoke portion that extends from the steering hub portion and that is connected with the wheel portion,
wherein the wheel portion includes:
a core metal which circles around the steering wheel; and
a cover layer which covers the core metal,

a vibrator housing portion is provided at a part in a circling direction of the core metal,
the core metal includes a U-shaped cross section in the vibrator housing portion in a radial direction of the wheel portion,
a partition wall is provided inside of the core metal to divide and form the vibrator housing portion,
a case is attached to the core metal to cover the vibrator housing portion,
the vibrator is disposed in the vibrator housing portion between the core metal and the case, and
the vibrator is attached to the case
wherein the case includes:
a bottom surface which has a rectangular shape;
longitudinal sidewalls which rise up from side portions of the bottom surface in a longitudinal direction; and
lateral sidewalls which rise up from the side portions of the bottom surface in a lateral direction,

wherein a partition is vertically installed from the bottom surface to divide the inside of the case,
the partition extends along the lateral direction, and
the vibrator is attached to the partition,
wherein the vibrator includes a motor main body, a rotation driving shaft which protrudes from the motor main body, and a weight which is attached to the rotation driving shaft,
a notch is provided in the partition,
the rotation driving shaft is inserted into the notch, and
the motor main body is attached to the partition,
wherein a dimension of the weight of the vibrator in a direction orthogonal to the rotation driving shaft is smaller than a width of the motor main body, and
the dimension of the weight of the vibrator is smaller than a height of the motor main body.

2. The steering wheel according to claim 1 ,
wherein the longitudinal sidewall of the case and a sidewall of the core metal face each other, and
the lateral sidewall of the case and the partition wall of the core metal face each other.

3. The steering wheel according to claim 2 ,
wherein a bolt insertion hole is provided in a first overhang portion which overhangs toward an outer side of the case from the lateral sidewall of the case,
a bolt hole is provided in a second overhang portion which overhangs on a side opposite to the vibrator housing portion from the partition wall of the core metal, and
a bolt inserted into the bolt insertion hole is screwed to the bolt hole.

4. The steering wheel according to claim 1 ,
wherein a sealing material is provided between the case and the core metal, and between the case and the partition wall.

5. The steering wheel according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a wiring that is inserted into a wiring hole provided on the lateral sidewall,
wherein the wiring is disposed along the circling direction inside the core metal.

6. The steering wheel according to claim 5 ,
wherein a tip end portion of the wiring is connected to an electronic control circuit,
the electronic control circuit is housed in a board housing case of which at least one surface is open, and
an open surface of the board housing case is covered with another member.

7. The steering wheel according to claim 1 ,
wherein the case is curved in the longitudinal direction.

Assignees

• Takata Corp

Inventors

• Haba Yutaka
• Nagata Kenshi
• Yoneda takuya

Classifications

• B60Q9/00

  Arrangement or adaptation of signal devices not provided for in one of main groups B60Q1/00 - B60Q7/00 {, e.g. haptic signalling} · CPC title

• B62D1/08

  Spokes, e.g. resilient (B62D1/11 takes precedence) · CPC title

• B62D1/06 Primary

  Rims, e.g. with heating means; Rim covers (B62D1/11 takes precedence) · CPC title

• B62D15/029 Primary

  Steering assistants using warnings or proposing actions to the driver without influencing the steering system · CPC title

• B62D1/046

  Adaptations on rotatable parts of the steering wheel for accommodation of switches · CPC title