Steering wheel and motor vehicle

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10814699-B2
Application number	US-201816222455-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 17, 2018
Priority date	Jan 2, 2018
Publication date	Oct 27, 2020
Grant date	Oct 27, 2020

Abstract

A steering wheel for a motor vehicle is provided, wherein the steering wheel includes a steering-wheel rim, a steering-wheel center, at least one steering-wheel spoke connecting the steering-wheel rim and the steering-wheel center, and an air duct. The air duct is designed to duct an air flow, generated by a ventilation system of the motor vehicle. The air duct comprises at least one air outlet, which is designed in such a way that in the fitted state of the steering wheel the air flow emerging from the air outlet meets a windshield of the motor vehicle. A motor vehicle having the steering wheel is furthermore provided.

First claim

What is claimed:

1. A steering wheel for a motor vehicle comprising:
a steering-wheel rim, a steering-wheel center, at least one steering-wheel spoke connecting the steering-wheel rim and the steering-wheel center, and an air duct, said air duct being adapted to duct an air flow, generated by a ventilation system of the motor vehicle, characterized in that said air duct includes at least one adjustable air baffle element, configured to direct the air flow emerging from the at least one adjustable air baffle outlet toward a windshield of the motor vehicle.

2. The steering wheel as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the at least one adjustable air baffle outlet is arranged in the steering-wheel rim.

3. The steering wheel as claimed in claim 2 , wherein the at least one adjustable air baffle outlet is arranged in a twelve o'clock position.

4. The steering wheel as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the steering wheel directs the air flow upon a field of vision of a driver.

5. The steering wheel as claimed in claim 4 , wherein the air duct leads through said at least one steering-wheel spoke from the steering-wheel center to the steering-wheel rim.

6. The steering wheel as claimed in claim 5 , wherein the air duct is formed along an entire circumference of the steering-wheel rim.

7. The steering wheel as claimed in claim 6 , wherein the steering-wheel rim includes a thermal conduction element, which conducts heat energy from the air flow flowing through the air duct to an outer face of the steering wheel.

8. The steering wheel as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the steering-wheel rim includes a thermal conduction element, that conducts heat energy from the air flow flowing through the air duct to an outer face of the steering wheel.

9. A motor vehicle comprising:
a windshield, a ventilation system for generating an air flow and a steering wheel wherein the steering wheel includes a fluid-ducting connection to the ventilation system, and the steering wheel is arranged in such a way that the air flow from at least one adjustable air baffle outlet of the steering wheel, generated by means of the ventilation system, meets the windshield.

10. The motor vehicle as claimed in claim 9 , wherein the motor vehicle comprises a steering column adapted for adjusting a height of said steering wheel.

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

• Longin David

Classifications

• B62D1/065

  Steering wheels with heating and ventilating means (heating and ventilation of steering wheel when connected to vehicle HVAC B60H1/00292) · CPC title

• B62D1/06

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

• B62D1/08

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

• B60H1/3407

  providing an air stream in a fixed direction, e.g. using a grid or porous panel · CPC title

• B60H1/00292 Primary

  for steering wheels · CPC title