Steering wheel assembly with covered light source

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11180079-B2
Application number	US-202117144052-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 7, 2021
Priority date	Jan 7, 2020
Publication date	Nov 23, 2021
Grant date	Nov 23, 2021

Abstract

An illumination system for a steering wheel assembly of a vehicle including a housing coupled to a rim of the steering wheel assembly. At least one visible light source is disposed adjacent the housing and emitting visible light through an opening in the housing. A lens is provided covering the opening in the housing such that an inner surface of the lens is disposed adjacent the opening in the housing. A cover material covers the outer surface of the lens and at least a portion of the rim, and includes translucent and/or transparent portions such that the lens is not visible through the cover material. The visible light from the visible light source passes through the transparent and/or translucent portions of the cover material.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An illumination system for a steering wheel assembly of a vehicle, the illumination system comprising:
a housing coupled to a rim of the steering wheel assembly;
a visible light source disposed adjacent the housing and emitting visible light through an opening in the housing;
a lens covering the opening in the housing, an inner surface of the lens disposed adjacent the opening in the housing;
a cover material covering an outer surface of the lens and at least a portion of the rim, the cover material including at least one of a translucent portion, a transparent portion, or combinations thereof, wherein the lens is not visible through the cover material;
wherein visible light emitted from the visible light source passes through the transparent translucent portions of the cover material.

2. The illumination system of claim 1 , wherein the cover material includes opaque portions.

3. The illumination system of claim 1 , wherein the cover material includes at least one of a translucent leather material, a translucent artificial leather material, and a translucent fabric material.

4. The illumination system of claim 1 , wherein the translucent portion and transparent portion of the cover material are not visible until the visible light source is illuminated.

5. The illumination system of claim 1 , wherein the visible light source, the housing, and the lens are not visible through the cover material.

6. The illumination system of claim 1 , where any seam between an edge of the lens and the rim of the steering wheel assembly is not visible through the cover material.

7. The illumination system of claim 1 , further including:
a light guide received within the housing, the visible light source disposed adjacent the light guide,
wherein the visible light source is disposed adjacent at least one of a first end and a second end of the light guide, the visible light source emitting visible light through the light guide and out an outer surface of the light guide,
wherein the inner surface of the lens is disposed facing the outer surface of the light guide such at least some of the light emitted from the outer surface of the light guide is directed toward the lens.

8. The illumination system of claim 7 , wherein the light guide and the housing have a corresponding arcuate shape, the arcuate shape of the housing and light guide corresponding to an arcuate shaped portion of the rim.

9. The illumination system of claim 1 , wherein the visible light source is thermally coupled to a frame of the steering assembly such that the frame transfers heat from the visible light source toward the frame.

10. The illumination system of claim 1 , wherein the lens is translucent.

11. The illumination system of claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the lens is opaque.

12. The illumination system of claim 1 , further comprising one or more light directing films disposed in a path of the light emitted from the visible light source.

13. The illumination system of claim 1 , further comprising at least one of a light diffusing film a light enhancing film, or a combination thereof, disposed in a path of the light emitted from the visible light source.

14. The illumination system of claim 1 , further comprising at least one masking layer coupled to the lens, the masking layer at least partially blocking and at least partially shaping a boundary of the light emitted from the visible light source.

15. The illumination system of claim 1 , further including a second housing coupled to the housing, the second housing positioned around a circumference of the rim of the steering wheel assembly from the housing.

16. The illumination system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a plurality of housings coupled to a front surface of the rim, wherein opposing ends of each of the plurality of housings are coupled an adjacent housing such that the plurality of housings fully encircle a circumference of the rim.

17. The illumination system of claim 16 , wherein the opposing ends of the plurality of housings are bonded together using at least one of a mechanical and a chemical fastener.

18. The illumination system of claim 17 , wherein the bonded opposing ends of the plurality of housings are sanded after being bonded together to prevent appearance of a seam being visible through the cover material.

19. The illumination system of claim 1 , wherein the housing has an arcuate shape corresponding to an arcuate shaped portion of the rim.

20. The illumination system of claim 1 , wherein the visible light source includes a plurality of individually controlled light sources positioned around at least a portion of a circumference of the rim of the steering wheel.

21. An illumination system for a steering wheel assembly of a vehicle, the illumination system comprising:
a housing coupled to a rim of the steering wheel assembly;
a light guide received within the housing;
a visible light source disposed adjacent an end surface of the light guide and emitting visible light through the light guide and out an outer surface of the light guide;
a lens provided over the light guide, an inner surface of the lens disposed facing the outer surface of the light guide,
a cover material covering an outer surface of the lens and at least a portion of the rim, the cover material including at least one of a translucent portion, a transparent portion, or a combination thereof;
wherein the light guide transmits visible light from the visible light source through at least a portion of the outer surface of the light guide, and the light from the outer surface of the light guide passes through the lens and the transparent and translucent portions of the cover material,
wherein the translucent and transparent portions of the cover material are not visible until the visible light source is illuminated.

Assignees

• Joyson Safety Systems Acquisition Llc

Inventors

• Marc Adorian
• Kawaguchi Makoto
• Staszak Erick

Classifications

• B60K35/21

  using visual output, e.g. blinking lights or matrix displays · CPC title

• B60K35/415

  Glare prevention · CPC title

• B60K35/60

  Instruments characterised by their location or relative disposition in or on vehicles (arrangements of lighting devices on dashboards B60Q3/10) · CPC title

• B62D1/04

  Hand wheels · CPC title

• B62D1/065

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