Steering wheel

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12319334-B2
Application number	US-202017787476-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 17, 2020
Priority date	Dec 20, 2019
Publication date	Jun 3, 2025
Grant date	Jun 3, 2025

Abstract

The disclosure relates to an improvement of a structure of a steering wheel. For this, the disclosure suggests a steering wheel comprising a monolithic steering wheel base body which includes a central area for mounting the steering wheel to a steering mechanism, a steering wheel rim and at least one spoke whose first spoke end abuts on the central area and whose second spoke end abuts on the steering wheel rim. Accordingly, a projection which restricts tilting of the spoke toward a central area to a predetermined extent is formed in an area of a first spoke end.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A steering wheel comprising a monolithic steering wheel base body which includes a central area for mounting the steering wheel to a steering mechanism, a steering wheel rim and at least one spoke whose first spoke end abuts on the central area and whose second spoke end abuts on the steering wheel rim, wherein in an area of the first spoke end, a projection is formed which restricts tilting of the spoke toward the central area to a predetermined extent; wherein the projection extends transversely to a main construction direction of a first spoke section only over less than one third of a width of the first spoke section.

2. The steering wheel according to claim 1 , wherein the projection is formed at the spoke on its side facing the central area.

3. The steering wheel according to claim 2 , wherein in the area of the first spoke end at the central area, a stop is configured such that there exists a gap between the projection and the stop.

4. The steering wheel according to claim 1 , wherein in the area of the first spoke end at the central area, a stop is configured such that there exists a gap between the projection and the stop.

5. The steering wheel according to claim 4 wherein the stop is configured in the form of a coupling unit for an airbag module.

6. The steering wheel according to claim 1 , wherein the spoke includes a first spoke section, wherein a main construction direction of the first spoke section and a main construction plane of the central area enclose an angle that ranges from 40° to 80°.

7. The steering wheel according to claim 6 , wherein the spoke has a first spoke section and a second spoke section, wherein a main construction direction of the first spoke section and a main construction direction of the second spoke section enclose an angle that ranges from 40° to 60°.

8. The steering wheel according to claim 1 , wherein the spoke has a first spoke section and a second spoke section, wherein a main construction direction of the first spoke section and a main construction direction of the second spoke section enclose an angle that ranges from 30° to 70°.

9. The steering wheel according to claim 8 , wherein the angle ranges from 40° to 60°.

10. The steering wheel according to claim 8 , wherein a transition area from the first spoke section to the second spoke section, at least one reinforcing structure is formed which extends along the main construction directions of the spoke on its side facing the central area.

11. The steering wheel according to claim 10 , wherein at the second spoke section at least one recess is provided.

12. The steering wheel according to claim 10 , wherein a coupling unit for operating elements is configured.

13. The steering wheel according to claim 10 , wherein at the second spoke section at least one receiving point is configured.

14. The steering wheel according to claim 1 , wherein at least two spokes are provided, wherein these spokes are connected, in the mounting state of the steering wheel at a steering angle of 0°, to the steering wheel rim at 90° and at 270°.

15. The steering wheel according to claim 1 , wherein the steering wheel base body includes a foam wrapping and/or wherein operating elements.

16. The steering wheel according to claim 1 , wherein the projection is centrally arranged.

17. The steering wheel according to claim 1 , wherein the spoke includes a first spoke section, wherein the main construction direction of the first spoke section and the main construction plane of the central area enclose an angle that ranges from 50° to 75°.

18. A steering wheel comprising a monolithic steering wheel base body which includes a central area for mounting the steering wheel to a steering mechanism, a steering wheel rim and at least one spoke whose first spoke end abuts on the central area and whose second spoke end abuts on the steering wheel rim, wherein in an area of the first spoke end, a projection is formed which restricts tilting of the spoke toward the central area to a predetermined extent; wherein the steering wheel base body includes a foam wrapping and/or operating elements.

19. The steering wheel according to claim 18 , wherein a coating is included of at least the steering wheel rim and/or the spoke.

Assignees

• Dalphi Metal Espana Sa

Inventors

• Conde Bouza Fabián
• Ollero Ollero Jorge
• Lema Martínez Xabier

Classifications

• B62D1/11 Primary

  incorporating energy-absorbing arrangements, e.g. by being yieldable or collapsible (padded linings associated with the steering wheel B60R21/05; shock absorbers using plastic deformation of members in general F16F7/12) · CPC title

• B62D1/06

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

• B62D1/08 Primary

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