Steering wheel and vehicle including the same

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12515729-B2
Application number	US-202418930886-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 29, 2024
Priority date	Apr 23, 2024
Publication date	Jan 6, 2026
Grant date	Jan 6, 2026

Abstract

A steering wheel includes an armature body; a wheel rim coupled to the armature body to be folded, a slider provided on the armature body to move linearly while coupled to the wheel rim to be rotatable about a first rotation axis, a link including a first end portion rotatably coupled to the wheel rim about a second rotation axis, different from the first rotation axis, and a second end portion coupled to the armature body to be rotatable about a third rotation axis, and a driving unit engaged to the slider and providing power for a linear motion to the slider.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A steering wheel comprising:
an armature body; a wheel rim coupled to the armature body to be foldable; a slider disposed on the armature body to move linearly while being coupled to the wheel rim to be rotatable about a first rotation axis; a link including a first end portion rotatably coupled to the wheel rim about a second rotation axis, different from the first rotation axis, and a second end portion coupled to the armature body to be rotatable about a third rotation axis; and a driving unit engaged to the slider and providing power for a linear motion to the slider, wherein the third rotation axis is fixed to the armature body.

2 . The steering wheel of claim 1 ,
wherein the slider is in pair, and wherein the pair of sliders are mounted on first and second sides of the steering wheel.

3 . The steering wheel of claim 1 , wherein the armature body includes a guide member, and the slider moves linearly inside the guide member.

4 . The steering wheel of claim 3 , wherein the guide member is disposed together with a gearbox accommodating the driving unit.

5 . The steering wheel of claim 1 , wherein the first rotation axis moves together with the slider.

6 . The steering wheel of claim 5 , wherein the second rotation axis moves according to the motion of the slider.

7 . The steering wheel of claim 1 , wherein the first rotation axis, the second rotation axis, and the third rotation axis are provided in parallel.

8 . The steering wheel of claim 1 , wherein the driving unit includes:
a rotary motor; a worm wheel connected to the rotary motor; and a worm gear engaged to the worm wheel, wherein the slider is coupled to move linearly along a shaft connected to the worm gear.

9 . The steering wheel of claim 8 , wherein an internal surface of the slider and an external surface of the shaft selectively include a female thread or a male thread and are mutually coupled together so that the slider moves linearly by rotation of the shaft.

10 . The steering wheel of claim 9 ,
wherein the slider is in pair, the worm wheel is in pair and the worm gear is in pair, and wherein the pair of worm wheels and the pair of worm gears are connected to first and second sides of the rotary motor, respectively.

11 . The steering wheel of claim 10 ,
wherein the armature body includes a guide member and the guide member is disposed together with a gearbox accommodating the driving unit, and wherein the gearbox is provided in a U-shape.

12 . The steering wheel of claim 11 ,
wherein the guide member includes an opening parallel to a moving direction of the slider, and wherein the slider implementing the first rotation axis and the wheel rim are connected through the opening.

13 . The steering wheel of claim 1 , wherein the second rotation axis moves both in a moving direction of the slider and in a direction, perpendicular to the moving direction of the slider.

14 . A vehicle comprising:
a body including a driver's seat; and the steering wheel of claim 1 coupled to the body and provided in front of the driver's seat for steering.

15 . The vehicle of claim 14 , wherein the armature body includes a guide member, and the slider moves linearly inside the guide member.

16 . The vehicle of claim 14 , wherein the first rotation axis moves together with the slider.

17 . The vehicle of claim 16 ,
wherein the second rotation axis moves according to the motion of the slider.

18 . The vehicle of claim 14 , wherein the first rotation axis, the second rotation axis, and the third rotation axis are provided in parallel.

19 . The vehicle of claim 14 , wherein the driving unit includes:
a rotary motor; a worm wheel connected to the rotary motor; and a worm gear engaged to the worm wheel, wherein the slider is coupled to move linearly along a shaft connected to the worm gear.

Assignees

• Hyundai Motor Co Ltd
• Kia Corp
• Joyson Safety Systems Korea Co Ltd

Inventors

• Roh Kyeong Boo
• Yoon Sang Gyu
• Noh Byung Woo
• Hwang Ji Su
• Kim Beom Jung
• Kim Seung Min
• Jeong Seung Woo

Classifications

• B62D1/10

  Hubs; Connecting hubs to steering columns, e.g. adjustable (B62D1/11 takes precedence) · CPC title

• B62D1/04 Primary

  Hand wheels · CPC title

• B62D1/181

  with power actuated adjustment, e.g. with position memory · CPC title

• B62D1/06 Primary

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

• B60Y2400/405

  Electric motors actuators · CPC title