Vehicle steering wheel

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9988003-B2
Application number	US-201414893383-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 21, 2014
Priority date	May 27, 2013
Publication date	Jun 5, 2018
Grant date	Jun 5, 2018

Abstract

A vehicle steering wheel comprising a metallic hub, a rim, and at least one branch including a mechanical connection piece attaching the rim to the hub. The vehicle steering wheel additionally includes at least one second branch of polymer injected between the hub and the rim without a mechanical connection piece attaching the rim to the hub, the at least one second branch including at least one energy conductor. The steering wheel further comprising positioning means for positioning the at least one energy conductor before the injection of the polymer of the branch in such a manner as to guarantee a minimal distance between the at least one energy conductor and a surface of the polymer once it is injected.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A vehicle steering wheel comprising:
a metallic hub;
a rim;
at least one first branch connecting the metallic hub to the rim;
at least one second branch consisting of a plastic support and an injected polymer, the plastic support is coupled to the metallic hub and the rim, the injected polymer surrounds the plastic support; and
an energy conductor carried by the plastic support, the energy conductor is completely surrounded by the injected polymer.

2. The steering wheel according to claim 1 , wherein the plastic support is coupled to the hub by a first part and coupled to the rim by a second part before an injection of the polymer.

3. The steering wheel according to claim 1 , wherein the plastic support further comprises a first centering device and a second centering device.

4. The steering wheel according to claim 3 , wherein the first centering device is arranged between a first and a second end of the plastic support and blocks at least three degrees of freedom in translation of the plastic support.

5. The steering wheel according to claim 4 , wherein the second centering device is arranged between the first centering device and the first end and blocks at least one degree of freedom in translation of the plastic support.

6. The steering wheel according to claim 1 , wherein the plastic support includes blades for guiding the energy conductor.

7. The steering wheel according to claim 1 , wherein the energy conductor is an electrical conductor.

8. The steering wheel according to claim 1 , wherein the energy conductor is a conductor adapted to be fed with a heat transfer fluid.

9. The steering wheel according to claim 1 , in combination with an automobile.

10. A vehicle steering wheel comprising:
a metallic hub;
a rim;
a first branch connecting the metallic hub to the rim;
a second branch connecting the metallic hub to the rim, the second branch including a plastic support and an injected polymer, the plastic support extending between the metallic hub and the rim, the injected polymer surrounding the plastic support; and
an energy conductor carried by the plastic support, the energy conductor completely surrounded by the injected polymer.

11. The vehicle steering wheel of claim 10 , wherein the rim is a complete circle.

Assignees

• Autoliv Dev

Inventors

• Moinard Fabrice
• Simonet Yann
• Baribault Olivier

Classifications

• B62D1/06

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

• B62D1/04 Primary

  Hand wheels · CPC title

• B60R16/027 Primary

  between relatively movable parts of the vehicle, e.g. between steering wheel and column {(devices for measuring, signalling or controlling tyre pressure or temperature specially adapted for mounting on vehicles B60C23/00)} · CPC title