JP4876832B2 - Planar heating element for steering wheel - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a planar heating element used for a steering wheel of an automobile, a motor boat or the like.

  Conventionally, as a planar heating element for a steering wheel of this type of automobile, motor boat, etc., it is connected to a power source between the steering wheel support and a covering material made of leather, such as a seat, a synthetic resin, and a textile product. In many cases, a heater for generating heat is sandwiched between them (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

FIG. 6 shows a conventional planar heating element for a steering wheel, and FIG. 7 shows a plan view of the steering wheel. As shown in FIG. 6 and FIG. 7, 1 is a sheet heating element, 2 is a heater composed of warp knitted fabric having elongation, 3 is a fiber fabric in which the heater is edged at the seam edge, and 4 is warp knitting. The sheet heating element 1 is bonded to the covering material 5 of the steering wheel 6 by a connection line connecting the power source and the heater 2 extending over the entire width of the fabric 2. This is used by being mounted on a steering wheel 6 composed of a ring portion 7 and a spoke portion 8.
JP-A-4-15162

  However, in the conventional configuration, when the planar heating element 1 is mounted on the steering wheel 6, the heat generation portion of the planar heating element 1 is uniform, so that the temperature distribution due to heat generation with respect to the mounting state of the planar heating element 1 is increased. The problem was that it was difficult to match the user's sense.

  For example, when the user grips the steering wheel 6, the feeling of warmth changes between the fingertip and the palm. Sometimes, it is difficult to grip at the position of the spoke part, and the way of gripping changes, so the feeling of warmth changes, and even if the heat generation of the planar heating element 1 attached to the steering wheel 6 is uniform Since heat conduction or heat dissipation changes depending on the location and the heat generation state changes, the feeling of heating when the user holds the steering wheel 6 changes.

  In particular, the grip portion and the heat conduction or heat dissipation change in the portion located in the spoke portion 8 of the ring portion 7 of the steering wheel 6 and the other portions, and in the portion located in the spoke portion 8, the spoke portion 8 In order to obstruct, even if the fingertip is brought into close contact, the palm is hardly attached, and since the heat generated by the planar heating element 1 is conducted to the spoke portion 8, the temperature is not easily raised. On the other hand, in other portions that are not located on the spoke portion 8 of the ring portion 7 of the steering wheel 6, the palm tends to adhere because it is easy to grip, and the temperature tends to rise because there is no spoke portion 8.

  Therefore, if the heat generating portion of the planar heating element 1 is uniform, the sense when the user holds the steering wheel 6 is different between the portion located in the spoke portion 8 of the ring portion of the steering wheel 6 and the other portions. As a result, when the portion of the steering wheel 6 located on the spoke portion 8 of the ring portion 7 is set at an appropriate temperature, the other portions not located on the spoke portion 8 become too hot, especially the portion that is touched by the palm, that is, the ring At the outermost peripheral part of the part 7, the user feels hot, and there is a concern that the steering wheel 6 will be hindered.

  An object of the present invention is to solve the above-described conventional problems, and to improve the feeling of use when the steering wheel 6 is gripped by adjusting the temperature portion of the planar heating element mounted on the steering wheel 6.

In order to solve the above-described conventional problems, a planar heating element for a steering wheel according to the present invention includes a steering wheel including a ring portion having a handle portion and a spoke portion connected to a steering shaft, and at least the handle portion of the ring portion. A sheet heating element formed by a support and a linear heater disposed on the support; and a covering material disposed so as to cover the sheet heating element. A linear heater is repeatedly folded along the circumferential direction to form a heat generating portion so that the divided portion is heated, and at least a plurality of the heat generating portions are formed in the ring portion. and portions disposed, and the heat generation portion of the ring portion that is disposed in the vicinity of connecting the spoke to the portion of the wrapping linear heater dense than other portions, the temperature component of the circumference of the ring portion There as adjusted constitute a.

  With the above-described configuration, the heat generating part is formed at a plurality of locations where the linear heater is repeatedly folded back along the circumferential direction by dividing the circumference of the ring part, and the linear heaters of the heat generating part are folded back and down. Since the temperature distribution on the circumference of the ring part can be adjusted, the heating of the sheet heating element can be adjusted according to the configuration of the spoke part of the steering wheel and the gripping method of the user. Can be adjusted, and the feeling of use when the steering wheel is gripped can be improved.

  In addition, the linear heater of the heat generating portion is formed by repeatedly folding the linear heater along the circumferential direction to form the heat generating portion, so that the curvature of the linear heater is increased, and accordingly, the sheet heating element is covered. It becomes difficult for the linear heater to be raised on the surface of the covering material disposed on the surface, and the touch and appearance can be improved.

  Since the planar heating element of the present invention can adjust the temperature distribution on the circumference of the ring portion, the planar heating element is adapted to the configuration of the spoke portion of the steering wheel and the gripping method of the user. It is possible to adjust the heat generation of the body and improve the feeling of use when grasping the steering wheel.

  A first invention is a steering wheel including a ring portion having a handle portion and a spoke portion connected to a steering shaft, and a linear heater disposed on at least the handle portion of the ring portion and disposed on the support body and the support body. It is provided with a formed sheet heating element and a covering material disposed so as to cover the sheet heating element, and is divided in such a manner that the divided part is divided on the circumference of the ring part to generate heat. The linear heater is repeatedly folded back in the circumferential direction to form a heat generating portion, and at least a plurality of the heat generating portions are arranged in the ring portion, and at least one of the fold density of the linear heater in the heat generating portion is set. Two or more are provided, and the temperature distribution on the circumference of the ring portion is adjusted.

  A plurality of heat generating portions are formed by dividing the circumference of the ring portion and the linear heater is repeatedly folded back along the circumferential direction, and the fold density of the linear heater of the heat generating portion is provided. Therefore, the temperature distribution on the circumference of the ring part can be adjusted, and the heat generation of the planar heating element can be adjusted according to the configuration of the spoke part of the steering wheel and the gripping method of the user. The feeling when using the wheel can be improved.

  In addition, the linear heater of the heat generating portion is formed by repeatedly folding the linear heater along the circumferential direction to form the heat generating portion, so that the curvature of the linear heater is increased, and accordingly, the sheet heating element is covered. It becomes difficult for the linear heater to be raised on the surface of the covering material disposed on the surface, and the touch and appearance can be improved.

  In the second invention, in particular, the heat generating part of the ring part disposed in the vicinity of connecting the spoke part of the first invention is provided with a part where the linear heater is folded more densely than the other part, and the circumference of the ring part is The above temperature distribution is adjusted.

  And the sheet heating element has a heating part of the ring part arranged in the vicinity of connecting the spoke part, and a part where the linear heater is folded back more closely than the other part. The temperature of the ring part can be increased. In other words, because the heat is conducted to the spokes, the temperature is difficult to increase, and the user is not able to feel the temperature because it is difficult to grip, so it becomes a part of the ring that connects the spokes. Since the temperature of the part can be increased, the feeling of use when fully grasped can be improved.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in particular, two spoke portions of the first and second aspects of the present invention are provided two by two so as to be substantially symmetrical with respect to the center of the ring portion. The sheet heating element is disposed substantially symmetrically as a part of the ring heater, and the linear heater forming the heating part of the sheet heating element sandwiched between the spoke parts is provided with a portion that is less sparse than the other parts, and the ring part The temperature distribution on the circumference is adjusted.

  A linear heating element is disposed in the vicinity of the connecting part of the spoke part and between it and at least the handle part of the ring part, and the heating element of the planar heating element sandwiched between the spoke parts is disposed substantially symmetrically. Since the heater is folded back from the other portions, the temperature of the heating portion of the planar heating element sandwiched between the spoke portions can be adjusted to be lower. In other words, the heating part of the planar heating element sandwiched between the spokes is warmer than the surroundings and less heat is dissipated, so the temperature is likely to rise, and it is easier to grip the palm because it is easier to grip. Since the temperature can be adjusted to a low level, the ring part sandwiched between the two spokes, which is the part where the user can easily feel the temperature, can be kept at an appropriate temperature, and the feeling of use when grasping can be improved. become able to.

  The fourth aspect of the invention provides the spoke part of the first and second aspects of the invention in the lower part of the center of the ring part and substantially symmetrically. The vicinity of the joined part of the spoke part and the ring part is a handle part, and corresponds to at least the handle part. A sheet heating element is arranged at a position, and a part of the linear heater forming the heating part of the sheet heating element sandwiched between the spokes is made sparser than other parts, and the circumference of the ring part The above temperature distribution is adjusted.

  A linear heating element is disposed at a position corresponding to at least the grip part, and the heating part of the planar heating element sandwiched between the spoke parts is formed in the vicinity of the joint between the spoke part and the ring part. Since the heater is folded back from the other portions, the temperature of the heating portion of the planar heating element sandwiched between the spoke portions can be adjusted to be lower. In other words, the heating part of the planar heating element sandwiched between the spokes is warmer than the surroundings and less heat is dissipated, so the temperature is likely to rise, and it is easier to grip the palm because it is easier to grip. Since the temperature can be adjusted to a low level, the ring part sandwiched between the two spokes, which is the part where the user can easily feel the temperature, can be kept at an appropriate temperature, and the feeling of use when grasping can be improved. become able to.

The fifth aspect of the invention provides a portion where the folding of the linear heater forming the heating portion of the planar heating element sandwiched between the spoke portions of the third to fourth aspects of the invention is made sparser than the other portions, and is linear. The sparse part of the heater is formed so as to be located at the outermost peripheral part of the ring part.

  And the part which made the return | turnback of the linear heater which forms the heat_generation | fever part of the planar heat generating body pinched | interposed into the spoke part sparser than other parts is formed so that it may be located in the outermost peripheral part of a ring part. Therefore, the temperature of the outermost peripheral portion of the ring portion corresponding to the palm portion when the user grasps can be lowered, and the feeling of use when grasping can be improved.

  In the sixth aspect of the invention, the linear heater of the planar heating element of the first to fifth aspects of the invention is arranged by repeatedly turning back along the circumferential direction of the ring portion, and the linear heater is wired in a substantially wave shape. It is as a configuration.

  Then, when assembling the sheet heating element to the ring part, the sheet heating element is assembled while slightly stretching the sheet heating element so as not to cause wrinkles or bumps on the surface of the covering material. The heater is repeatedly folded along the circumferential direction of the ring portion, and the linear heater is configured in a substantially wave-like configuration, so that the curvature of the linear heater is increased, and the sheet heat is generated accordingly. The linear heater is less likely to be raised on the surface of the covering material disposed so as to cover the body, the touch and appearance can be improved, and the substantially wave-like portion of the linear heater follows and is extended accordingly. This eliminates the concern that the linear heater will be damaged.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Note that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments.

(Embodiment 1)
1 to 4 show schematic configuration diagrams of a planar heating element for a steering wheel according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention, FIG. 1 is a plan view of the planar heating element for a steering wheel, and FIG. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the portion -A, FIG. 3 is a plan view of the steering wheel on which the planar heating element for the steering wheel is mounted, and FIG.

  1 to 3, the steering wheel 11 is formed of a ring portion 12 having a handle portion and a spoke portion 13 connected to a steering shaft (not shown), and is substantially symmetrical with respect to the center of the ring portion 12. Two spoke portions 13 are provided at intervals, and the planar heating element 14 is arranged substantially symmetrically in the vicinity of and between the two spoke portions 13 provided in a substantially symmetrical manner and between them. A covering material 15 is disposed so as to cover the planar heating element 14.

  The planar heating element 14 is formed of a support 16 made of nonwoven fabric and a linear heater 17 disposed on the support 16, and the heating of the linear heater 17 is repeatedly formed in a divided range. When the planar heating element 14 is attached to the ring part 12, the linear heater 17 repeats folding along the circumferential direction to form a heating part, and the vicinity where the spoke part 13 is connected Is a first heat generating portion 18, and a portion between them is a second heat generating portion 19.

  Further, the linear heater 17 of the first heat generating unit 18 is densely folded and repeated, and the linear heater 17 of the second heat generating unit 19 sandwiched by the first heat generating unit 18 is sparse and repeatedly folded. The portion of the heat generating portion 19 where the return of the linear heater 17 is sparse is formed so as to be located on the outermost peripheral portion of the ring portion 12.

Here, the planar heating element 14 is divided into a linear shape by dividing the circumference of the ring portion 12 with the first heating portion 18 in the vicinity where the two spoke portions 13 are connected and the second heating portion 19 therebetween. Heater 17
A plurality of heat generating portions that are repeatedly folded along the circumferential direction are formed, and the fold density of the linear heater 17 of the heat generating portion is provided, so that the temperature distribution on the circumference of the ring portion 12 is provided. Can be adjusted, and the heat generation of the planar heating element 14 can be adjusted according to the configuration of the spoke portion 13 and the like of the steering wheel 11 and the gripping method of the user, and can be used when the steering wheel 11 is gripped. The feeling can be improved.

  In particular, the ring portion 12 and the spoke portion 13 are devised by operability and design of the steering wheel 11, for example, two such as provided in a substantially symmetrical manner as in the present embodiment. When the planar heating element 14 is disposed substantially symmetrically with at least the handle portion of the ring portion 12 in the vicinity of and between the spoke portion 13 connection, the user's hand grip and attachment of the planar heating element 14 It is necessary to adjust the temperature distribution of the planar heating element 14 for heat conduction and heat dissipation of the part.

  Therefore, the linear heater 17 of the first heat generating portion 18 disposed in the vicinity of connecting the two spoke portions 13 provided at an interval is densely folded back and is sandwiched between the first heat generating portions 18. Since the linear heater 17 of the second heat generating portion 19 is sparse and the folding is repeated, the first heat generating portion 18 of the ring portion 12 disposed in the vicinity of connecting the spoke portion 13 connects the spoke portion 13. The ring of the vicinity which connects the spoke part 13 where the temperature of the ring part 12 in the vicinity can be increased, the temperature is difficult to increase because the heat is conducted to the spoke part 13, and the user is less likely to feel the temperature because it is difficult to grip. It is possible to improve the feeling of use when the portion 12 is sufficiently grasped.

  Similarly, the second heat generating portion 19 sandwiched between the first heat generating portions 18 is a portion that is easy to be warmed from the surroundings and less heat dissipated, so that the temperature easily rises, and is easy to grip, so that the palm is easily adhered. The ring part 12 sandwiched between the two spoke parts 13, which is the part where the user can easily feel the temperature, can be set to an appropriate temperature, and the feeling of use when grasped can be improved.

  Further, the portion of the second heat generating portion 19 where the folding of the linear heater 17 is sparse is formed so as to be located on the outermost peripheral portion of the ring portion 12, and therefore corresponds to the palm portion when the user holds it. The temperature of the outermost peripheral part of the ring part 12 can be made low, and the usability when grasped can be improved.

  Further, since the linear heater 17 of the heat generating portion is formed by repeatedly folding the linear heater 17 along the circumferential direction to form the heat generating portion, the curvature of the linear heater 17 is increased, and the surface heat generation correspondingly. It becomes difficult for the linear heater 17 to be raised on the surface of the covering material 15 disposed so as to cover the body 14, and the touch and appearance can be improved.

  Further, when the sheet heating element 14 is assembled to the ring part 12, the sheet heating element 14 is assembled to the ring part 12 while slightly extending so as not to cause wrinkles or bumps on the surface of the covering material 15. Since the linear heater 17 of the linear heating element 14 is repeatedly arranged along the circumferential direction of the ring portion 12 and the linear heater 17 is arranged in a substantially wave shape, the linear heater 17 The curvature is increased, and accordingly, the linear heater 17 is not easily raised on the surface of the covering material 15 disposed so as to cover the planar heating element 14, and the touch and appearance can be improved. There is no need to worry about the linear heater 17 being damaged by following the substantially wave-like portion 17 and extending it accordingly.

In the above-described embodiment, an example in which the linear heaters 17 of the first heat generating unit 18 and the second heat generating unit 19 sandwiched between the first heat generating units 18 disposed in the vicinity of connecting the spoke units 13 are provided with density. However, this is because the linear heater 1 of the heat generating part is matched with the structure of the ring part 12 and the spoke part 13.
It is sufficient that the temperature distribution on the circumference of the ring portion 12 is adjusted so as to provide a fold density of 7 folds, and the configuration of each other portion is within the range that achieves the object of the present invention. It may be anything.

  Further, the number of spoke portions formed on the steering wheel is not limited to four as shown in FIG. 4, but as shown in FIG. 13 is provided, and the vicinity of the joint between the ring portion 12 and the spoke portion 13 is used as a handle portion. A planar heating element 14 is disposed on the handle portion, and a covering material 15 is provided so as to cover the planar heating element 14. Even if it arrange | positions, it can implement similarly.

  As described above, the present invention can improve the feeling of use when the steering wheel is gripped by adjusting the temperature portion of the planar heating element mounted on the steering wheel. It can be applied to a steering wheel such as a steering wheel and other handle-shaped appliances that require heating.

The top view of the planar heating element in Embodiment 1 of this invention Cross-sectional view of coplanar heating element Plan view of a steering wheel provided with a coplanar heating element Cross-sectional view of a steering wheel provided with a coplanar heating element Plan view of a steering wheel provided with a coplanar heating element Plan view of a conventional planar heating element Top view of the steering wheel

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11 Steering wheel 12 Ring part 13 Spoke part 14 Planar heating element 15 Coating | covering material 16 Support body 17 Linear heater

Claims (5)

A steering wheel comprising a ring part having a handle part and a spoke part connected to the steering shaft, and a surface formed by a linear heater provided on at least the handle part of the ring part and provided on the support body. A heating element and a covering material disposed so as to cover the planar heating element, and the planar heating element divides the circumference of the ring portion and generates heat in the divided part. A linear heater is repeatedly folded back in the circumferential direction at the divided portion to form a heat generating portion, and at least the heat generating portion is disposed at a plurality of locations in the ring portion, and is disposed in the vicinity of connecting the spoke portions. A planar heating element for a steering wheel in which the heating portion of the ring portion is a portion where the linear heater is folded back more densely than other portions, and the temperature distribution on the circumference of the ring portion is adjusted. Two spokes are provided approximately symmetrically with respect to the center of the ring part, and two planar heating elements are provided substantially symmetrically with at least the grip part of the ring part between and near the connection part of the spoke part. In addition, a portion of the linear heater that forms the heating portion of the planar heating element sandwiched between the spoke portions is provided with a sparser portion than other portions, and the temperature distribution on the circumference of the ring portion is adjusted. The planar heating element for a steering wheel according to claim 1 . The spoke portion is provided approximately symmetrically below the center of the ring portion and substantially symmetrically, and the vicinity of the joint portion between the spoke portion and the ring portion is a handle portion, and a planar heating element is disposed at least at a position corresponding to the handle portion. The linear heater forming the heating portion of the planar heating element sandwiched between the spoke portions is provided with a portion where the return of the linear heater is sparser than other portions, and the temperature distribution on the circumference of the ring portion is adjusted. Item 2. The planar heating element for a steering wheel according to Item 1 . The linear heater forming the heating element of the planar heating element sandwiched between the spokes is provided with a portion where the folding of the linear heater is less sparse than the other portions. The planar heating element for a steering wheel according to claim 2 or 3 , wherein the planar heating element is formed so as to be positioned on an outer peripheral portion. The linear heater disposed repeatedly folded along a circumferential direction of the ring portion and the linear heater for a steering wheel surface according to any one of claims 1 to 4 which is wired to the substantially wavy Heating element.

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