CN217778562U - Steering wheel assembly - Google Patents

Abstract

The utility model relates to a steering wheel assembly, including gasbag door closure, reinforcing plate, electronic components, gasbag casing and enhancement casing, reinforcing plate fixed connection is in order to strengthen the gasbag door closure on the yielding region of gasbag door closure, and the gasbag casing is connected with the gasbag door closure, strengthens the casing around the gasbag casing and connect to the gasbag casing, and electronic components installs the function in order to trigger the steering wheel at gasbag door closure and/or reinforcing plate and/or enhancement casing. According to the utility model discloses a steering wheel subassembly, the reinforcing plate covers fixes the yielding region at gasbag door closure, has avoided the gasbag area of exploding of point simultaneously, can not influence the performance that the gasbag was exploded, has played the purpose that reduces gasbag door closure and lead to warping because of structural strength or material, strengthens the casing and centers on gasbag casing and connects, and the resistance to deformation performance is good, promotes the whole resistance to deformation ability of module, reduces the matching clearance problem that the spare part size harmfully leads to or the functional failure condition that leads to because of the spare part structural deformation.

Description

Steering wheel assembly

Technical Field

The present invention relates to vehicles, and more particularly, to a steering wheel assembly.

Background

As the steering wheel is used as an important part for controlling the motor vehicle, along with various increasing requirements of people on the motor vehicle, functions except basic steering control and horn sounding triggering are also increased, such as detecting the state of a driver, adjusting the driving mode, changing the appearance of the interior and exterior decoration of the vehicle and the like. Typically these functions are triggered by pressing or touching a switch or airbag door mounted on the steering wheel.

Generally, an airbag is designed at a central position of the steering wheel assembly. Typically, the only visible component of an airbag is the airbag door in the center of the steering wheel assembly. Due to the working principle of the air bag, the available processes and materials are strictly limited, and the air bag and other functional components of the steering wheel or functional components are divided and distinguished in appearance or design in the conventional design.

Meanwhile, the air bag door cover model which is longer in overall length or width and has a plurality of functions of activating a steering wheel through pressing or touching is newly available in the market. Because the conventional design does not play a substantial role in resisting deformation even if a part of reinforcing structures are designed in the airbag door cover after the length or the width of the airbag door cover reaches a certain degree, the problems that the airbag door cover interferes with peripheral parts of the airbag door cover or the matching gap is poor, the appearance of a steering wheel is poor, partial functions are invalid or the activation function is difficult and the like are caused.

SUMMERY OF THE UTILITY MODEL

In order to solve the above-mentioned steering wheel assembly among the prior art's the weak scheduling problem of resisting deformation, the utility model provides a steering wheel assembly.

According to the utility model discloses a steering wheel subassembly, it includes gasbag door closure, reinforcing plate, electronic components, gasbag casing and reinforcement casing, wherein, reinforcing plate fixed connection is in order to strengthen the gasbag door closure on the yielding region of gasbag door closure, and the gasbag casing is connected with the gasbag door closure, strengthens the casing around the gasbag casing and connect to the gasbag casing, and electronic components installs the function in order to trigger the steering wheel at gasbag door closure and/or reinforcing plate and/or reinforcement casing.

Preferably, the airbag door has a first region for closing the airbag housing and second, third, fourth and fifth regions around the first region, and the reinforcement plate has a first region for avoiding the airbag housing and second, third, fourth and fifth regions around the first region, wherein the second region connects the second region, the third region connects the third region, the fourth region connects the fourth region, and the fifth region connects the fifth region.

Preferably, the reinforcement housing is of an enclosed construction.

Preferably, the electronic component includes a mechanical switch mounted on the reinforcement case, and the airbag door cover and the reinforcement plate respectively have an avoiding structure of the mechanical switch.

Preferably, the reinforcement housing has a fixing hook, by means of which the mechanical switch is mounted on the mechanical switch mounting region of the reinforcement housing.

Preferably, the electronic component includes a touch sensing film mounted on the airbag door cover, and the reinforcing plate has a touch sensing film protection structure accommodating the touch sensing film.

Preferably, the electronic component further includes a vibrator mounted on the reinforcing plate, and a mounting structure of the vibrator is formed on a back surface of the touch sensing film protection structure of the reinforcing plate.

Preferably, the electronic component includes a PCB circuit board mounted on the reinforcement case, which is connected with the touch sensing film.

Preferably, the reinforcing plate and the reinforcing shell are respectively provided with a touch sensing film wire harness passing mechanism, and the wire harness of the touch sensing film passes through the touch sensing film wire harness passing mechanism to be inserted on the PCB.

Preferably, the PCB circuit board has a sensor thereon and the stiffener has a trigger engagement feature for the sensor.

Preferably, the reinforcement housing has a light shielding hole, and the trigger fitting structure is inserted into the light shielding hole to be fitted therein to prevent external light from interfering with the sensor.

Preferably, the steering wheel assembly further comprises an elastic member mounted between the reinforcement plate and the reinforcement housing. In this way, the reinforcing housing is connected to the reinforcing plate through the elastic member, thereby providing a good pressing operation feeling.

Preferably, the reinforcement plate has an elastic member fixing boss, and the reinforcement housing has an elastic member fixing boss, the elastic member fixing boss and the elastic member fixing boss being connected by means of the elastic member.

Preferably, the reinforcing plate has a guide projection and the reinforcing shell has a guide recess, the guide recess cooperating with the guide projection to provide a guiding action when the reinforcing plate and the reinforcing shell are mounted.

Preferably, the steering wheel assembly further comprises a rear cover for covering the electronic components and fixedly attached to the reinforcement housing.

According to the utility model discloses a steering wheel subassembly, the reinforcing plate covers fixes the yielding region at gasbag door closure, the reinforcing plate has avoided the gasbag to explode the region simultaneously, can not influence the performance that the gasbag explodes a little, played and reduced the purpose that gasbag door closure leads to warping because of structural strength or material, the reinforcement casing centers on gasbag casing and connects, resistance to deformation can be good, promote the whole resistance to deformation ability of module, reduce the matching clearance problem that the spare part size is bad leads to or because of the functional failure condition that spare part structural deformation leads to. In summary, according to the steering wheel assembly of the present invention, deformation resistance is strong and various functions can be carried or activated.

Drawings

Fig. 1 is a first structural schematic view of a steering wheel assembly according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a second structural schematic view of the steering wheel assembly of FIG. 1.

Fig. 3 is an exploded view of the steering wheel assembly of fig. 1.

FIG. 4 is a schematic structural view of an air bag door cover of the steering wheel assembly of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a first structural schematic view of a reinforcement plate of the steering wheel assembly of FIG. 3.

FIG. 6 is a second structural schematic view of a reinforcement plate of the steering wheel assembly of FIG. 3.

FIG. 7 is a schematic structural view of an air bag housing of the steering wheel assembly of FIG. 3.

FIG. 8 is a first structural schematic view of a reinforcement housing of the steering wheel assembly of FIG. 3.

FIG. 9 is a second structural schematic view of a reinforcement housing of the steering wheel assembly of FIG. 3.

FIG. 10 is a partial cross-sectional view of the steering wheel assembly of FIG. 1.

Detailed Description

The following description of the preferred embodiments of the present invention will be made with reference to the accompanying drawings.

As shown in fig. 1-3, a steering wheel assembly according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention includes an airbag door 1, a reinforcing plate 2, an electronic component 3, an elastic element 4, an airbag housing 5, a reinforcing housing 6 and a rear cover 7, wherein the reinforcing plate 2 is fixedly connected to an easily deformable region of the airbag door 1 to reinforce the airbag door 1, the airbag housing 5 is detachably connected to the airbag door 1, the reinforcing housing 6 surrounds the airbag housing 5 and is connected to the airbag housing 5, the electronic component 3 for triggering various functions of the steering wheel (e.g., detecting a driver's state, adjusting a driving mode, changing an interior and exterior decorative appearance of the vehicle, etc.) is mounted on the airbag door 1 and/or the reinforcing plate 2 and/or the reinforcing housing 6, the elastic element 4 is mounted between the reinforcing plate 2 and the reinforcing housing 6 to provide an elastic force of the airbag door 1, the rear cover 7 for covering the electronic component 3 is fixedly connected to the reinforcing housing 6 by a rigid manner (e.g., screwing, welding, gluing, clamping, etc.), and finally providing a certain shape of the airbag door activated by pressing or touching a long shape of the steering wheel.

As shown in fig. 3, the electronic component 3 includes a mechanical switch 301 mounted on the reinforcement housing 6 to physically and mechanically switch the circuit on and off, thereby triggering the corresponding function on the airbag door 1. In this embodiment, the mechanical switch 301 is a mechanical roller. It should be understood that the mechanical switch 301 is shown only to illustrate the relevant structural arrangement of the present invention. In addition, the electronic component 3 further includes a touch sensing film 302 mounted on the airbag door 1 for triggering an electrical signal to the chip on the PCB by sensing whether the specific area is touched by a person. It should be understood that the touch sensing film 302 is also shown merely to illustrate the relevant structural arrangement of the present invention. Furthermore, the electronic component 3 further includes a PCB circuit board 303 mounted on the reinforcing case 6, which is connected to the touch sensing film 302. Specifically, the wiring harness of the touch sensing film 302 passes through the reinforcing plate 2 and is connected to the PCB 303. Further, the electronic component 3 further includes a vibrator 304 mounted on the reinforcing plate 2, and is configured to provide vibration after being activated by an electrical signal, so that an operator can know whether the operation is successful. It should be understood that the vibrator 304 used as a feedback function is also shown only for illustrating the related structural arrangement of the present invention.

As shown in fig. 3, the elastic element 4 is shown as twelve elastic blocks distributed around the circumference in the present embodiment, and the material of the elastic blocks may be rubber, spring, sponge, or the like, so as to provide uniform elastic force to the entire surface of the airbag door 1, make the overall pressing operation force more uniform, and reduce the function false triggering caused by too large or too small operation force in local area.

As shown in fig. 3, after the mechanical switch 301 and the PCB 303 are mounted to the corresponding positions of the reinforced housing 6, the rear cover 7 (see fig. 10) is finally covered for dust and water prevention, and the heat conduction and heat dissipation effects can also be achieved through the design matching of the structure and the material.

As shown in fig. 3, the airbag door 1 includes a door front 101 and a door rear 102 (see fig. 4) opposite to each other, and a door wall 103 extends from the door rear 102 to connect the airbag housing 5. The door wall 103 can be formed integrally with the airbag door 1 (for example by injection molding) or fixedly connected (for example by adhesive bonding) and detachably connected to the airbag housing 5.

As shown in fig. 4, the airbag door 1 has a first region 11 for closing the airbag housing 5 and a second region 12, a third region 13, a fourth region 14, and a fifth region 15 serving as other functions around the first region 11. In addition, the airbag door 1 is provided with a clearance structure 104 of the mechanical switch 301 in the third region 13 and the fifth region 15. Furthermore, returning to fig. 3, the touch sensing film 302 is adhered on the second area 12, the third area 13, the fourth area 14 or the fifth area 15 of the back surface 102 of the door cover (see fig. 10).

As shown in fig. 5 and 6, the reinforcing plate 2 has a first region 21 (also referred to as an air bag housing clearance structure) for avoiding the air bag housing 5 and a second region 22, a third region 23, a fourth region 24, and a fifth region 25 serving as a connection of the air bag door 1 around the first region 21. The reinforcement panel 2 may be a unitary or multi-component rigid fastening assembly, made of a material having a hardness greater than that of the airbag door 1, such as metal or modified plastic, and attached to the second region 12, the third region 13, the fourth region 14 and the fifth region 15 of the rear side 102 of the door by rigid means, such as screws, welding, gluing, hooks, plastic wrapping, and the like, wherein each region is attached by at least one rigid means. Like this, reinforcing plate 2 has used the material of the higher resistance to deformation intensity than gasbag door closure 1, and is that a whole or a plurality of spare parts combine and the rigidity is fixed, and reinforcing plate 2 has accomplished the full cover of the yielding region of gasbag door closure 1 after fixing the door closure back 102, and reinforcing plate 2 has also avoided the region that the gasbag explodes, can not influence the performance that the gasbag explodes, has played the purpose that reduces gasbag door closure 1 and lead to the deformation because of structural strength or material simultaneously. In addition, the reinforcing plate 2 is provided with a clearance structure 201 of a mechanical switch 301 in the third region 23 and the fifth region 25. Further, the reinforcing plate 2 is provided with a touch sensitive film protection structure 202 in the third region 23 and the fifth region 25, and a vibrator mounting structure 203 is provided on the rear surface of the structure. In this embodiment, the touch sensing film protection structure 202 is a region formed by a body that is recessed downward and accommodates the touch sensing film 302 (see fig. 3), so that the touch sensing film 302 does not contact with other component structures after being pressed/contacted, and the risk of affecting functions due to contact is avoided. Meanwhile, since the airbag door 1 is a curved surface in a normal case, if the reinforcing plate 2 is completely contoured according to the airbag door 1 without providing the touch sensing film protection structure 202, it is not favorable for the vibrator 304 (see fig. 3) to be attached to the vibrator mounting structure 203 on the back surface thereof. Thus, the touch sensing film protection structure 202 of the present embodiment can provide a plane to protect the touch sensing film 302 and also leave a bonding plane for the vibrator 304 (see fig. 10). Further, the back of the stiffener plate 2 also has a trigger engagement structure 204 that acts on the pressure or distance sensor 31 (see fig. 10) on the PCB circuit board 303 (see fig. 3). Further, the reinforcing plate 2 further has a touch sensing film wire harness passing structure 205, and the wire harness of the touch sensing film 302 passes through the touch sensing film wire harness passing structure 205 and is connected to a PCB circuit board 303 (see fig. 3). Further, at least one elastic element fixing boss 206 is provided in each of the second, third, fourth and fifth zones 22, 23, 24 and 25 of the back surface of the reinforcing plate 2, for fixing the elastic element 4 (see fig. 3). Further, a guide boss 207 is provided in each of the third region 23 and the fifth region 25 on the back surface of the reinforcing plate 2, and functions as a guide when the reinforcing plate 2 is mounted with the reinforcing housing 6. It should be understood that one of the guide bosses 207 is shown by way of example and not limitation, and may be distributed at virtually any position of the second, third, fourth and fifth zones 22, 23, 24, 25 of the back surface of the reinforcing plate 2.

As shown in fig. 7, the side wall of the air bag housing 5 has a hook structure 501 which is engaged with a hole structure on the door cover wall 103 (see fig. 3) of the air bag door 1 to be connected to the air bag door 1. In addition, the bottom of the airbag housing 5 has positioning posts 502, which are inserted into the reinforcement housing 6 for installation. Furthermore, the airbag housing 5 has a connection mechanism 503 around the bottom thereof for connecting the reinforcement housing 6. Further, an inflator (not shown) is mounted to the airbag housing 5, which when activated generates gas that rushes into the airbag to inflate it.

As shown in fig. 8-9, the shell 6 is reinforced and a relatively strong material (e.g., modified plastic or metal) is used to form the enclosure. Therefore, the reinforced shell 6 is made of high-strength materials, has an all-dimensional surrounding structure in all directions in a criss-cross mode, is good in deformation resistance, and is integrally formed by a whole part, and related dimension chains are simpler and easier. Through the structural component with high deformation resistance and high strength and simple size chain, the whole deformation resistance of the module is improved, so that a real object better meets the design requirement, and the problem of matching clearance caused by poor size of parts or the condition of functional failure caused by structural deformation of the parts is reduced. Specifically, the reinforcing case 6 has a mechanical switch mounting area 601 for mounting the mechanical switch 301 (see fig. 3). In the present exemplary embodiment, the reinforcing housing 6 has at least two fixing hooks 61 in the mechanical switch mounting region 601, which are attached to the mechanical switch mounting region 601 in a manner such that the fixing hooks 61 engage with the mechanical switch 301. In addition, the bottom of the reinforcement case 6 has a PCB circuit board mounting area 602, and the PCB circuit board 303 (see fig. 3) is fixed to the PCB circuit board mounting area 602 by a rigid means, for example, in the form of screws, soldering, gluing, hooks, etc. Furthermore, the reinforced housing 6 further has a touch sensing film wire harness passing mechanism 603, and the wire harness of the touch sensing film 302 is inserted on the PCB 303 through the touch sensing film wire harness passing mechanism 205 and the wire harness passing mechanism 603. Further, the reinforcing case 6 has an elastic member fixing recess 604, and the elastic member fixing recess 604 and the elastic member fixing projection 206 are connected by means of the elastic member 4. That is, the elastic element fixing boss 604 and the elastic element fixing boss 206 are not directly connected, the elastic element fixing boss 604 and the elastic element 4 are connected and fixed, the elastic element fixing boss 206 and the elastic element 4 are connected and fixed, and the elastic element 4 is used as a connecting component of both. The connection is usually secured by snapping the flexible spring element 4 into the corresponding mechanism. It should be understood that the elastic member 4 may be formed of various elastic materials, and the manner of the elastic member 4 being snapped on the elastic member fixing recess 604 and the elastic member fixing projection 206 is not particularly limited. Further, the reinforcing case 6 also has a guide boss 605, which cooperates with the guide boss 207 (see fig. 6) to provide a guide function of the reinforcing plate 2 and the reinforcing case 6 when they are mounted. Further, the reinforcement case 6 also has a case pre-positioning hole 606 into which the positioning post 502 (see fig. 7) of the airbag case 5 is inserted to be mounted. Further, the reinforcement housing 6 also has a housing connection 607, and the connection 503 (see fig. 7) of the airbag housing 5 is fixed by rigid means, for example, in the form of screws, welding, gluing, hooks, etc. Further, the reinforcing housing 6 also has a generator clearance area 608. Further, the reinforcing case 6 further has a light shielding hole 609, as shown in fig. 10, after the PCB 303 is mounted on the reinforcing case 6, the light shielding hole 609 covers the area of the PCB 303 that needs light shielding protection, and the trigger fitting structure 204 (see fig. 6) is sealed from the upper end, thereby forming an all-directional package, and having an effect of preventing external light from interfering with the sensor 31 on the PCB 303.

What has been described above is only the preferred embodiment of the present invention, not for limiting the scope of the present invention, but various changes can be made to the above-mentioned embodiment of the present invention. All the simple and equivalent changes and modifications made according to the claims and the content of the specification of the present invention fall within the scope of the claims of the present invention. The present invention is not described in detail in the conventional technical content.

Claims (15)

1. A steering wheel assembly is characterized by comprising an air bag door cover, a reinforcing plate, electronic components, an air bag shell and a reinforcing shell, wherein the reinforcing plate is fixedly connected to an easily-deformable area of the air bag door cover to reinforce the air bag door cover, the air bag shell is connected with the air bag door cover, the reinforcing shell surrounds the air bag shell and is connected to the air bag shell, and the electronic components are installed on the air bag door cover and/or the reinforcing plate and/or the reinforcing shell to trigger the function of the steering wheel.

2. The steering wheel assembly of claim 1, wherein the airbag door cover has a first area for enclosing the airbag housing and second, third, fourth and fifth areas around the first area, and the reinforcement plate has a first area for avoiding the airbag housing and second, third, fourth and fifth areas around the first area, wherein the second area connects the second area, the third area connects the third area, the fourth area connects the fourth area, and the fifth area connects the fifth area.

3. The steering wheel assembly of claim 1, wherein the reinforcement housing is of an enclosed construction.

4. The steering wheel assembly of claim 1, wherein the electronic components include a mechanical switch mounted on the reinforcement housing, and the airbag door cover and the reinforcement plate each have an escape structure of the mechanical switch.

5. The steering wheel assembly of claim 4, wherein the reinforcement housing has a fixing hook, and the mechanical switch is mounted on the mechanical switch mounting area of the reinforcement housing through the fixing hook.

6. The steering wheel assembly of claim 1, wherein the electronic component includes a touch sensing film mounted on the airbag door cover, and the reinforcing plate has a touch sensing film protection structure receiving the touch sensing film.

7. The steering wheel assembly of claim 6, wherein the electronic component further comprises a vibrator mounted on the reinforcing plate, and the mounting structure of the vibrator is formed on the back surface of the touch sensing film protection structure of the reinforcing plate.

8. The steering wheel assembly of claim 1, wherein the electronic components comprise a PCB circuit board mounted on the reinforcement housing and coupled to the touch sensing membrane.

9. The steering wheel assembly of claim 8, wherein the reinforcing plate and the reinforcing housing are respectively provided with a touch sensing film harness passing mechanism through which the harness of the touch sensing film passes and is inserted on the PCB.

10. The steering wheel assembly of claim 8, wherein the PCB has a sensor thereon and the stiffener has a trigger engagement feature for acting on the sensor.

11. The steering wheel assembly of claim 10, wherein the reinforcement housing has a light blocking hole, and the trigger engagement structure is inserted into the light blocking hole to engage in order to prevent external light from interfering with the sensor.

12. The steering wheel assembly of claim 1, further comprising a resilient member mounted between the reinforcement plate and the reinforcement housing.

13. The steering wheel assembly of claim 12, wherein the reinforcement plate has a resilient member securing boss, and the reinforcement housing has a resilient member securing recess, the resilient member securing recess and the resilient member securing boss being connected by a resilient member.

14. The steering wheel assembly of claim 1, wherein the reinforcement plate has a guide projection and the reinforcement housing has a guide recess that cooperates with the guide projection to provide a guiding action of the reinforcement plate and the reinforcement housing when mounted.

15. The steering wheel assembly of claim 1, further comprising a rear cover for covering the electronic components and fixedly attached to the reinforcement housing.

Images