JP2002114153A - Steering wheel - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a steering wheel capable of preventing the quality of appearance from being lowered by shock at a low cost in the steering wheel to which a wooden skin is applied. SOLUTION: A thin part 64 is formed on the inner peripheral side of a back part piece 44 constituting a wooden member 40 mounted on a rim part 14 of a core bar 12, whereby the stress produced by external force applied to the wooden member 40 is concentrated on the thin part 64. Thus, since a change in appearance is not caused on the occupant side of the wooden member 40, the quality of appearance can be kept. While a dowel 58 is formed in the back part piece 44, since a region outside the thin part 64 is thicker than the thin part 64 even in a portion where a recessed part 60 of the dowel 58 is formed, the stress can be surely concentrated on the thin part 64.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a steering wheel in which a core metal is covered with a wood member.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A steering wheel used for steering a vehicle or the like has a ring-shaped rim, a boss formed at the center of the rim, and integrally connects the rim and the boss. A metal core constituted by spokes is provided. In addition, an outer skin is usually attached to a part of the rim portion and the spoke portion of the metal core, so that the feel when gripping the steering wheel is improved.
Further, there is also a configuration using wood for such an outer skin, which meets various demands of users, such as matching a steering wheel with decoration in a vehicle interior.

[0003]

When a synthetic resin material having a lower rigidity (in other words, a higher elasticity) than wood is used for the outer skin of the steering wheel, if the outer skin of the steering wheel is subjected to impact or the like, it is supposed that the synthetic resin material has an impact. Even if an external force acts, it absorbs it by its own elasticity, so that the appearance does not change due to the impact.

However, when wood is used for the outer skin, it is extremely difficult to control the impact caused by the material, and the parts constituting the outer skin are combined in a special combination or a special composite is formed around the outer skin. Since the appearance quality was maintained by applying a resin material, the cost was high.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-described circumstances, and has as its object to provide a steering wheel to which a wooden outer skin is applied, at a low cost, without deteriorating the appearance quality even by an impact.

[0006]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a steering wheel formed of a substantially ring-shaped metal core and a solid wood material corresponding to at least a part of the mounting portion of the metal core. A front side piece attached to the mounting portion from the axial occupant side of the metal core, and a solid material identical to the solid wood of the wood forming the front side portion is formed corresponding to the mounting portion. And the front side piece is set to be lower in strength than the front side piece, and is mounted on the mounting portion from the axially opposite occupant side of the core bar and integrally connected to the front side piece in the mounted state. And a back piece covering the mounting site together with the piece.

[0007] According to the steering wheel having the above structure, a front side piece and a back side piece formed of solid wood are mounted on at least a part of the mounting portion of the cored bar.
The mounting site is covered by the front side piece and the back side piece.

Here, the strength of the back side piece is set lower than that of the front side piece. Therefore, if an external force acts directly or indirectly on the back side piece through the front side piece, the stress is concentrated on the back side piece which is hard to be seen from the occupant side, so that the action of the external force causes the stress from the occupant side. The appearance quality of the visible front side piece does not deteriorate. Therefore, in the state of being attached to the vehicle, it is possible to suppress or prevent the appearance quality of the present steering wheel from being degraded by the external force.

[0009] The steering wheel according to claim 2 is
The present invention according to claim 1 is characterized in that a thin portion having a smaller thickness than the front side piece is formed on a part or the whole of the back side piece.

According to the steering wheel having the above structure, a thin portion having a smaller thickness than the front portion is formed on a part or the whole of the rear portion so that the strength of the thin portion is increased. It becomes possible to lower than a piece. Therefore, stress can be surely concentrated on the thin portion of the back side piece.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a steering wheel,
In the present invention according to claim 2, a convex portion formed on the non-occupant side of the back side piece, the thin portion is formed on one of radially inner and outer sides of the cored bar, Along the circumferential direction of the cored bar is formed adjacent to the convex portion, and the surface on the side opposite to the occupant is located on the occupant side with respect to any one of the other sides and the convex portion. A dowel formed by an inclined surface and a concave portion in which the thin portion is formed on one of the sides.

In the steering wheel having the above-described structure, the dowel formed by the convex portion and the concave portion is formed on the back side piece, and when the steering wheel is gripped, the finger contacts the concave portion of the dowel, so-called. The grip is improved.

In the steering wheel of the present invention, a thin portion is formed on either one of the inner side and the outer side in the radial direction of the core metal of the convex portion and the concave portion constituting the dowel.
The strength of a portion of the back piece will be reduced.

Here, the concave portion is formed such that the side where the thin portion is formed is located on the opposite side and closer to the occupant than the convex portion. For this reason, even in the concave portion, the thickness is thicker on the side opposite to the side where the thin portion is formed than on the thin portion. Therefore, stress can be concentrated on the thin portion even in the concave portion.

[0015]

FIG. 4 is a plan view showing a configuration of a steering wheel 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 1, the steering wheel 10 includes a metal core 12 formed entirely by casting a metal such as magnesium, for example.
The metal core 12 includes a rim portion 14. The rim portion 14 is formed in a ring shape as a whole, and as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a cross section cut along the axial direction has an axially opposite occupant side (FIG. And arrow Z in FIG.
It has a concave shape (an inverted “U” shape) that opens toward two directions.

A boss 16 is provided on the center of the rim 14 on the side opposite to the occupant in the axial direction. The boss part 16 is formed in a substantially thick cylindrical shape, and can be fitted to a steering shaft (all of which are not shown are not shown) constituting a steering device (steering device) of the vehicle.

Between the boss 16 and the rim 14, three spokes 18 are provided. As shown in FIG. 5, each spoke portion 18 is formed in a plate shape curved or bent in a crank shape appropriately in a longitudinal direction substantially along a radial direction of the rim portion 14 and a longitudinal middle portion thereof, One end in the longitudinal direction is integrally connected to the rim portion 14,
The other end in the longitudinal direction is integrally connected to the boss 16. As a result, the boss portion 16 and the rim portion 14 are integrally connected via the spoke portion 18, and by rotating the rim portion 14 around its axis, the steering shaft fitted with the boss portion 16 is rotated around its axis. As a result, the steering device can be operated. Although the present embodiment has a configuration in which the number of spoke portions 18 is three, from the viewpoint of connection between the rim portion 14 and the boss portion 16, the number of spoke portions 18 may be at least one.

Further, as shown in FIG.
An outer skin 26 is attached to 2. The outer skin portion 26 includes a portion of each spoke portion 18 on the rim portion 14 side and the rim portion 14.
Is provided at each outer skin mounting site, which is a portion in the vicinity of each spoke portion 18. The outer skin portion 26 is made of, for example, a urethane-based synthetic resin material, and covers the rim portion 14 and each spoke portion 18 corresponding to the outer skin mounting portion from the outside, and a skin member covering the core material from the outside. , And is constituted. In the present embodiment, as described above,
Although the outer skin portion 26 is formed by the core material and the skin member, the outer skin portion 26 may be formed only by the core material.

Further, as shown in FIG.
A dowel 28 is formed on the side opposite to the occupant 6 (the side opposite to the arrow Z2 in FIG. 5). The dowel 28 is composed of concave portions 30 and convex portions 32 alternately formed along the circumferential direction of the rim portion 14. When the vehicle occupant grips the steering wheel 10, the concave portion of the dowel 28 is formed. 30
, So that the grip when the steering wheel 10 is gripped can be stabilized.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG.
Among them, the area corresponding to the part where the outer skin part 26 is not attached is a wooden member mounting part as a mounting part, and the wooden member 40 is mounted. Here, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the wooden member 40 is constituted by a pair of a front side piece 42 and a back side piece 44 facing each other along the axial direction of the rim portion 14.

As shown in FIG. 2, the front side piece 42
Is cut out from solid wood of natural wood into a rod shape curved in an arc shape along the inner and outer peripheries of the rim portion 14. The occupant-side surface 46 of the front side piece 42 is formed so as to project in an arc toward the occupant (in the direction of the arrow Z1 in FIG. 2). On the other hand, the joining surface 48 of the front side piece 42 on the side opposite to the occupant side surface 46 is a plane whose surface direction faces the occupant side (the direction of the arrow Z2 in FIG. 2), and the widthwise center side thereof. A groove-shaped rim housing groove 50 opened toward the non-occupant side is formed uniformly along the longitudinal direction of the front side piece 42 (that is, the circumferential direction of the rim portion 14).

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 1, the back side piece 44 is made of the same solid material as the solid wood of the natural wood from which the front side piece 42 is cut out, similarly to the front side piece 42. It is cut into a rod shape curved in an arc shape along the inner and outer peripheries. The opposite occupant-side surface 52 of the back side piece 44 is formed so as to protrude in an arc shape toward the opposite occupant side (the direction of the arrow Z2 in FIG. 1). On the other hand, the joint surface 54 of the back side piece 44 on the side opposite to the non-occupant side surface 52 is a plane whose surface direction faces the occupant side (the direction of the arrow Z1 in FIG. 1), and the axis of the rim portion 14 is The front side piece 42 and the back side piece 44 are integrally joined by fixing means such as an adhesive in a state where the front side piece 42 and the joining surface 48 of the front side piece 42 are in contact with each other along the direction.

Further, a groove-shaped rim receiving groove 56 opened toward the occupant side is provided at the center in the width direction of the joining surface 54 of the back side piece 44 in the longitudinal direction of the back side piece 44 (that is, the rim portion 1).
4 circumferential direction). The opening end of the rim accommodation groove 50 is formed so as to substantially coincide with the opening end of the rim accommodation groove 56 in a state where the front side piece 42 and the back side piece 44 are joined. Therefore, the entire wooden member 40 has a hollow cylindrical shape, and as shown in FIG. 1, the rim portion 14 is accommodated inside thereof (that is, inside the rim accommodation groove 50 and the rim accommodation groove 56). The rim portion 14 is fitted into the inner peripheral portions of the rim accommodation grooves 50 and 56 or the rim accommodation groove 5
The rim receiving grooves 50 and 56 are fixed by fillers (not shown) also provided in the rim receiving grooves 50 and 56.

Further, as shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, a dowel 58 is formed on the opposite occupant-side surface 52 of the back side piece 44. The dowel 58 is constituted by concave portions 60 and convex portions 62 formed alternately along the circumferential direction of the rim portion 14. When the vehicle occupant grips the steering wheel 10, the concave portion of the dowel 58 is formed. 60
, So that the grip when the steering wheel 10 is gripped can be stabilized.

Here, as shown in FIG.
Is formed by an inclined surface that is inclined toward the anti-occupant side (in the direction of the arrow Z2 in FIG. 1) as a whole and toward the inner peripheral side of the rim portion 14 (in the direction of the arrow R2 in FIG. 1). The respective positions of the convex portion 62 and the concave portion 60 along the axial direction of the rim portion 14 are such that the concave portion 60 is closer to the occupant than the convex portion 62 (in the direction of the arrow Z1 in FIG. 1) on the inner peripheral side. On the other hand, the concave portion 60 and the convex portion 62 are substantially at the same position on the outer peripheral side.

As shown in FIG. 1, the rear side piece 44 is tapered so that its width gradually decreases toward the occupant side (in the direction of arrow R2 in FIG. 1). Front side piece 4
2 also has a kind of tapered shape because the occupant-side surface 46 is curved, but if the cross-sectional shape of the front side piece 42 is assumed to be tapered, the taper angle of the cross section of the back side piece 44 is assumed. Is smaller than the taper angle of the front side piece 42.
For this reason, the thickness D1 in the vicinity of the inner peripheral end portion of the back occupant-side surface of the back side piece 44 is sufficiently larger than the thickness (for example, the thickness D2) of the other portions of the back side piece 44 and the front side piece 42. The thin portion 64 is thin. Therefore, the strength (rigidity) of the back portion 44 is lower in the portion where the thin portion 64 is formed than in the other portions and the front portion 42.

The thin portion 64 is provided with the convex portion 6 of the dowel 58.
2 are formed not only in the portion where the recess 2 is formed but also in the portion where the recess 60 is formed.

Here, as described above, the concave portion 60 is entirely on the side opposite to the occupant (in the direction of the arrow Z2 in FIG. 1) and the rim portion 1
4, the position of the concave portion 60 and the position of the convex portion 62 on the outer peripheral side along the axial direction of the rim portion 14 are substantially formed by the inclined surface inclined toward the inner peripheral side (the direction of the arrow R2 in FIG. 1). Since it is located at the same position, even at the portion where the concave portion 60 is formed, the thickness of the outer peripheral side (the direction of the arrow R1 in FIG. 1) of the back side piece 44 and the thickness of the anti-occupant side surface 52 side are smaller than those of the thin portion 64. thick.

Next, the operation and effect of this embodiment will be described.

In the present steering wheel 10, the rim portion 14 is provided with a wooden member 40, and for example, has an appearance and texture different from that of the steering wheel in which the whole is formed by the outer skin portion 26 made of a synthetic resin material. ing.

On the other hand, if an external force (impact) acts on the wooden member 40 of the steering wheel 10 from the occupant side (ie, the direction of the arrow Z1 in FIG. 5), the external force first acts on the front side piece 42, Furthermore, it acts on the back side piece 44 via the front side piece 42.

Here, a thin portion 64 is formed on the back side piece 44. Since the thin portion 64 is thinner than the other portion of the back portion 44 and the front portion 42, the rigidity (strength) of the thin portion 64 is lower than that of the other portion 44 and the front portion 42.
Lower than. Therefore, since the stress is concentrated on the thin portion 64, the portion of the back portion 44 other than the thin portion 64 and the front side portion 42 do not change their appearance due to external force.

As described above, the present steering wheel 10
In this case, if the external force acts to change the appearance, the thin portion 64 will change. However, since the thin portion 64 is formed in the back portion 44, the shade of the front portion 42 is not seen from the occupant side. Thus, even if the appearance of the thin portion 64 changes, the occupant does not see it. For this reason,
When the steering wheel 10 is attached to the vehicle, a reduction in appearance quality due to the action of external force on the entire steering wheel 10 can be suppressed or prevented.

Further, even in the portion where the concave portion 60 is formed, a portion thinner than the thin portion 64 is not formed in a portion other than the thin portion 64, so that a crack is formed in a portion other than the thin portion 64. Is not formed, and as a result,
This contributes to maintaining the appearance quality of the steering wheel 10.

In the steering wheel 10,
Since it is only necessary to partially form the low-strength thin portion 64 on the back side piece 44, it is possible to realize it at a low cost, and it is easy even with a conventional steering wheel without the thin portion 64. It can be applied only by simple design changes and processing.

In the present embodiment, the thin portion 64 is formed on the inner peripheral side (the direction of the arrow R2 in FIG. 1) of the back side piece 44. 1 (in the direction of the arrow 1). Also, in the present embodiment, the thin portion 64 is formed by making the back side piece 44 tapered in cross section. In other words, in other words, the thin portion 64 is formed by making the outer shape of the back side piece 44 taper than that of the front side piece 42. However, the thin portion 64 may not be formed by tapering the outer shape in this manner. For example, by expanding the rim housing groove 56 formed in the back side piece 44 or increasing the opening width dimension toward the bottom side of the rim housing groove 56, the inner circumferential side and the outer circumference of the back side piece 44 are partially formed. The thin portion 64 may be formed on the side, and a thin portion 64 may be formed on the inner peripheral side or the outer peripheral side of the back side piece 44 by forming a groove separately from the rim accommodation groove 56. .

[0038]

As described above, the present invention can suppress or prevent a change in appearance on the occupant side even when an external force acts. In addition, since only the strength of the back side piece needs to be reduced, the cost is low.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a recess of a dowel of a steering wheel according to an embodiment of the present invention, and is a cross-sectional view of a main part taken along line 1-1 in FIG.

2 is a cross-sectional view of a convex portion of the dowel of the steering wheel according to the embodiment of the present invention, and is a cross-sectional view of a main part along line 2-2 in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a front view of the front side piece and the back side piece as viewed from the direction of arrow B (the inside of the metal core) of FIG. 4;

FIG. 4 is a plan view of a steering wheel according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a front view of the steering wheel as viewed from the direction of arrow A (outside of the cored bar) in FIG. 4;

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 10 steering wheel 12 core metal 42 front side piece 44 back side piece 58 dowel 60 concave part 62 convex part 64 thin part

Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Keizo Suzuki 3-260 Toyota, Oguchi-machi, Niwa-gun, Aichi Prefecture F-term in Tokai Rika Electric Works, Ltd.

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A core metal formed in a substantially ring shape, and a solid wood material corresponding to at least a part of the core metal to be mounted, and the mounting part being positioned from an occupant side in the axial direction of the core metal. The front side piece to be attached to, the same as the solid wood of the wood forming the front side piece is formed corresponding to the mounting portion by the same solid material and set to a lower strength than the front side piece, A back side piece that is attached to the mounting portion from the axially opposite occupant side of the core bar and is integrally connected to the front side portion in the mounted state to cover the mounting portion together with the front side portion, A steering wheel provided with. 2. The steering wheel according to claim 1, wherein a thin portion having a smaller thickness than the front side piece is formed on a part or the entirety of the back side piece. 3. A convex portion formed on the non-occupant side of the back side piece and having the thin portion formed on one of radially inner side and outer side of the core bar; While being formed adjacent to the convex portion along the circumferential direction, the surface on the side opposite to the occupant is a slope that is located closer to the occupant than either the other side and the convex portion. 3. The steering wheel according to claim 2, further comprising a dowel formed by: a concave portion in which the thin portion is formed on one of the sides. 4.