JP2002200983A - Steering wheel - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To easily and securely fit an air bag device to a steering wheel main body. SOLUTION: A horn plate 16 of the steering wheel main body 2 is provided with claw-like lock receiver piece parts 19 opposite to each other. A lock piece part 28 formed by bending a wire is fitted to the air bag device 4. This lock piece part 28 is provided with a pair of lock piece parts 29. Each lock piece part 29 is provided with an arm part 38 bent from a base part 35 and an abutment part 37. An angle formed by the base part 35 and the arm part 38 is formed smaller than 90 degree. When the air bag device 4 is pushed into a lower side, the lock piece part 29 is engaged with the lock receiver piece part 19, and the air bag device 4 can be fitted to the steering wheel main body 2. When an air bag 22 is expanded, a force for pulling the lock piece part 28 is applied, and the abutment part 37 is moved to be separated from the tip 19a of the lock receiver piece part 19, to securely achieve a firm engagement.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to, for example, a steering wheel provided with an airbag device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, for example, in an automobile steering wheel, a configuration is known in which an airbag device provided in a steering wheel body is used as an operation unit of a horn switch. And as such a configuration,
For example, as disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. H11-268651, a steering wheel body is provided with a pair of horn plates on both sides, and a base plate of an airbag device is fixed to a nut portion provided on each of the horn plates with a Torx bolt. A known configuration is known. further,
Each of these horn plates is guided by a plurality of bolts to the boss portion of the steering wheel body so as to be able to advance and retreat within a predetermined range, and is urged to the occupant side by a spring wound around each bolt, so that a fixed contact and a movable contact are provided. Are held apart from each other.

[0003]

In contrast to the above-mentioned conventional configuration, there is a demand for a configuration capable of reducing the number of parts and the number of man-hours for assembling work and easily reducing the manufacturing cost.

[0004] The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and it is an object of the present invention to provide a steering wheel that can facilitate assembly work and reduce manufacturing costs.

[0005]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a steering wheel comprising a steering wheel body and a pad body attached to the steering wheel body in a predetermined direction. A pair of locking receiving portions provided with leading ends directed in a direction intersecting, a contact portion locked on the side opposite to the pad body of the locking receiving portion, and the contacting portion and the pad body. And a locking piece having an arm that is inclined toward the distal end with respect to the predetermined direction.

In this configuration, the contact portion of each locking piece is locked to the opposite side of the pad body of the locking receiving piece, so that
The pad body is locked to the steering wheel main body along a predetermined direction so that the pad body can be easily attached. It is easy to reduce the number of parts and the number of assembly steps, and the manufacturing cost is reduced. When a force is applied to the pad body in a direction away from the steering wheel body along a predetermined direction, the arm portion is deformed so as to be parallel to the direction along the predetermined direction. The pad body moves in a direction away from the tip of the section, and the pad body is firmly held by the steering wheel body.

[0007] The steering wheel according to the second aspect,
2. The steering wheel according to claim 1, wherein the pad body includes an airbag device provided with a base body and an airbag attached to the base body.

In this configuration, when the airbag device operates, the force generated when the airbag is deployed is
Although a force is applied in a direction in which the pad body separates from the steering wheel body, even in this state, the airbag device is easily and reliably held.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a steering wheel,
In the steering wheel according to the second aspect, the pair of locking pieces are formed integrally with a locking piece formed by bending a steel wire, and are locked and attached to the base body.

In this configuration, the configuration is simplified, the number of parts is easily reduced, and the manufacturing cost is reduced.

[0011] The steering wheel according to claim 4 is
The steering wheel according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the steering wheel body and the pad body are provided so as to face each other, and at least one of the pair of contacts is elastically supported in a predetermined direction so as to be able to advance and retreat. A switch mechanism having a biasing means for biasing the contacts in a direction of separating the contacts, wherein the locking pieces are locked to the locking receiving pieces so as to be able to contact and separate from each other, and regulate the movement range of the pad body. Things.

In this configuration, the switch mechanism is simply configured, and the manufacturing cost is reduced. Also, since at least one contact is elastically supported, it absorbs the force applied to the contact when the locking piece is locked to the locking receiving portion,
A desired operation feeling is easily secured.

[0013]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of a steering wheel according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

1 to 3, reference numeral 1 denotes a steering wheel for steering an automobile. The steering wheel 1 can be called a steering device or a steering wheel. An airbag device (airbag module) 4 which is a pad body as an operation unit mounted on the occupant side of the steering wheel main body 2 and the like. The steering wheel 1 is normally used in a state of being inclined at a predetermined angle. Hereinafter, the front side of the airbag device 4, that is, the occupant side, will be referred to as the upper side, and the rear surface side of the airbag device 4, ie, the vehicle body side, will be described. The lower side, the upper front side of the vehicle, that is, the windshield side is the front side, and the lower rear side of the vehicle is the rear side, that is, the predetermined direction is described as a direction along the up-down direction.

The steering wheel body 2 is
An annular rim portion 5, a boss portion 6 located inside the rim portion 5, and a plurality of, in this embodiment, three spoke portions 7 connecting the rim portion 5 and the boss portion 6, are provided. It is composed of A substantially cylindrical boss 8 fitted to the steering shaft is provided at a lower portion of the boss portion 6, and the boss 8 constituting a core body which is a hub core formed by die-casting a magnesium alloy is provided on the boss 8. The plate 9 is formed integrally. Then, from the boss plate 9, the core body 7a of the spoke portion 7 constituting the core body is integrally extended or fixed by welding or the like.
The core 5a of the rim 5 is fixed to the core 7a of the spoke 7 integrally or by welding. A skin portion 10 made of a soft foamed polyurethane or the like is formed on an outer peripheral portion of the core 5a of the rim portion 5 and an outer peripheral portion of a portion of the spoke portion 7 on the rim portion 5 side of the core 7a. I have.

Further, a lower cover (back cover) 11 made of resin is attached to the boss portion 6, and a lower portion of the boss portion 6 is covered. Further, on the inner side or lower side of the lower cover 11, there is provided a ring-shaped cable called an electrical connection device for electrically connecting the vehicle body side and the steering wheel 1 side, such as a clock spring or a cable type connector device. A reel device is attached.

The outer periphery of the boss plate 9 or the spoke portion 7 is provided on the core of the steering wheel body 2.
The movable body arrangement portion 12 is set in a substantially annular shape and is located near the base end portion inside the core body 7a, and a flange portion 14 stands upward on the inner peripheral side of the movable body arrangement portion 12. Has been raised.

Further, in the present embodiment, a horn plate 16 which is a movable body is provided as a member constituting the steering wheel body 2 and the switch mechanism.
The horn plate 16 includes a horn plate main body 17 in the form of a metal frame, and an insulating insulator 18 covering at least a part of the horn plate main body 17.
And Although not shown, the horn plate 16 includes a movable contact as a contact opposed to a fixed contact provided as a contact provided on the core body side. The bolts are urged to move upward and downward, that is, the fixed contact and the movable contact are separated from each other by a coil spring which is an elastic body serving as an urging means wound around these bolts. Have been. Further, the horn plate 16 has insulators located on both sides.
A pair of locking receiving pieces 19 are formed integrally with the boss 8 and face each other with the tip 19a facing the boss 8 side, that is, the center side of the steering wheel position. And, each locking receiving part 19
On the upper side, the inclined surface portion 19b descending toward the tip portion 19a
Is formed, and a receiving surface portion 19c that slightly descends in a curved shape or the like toward the distal end portion 19a is formed on the lower side.

On the other hand, the airbag device 4 is also called a module assembly or the like, and as shown in FIGS. 1 to 4 and the like, a base plate 21 as a base body, a bag-shaped airbag 22, and covers the airbag 22. A resin cover body (module cover) 23, an inflator 25 for injecting gas, a plurality of lock nuts 26, a locking piece 28, and the like are combined and placed on the boss 6 of the steering wheel body 2. The pair of locking pieces 29 on both sides of the locking piece 28 are locked to the locking receiving piece 19 and can be attached to the steering wheel body 2.

As shown in FIGS. 1 to 6, the base plate 21 is formed by bending a steel plate or the like and integrally formed to form a substantially polygonal plate-like substrate portion 21a.
And a peripheral plate portion 21b which is a peripheral wall bent upward from a peripheral edge portion of substantially the entire periphery of the peripheral portion. A circular hole-shaped inflator through-hole 21c is formed in the substrate portion 21a, and bolt through-holes 21d are formed at a plurality of positions on the outer periphery of the inflator through-hole 21c. .
In addition, the peripheral plate portion 21b is provided with a cover abutting portion 21e that is cut and raised substantially flush with the substrate portion 21a toward the outer peripheral side at a plurality of locations, for example, at four locations.
For example, hook portions 21f are formed at nine locations inclined downward toward the outer peripheral side and cut and raised from an intermediate position in the vertical direction.

Further, a locking piece mounting portion 31 for holding the locking piece 28 is formed integrally with the substrate portion 21a of the base plate 21. The locking piece mounting portion 31 is provided on both sides of the mounting piece receiving portion 32 in which the substrate portion 21a is recessed in a predetermined shape so as to surround the inflator through hole 21c. The locking piece portion 29 of the piece 28 includes a locking piece insertion portion 33 that can be inserted. Further, at a predetermined position of the mounting piece receiving portion 32, in this embodiment, at a portion adjacent to the locking piece insertion portion 33, the locking piece fixing portion 34 into which the locking piece 28 is pressed and held is formed by forging to have an inner diameter of 2 mm.
Are formed in four places in a bead shape.

On the other hand, as shown in FIGS. 1 to 7, the locking piece 28 is formed by bending a single steel wire, in this embodiment, a piano wire having a diameter of 2.3 mm. 35
And a pair of locking pieces 29 continuous on both sides of the base 35. The base 35 as a whole has a substantially polygonal shape that is fitted and held in the mounting piece receiving portion 32, and the rear side is connected, while the front side is not connected and is separated. It has become. Each locking piece 29 has a contact portion 37 extending horizontally in the front-rear direction and an arm portion 38 connecting the contact portion 37 and the base 35. As a whole, the arm portion 38 is bent downward while being inclined in a direction toward the center side of the base portion 35, that is, the arm portion 38, from a base end portion 38a which is a tip portion on both sides of the base portion 35. That is, as shown in FIG. 1, the angle θ formed between the base 35 and the arm 38 is smaller than 90 degrees. In the present embodiment, more specifically, as shown in FIG. 7, the arm portion 38 is inclined and bent so as to be once folded back to the center side of the base 35, and in the vicinity of the contact portion 37, Slightly base
35 It is bent in the direction away from the center.

The airbag 22 is, for example, 6,6-
Two circular base cloths made of nylon woven cloth are overlapped and formed into a bag shape by sewing or the like on the outer periphery, and a through hole 22a for an inflator is formed at the center of the bottom. Bolt through holes 22b are formed at four locations on the outer periphery of the hole 22a. The portion where the inflator through hole 22a and the bolt through hole 22b are formed is reinforced by a separate base cloth 22c.

Further, the cover body 23 is formed integrally by, for example, injection molding an olefin-based elastomer, and covers a part of the boss part 6 and the spoke part 7 of the steering wheel body 2, and a cover part 23a. And a substantially polygonal cylindrical mounting piece 23b protruding downward from the lower surface of the mounting member 23b. Then, the covering portion 23a and the mounting piece portion 23b
A portion surrounded by a bottomless box-shaped portion made of and a base plate 21 attached to the lower side of the cover body 23 serves as an airbag storage portion for storing the folded airbag 22. On the back surface of the covering portion 23a, a weak brittle tear line formed in a thin shape is formed in a substantially H-shaped plane. Also, on the upper surface of the covering portion 23a,
If necessary, an indicator such as an emblem is formed integrally or attached separately at the center of the boss 6, and an end of the covering portion 23a such as a portion covering the front spoke 7 is provided. An operation display unit 23e having a pattern showing dot-like irregularities and a horn is integrally formed at the position. Further, the mounting piece 23b is provided with an engagement receiving portion 23 which is recessed or opened on the inner peripheral side or the outer peripheral side at predetermined intervals.
f is formed.

The inflator 25 has a substantially cylindrical inflator body (container) 25a filled with a propellant or the like.
A gas injection port 25b is formed at a predetermined interval in a circumferential direction on an upper portion of the inflator body 25a, and a flange portion is formed on an outer peripheral side from a substantially central portion in a height direction of the inflator body 25a. 25c is protruded, and mounting bolts 25d which are directed downward at four locations are fixed to the flange portion 25c. In addition, a lead wire provided with a connector at the tip is led out from the bottom of the inflator main body 25a, and power for starting is supplied. Further, if necessary, a synthetic resin inflator cover is attached so as to cover the bottom of the inflator body 25a, lead wires, and the like.

Further, if necessary, the base plate 21
A bar code label 40 indicating specifications, a serial number, and the like is attached to a lower surface of the substrate section 21a.

The assembling process of the airbag device 4 is as follows. First, the locking piece 29 of the locking piece 28 is inserted into the locking piece insertion part 33 of the base plate 21 from above, and the base 35 is attached to the mounting piece receiving part. At the same time, four parts near the end of the base 35 are pressed into the locking piece fixing portion 34 and fixed.

Further, the inflator 25 is inserted into the inside of the airbag 22 through the inflator through hole 22a, and
25d is inserted into the bolt holes 22b and 21d of the airbag 22 and the base plate 21 and pulled out, and a lock nut 26 as a fixing tool is screwed from below to fix the airbag 22 and the inflator 25 to the base plate 21. . In this state, the lower half of the inflator body 25a protrudes below the substrate portion 21a of the base plate 21 via the inflator through hole 22a and the inflator through hole 21c of the airbag 22.

The airbag 22 is folded, for example, from a state where it is horizontally extended in a flat plate shape so that the peripheral portion 22c is gathered at the center toward the inflator 25, and is covered from above so as to cover the airbag 22. The cover 23 is covered, and the mounting piece 23b of the cover 23 is fitted to the outer peripheral side of the peripheral plate 21b of the base plate 21. In this state, the lower end of the mounting piece 23b abuts on the cover body abutment 21e and the hook 2
1f is engaged with the engagement receiving portion 23f, and the cover body 23 is fixed to the base plate 21.

Further, the step of incorporating the airbag device 4 formed as described above into the steering wheel 1 is performed by engaging the pair of locking pieces 29 of the airbag device 4 with the horn plate 16 of the steering wheel body 2. By pressing down in a predetermined direction, that is, in the up-down direction, in a state of being aligned with the stopper piece 19, the mechanical connection work is completed with one touch, so to speak, and then, if necessary, the electrical connection work And the steering wheel 1 is configured. That is, when the airbag device 4 is pushed downward, the abutting portion 37 of the locking piece 29 is brought into contact with the inclined surface of the locking receiving piece 19.
The inclined surface portion 19b is guided by 19b and elastically deforms inward.
With the upper part slidably in contact with and over the distal end portion 19a, it is returned and deformed outward, and the contact portion 37 is locked on the lower surface of the lock receiving piece portion 19. Furthermore, the tip portion 19 on the lower surface side of the locking receiving portion 19
The receiving surface portion 19c slightly descending in a curved shape toward the position a makes this locking more reliable.

In the steering wheel 1, when no operating force is applied to the airbag device 4, as shown in FIG. 1, the biasing force of the biasing means for supporting the horn plate 16 causes the airbag device 4. Is held at a predetermined position with respect to the steering wheel body 2, and the movable contact and the fixed contact are held in a state of being separated by a predetermined distance.

When the operator pushes the cover body 23 of the airbag device 4, the airbag device 4 is pushed down against the urging force of the urging means, and the airbag device 4 is connected to at least one movable contact and fixed contact. Is closed, the circuit is closed,
The horn sounds.

The airbag device 4 of the steering wheel 1 configured as described above, when an impact such as a collision is applied to an automobile, is moved from the inflator 25 to the inside of the airbag 22 as shown in FIG. An inert gas such as nitrogen gas is rapidly injected to rapidly inflate the folded airbag 22, and the pressure of the inflation causes the cover body 23 to break at a predetermined tear line to form a projecting opening. The airbag 22 projects from the mouth and inflates and deploys widely in front of the occupant to protect the occupant.

When the airbag device 4 is actuated in this manner, a force is applied to the airbag device 4 to pull the airbag device 4 upward in the predetermined direction with respect to the steering wheel body 2. This force is particularly concentrated on the engaging portion between the locking piece 29 and the locking receiving piece 19.
Then, the arm portion 38 of the locking piece 29 provided at an angle is provided.
Are extended along the vertical direction which is a predetermined direction. In this state, the contact portion 37 provided at the tip of the arm portion 38 is extended.
Is applied to the outer side, that is, moves in a direction in which it is separated from the distal end portion 19a of the locking receiving portion 19 and engages more deeply. Stop piece
The engagement between the locking piece 29 and the locking piece 19 is firmly held.

As shown in FIG. 3, the arm 38 is elastically returned and deformed in a state where the force for pulling up the airbag device 4 is lost, and the locking piece 29 and the locking receiving piece are formed in a predetermined shape. The engagement with the part 19 is maintained.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, the claw-shaped locking receiving portion 19 provided on the steering wheel main body 2 side.
And the engagement piece 29, which is an assembling wire protruding downward from the airbag device 4 side, allows the airbag device 4 to be assembled to the steering wheel body 2 with one touch. Further, the number of parts and the number of assembling steps can be reduced, so that the manufacturing cost can be reduced, the weight and size of the pad body can be reduced, and the visibility of the instrument panel can be easily improved.

Since the locking pieces 29 projecting downward from the airbag device 4 side are inclined inward from each other, that is, the pair of locking pieces are inclined so as to approach each other. Depending on the shape of the wire
Since the base end portion 38a, which is the bending position (bending portion) of the airbag, is located outside the contact portion 37, which is the wire assembling position, the airbag
When the base portion 38a of the arm portion 38 of the locking piece 28, which is the locking portion, moves inward due to the load acting when the 22 is deployed, the arm portion 38 tends to become a vertical straight line. However, since the base end portion 38a is originally located outside the contact portion 37, even if the lock receiving piece portion 19 is deformed upward, for example, the engagement is not released and is securely held. In other words, the locking piece 28 is extended, and the locking piece 28, that is, the force generated at the time of deployment that acts so that the base end portion 38a and the contact portion 37 are positioned in a straight line along the predetermined direction is used. The airbag device 4 can be held more easily.

That is, if the locking piece is formed by bending the base end portion at a right angle to form the locking piece, it is necessary to use a strong wire so that the wire does not extend and the module does not come off during deployment. Although the reduction is not always easy,
In the present embodiment, the locking piece 28 does not need to increase the strength of the wire more than necessary, can easily withstand the deployment force of the airbag 22, and can reduce the manufacturing cost.

A locking piece 28 having a pair of locking pieces 29
Is formed by bending a single steel wire and press-fitting the base 35 into the base plate 21 to simplify the structure, reduce the number of parts, and reduce manufacturing costs. it can.

Further, the portion where the locking piece 28 is press-fitted and fixed is
This is a portion in which a concave portion is formed in the base plate 21 in a bead shape, and the rigidity of the base plate 21 can be improved by the shape of the concave portion and the wire fixed to the concave portion.

The shape of the locking piece 29 of the locking piece 28 is not limited to the above-described configuration, but can take various shapes.
For example, as shown in FIG. 8, the arm 38 of the locking piece 29 has a base end 38 a side of the arm 38 which has a curved shape and a contact portion 37.
The sides can be vertical. The arm 38 is
For example, as shown in FIG. 9, the shape may be bent at a substantially middle position in the longitudinal direction, or as shown in FIG. 10, the shape may be bent near the contact portion 37.

In FIGS. 8 to 10, (a)
In the operation of mounting the airbag device 4 on the steering wheel body 2, the locking piece 29 abuts on the locking receiving piece 19, and FIG. The state where the stopper piece 29 is slightly elastically deformed is shown.

In the above-described embodiment, the locking receiving piece 19 with which the locking piece 29 of the locking piece 28 is engaged is the horn plate 18.
However, for example, as shown in FIGS. 11 to 13, the locking receiving piece 41 may be provided integrally or separately on the boss plate 9 or the like which is the core of the steering wheel body 2.

In the configuration shown in FIGS. 11 to 13, an annular horn plate 43 is attached to the base plate 21 side of the airbag device 4, and a movable contact 44 as a contact of the horn plate 43 is a horn. plate
Leaf spring-like elastic body (elastic body plate) attached to 43
It is supported by 45 so that it can move up and down elastically. Further, the horn plate 43 is integrally provided with an annular first insulator 47 having an insulating property as a receiving seat, and is fitted to the first insulator 47 so as to be vertically movable within a predetermined range. In addition, a cylindrical second insulator 48 having an insulating property is attached. further,
Between these first and second insulators 47 and 48,
A coil spring 49, which is an elastic body, is provided as an urging means. The coil spring 49 is supported by the first and second insulators 47 and 48 while being insulated from other members.

On the other hand, the core of the steering wheel body 2 is provided with a fixed contact 51 serving as a contact and a receiving portion 52 that contacts and supports the second insulator 48. The locking piece 41 is made of an insulating material as in the embodiment shown in FIG.

Therefore, the locking piece 29 on the airbag device 4 side
The coil spring 49 urges the airbag device 4 upward in a state where the airbag device 4 is attached to the steering wheel body 2 while the airbag device 4 is attached to the steering wheel body 2 while the airbag device 4 is locked by the locking receiving piece 41 on the steering wheel body 2 side. As shown in FIG.
51 are separated from each other, and the abutment portion 37 of the locking piece 29 abuts on the lower surface of the locking receiving piece 41 to regulate the upper limit of the airbag device 4.

Such contact mechanisms are provided at two places on both sides of the front of the horn plate 43 of the airbag device 4. The center of the rear of the horn plate 43 is insulated by the insulator 55, It is supported by the body so that it can move up and down. The horn plate 43 is electrically connected to a horn mechanism by a connector 57.

When the airbag device 4 is pushed downward against the urging force of the coil spring 49, the movable contact 44
Contacts the fixed contact 51, the circuit is closed, and the horn is blown.

According to this embodiment, since the movable contact 44 is supported by the airbag device 4 via the elastic body 45, that is, at least one of the contacts is elastically supported, as shown in FIG. , Lock piece 29 to lock piece
When the airbag device 4 is attached to the steering wheel main body 2 by being locked to the steering wheel 41, even if a force is applied in a direction in which the contacts 44 and 51 are pressed against each other, the elastic body 45 elastically deforms to absorb the force and move the movable contact. The switch 44 is retracted relatively upward to prevent the plastic deformation of the contacts 44 and 51 themselves or the members near the contacts 44 and 51 due to the load, and to properly secure the stroke between the contacts 44 and 51 to operate the switch. Feeling can be easily secured.

In each of the above embodiments, the connection between the airbag device 4 and the steering wheel main body 2 is determined by the engagement between the locking piece 29 of the locking piece 28 and the locking receiving piece 19. In addition, bolts and the like can be used.

Further, in each of the above-described embodiments, the fixing of the cover body 23 and the base plate 21 may be performed, if necessary, with rivets or metal fittings fitted on the outer peripheral side of the mounting piece 23b of the cover body 23. Belt or the like can also be used.

The pad body does not necessarily have to include the airbag device 4.

Further, in each of the above-described embodiments, the steering wheel body and the airbag device can also have various configurations. For example, the steering wheel body is not limited to the one having three spokes. 4
The present invention can also be applied to a steering wheel having a spoke portion of a book. Further, the airbag device may be configured by using a retainer provided with mounting bolts, and sandwiching the airbag and the base plate between an inflator mounted from below the base plate and the retainer.

[0054]

According to the steering wheel of the first aspect, the pad body is fixed to the steering wheel body by locking the abutting portion of each locking piece on the side opposite to the pad body of the locking receiving piece. Locked along the direction and easy to install. It is easy to reduce the number of parts and assembly steps,
Manufacturing costs can be reduced. When a force is applied to the pad body in a direction away from the steering wheel body along a predetermined direction, the arm portion is deformed so as to be parallel to the direction along the predetermined direction. The pad body moves in a direction away from the tip of the section, and the pad body can be firmly held on the steering wheel body.

According to the steering wheel of the second aspect, in addition to the effect of the first aspect, when the airbag device is operated, the pad body is separated from the steering wheel body by the force generated when the airbag is deployed. However, even in this state, the airbag device can be easily and reliably held.

According to the steering wheel of the third aspect, in addition to the effect of the second aspect, the pair of locking pieces are
Since the steel wire is formed integrally with the locking piece formed by bending and locked to the base body, the configuration can be simplified,
The number of parts can be easily reduced, and the manufacturing cost can be reduced.

According to the steering wheel of the fourth aspect, in addition to the effects of any one of the first to third aspects, the switch mechanism can be simplified and the manufacturing cost can be reduced. Further, since at least one of the contacts is elastically supported, the force applied to the contacts when the locking piece is locked to the locking receiving piece can be absorbed, and a desired operational feeling can be easily secured.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing an embodiment of a steering wheel of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing a state where the steering wheel is deployed when the airbag is deployed.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view showing a state after the airbag deployment of the steering wheel.

FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the airbag device of the steering wheel.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a state where a base plate and a locking piece of the airbag device are combined.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing a base plate and a locking piece of the airbag device in a position corresponding to II in FIG. 5; (a) is the state before combination (b) is the state before combination

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view showing a part of a locking piece of the airbag device.

FIG. 8 is a partial explanatory view showing another embodiment of the steering wheel of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a partial explanatory view showing still another embodiment of the steering wheel of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a partial explanatory view showing still another embodiment of the steering wheel of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a front view illustrating a steering wheel according to still another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12 shows the steering wheel of FIG.
It is sectional drawing of the position equivalent to -OO-II.

FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view showing a process of assembling the steering wheel at a position corresponding to II-OO-II in FIG. 11;

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Steering wheel 2 Steering wheel main body 4 Airbag device as a pad body 19 Locking receiving part 21 Base plate as a base body 22 Airbag 28 Locking piece 29 Locking piece part 44 Movable contact as a contact 49 As urging means Coil spring 51 Fixed contact as contact

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A steering wheel having a pad body attached to a steering wheel main body along a predetermined direction, the steering wheel being provided in the steering wheel main body and forming a pair having a tip portion directed in a direction intersecting the predetermined direction. A locking receiving portion, a contact portion locked on the side opposite to the pad body of the locking receiving portion, and connecting the abutting portion to the pad body; and A steering wheel, comprising: a pair of locking pieces each having an arm inclined toward a tip end. 2. The steering wheel according to claim 1, wherein the pad body includes an airbag device provided with a base body and an airbag attached to the base body. 3. The pair of locking pieces are formed integrally with a locking piece formed by bending a steel wire, and are locked and attached to a base body. Steering wheel. 4. A pair of contacts which are provided opposite to each other on the steering wheel body side and the pad body side, at least one of which is a pair of contacts elastically supported so as to be able to reciprocate in a predetermined direction, and in a direction for separating these contacts. A switch mechanism having an urging means for urging, wherein the locking piece is locked to the locking receiving piece so as to be able to come and go, and regulates a moving range of the pad body. The steering wheel according to any one of claims 1 to 3.