JP3804426B2 - Steering wheel with airbag device - Google Patents

Steering wheel with airbag device Download PDF

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JP3804426B2
JP3804426B2 JP2000293166A JP2000293166A JP3804426B2 JP 3804426 B2 JP3804426 B2 JP 3804426B2 JP 2000293166 A JP2000293166 A JP 2000293166A JP 2000293166 A JP2000293166 A JP 2000293166A JP 3804426 B2 JP3804426 B2 JP 3804426B2
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spoke
extending
ceiling wall
pad
door
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JP2002104201A (en
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佳幸 藤田
基 磯村
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Toyoda Gosei Co Ltd
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Toyoda Gosei Co Ltd
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Priority to JP2000293166A priority Critical patent/JP3804426B2/en
Priority to US09/953,159 priority patent/US6626458B2/en
Priority to EP03025916A priority patent/EP1393995A3/en
Priority to EP01122393A priority patent/EP1190918B1/en
Priority to DE60124476T priority patent/DE60124476T2/en
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Priority to US10/623,845 priority patent/US6837514B1/en
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Description

【０００１】
【発明の属する技術分野】
本発明は、車両用のエアバッグ装置を備えたステアリングホイールに関し、特にエアバッグ装置を備えるとともに、オーディオ機器、空調機器、ナビゲーションシステム、電話、シフトチェンジ等の機能部品を操作するスイッチ操作部を配設させた三本スポークタイプのステアリングホイールに関する。
【０００２】
なお、本明細書での上下の方向は、特に断らない限り、ステアリングホイールが車両に装着された際のステアリングシャフトの軸方向に沿った上下方向を言うものであり、前後左右の方向は、特に断らない限り、ステアリングホイールが車両に装着された後の直進操舵時においての、ステアリングシャフトの軸直交方向に沿った車両の前後左右の方向を言う。
【０００３】
【従来の技術とその課題】
従来、エアバッグ装置を備えた三本スポークタイプのステアリングホイールでは、特開平１０−１００９０７号公報等で知られている。エアバッグ装置は、膨張可能に折り畳まれたエアバッグと、エアバッグに膨張用ガスを供給するインフレーターと、折り畳まれたエアバッグを覆うパッドと、折り畳まれたエアバッグ・インフレーター及びパッドを保持してステアリングホイール本体に連結されるバッグホルダと、を備えて構成されていた。パッドは、膨張時のエアバッグを突出させるための一つの開口をパッド中央に形成可能な複数の扉部を、備えていた。各扉部は、周囲に破断予定部を配設させて、膨張時のエアバッグに押圧されて破断予定部を破断させるとともに、パッドの外周縁側に配置されたヒンジ部を回転中心として開くように、構成されていた。
【０００４】
また、昨今では、ボス部のパッド等やボス部近傍のスポーク部に、オーディオ機器、空調機器、ナビゲーションシステム、電話、シフトチェンジ等の機能部品を操作するスイッチ操作部を配設させる要望が多くなっている。これらのスイッチ操作部は、上方側から操作できるように、下方へ押圧したり揺動させたりすることにより操作する操作ボタンや操作レバーから構成され、さらに、操作し易いように、操作面を、リング面（ステアリングホイールをステアリングシャフトの軸直交方向から見た際のリング部の上面側で形成する平面）に接近させるように上方に配置させて、配設されていた。
【０００５】
しかし、エアバッグ装置に関し、運転者がステアリングホイールに接近している際にエアバッグが展開膨張するような場合、運転者に部分的な押圧力を作用させないようにするためには、エアバッグを、膨張初期に広く展開させて、運転者側に膨らませることが望ましい。すなわち、開き時の扉部が、スイッチ操作部の操作面を含めた上部側と干渉して、大きく開けなくては、膨張初期のエアバッグを広く展開させ難くなってしまう。
【０００６】
本発明は、上述の課題を解決するもので、ボス部やスポーク部にスイッチ操作部が配設されていても、パッドの扉部を大きく開かせることができるエアバッグ装置を備えたステアリングホイールを提供することを目的とする。
【０００７】
【課題を解決するための手段】
本発明に係るステアリングホイールは、操舵時に把持するリング部と、該リング部の中央に配置されるボス部と、前記リング部と前記ボス部とを連結するように、前方側で左右方向に延びる左側スポーク部・右側スポーク部及び後方側の後側スポーク部の三本のスポーク部と、を備えて構成されるとともに、
前記ボス部の上部に、エアバッグ装置が配設され、
該エアバッグ装置が、膨張可能に折り畳まれたエアバッグと、該エアバッグに膨張用ガスを供給するインフレーターと、折り畳まれた前記エアバッグを覆うパッドと、折り畳まれた前記エアバッグ・前記インフレーター及び前記パッドを保持するバッグホルダと、ホーンスイッチ機構と、前記エアバッグ装置をステアリングホイール本体に連結させる支持プレートと、を備えて構成され、
前記パッドが、上部側に配置される天井壁部と、該天井壁部から下方に延びて前記バッグホルダに連結可能な側壁部と、を備えて構成され、
前記天井壁部が、周囲に破断予定部を配設させて、膨張時の前記エアバッグに押圧されて前記破断予定部を破断させるとともに前記パッドの外周縁側に配置されたヒンジ部を回転中心として開き、前記エアバッグを突出させるための一つの開口を中央に形成可能な三枚の扉部を、備え、
前記ボス部若しくは前記スポーク部の少なくとも一方に、上方側から操作可能なスイッチ操作部が配設されて構成されるエアバッグ装置を備えたステアリングホイールであって、
前記パッドの天井壁部が、
前記左側スポーク部、前記右側スポーク部、及び、前記後側スポーク部の被覆層間の前記ボス部の上方を覆うように配設されるとともに、前記左側スポーク部と前記右側スポーク部との間の前方側の前側空間部に隣接する前側外周縁、前記左側スポーク部と前記後側スポーク部との間の左側空間部に隣接する左側外周縁、及び、前記右側スポーク部と前記後側スポーク部との間の右側空間部に隣接する右側外周縁を、下方へ曲線状に下げるように形成して構成され、さらに、
膨張する前記エアバッグを突出させるための一つの開口を形成可能な開口形成部を備えるとともに、該開口形成部の周囲に、前記左側スポーク部、前記右側スポーク部、及び、前記後側スポーク部の被覆層にそれぞれ連なるスポーク側延設部を備えて構成され、
前記パッドの側壁部が、前記天井壁部の前記開口形成部を囲むように、前記天井壁部の下面から直接下方へ板状に延びる一般部と、前記バッグホルダに保持される保持壁部と、から構成され、
前記パッドの前記一般部が、
前記天井壁部の左前縁側から左縁側の中央付近まで延びるように配設される左側一般部、
前記天井壁部の右前縁側から右縁側の中央付近まで延びるように配設される右側一般部、及び、
前記天井壁部の後縁側で左右方向に延びるように配設される後側一般部、
から構成され、
前記パッドの前記保持壁部が、
前記天井壁部の前記前側外周縁の下端部付近から内側横方向に延び、かつ、前記左側一般部と前記右側一般部との前端側の下端相互を連結するように配設される前横板部、の後縁側から、下方に延びる前保持壁部、
前記天井壁部の前記左側外周縁の下端部付近から内側横方向に延び、かつ、前記左側一般部の後端側と前記後側一般部の左端側との下端相互を連結するように配設される左横板部、の内方側の縁から、下方に延びる左保持壁部、及び、
前記天井壁部の前記右側外周縁の下端部付近から内側横方向に延び、かつ、前記右側一般部の後端部と前記後側一般部の右端側との下端相互を連結するように配設される右横板 部、の内方側の縁から、下方に延びる右保持壁部、
から構成され、
前記パッドの破断予定部が、
上方から見て、左右方向に配設される横棒部と該横棒部の略中央から後方へ延びる縦棒部とを有し、前記横棒部の左右両端を前記左側スポーク部と前記右側スポーク部との配置方向に向け、前記縦棒部の後端を前記後側スポーク部の配置方向に向けた略Ｔ字形状として、配設されるとともに、
さらに、前記横棒部の左端部から前後方向両側に延びて、前記左側一般部の内側面側に近接して前記左側一般部に沿うように配設されるとともに、前端部を、下方から見て前記前横板部の左縁側に隠れるように、前記天井壁部の前側外周縁の下端部側に延ばし、かつ、後端部を、下方から見て前記左横板部の前縁側に隠れるように、前記天井壁部の左側外周縁の下端部側に延ばして配設される左側延設部と、
前記横棒部の右端部から前後方向両側に延びて、前記右側一般部の内側面側に近接して前記右側一般部に沿うように配設されるとともに、前端部を、下方から見て前記前横板部の右縁側に隠れるように、前記天井壁部の前側外周縁の下端部側に延ばし、かつ、後端部を、下方から見て前記右横板部の前縁側に隠れるように、前記天井壁部の右側外周縁の下端部側に延ばして配設される右側延設部と、
前記縦棒部の後端部から左右方向両側に延びて、前記後側一般部の内側面側に近接して前記後側一般部に沿うように配設されるとともに、左端部を、下方から見て前記左横板部の後縁側に隠れるように、前記天井壁部の左側外周縁の下端部側に延ばし、右端部を、下方から見て前記右横板部の後縁側に隠れるように、前記天井壁部の右側外周縁の下端部側に延ばして配設させる後側延設部と、
を備えて構成され、
三枚の前記扉部が、前側扉部・左側扉部・右側扉部から構成されて、
前記前側扉部が、
開く際の前記ヒンジ部を、前記左側延設部と前記右側延設部の前端部相互を結ぶ略直線状の部位として、前記天井壁部の前側外周縁の下端部近傍に配設させて、
前記破断予定部の前記横棒部と、前記左側延設部と前記右側延設部とにおける前記横棒部との交差部位より前側の部位と、の内側部位によって形成されて、開いた際に、前記左側スポーク部と前記右側スポーク部との間の前方側の前記前側空間部に収納可能に構成され、
前記左側扉部が、
開く際の前記ヒンジ部を、前記左側延設部の後端部と前記後側延設部の左端部とを結ぶ略直線状の部位として、前記天井壁部の左側外周縁の下端部近傍に配設させて、
前記破断予定部の前記横棒部における前記縦棒部との交差部位より左側の部位と、前記縦棒部と、前記左側延設部における前記横棒部との交差部位より後側の部位と、前記後側延設部における前記縦棒部との交差部位より左側の部位と、の内側部位によって形成されて、開いた際に、前記左側スポーク部と前記後側スポーク部との間の左側の前記左側空間部に収納可能に構成され、
前記右側扉部が、
開き時の前記ヒンジ部を、前記右側延設部の後端部と前記後側延設部の右端部とを結ぶ略直線状の部位として、前記天井壁部の右側外周縁の下端部近傍に配設させて、
前記破断予定部の前記横棒部における前記縦棒部との交差部位より右側の部位と、前記縦棒部と、前記右側延設部における前記横棒部との交差部位より後側の部位と、前記後側延設部における前記縦棒部との交差部位より右側の部位と、の内側部位によって形成されて、開いた際に、前記右側スポーク部と前記後側スポーク部との間の前記右側空間部に収納可能に構成され、
前記バッグホルダが、前記エアバッグと前記インフレーターとを取り付ける横板部と、該横板部の外周縁から上下方向に延びて、前記パッドの前記前保持壁部、前記左保持壁部、及び、前記右保持壁部を取り付ける側壁部と、を備え、
前記バッグホルダの前記側壁部における各前記左側スポーク部・右側スポーク部・後側スポーク部の近傍の上端部位に、それぞれ、外方に延びる取付片部が、形成され、
前記支持プレートが、前記バッグホルダの各前記取付片部の下方位置に、前記ホーンスイッチ機構を間に配設させて、それぞれ、取付片部を配設させて構成され、
前記パッドの天井壁部における前記各スポーク側延設部が、それぞれ、下面側に、前記バッグホルダの前記各取付片部を下方へ押圧可能に、前記バッグホルダの前記各取付片部に当接するように、押圧部を配設させ、
前記ホーンスイッチ機構が、前記各スポーク側延設部の裏面側の三箇所で、前記バッグホルダの取付片部と前記支持プレートの取付片部との間に、配設されて、前記パッドの押下げ操作により、ホーンを作動させるように構成され、
前記スイッチ操作部が、前記前側扉部、前記左側扉部、及び、前記右側扉部の部位以外であって、開いた際の前記前側扉部・左側扉部・右側扉部に覆われない前記ボス部若しくは前記スポーク部のエリアに、配設されていることを特徴とする。
【００１０】
【発明の効果】
本発明に係るステアリングホイールでは、エアバッグが膨張してパッドの三枚の扉部を押圧すれば、パッドの各扉部が、それぞれ、周囲の破断予定部を破断させて、ヒンジ部を回転中心として開く。
【００１１】
その際、各扉部のヒンジ部が、それぞれ、スポーク部相互の間の空間部近傍として、かつ、ヒンジ部近傍のバッグホルダによる保持部位の上方の部位より、下方に下がったパッドの外周縁側に、配設されている。そのため、各扉部は、それぞれ、パッドの外周縁の下方に下がった位置のヒンジ部を回転中心として開くこととなって、扉部自体の面積を広く確保でき、極力、大きく開くこととなる。
【００１２】
ちなみに、各扉部のヒンジ部が、バッグホルダによる保持部位の上方部位付近に配置されていては、扉部自体の面積が狭くなって、扉部は、大きく開くことができない。
【００１３】
そして、スイッチ操作部が、扉部の部位以外であって、開いた際の扉部に覆われないボス部若しくはスポーク部のエリアに、配設されている。また、各扉部が、ヒンジ部を回転中心として開いた際、スポーク部相互の間の三つの空間部に、配設されるように設定されている。そのため、開いた各扉部は、それぞれ、スイッチ操作部に全く干渉することなく、三本のスポーク部相互の間の三つの空間部に円滑に配設されることとなって、大きく開く状態を安定して確保することができる。
【００１４】
したがって、本発明に係るエアバッグ装置を備えたステアリングホイールでは、ボス部やスポーク部にスイッチ操作部が配設されていても、パッドの扉部を大きく開かせることができて、膨張初期のエアバッグを広く展開させることができる。
【００１５】
そして、各扉部の相互に隣接する部位の破断予定部が、上方から見て、左右方向に配設される横棒部と横棒部の略中央から後方へ延びる縦棒部とを有し、横棒部の左右両端をスポーク部における前方側の左右の各スポーク部の配置方向に向け、縦棒部の後端をスポーク部における後方側のスポーク部の配置方向に向けた略Ｔ字形状として、配設すれば、次のような作用・効果を得ることができる。
【００１６】
すなわち、三本スポークタイプのステアリングホイールでは、各スポーク部間の空間部において、前方側の空間部が、インストルメントパネルの計器類の視認性の見地から、後方側の左右の空間部より大きく、設定されている。そのため、各扉部の相互に隣接する部位の破断予定部が略Ｔ字形状としておれば、破断予定部の横棒部より前方側の前側扉部が大きな面積の形状となり、横棒部より後方側の縦棒部で分割された左右の左側・右側扉部が小さな面積の形状となることから、開いた際に収納させる前側・左側・右側空間部に対して、容易に、前側・左側・右側扉部の形状を対応させることができて、前側・左側・右側扉部の形状設定が容易となる。
【００１７】
また、パッドを、上部側に配置されて各扉部と破断予定部とを有した天井壁部と、天井壁部から下方に延びてバッグホルダに連結可能に上下方向に配設される側壁部と、を設けて構成し、破断予定部における各扉部の相互隣接部位（横棒部と縦棒部）を除いた残部の部位（左側延設部、右側延設部、及び、後側延設部）を、天井壁部における側壁部の内側面側に近接しかつ側壁部に略沿って配設させれば、次のような作用・効果を得ることができる。
【００１８】
すなわち、破断予定部における各扉部の相互隣接部位を除いた残部部位が、天井壁部の肉厚を厚肉とするような側壁部の内側面側に近接しているため、残部部位に応力集中が生じ易い。さらに、残部部位が、側壁部に略沿って配設されているため、側壁部に沿って容易に破断することとなって、扉部を円滑に開かせることができる。
【００１９】
【発明の実施の形態】
以下、本発明の一実施形態を図面に基づいて説明する。
【００２０】
実施形態のステアリングホイールＷは、図１〜４に示すように、円環状の操舵時に把持するリング部Ｒと、リング部Ｒの中央に配置されるボス部Ｂと、リング部Ｒとボス部Ｂとを連結する三本のスポーク部Ｓ（ＳＬ・ＳＲ・ＳＢ）と、を備えて構成され、構成部品上では、ステアリングホイール本体１と、ボス部Ｂの上部に配置されるエアバッグ装置１０と、スイッチ操作部６６と、から構成されている。
【００２１】
ステアリングホイール本体１は、リング部Ｒ・ボス部Ｂ・スポーク部Ｓの各部を連結するように配置されるステアリングホイール芯金２と、ボス部Ｂの下部を覆うように配置されるロアカバー８と、を備えて構成されている。
【００２２】
ステアリングホイール芯金２は、リング部Ｒに配置される断面逆Ｕ字形のリング部芯金３と、ステアリングシャフト８０（図３参照）に連結されるボス部芯金４と、ボス部芯金４とリング部芯金３とを連結する三本のスポーク部芯金５と、から構成されている。リング部芯金３とリング部芯金３側の各スポーク部芯金５とには、合成樹脂製の被覆層７が被覆されている。
【００２３】
ボス部芯金４は、ステアリングシャフト８０と接続される鋼製のボス４ａと、ボス４ａの周囲を円筒状に覆って、リング部芯金３やスポーク部芯金５と一体的にダイカスト鋳造されるアルミニウム合金・マグネシウム合金等からなる被覆部４ｂと、から構成されている。
【００２４】
各スポーク部芯金５は、ボス部芯金４の被覆部４ｂから斜め上方のリング部芯金３側へ延びるように配設されている。なお、被覆部４ｂから後方へ延びてリング部芯金３に連結される後芯金部５ａは、被覆部４ｂ側では二又状として、リング部芯金３側では集合した一本状に形成されている。この二又状に分岐した二つの分岐部５ｂには、それぞれ、エアバッグ装置１０を取り付けるための取付孔５ｄを備えた取付座５ｃが、形成されている。
【００２５】
エアバッグ装置１０は、図３・４に示すように、膨張可能に折り畳まれた袋状のエアバッグ１１、エアバッグ１１に膨張用ガスを供給するインフレーター１３、折り畳まれたエアバッグ１１を覆うパッド１４、エアバッグ１１・インフレーター１３・パッド１４を保持するバッグホルダ５０、ホーンスイッチ機構５７、及び、エアバッグ装置１０をステアリングホイール本体１に連結支持させるための支持プレート５９、を備えて構成されている。
【００２６】
エアバッグ１１は、図２〜４・１０に示すように、膨張用ガスを流入させる開口１１ａを備えた袋形状として、膨張時の断面形状を略楕円球状とするように構成されている。実施形態の場合、エアバッグ１１は、図１０に示すように、ポリアミド糸やポリエステル糸等の織布を円形状に裁断した二枚の布材Ｄ１・Ｄ２を使用して、それらの布材Ｄ１・Ｄ２の外周縁相互を、縫合等によって結合させて形成した平面エアバッグとしている。そして、開口１１ａの周縁には、バッグホルダ５０に保持させるためのリテーナ１２の各ボルト１２ａを挿通させる複数の取付孔１１ｂが、形成されている。また、開口１１ａから離れた部位には、ベントホール１１ｃ・１１ｃが形成されている。
【００２７】
インフレーター１３は、上部にガス吐出口１３ｂを備えた略円柱状の本体部１３ａと、本体部１３ａの外周面から突出するフランジ部１３ｃと、を備えて構成されている。
【００２８】
パッド１４は、ポリオレフィン系・ポリエチレン系等の熱可塑性エラストマー等の合成樹脂製として、射出成形等により形成され、図１〜７に示すように、エアバッグ１１の膨張時に所定部位を破断させる天井壁部１５と、天井壁部１５の外周縁付近から下方へ延びる略六角筒形状の側壁部４０と、を備えて構成されている。
【００２９】
側壁部４０は、一般部４１と、保持壁部４６・４７・４８と、を備えて構成されている。一般部４１は、天井壁部１５の下面から直接下方へ板状に延びるように配設されて、図７に示すように、左側一般部４１Ｌ・右側一般部４１Ｒ・後側一般部４１Ｂから構成されている（なお、図７は、パッド１４の底面図であり、左右が逆転して図示されている）。
【００３０】
左側一般部４１Ｌは、天井壁部１５の左前縁側から左縁側の中央付近まで延びるように配設されて、前端側に、後述する前横板部４２に連結される連結部４１Ｌｂを備えるとともに、後端側に、後述する左横板部４３と連結される連結部４１Ｌｃを備えて構成されている。そして、連結部４１Ｌｂ・４１Ｌｃ間を、パッド１４の下方側に露出させた本体部４１Ｌａとしている。右側一般部４１Ｒは、天井壁部１５の右前縁側から右縁側の中央付近まで延びるように配設されて、前端側に、後述する前横板部４２に連結される連結部４１Ｒｂを備えるとともに、後端側に、後述する右横板部４４と連結される連結部４１Ｒｃを備えて構成されている。そして、連結部４１Ｒｂ・４１Ｒｃ間を、パッド１４の下方側に露出させる本体部４１Ｒａとしている。後側一般部４１Ｂは、天井壁部１５の後縁側で左右方向に延びるように配設されて、左右両端に、左・右横板部４３・４４にそれぞれ連結される連結部４１Ｂｂ・４１Ｂｂを備えるとともに、連結部４１Ｂｂ・４１Ｂｂ間でパッド１４の下方側に露出させる本体部４１Ｂａを備えて、構成されている。
【００３１】
前横板部４２は、天井壁部１５の後述する前側外周縁２１の下端部２１ａ付近から内側横方向に延びて、左側・右側一般部４１Ｌ・４１Ｒの連結部４１Ｌｂ・４１Ｒｂの下端相互を連結するように、配設されている。左横板部４３は、天井壁部１５の後述する左側外周縁２２の下端部２２ａ付近から内側横方向から延びて、左側一般部４１Ｌ・後側一般部４１Ｂの連結部４１Ｌｃ・４１Ｂｂの下端相互を連結するように配設されている。右横板部４４は、天井壁部１５の後述する右側外周縁２３の下端部２３ａ付近から内側横方向に延びて、右側一般部４１Ｒ・後側一般部４１Ｂの連結部４１Ｒｃ・４１Ｂｂの下端相互を連結するように配設されている。
【００３２】
そして、前横板部４２の後縁側から下方へ延びるように、前保持壁部４６が形成され、左横板部４３の内方側の縁から下方へ延びるように、左保持壁部４７が形成され、右横板部４４の内方側の縁から下方へ延びるように、右保持壁部４８が形成されている。これらの前・左・右保持壁部４６・４７・４８は、それぞれ、後述する扉部２５・２６・２７の各ヒンジ部２９・３０・３１の近傍として、バッグホルダ５０に保持される部位となる。また、前・左・右保持壁部４６・４７・４８は、バッグホルダ５０の後述する側壁部５２にリベット５４止めするための水平方向に貫通する段差付きの取付孔４６ｂ・４７ｂ・４８ｂと、上端に配置されて、バッグホルダ５０の後述する各係止爪５２ａを係止させるための突起状の係止部４６ａ・４７ａ・４８ａと、を備えて構成されている。
【００３３】
天井壁部１５は、各スポーク部ＳＬ・ＳＲ・ＳＢの被覆層７間で、ボス部Ｂの上方を覆うように形成されている。天井壁部１５における上面側の外周縁では、スポーク部ＳＬ・ＳＲ・ＳＢ間の空間部ＡＦ・ＡＬ・ＡＲに隣接する部位２１・２２・２３（前側外周縁２１・左側外周縁２２・右側外周縁２３）が、下方へ曲線状に下がるように形成されている。そして、天井壁部１５における側壁部４０の一般部４１Ｌ・４１Ｒ・４１Ｂによって囲まれた部位には、膨張するエアバッグ１１を突出させるための一つの開口を形成可能な開口形成部１９が配設され、開口形成部１９の周囲には、各スポーク部ＳＬ・ＳＲ・ＳＢの被覆層７に円滑に連なるように、三つのスポーク側延設部１６（１６Ｌ・１６Ｒ・１６Ｂ）が形成されている。各スポーク側延設部１６Ｌ・１６Ｒ・１６Ｂの下面側には、ホーンスイッチ機構５７の上方におけるバッグホルダ５０の後述する取付片部５３を押圧可能な略円筒状の押圧部１７が、取付片部５３に当接するように、配設されている。開口形成部１９は、周囲に破断可能な薄肉の破断予定部３３を設けて、三枚の前側扉部２５・左側扉部２６・右側扉部２７を配設させて、構成されている。
【００３４】
破断予定部３３は、各扉部２５・２６・２７の相互に隣接する部位を、上方から見て略Ｔ字形状として、左右方向に配設される横棒部３４と横棒部３４の略中央から後方へ延びる縦棒部３５とを有して、構成されている。横棒部３４は、パッド１４の前後方向の略中央付近を左右方向に横断するように配設され、横棒部３４の左右方向の中央付近は、天井壁部１５の中央に配置された楕円形状の装飾部１５ａを迂回するように、上方から見て、後方側へ凹むように配設されている。そして、横棒部３４の左右両端部３４ａ・３４ｂ側は、前方側における左右方向にそれぞれ延びる左側・右側スポーク部ＳＬ・ＳＲの配置方向に向いて配設され、縦棒部３５の後端部３５ａ側は、後側スポーク部ＳＢの配置方向に向いて配設されている。さらに、破断予定部３３は、横棒部３４の左右両端部３４ａ・３４ｂからそれぞれ前後方向両側に延びる左側・右側延設部３６・３７と、縦棒部３５の後端部３５ａから左右方向両側に延びる後側延設部３８と、を備えて構成されている。
【００３５】
左側・右側延設部３６・３７は、それぞれ、側壁部４０の左側・右側一般部４１Ｌ・４１Ｒの内側で、一般部４１Ｌ・４１Ｒに接するように、一般部４１Ｌ・４１Ｒに略沿って配設されている。そして、左側延設部３６の前端部３６ａは、パッド１４の下方から見て、前横板部４２の左縁側に隠れるように、天井壁部１５の前側外周縁２１の下端部２１ａ側に延びている。左側延設部３６の後端部３６ｂは、パッド１４の下方から見て、左横板部４３の前縁側に隠れるように、天井壁部１５の左側外周縁２２の下端部２２ａ側に延びている。同様に、右側延設部３７の前端部３７ａは、パッド１４の下方から見て、前横板部４２の右縁側に隠れるように、天井壁部１５の前側外周縁２１の下端部２１ａ側に延びている。右側延設部３７の後端部３７ｂは、パッド１４の下方から見て、右横板部４４の前縁側に隠れるように、天井壁部１５の右側外周縁２３の下端部２３ａ側に延びている。
【００３６】
後側延設部３８は、側壁部４０の後側一般部４１Ｂの内側で、一般部４１Ｂに接するように、一般部４１Ｂに沿って配設されている。そして、後側延設部３８の左右両端部３８ａ・３８ｂは、それぞれ、パッド１４の下方から見て、左横板部４３の後縁側と右横板部４４の後縁側とに隠れるように、天井壁部１５の左側・右側外周縁２２・２３の下端部２２ａ・２３ａ側に延びている。
【００３７】
そして、前側扉部２５は、開く際のヒンジ部２９を、左側・右側延設部３６・３７の前端部３６ａ・３７ａ相互を結ぶ略直線状の部位として、左側スポーク部ＳＬ・右側スポーク部ＳＲ間の空間部ＡＦの近傍に配設させている。そして、前側扉部２５の形状は、破断予定部３３の横棒部３４と、左側・右側延設部３６・３７における横棒部３４との交差部位より前側の部位３６Ｆ・３７Ｆと、の内側部位によって形成されて、ヒンジ部２９を回転中心として開いた際に、前側空間部ＡＦに収納されるように、設定されている。
【００３８】
左側扉部２６は、開く際のヒンジ部３０を、左側延設部３６の後端部３６ｂと後側延設部３８の左端部３８ａとを結ぶ略直線状の部位として、左側スポーク部ＳＬ・後側スポーク部ＳＢ間の空間部ＡＬの近傍に配設させている。そして、左側扉部２６の形状は、破断予定部３３の横棒部３４における縦棒部３５との交差部位より左側の部位３４Ｌと、縦棒部３５と、左側延設部３６の横棒部３４との交差部位より後側の部位３６Ｂと、後側延設部３８の縦棒部３５との交差部位より左側の部位３８Ｌと、の内側部位によって形成されて、ヒンジ部３０を回転中心として開いた際に、左側空間部ＡＬに収納されるように、設定されている。
【００３９】
右側扉部２７は、左側扉部２６と左右対称形として、開く際のヒンジ部３１を、右側延設部３７の後端部３７ｂと後側延設部３８の右端部３８ｂとを結ぶ略直線状の部位として、右側スポーク部ＳＲ・後側スポーク部ＳＢ間の空間部ＡＲの近傍に配設させている。そして、右側扉部２７の形状は、破断予定部３３の横棒部３４における縦棒部３５との交差部位より右側の部位３４Ｒと、縦棒部３５と、右側延設部３７の横棒部３４との交差部位より後側の部位３７Ｂと、後側延設部３８の縦棒部３５との交差部位より右側の部位３８Ｒと、の内側部位によって形成されて、ヒンジ部３１を回転中心として開いた際に、右側空間部ＡＲに収納されるように、設定されている。
【００４０】
バッグホルダ５０は、図２〜６・８に示すように、軽量化と形状賦形性とを考慮してマグネシウム等からなるダイカスト製とし、中央にインフレーター本体部１３ａを下方から挿入可能な挿通孔５１ａを備えた横板部５１と、横板部５１の外周縁の略全周から上下方向に延びる側壁部５２と、を備えて構成されている。横板部５１の挿通孔５１ａの周囲には、リテーナ１２の各ボルト１２ａを挿通させる貫通孔５１ｂが形成されている。なお、リテーナ１２は、エアバッグ１１をバッグホルダ５０に保持させるとともに、インフレーター１３をバッグホルダ５０に保持させる役目を果たすものである。
【００４１】
側壁部５２におけるパッド側壁部４０の各前・左・右保持壁部４６・４７・４８の内側面に当接する位置の上端には、各前・左・右保持壁部４６・４７・４８の係止部４６ａ・４７ａ・４８ａに上方から係止可能な係止爪５２ａが形成され、また、側壁部５２における各係止爪５２ａの下方の部位には、各前・左・右保持壁部４６・４７・４８の取付孔４６ｂ・４７ｂ・４８ｂに対応する位置に、パッド側壁部４０の各前・左・右保持壁部４６・４７・４８をリベット５４止めする際の取付孔５２ｂ（図５・６・８参照）が、形成されている。
【００４２】
また、側壁部５２における各スポーク部ＳＬ・ＳＲ・ＳＢ近傍の上端部位には、外方へ横方向に延びる３つの取付片部５３が形成され、これらの各取付片部５３は、その下方位置の支持プレート５９の後述する取付片部６２との間に、ホーンスイッチ機構５７を配設する部位となり、各取付片部５３には、ナット５３ｂを埋設させて、ホーンスイッチ機構５７の後述する段付きボルト５７ｄを締結するためのねじ孔５３ａが、形成されている。
【００４３】
なお、バッグホルダ５０には、ホーン作動回路の正極側に導通するように、図示しないリード線が結線されている。
【００４４】
また、バッグホルダ５０によるエアバッグ１１とインフレーター１３との保持は、エアバッグ１１内に配置される円環状のリテーナ１２が下方へ延びる複数のボルト１２ａを備え、これらのボルト１２ａをエアバッグ１１の取付孔１１ｂ・バッグホルダ５０の貫通孔５１ｂ・インフレーター１３のフランジ部１３ｃに貫通させてナット１２ｂ止めすることにより、行なっている。また、バッグホルダ５０によるパッド１４の保持は、パッド側壁部４０における各前・左・右保持壁部４６・４７・４８の側壁部５２へのリベット５４止めと、係止爪５２ａによる前・左・右保持壁部４６・４７・４８の各係止部４６ａ・４７ａ・４８ａへの係止と、により行なっている。
【００４５】
ホーンスイッチ機構５７は、図３・４に示すように、各スポーク部ＳＬ・ＳＲ・ＳＢの近傍におけるパッド１４の各スポーク側延設部位１６Ｌ・１６Ｒ・１６Ｂの裏面側の三箇所に配置されて、バッグホルダ５０の各取付片部５３と支持プレート５９の各取付片部６２との間に、配設されている。そして、各ホーンスイッチ機構５７は、パッド１４の押下げ操作によって、接点５７ａ・５７ｂ相互を接触させて、ホーンを作動させるように構成されている。また、各ホーンスイッチ機構５７は、ホーン非作動時にコイルばね５７ｃによって接点５７ａ・５７ｂ相互を離隔させるとともに、段付きボルト５７ｄによって、接点５７ａ・５７ｂ相互の離隔距離を一定にするように構成されている。各段付きボルト５７ｄは、支持プレート５９における取付片部６２の下方からバッグホルダ５０における取付片部５３のねじ孔５３ａに螺合されている。
【００４６】
支持プレート５９は、板金製として、図３・４・９に示すように、上方から見てＵ字形の連結杆部６０と、連結杆部６０におけるバッグホルダ５０の各取付片部５３近傍位置から上方へ延びる３つの縦板部６１と、各縦板部６１の上端から横方向の外方へ延びて各取付片部５３の下方に配置される３つの取付片部６２と、連結杆部６０の左右両側の内縁から下方へ延びる連結片部６４と、を備えて構成されている。
【００４７】
各取付片部６２の中央には、それぞれ、円形の孔の対称的な位置の両縁に略直角三角形の孔の斜辺側を付けたような形状で開口した取付孔６２ａが、形成され、各取付孔６２ａには、ホーンスイッチ機構５７の段付きボルト５７ｄが挿通されている。また、各取付片部６２の外縁側には、各スポーク部ＳＬ・ＳＲ・ＳＢの被覆層７に当接して支持される当接片部６３が形成されている。
【００４８】
各連結片部６４には、相互の対向面側にナット６４ｂが固着されて、エアバッグ装置１０を、スポーク部芯金５の各取付座５ｃにボルト９止めさせるための、連結孔６４ａが形成されている。
【００４９】
スイッチ操作部６６は、図１・２に示すように、開いた際の各扉部２５・２６・２７に覆われないように配設されており、実施形態の場合、パッド１４の左側・右側スポーク側延設部１６Ｌ・１６Ｒの近傍として、左右のスポーク部ＳＬ・ＳＲの上面側に配設されている。実施形態の場合、スイッチ操作部６６としては、左側のスポーク部ＳＬに配設されたオーディオ機器の操作ボタン６７、右側スポーク部ＳＲに配設されたシフトチェンジのシフトアップボタン６８・シフトダウンボタン６９、電話の操作ボタン７０、ナビゲーションシステムの操作レバー７１が配設されている。これらのスイッチ操作部６６は、ステアリングホイールＷの操舵時に上方側から操作しやすいように、上面側に配置された操作面６７ａ・６８ａ・６９ａ・７０ａ・７１ａをリング面Ｐに接近させて、配設されている。
【００５０】
実施形態のステアリングホイールＷを車両へ搭載する際には、予め、エアバッグ装置１０を組み立てておく。
【００５１】
エアバッグ装置１０の組み立ては、まず、リテーナ１２をエアバッグ１１内に挿入して、リテーナ１２の各ボルト１２ａを取付孔１１ｂから突出させて、エアバッグ１１を折り畳む。このエアバッグ１１の折り畳みは、折り畳んだ折畳部位１１ｊ・１１ｋ・１１ｍ（図２参照）を三つ設けて、各折畳部位１１ｊ・１１ｋ・１１ｍをパッド１４の各扉部２５・２６・２７の下方に配置させ、各扉部２５・２６・２７の押し開き時の押圧力を、折畳部位１１ｊ・１１ｋ・１１ｍによって的確に作用させるように折り畳む。
【００５２】
この折り畳み工程を詳しく述べれば、図１１に示すように、まず、インフレーター１３側の布材Ｄ１側に、開口１１ａと対向する運転者側の布材Ｄ２を重ねて平らに展開した後、二段階で折り畳む。
【００５３】
第一段階では、図１１のＡ・Ｂ・図１２に示すように、開口１１ａを中心とする放射状に均等に三分割した三方向の周縁１１ｄ・１１ｅ・１１ｆを、開口１１ａ側に接近するように折り畳む。実施形態の場合には、周縁１１ｄ・１１ｅ・１１ｆを、開口１１ａと対向する側の布材Ｄ２側で、山折りの折目ＣＭや谷折りの折目ＣＶを付けて折り重ねる蛇腹折りで、折り畳んでいる。
【００５４】
そして、第二段階では、図１１のＢ・Ｃ・図１３に示すように、開口１１ａを中心とする三方向における折り畳んだ端部側の周縁１１ｇ・１１ｈ・１１ｉを、開口１１ａ側に接近させるように、折り畳んで、折畳部位１１ｊ・１１ｋ・１１ｍを設ければ、エアバッグ１１の折り畳み作業を完了させることができる。実施形態の場合には、第一段階で折り畳んだ端部側の各周縁１１ｇ・１１ｈ・１１ｉを外ロール折りで折り畳んでおり、各周縁１１ｇ・１１ｈ・１１ｉを、開口１１ａを有した布材Ｄ１側で巻いて、開口１１ａと対向する側の布材Ｄ２側に載置させるように、折り畳んでいる。
【００５５】
なお、エアバッグ１１の折り畳み作業を完了させた後には、復元して折りを解消させるような折り崩れを防止するために、破断可能な薄い包装袋で包装しても良い。
【００５６】
エアバッグ１１を折り畳んだ後には、バッグホルダ５０内へ収納する。この工程は、折り畳んだエアバッグ１１内から突出しているリテーナ１２の各ボルト１２ａを、バッグホルダ横板部５１の各貫通孔５１ｂに貫通させて、エアバッグ１１を側壁部５２で囲まれた横板部５１上に載置する（図１１のＣ参照）。
【００５７】
なお、この時、折り畳んだエアバッグ１１における第二段階で折り畳んで形成された三つの塊（折畳部位）１１ｊ・１１ｋ・１１ｍの内、塊１１ｊを横板部５１の前縁側に配置させ、塊１１ｋ・１１ｍを横板部５１の後縁側の左右に配置させて、エアバッグ１１を横板部５１上に載置する。ちなみに、この塊１１ｊの折り畳んだ部位には、ベントホール１１ｃ・１１ｃが配置されている。
【００５８】
ついで、インフレーター１３の本体部１３ａを、下方から、バッグホルダ横板部５１の挿通孔５１ａに挿入させるとともに、インフレーターフランジ部１３ｃにリテーナ１２のボルト１２ａを挿通させて、インフレーター１３のフランジ部１３ｃを横板部５１の下面に当接させる。そして、フランジ部１３ｃから突出したボルト１２ａにナット１２ｂを螺合させて、エアバッグ１１・バッグホルダ５０・インフレーター１３を一体的に組み付ける。
【００５９】
その後、折り畳まれたエアバッグ１１の側方の外周面を側壁部４０で囲むように、パッド１４を上方から押下げ、各前・左・右保持壁部４６・４７・４８の係止部４６ａ・４７ａ・４８ａにバッグホルダ５０の係止爪５２ａを係止させるとともに、パッド１４の各前・左・右保持壁部４６・４７・４８の取付孔４６ｂ・４７ｂ・４８ｂをバッグホルダ５０の取付孔５２ｂに一致させ、リベット５４を取付孔４６ｂ・４７ｂ・４８ｂ・５２ｂに挿入させて、各前・左・右保持壁部４６・４７・４８と側壁部５２とを締結する。
【００６０】
また、支持プレート５９の各取付片部６２上にホーンスイッチ機構５７を配置させて、それらのホーンスイッチ機構５７の部位を、バッグホルダ５０の各取付片部５３の下面に配置させ、各取付片部６２の下方から、段付きボルト５７ｄをねじ孔５３ａに螺合させれば、エアバッグ装置１０を組み立てることができる。
【００６１】
そして、ダイカスト鋳造して被覆層７を成形しておいたステアリングホイール芯金２に対して、ロアカバー８をねじ等を利用してステアリングホイール芯金２に取り付け、さらに、スイッチ操作部６６を配設させて、ステアリングホイール本体１を組み立てておき、その状態で、車両のステアリングシャフト８０に、ボス部芯金４のボス４ａを外嵌させるとともにナット８１止めして、ステアリングホイール本体１を取り付ける。なお、ステアリングシャフト８０は、水平方向から約３０°程度、上端を上方へ向けるように、傾斜している。
【００６２】
そして、予め組み付けておいたエアバッグ装置１０のホーンスイッチ機構５７や各スイッチ操作部６６から延びる図示しないリード線を、ステアリングホイール本体１側の図示しないコネクタに結線し、エアバッグ装置１０の支持プレート５９における各当接片部６３を、スポーク部ＳＬ・ＳＲ・ＳＢの被覆層７に当接支持させるとともに、各連結片部６４・６４を、後芯金部５ａの各取付座５ｃの内側面側に当接させ、ついで、各取付ボルト９を、ロアカバー８の孔８ａから取付座５ｃの取付孔５ｄを経て、連結片部６４の連結孔６４ａに螺合させれば、ステアリングホイールＷを、組み立てて、ステアリングシャフト８０に装着することができる。
【００６３】
上記のように組み付けられたステアリングホイールＷでは、各スイッチ操作部６６（操作ボタン６７・７０・シフトアップボタン６８・シフトダウンボタン６９・操作レバー７１）の操作面６７ａ・６８ａ・６９ａ・７０ａ・７１ａを下方側へ押圧したり揺動させたりして操作すれば、所定の機器が作動することとなる。
【００６４】
そして、インフレーター１３が作動すれば、インフレーター１３からの膨張用ガスがエアバッグ１１内に流入され、エアバッグ１１が膨張して、各折畳部位１１ｊ・１１ｋ・１１ｍが展開しつつパッド１４の三枚の扉部２５・２６・２７を上方に押圧することから、パッド１４の各扉部２５・２６・２７が、それぞれ、周囲の破断予定部３３を破断させて、ヒンジ部２９・３０・３１を回転中心として開き、開口形成部位１９が大きく開口して、エアバッグ１１がパッド１４から突出して所定形状に膨張することとなる。
【００６５】
このエアバッグ１１の展開膨張時、各扉部２５・２６・２７のヒンジ部２９・３０・３１が、それぞれ、スポーク部ＳＬ・ＳＲ・ＳＢ相互の間の空間部ＡＦ・ＡＬ・ＡＲ近傍として、かつ、ヒンジ部２９・３０・３１近傍のバッグホルダ５０による保持部位（前・左・右保持壁部）４６・４７・４８の上方部位Ｚ（図３・５・６参照）より、下方に下がったパッド外周縁２１・２２・２３の下端部２１ａ・２２ａ・２３ａ側に、配設されている。そのため、各扉部２５・２６・２７は、それぞれ、パッド１４の外周縁下端部２１ａ・２２ａ・２３ａ近傍のヒンジ部２９・３０・３１を回転中心として開くこととなって、広い面積を確保して、極力、大きく開くこととなる。
【００６６】
そして、各扉部２５・２６・２７が、ヒンジ部２９・３０・３１を回転中心として開いた際、スポーク部ＳＬ・ＳＲ・ＳＢ相互の間の三つの空間部ＡＬ・ＡＲ・ＡＢに、配設されるように設定されて、スイッチ操作部６６が、開いた際の扉部２５・２６・２７に覆われないスポーク部ＳＬ・ＳＲのエリアに、配設されている。そのため、開いた各扉部２５・２６・２７は、それぞれ、スイッチ操作部６６に全く干渉することなく、三つの空間部ＡＦ・ＡＬ・ＡＲに円滑に配設されることとなって、大きく開く状態を安定して確保することができる。
【００６７】
したがって、実施形態のステアリングホイールＷでは、ボス部Ｂ近傍のスポーク部ＳＬ・ＳＲにスイッチ操作部６６が配設されていても、パッド１４の扉部２５・２６・２７を大きく開かせることができて、膨張初期のエアバッグ１１を広く展開させることができる。その結果、運転者がステアリングホイールＷに接近している状態で、エアバッグ１１が展開膨張しても、運転者に対してエアバッグ１１の部分的な押圧力を作用させることを、避けることができる。
【００６８】
また、実施形態のパッド１４では、各扉部２５・２６・２７の相互に隣接する部位の破断予定部３３が、上方から見て、左右方向に配設される横棒部３４と横棒部３４の略中央から後方へ延びる縦棒部３５とを有し、横棒部３４の左右両端部３４ａ・３４ｂを前方側の左右の各スポーク部ＳＬ・ＳＲの配置方向に向け、縦棒部３５の後端部３５ａを後方側のスポーク部ＳＢの配置方向に向けた略Ｔ字形状として、配設されている。そして、三本スポークタイプの実施形態のステアリングホイールＷでは、各スポーク部ＳＬ・ＳＲ・ＳＢ間の空間部ＡＦ・ＡＬ・ＡＲにおいて、前方側の空間部ＡＦが、インストルメントパネルの計器類の視認性の見地から、後方側の左右の空間部ＡＬ・ＡＲより大きく、設定されている。そのため、各扉部２５・２６・２７の相互に隣接する部位の破断予定部３３が略Ｔ字形状としておれば、破断予定部３３の横棒部３４より前方側の前側扉部２５が大きな面積の形状となり、横棒部３４より後方側の縦棒部３５で分割された左右の左側・右側扉部２６・２７が小さな面積の形状となることから、開いた際に収納させる前側・左側・右側空間部ＡＦ・ＡＬ・ＡＲに対して、容易に、前側・左側・右側扉部２５・２６・２７の形状を対応させることができて、前側・左側・右側扉部２５・２６・２７の形状設定が容易となる。
【００６９】
また、実施形態のパッド１４では、上部側に配置されて各扉部２５・２６・２７と破断予定部３３とを有した天井壁部１５と、天井壁部１５から下方に延びてバッグホルダ５０に連結可能に上下方向に配設される側壁部４０と、を設けて構成し、破断予定部３３における扉部２５・２６・２７の相互隣接部位３４・３５を除いた残部の部位３６・３７・３８を、天井壁部１５における側壁部４０の一般部４１Ｌ・４１Ｒ・４１Ｂの内側面側に近接して側壁部一般部４１Ｌ・４１Ｒ・４１Ｂに略沿って配設させている。そのため、破断予定部３３における扉部２５・２６・２７の相互隣接部位３４・３５を除いた残部部位３６・３７・３８が、天井壁部１５の肉厚を厚肉とするような側壁部４０の一般部４１の内側面側に近接しているため、残部部位３６・３７・３８に応力集中が生じ易い。さらに、残部部位３６・３７・３８が、側壁部４０の一般部４１に沿って配設されているため、一般部４１に沿って容易に破断することとなって、各扉部２５・２６・２７を円滑に開かせることができる。
【００７０】
なお、実施形態では、スイッチ操作部６６を、パッド１４側でなく、ステアリングホイール本体１側のスポーク部ＳＬ・ＳＲの部位に配設した場合を示したが、図１４に示すように、扉部２５・２６・２７の部位以外であって、開いた際の扉部２５・２６・２７に覆われないエリアのパッド１４の部位１６Ｌ・１６Ｒや、スポーク側延設部１６Ｂに、あるいは、スポーク部Ｓ側とパッド１４側との両方に、配設させても良い。さらに、パッド１４のみならず、ロアカバー８から突出するように、ステアリングホイール本体１側のボス部Ｂから空間部ＡＬ・ＡＲに突出するように、スイッチ操作部を配設させても良い。
【００７１】
また、実施形態では、バッグホルダ５０によるパッド１４の保持を、係止爪５２ａの係止部４６ａ・４７ａ・４８ａへの係止とリベット５４止めとを利用して、行った場合を示した。しかし、各扉部２５・２６・２７のヒンジ部２９・３０・３１が、それぞれ、スポーク部相互の間の空間部ＡＦ・ＡＬ・ＡＢ近傍として、かつ、ヒンジ部２９・３０・３１近傍のバッグホルダ５０による保持部位の上方の部位Ｚより、下方に下がったパッド１４の外周縁２１・２２・２３側に、配設されれば、リベット５４だけで、パッド１４をバッグホルダ５０に保持させたり、あるいは、図１５・１６・１７に示すように構成しても良い。
【００７２】
図１５に示す保持構造は、バッグホルダ５０Ａが、板金製の補助プレート５５を利用して、各保持壁部４６・４７・４８を保持している。バッグホルダ５０Ａの側壁部５２には、各保持壁部４６・４７・４８の突起状の係止部４６ａ・４７ａ・４８ａに係止可能な係止爪５２ａが形成され、補助プレート５５には、各保持壁部４６・４７・４８の下端面に設けられた挿入溝４６ｃ・４７ｃ・４８ｃに挿入される挿入片５５ａが形成されている。そして、各保持壁部４６・４７・４８は、バッグホルダ５０Ａの係止爪５２ａと補助プレート５５の挿入片５５ａとによって、挟持されて、バッグホルダ５０Ａに保持されている。なお、補助プレート５５は、リテーナ１２のボルト１２ａとナット１２ｂとを利用して、バッグホルダ５０Ａの横板部５１に共締めされている。
【００７３】
図１６に示す保持構造は、バッグホルダ５０Ｂが、板金製の補助プレート５６を利用して、各保持壁部４６・４７・４８を保持している。バッグホルダ５０Ｂの側壁部５２には、各保持壁部４６・４７・４８に設けられた係止孔４６ｄ・４７ｄ・４８ｄに係止される係止爪５２ｃが形成され、補助プレート５６には、各保持壁部４６・４７・４８の外側面に当接する規制壁５６ａが形成されている。そして、各保持壁部４６・４７・４８は、係止爪５２ｃの係止孔４６ｄ・４７ｄ・４８ｄからの外れを規制壁５６ａに規制されて、係止爪５２ｃの係止により、バッグホルダ５０Ｂに保持されている。この補助プレート５６も、リテーナ１２のボルト１２ａとナット１２ｂとを利用して、バッグホルダ５０Ｂの横板部５１に共締めされている。
【００７４】
図１５・１６の保持構造では、各扉部２５・２６・２７のヒンジ部２９・３０・３１が、それぞれ、スポーク部相互の間の空間部ＡＦ・ＡＬ・ＡＲ近傍として、かつ、ヒンジ部２９・３０・３１近傍のバッグホルダ５０による保持部位４６・４７・４８の上方の部位Ｚより、下方に下がったパッド１４の外周縁２１・２２・２３下端部２１ａ・２２ａ・２３ａ側に、配設されており、各扉部２５・２６・２７を大きく開かせることができる。
【００７５】
図１７に示す保持構造では、バッグホルダ５０Ｃやパッド１４が、側壁部５２・４０を備えておらず、バッグホルダ５０Ｃの横板部５１の部位に、パッド横板部４２・４３・４４をリベット４５止めして、パッド１４をバッグホルダ５０Ｃに保持させている。この保持構造でも、各扉部２５・２６・２７のヒンジ部２９・３０・３１が、それぞれ、スポーク部相互の間の空間部ＡＦ・ＡＬ・ＡＲ近傍として、かつ、ヒンジ部２９・３０・３１近傍のバッグホルダ５０による保持部位（リベット４５の部位）の上方の部位Ｚより、下方に下がったパッド１４の外周縁２１・２２・２３の下端部２１ａ・２２ａ・２３ａ側に、配設されており、各扉部２５・２６・２７を大きく開かせることができる。
【図面の簡単な説明】
【図１】本発明に係る一実施形態のステアリングホイールの平面図であり、パッドの扉部を図示した平面図である。
【図２】同実施形態のステアリングホイールの部分平面図であり、バッグホルダとエアバッグの折畳状態とを図示した平面図である。
【図３】同実施形態のステアリングホイールの概略断面図であり、図１のIII−III部位を示す。
【図４】同実施形態のステアリングホイールの概略断面図であり、図１のIV−IV部位を示す。
【図５】同実施形態のパッドにおける前側扉部のヒンジ部付近を示す概略拡大断面図である。
【図６】同実施形態のパッドにおける左側扉部のヒンジ部付近を示す概略拡大断面図である。
【図７】同実施形態のパッドの底面図である。
【図８】同実施形態のエアバッグ装置に使用するバッグホルダの平面図である。
【図９】同実施形態のエアバッグ装置に使用する支持プレートの平面図である。
【図１０】同実施形態のエアバッグを平らに展開した状態を示す平面図である。
【図１１】同実施形態のエアバッグの折畳工程を説明する図である。
【図１２】図１１のXII−XII部位断面図である。
【図１３】図１１のXIII−XIII部位の断面図である。
【図１４】他の実施形態におけるスイッチ操作部を他の位置に配設させたステアリングホイールの平面図である。
【図１５】他の実施形態におけるバッグホルダのパッドの保持構造を示す図である。
【図１６】さらに他の実施形態におけるバッグホルダのパッドの保持構造を示す図である。
【図１７】さらに他の実施形態におけるバッグホルダのパッドの保持構造を示す図である。
【符号の説明】
１０…エアバッグ装置、
１１…エアバッグ、
１３…インフレーター、
１４…パッド、
１５…天井壁部、
２１・２２・２３…外周縁、
２５・２６・２７…扉部、
２９・３０・３１…ヒンジ部、
３３…破談予定部、
３４…横棒部、
３５…縦棒部、
４０…側壁部、
４１（４１Ｌ・４１Ｒ・４１Ｂ）…一般部、
４６・４７・４８…（保持部位）保持壁部、
５０・５０Ａ・５０Ｂ・５０Ｃ…バッグホルダ、
６６…スイッチ操作部、
Ｒ…リング部、
Ｂ…ボス部、
Ｓ（ＳＬ・ＳＲ・ＳＢ）…スポーク部、
ＡＦ・ＡＬ・ＡＲ…空間部、
Ｗ…ステアリングホイール。[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a steering wheel including an airbag device for a vehicle, and in particular, includes an airbag device and a switch operation unit for operating functional components such as an audio device, an air conditioning device, a navigation system, a telephone, and a shift change. The present invention relates to a three-spoke type steering wheel.
[0002]
The vertical direction in this specification refers to the vertical direction along the axial direction of the steering shaft when the steering wheel is mounted on a vehicle, unless otherwise specified. Unless otherwise noted, it refers to the front, rear, left, and right directions of the vehicle along the direction perpendicular to the axis of the steering shaft during straight-ahead steering after the steering wheel is mounted on the vehicle.
[0003]
[Prior art and its problems]
Conventionally, a three-spoke type steering wheel equipped with an airbag device is known from Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-100907. The airbag device includes an airbag that is folded inflatable, an inflator that supplies inflation gas to the airbag, a pad that covers the folded airbag, a folded airbag inflator, and a pad. And a bag holder connected to the steering wheel body. The pad was provided with a plurality of door portions capable of forming one opening at the center of the pad for projecting the airbag when inflated. Each door part is provided with a planned breaking part around it, pressed by the airbag when inflated to break the planned breaking part, and opened with the hinge part arranged on the outer peripheral side of the pad as the rotation center Was configured.
[0004]
In recent years, there has been a growing demand for a switch operating unit for operating functional parts such as audio equipment, air conditioning equipment, navigation systems, telephones, and shift changes on the pads of the bosses and the spokes near the bosses. ing. These switch operation parts are composed of operation buttons and operation levers that are operated by pressing and swinging downward so that they can be operated from the upper side. The ring surface (a plane formed on the upper surface side of the ring portion when the steering wheel is viewed from the direction orthogonal to the axis of the steering shaft) is disposed so as to be close to the ring surface.
[0005]
However, regarding the airbag device, when the airbag is deployed and inflated when the driver is approaching the steering wheel, in order to prevent a partial pressing force from acting on the driver, It is desirable that it is widely deployed in the early stage of inflation and inflated to the driver side. In other words, it is difficult to widely deploy the airbag at the initial stage of inflation unless the door portion when opened opens interferes with the upper side including the operation surface of the switch operation portion and must be opened wide.
[0006]
The present invention solves the above-described problem, and provides a steering wheel including an airbag device that can widely open a door portion of a pad even when a switch operation portion is provided on a boss portion or a spoke portion. The purpose is to provide.
[0007]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
  The steering wheel which concerns on this invention connects the ring part hold | gripped at the time of steering, the boss | hub part arrange | positioned in the center of this ring part, and the said ring part and the said boss | hub partLeft side spoke part, right side spoke part and rear side rear spoke part extending in the left-right direction on the front sideWith three spoke parts, and
  An airbag device is disposed on the boss portion,
  The airbag device includes an airbag folded inflatable, an inflator that supplies inflation gas to the airbag, a pad that covers the folded airbag, the folded airbag and the inflator, and Hold the padA bag holder, a horn switch mechanism, a support plate for connecting the airbag device to a steering wheel body,Configured with
  The pad isA ceiling wall portion disposed on the upper side, and a side wall portion extending downward from the ceiling wall portion and connectable to the bag holder.
  The ceiling wall isA portion to be ruptured is arranged around, and is pressed by the airbag when inflated to break the portion to be ruptured, and the hinge portion disposed on the outer peripheral edge side of the pad is opened with the rotation center as a One opening for projecting can be formed in the centerThree piecesWith a door,
  A steering wheel provided with an airbag device configured by disposing a switch operation unit operable from above on at least one of the boss part or the spoke part,
  The padCeiling wallBut,
  The left spoke part, the right spoke part, and the front part between the left spoke part and the right spoke part are arranged so as to cover the upper part of the boss part between the covering layers of the rear spoke part. A front outer peripheral edge adjacent to the front space part on the side, a left outer peripheral edge adjacent to the left space part between the left spoke part and the rear spoke part, and the right spoke part and the rear spoke part. The right outer peripheral edge adjacent to the right space part between is formed so as to be curved downward and further,
  An opening forming portion capable of forming one opening for projecting the inflating airbag is provided, and the left spoke portion, the right spoke portion, and the rear spoke portion are provided around the opening forming portion. It is configured with spoke-side extending portions that are continuous with the coating layer,
  A general portion extending in a plate shape directly downward from a lower surface of the ceiling wall portion so that a side wall portion of the pad surrounds the opening forming portion of the ceiling wall portion; and a holding wall portion held by the bag holder; Consists of
  The general part of the pad is
  A left side general part arranged to extend from the left front edge side of the ceiling wall part to the vicinity of the center of the left edge side,
  A right general part arranged to extend from the right front edge side of the ceiling wall part to the vicinity of the center of the right edge side; and
  A rear general part arranged to extend in the left-right direction on the rear edge side of the ceiling wall part,
  Consisting of
  The holding wall portion of the pad is
  A front horizontal plate that extends in the inner lateral direction from the vicinity of the lower end of the front outer periphery of the ceiling wall and is arranged to connect the lower ends on the front end side of the left general part and the right general part. Front holding wall portion extending downward from the rear edge side of the portion,
  Extending inward laterally from the vicinity of the lower end of the left outer peripheral edge of the ceiling wall, and arranged to connect the lower ends of the rear end of the left general part and the left end of the rear general part Left holding wall portion extending downward from the inner edge of the left lateral plate portion, and
  Extending laterally inward from the vicinity of the lower end of the right outer periphery of the ceiling wall, and arranged to connect the lower ends of the rear end of the right general part and the right end of the rear general part. Right horizontal board Right holding wall portion extending downward from the inner edge of the portion,
  Consisting of
  The pad is scheduled to break,
  When viewed from above, it has a horizontal bar portion disposed in the left-right direction and a vertical bar portion extending rearward from the approximate center of the horizontal bar portion, and the left and right spoke portions and the right side of the horizontal bar portion While being arranged as a substantially T-shape with the rear end of the vertical bar portion directed in the arrangement direction of the rear spoke portion, in the arrangement direction with the spoke portion,
  Furthermore, it extends from the left end portion of the horizontal bar portion to both sides in the front-rear direction, is disposed along the left general portion in the vicinity of the inner surface side of the left general portion, and the front end portion is viewed from below. Extending to the lower end side of the front outer peripheral edge of the ceiling wall portion so as to be hidden on the left edge side of the front horizontal plate portion, and the rear end portion is hidden on the front edge side of the left horizontal plate portion when viewed from below As described above, the left extending portion disposed to extend to the lower end side of the left outer peripheral edge of the ceiling wall portion,
  Extending from the right end portion of the horizontal bar portion to both sides in the front-rear direction, disposed so as to be close to the inner side surface of the right general portion and along the right general portion, and the front end portion as viewed from below. Extending to the lower edge side of the front outer periphery of the ceiling wall so as to be hidden on the right edge side of the front horizontal plate portion, and so that the rear end portion is hidden on the front edge side of the right horizontal plate portion when viewed from below A right-side extending portion disposed to extend to the lower end side of the right outer peripheral edge of the ceiling wall portion;
  Extending from the rear end portion of the vertical bar portion to both sides in the left-right direction, being arranged along the rear general portion in the vicinity of the inner side surface of the rear general portion, and the left end portion from below Extending to the lower end side of the left outer peripheral edge of the ceiling wall so as to be hidden behind the left lateral plate portion when viewed, and hiding the right end portion behind the right lateral plate portion when viewed from below A rear extending portion that extends and is disposed on the lower end side of the right outer peripheral edge of the ceiling wall portion;
  Configured with
  The three door parts are composed of a front door part, a left door part, and a right door part,
  The front door portion is
  The hinge part at the time of opening is disposed in the vicinity of the lower end part of the front outer peripheral edge of the ceiling wall part as a substantially linear part connecting the front end parts of the left extension part and the right extension part,
  When it is formed by the inner part of the horizontal bar part of the planned breaking part and the front part from the crossing part of the horizontal bar part in the left extension part and the right extension part, and opened. , Configured to be housed in the front space portion on the front side between the left spoke portion and the right spoke portion,
  The left door is
  In the vicinity of the lower end portion of the left outer peripheral edge of the ceiling wall portion, the hinge portion at the time of opening is a substantially linear portion connecting the rear end portion of the left extension portion and the left end portion of the rear extension portion. Arrange
  A portion of the planned breaking portion on the left side of the crossing portion of the horizontal bar portion with the vertical bar portion, a portion of the vertical bar portion, and a portion of the left extending portion on the rear side of the crossing portion of the horizontal bar portion. The left side portion between the left side spoke portion and the rear side spoke portion when opened and formed by the inner side portion of the rear side extending portion at a portion on the left side of the crossing portion with the vertical bar portion. The left side space part of the
  The right door part is
  In the vicinity of the lower end portion of the right outer peripheral edge of the ceiling wall portion, the hinge portion at the time of opening is a substantially linear portion connecting the rear end portion of the right side extension portion and the right end portion of the rear side extension portion. Arrange
  A portion on the right side of the crossing portion of the horizontal bar portion of the planned breaking portion with the vertical bar portion, a portion on the rear side of the crossing portion of the vertical bar portion and the horizontal bar portion of the right extending portion, and , Formed by an inner portion of the rear extension portion on the right side of the crossing portion with the vertical bar portion, and when opened, between the right spoke portion and the rear spoke portion. It can be stored in the right space,
  The bag holder extends in a vertical direction from the outer peripheral edge of the horizontal plate portion to which the airbag and the inflator are attached, and the front holding wall portion, the left holding wall portion of the pad, and A side wall for attaching the right holding wall,
  At the upper end portion in the vicinity of each of the left spoke part, the right spoke part, and the rear spoke part in the side wall part of the bag holder, an attachment piece part extending outward is formed, respectively.
  The support plate is configured by disposing the horn switch mechanism in the lower position of each attachment piece portion of the bag holder, and disposing the attachment piece portion, respectively.
  Each spoke-side extension portion of the ceiling wall portion of the pad is in contact with each attachment piece portion of the bag holder so that the attachment piece portion of the bag holder can be pressed downward on the lower surface side. So that the pressing part is arranged,
  The horn switch mechanism is disposed between the attachment piece of the bag holder and the attachment piece of the support plate at three positions on the back surface side of each of the spoke-side extending portions, and presses the pad. It is configured to operate the horn by the lowering operation,
  The switch operation unit isFront door, left door, and right sideOther than the part of the door part,Front door, left door, rightIt is arrange | positioned in the area of the said boss | hub part or the said spoke part which is not covered with a door part, It is characterized by the above-mentioned.
[0010]
【The invention's effect】
In the steering wheel according to the present invention, if the airbag is inflated and presses the three door portions of the pad, each door portion of the pad breaks the surrounding planned break portion, and the hinge portion is the center of rotation. Open as.
[0011]
At that time, the hinge part of each door part is in the vicinity of the space part between the spoke parts, and on the outer peripheral side of the pad that is lowered downward from the part above the holding part by the bag holder in the vicinity of the hinge part. Arranged. Therefore, each door portion is opened with the hinge portion at a position below the outer peripheral edge of the pad as a rotation center, so that a large area of the door portion itself can be secured, and the door portion is opened as much as possible.
[0012]
Incidentally, if the hinge part of each door part is arrange | positioned in the upper part vicinity of the holding | maintenance part by a bag holder, the area of door part itself will become narrow and a door part cannot open large.
[0013]
And the switch operation part is arrange | positioned in the area | region of the boss | hub part or spoke part other than the site | part of a door part, and not covered with the door part at the time of opening. Moreover, each door part is set so that it may be arrange | positioned in the three space parts between spoke parts, when it opens centering on a hinge part. Therefore, each opened door is smoothly arranged in the three spaces between the three spokes without interfering with the switch operation part at all. It can be secured stably.
[0014]
Therefore, in the steering wheel equipped with the airbag device according to the present invention, even if the switch operating portion is provided in the boss portion or the spoke portion, the pad door portion can be opened widely, and the air in the initial stage of inflation can be opened. The bag can be widely deployed.
[0015]
And the fracture | rupture planned part of the mutually adjacent site | part of each door part has a horizontal bar part arrange | positioned in the left-right direction seeing from upper direction, and a vertical bar part extended back from the approximate center of a horizontal bar part. Approximate T-shape with the left and right ends of the horizontal bar portion oriented in the arrangement direction of the left and right spoke portions on the front side in the spoke portion, and the rear end of the vertical bar portion oriented in the arrangement direction of the spoke portion on the rear side in the spoke portion As a result, the following actions and effects can be obtained.
[0016]
  In other words, in the three-spoke type steering wheel, the space part on the front side of the space part between the spoke parts is the visibility of the instrument panel instrumentation.Point of viewTo larger than the left and right space portions on the rear side. Therefore, if the portions to be broken of the door portions adjacent to each other are substantially T-shaped, the front door portion on the front side of the horizontal bar portion of the portion to be broken has a larger area, and the rear portion from the horizontal bar portion. Because the left and right left and right doors divided by the vertical bar on the side have a small area, the front, left, The shape of the right door part can be made to correspond, and the shape of the front side, the left side, and the right side door part can be easily set.
[0017]
  In addition, the pad is arranged on the upper side and has a ceiling wall portion having door portions and a portion to be broken, and a side wall portion that extends downward from the ceiling wall portion and is vertically arranged so as to be connectable to the bag holder. And each adjacent part of each door part in the part to be broken(Horizontal bar and vertical bar)Remaining parts excluding(Left extension, right extension, and rear extension)Can be provided close to the inner side surface of the side wall portion of the ceiling wall portion and substantially along the side wall portion, the following actions and effects can be obtained.
[0018]
That is, since the remaining part excluding the adjacent part of each door part in the part to be broken is close to the inner side of the side wall part that makes the wall thickness of the ceiling wall part thick, stress is applied to the remaining part part. Concentration is likely to occur. Furthermore, since the remaining portion is disposed substantially along the side wall portion, the remaining portion is easily broken along the side wall portion, so that the door portion can be opened smoothly.
[0019]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
[0020]
As shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, the steering wheel W of the embodiment includes a ring portion R that is gripped during annular steering, a boss portion B that is disposed at the center of the ring portion R, and a ring portion R and a boss portion B. And three spoke portions S (SL, SR, SB) that connect the steering wheel main body 1 and the airbag device 10 disposed above the boss portion B on the component parts. , And a switch operation unit 66.
[0021]
The steering wheel body 1 includes a steering wheel metal core 2 disposed so as to connect the ring part R, the boss part B, and the spoke part S, a lower cover 8 disposed so as to cover the lower part of the boss part B, It is configured with.
[0022]
The steering wheel metal core 2 includes a ring metal core 3 having an inverted U-shaped cross section disposed in the ring part R, a boss metal core 4 connected to a steering shaft 80 (see FIG. 3), and a boss metal core 4. And three spoke part cores 5 that connect the ring part cores 3 to each other. The ring core metal 3 and each spoke core metal 5 on the ring portion core 3 side are covered with a coating layer 7 made of synthetic resin.
[0023]
The boss core 4 is die-cast integrally with the ring core 3 and the spoke core 5 while covering the boss 4a made of steel connected to the steering shaft 80 in a cylindrical shape. And a covering portion 4b made of an aluminum alloy / magnesium alloy or the like.
[0024]
Each spoke core metal 5 is arranged so as to extend from the covering portion 4b of the boss core metal 4 to the ring core metal 3 side obliquely above. The rear core metal part 5a extending rearward from the cover part 4b and connected to the ring core metal 3 is formed in a bifurcated shape on the cover part 4b side, and is formed as a single piece assembled on the ring core metal 3 side. Has been. An attachment seat 5c having an attachment hole 5d for attaching the airbag device 10 is formed in each of the two branch portions 5b branched in a bifurcated manner.
[0025]
As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the airbag device 10 includes a bag-like airbag 11 that is folded inflatable, an inflator 13 that supplies inflation gas to the airbag 11, and a pad that covers the folded airbag 11. 14, a bag holder 50 that holds the airbag 11, the inflator 13, and the pad 14, a horn switch mechanism 57, and a support plate 59 for connecting and supporting the airbag device 10 to the steering wheel body 1. Yes.
[0026]
As shown in FIGS. 2 to 4 and 10, the airbag 11 is configured to have a bag shape having an opening 11 a through which inflation gas flows, so that the cross-sectional shape at the time of inflation is a substantially elliptical sphere. In the case of the embodiment, as shown in FIG. 10, the airbag 11 uses two cloth materials D1 and D2 obtained by cutting a woven fabric such as a polyamide thread or a polyester thread into a circular shape, and the cloth material D1. A flat airbag formed by joining the outer peripheral edges of D2 by stitching or the like. A plurality of mounting holes 11b through which the bolts 12a of the retainer 12 to be held by the bag holder 50 are inserted are formed at the periphery of the opening 11a. In addition, vent holes 11c and 11c are formed at portions away from the opening 11a.
[0027]
The inflator 13 includes a substantially cylindrical main body portion 13a having a gas discharge port 13b in the upper portion, and a flange portion 13c protruding from the outer peripheral surface of the main body portion 13a.
[0028]
The pad 14 is made of a synthetic resin such as a polyolefin-based or polyethylene-based thermoplastic elastomer or the like, and is formed by injection molding or the like, and as shown in FIGS. And a substantially hexagonal cylindrical side wall portion 40 extending downward from the vicinity of the outer peripheral edge of the ceiling wall portion 15.
[0029]
The side wall portion 40 includes a general portion 41 and holding wall portions 46, 47, and 48. The general portion 41 is arranged so as to extend downward in a plate shape directly from the lower surface of the ceiling wall portion 15, and as shown in FIG. 7, is composed of a left general portion 41L, a right general portion 41R, and a rear general portion 41B. (Note that FIG. 7 is a bottom view of the pad 14, and the left and right sides are reversed).
[0030]
The left general portion 41L is disposed so as to extend from the left front edge side of the ceiling wall portion 15 to the vicinity of the center of the left edge side, and includes a connecting portion 41Lb connected to a front horizontal plate portion 42 described later on the front end side. On the rear end side, a connecting portion 41Lc connected to a left lateral plate portion 43 described later is provided. And between the connection part 41Lb * 41Lc is used as the main-body part 41La exposed to the downward side of the pad 14. FIG. The right general portion 41R is disposed so as to extend from the right front edge side of the ceiling wall portion 15 to the vicinity of the center of the right edge side, and includes a connecting portion 41Rb connected to a front horizontal plate portion 42 described later on the front end side. On the rear end side, a connecting portion 41Rc connected to a right lateral plate portion 44 described later is provided. The connecting portion 41Rb / 41Rc is formed as a main body portion 41Ra exposed to the lower side of the pad 14. The rear general portion 41B is disposed so as to extend in the left-right direction on the rear edge side of the ceiling wall portion 15, and has connecting portions 41Bb and 41Bb respectively connected to the left and right horizontal plate portions 43 and 44 at the left and right ends. And a main body 41Ba that is exposed to the lower side of the pad 14 between the connecting portions 41Bb and 41Bb.
[0031]
The front horizontal plate portion 42 extends inwardly from the vicinity of a lower end portion 21a of a front outer peripheral edge 21 (to be described later) of the ceiling wall portion 15, and connects the lower ends of the connecting portions 41Lb and 41Rb of the left and right general portions 41L and 41R. It is arranged to do. The left horizontal plate portion 43 extends from the inside lateral direction from the vicinity of the lower end portion 22a of the left outer peripheral edge 22 to be described later of the ceiling wall portion 15, and the lower ends of the connecting portions 41Lc and 41Bb of the left general portion 41L and the rear general portion 41B. Are connected to each other. The right horizontal plate portion 44 extends inward from the vicinity of a lower end portion 23a of a right outer peripheral edge 23 (to be described later) of the ceiling wall portion 15, and the lower ends of the connecting portions 41Rc and 41Bb of the right general portion 41R and the rear general portion 41B. Are connected to each other.
[0032]
A front holding wall portion 46 is formed so as to extend downward from the rear edge side of the front horizontal plate portion 42, and the left holding wall portion 47 is extended so as to extend downward from the inner side edge of the left horizontal plate portion 43. A right holding wall portion 48 is formed so as to extend downward from the inner side edge of the right lateral plate portion 44. These front, left, and right holding wall portions 46, 47, and 48 are portions that are held by the bag holder 50 in the vicinity of hinge portions 29, 30, and 31 of door portions 25, 26, and 27, which will be described later, respectively. Become. Further, the front / left / right holding wall portions 46, 47, and 48 are provided with mounting holes 46b, 47b, and 48b having stepped portions that penetrate in the horizontal direction to fix the rivets 54 to a side wall portion 52 described later of the bag holder 50, Protruding locking portions 46 a, 47 a, and 48 a that are disposed at the upper end and lock each of the locking claws 52 a described later of the bag holder 50 are configured.
[0033]
The ceiling wall portion 15 is formed so as to cover the upper portion of the boss portion B between the covering layers 7 of the spoke portions SL, SR, and SB. At the outer peripheral edge on the upper surface side of the ceiling wall portion 15, the portions 21, 22, and 23 adjacent to the spaces AF, AL, and AR between the spoke portions SL, SR, and SB (the front outer peripheral edge 21, the left outer peripheral edge 22, and the right outer periphery) A peripheral edge 23) is formed to be curved downward. An opening forming portion 19 capable of forming one opening for projecting the inflating airbag 11 is disposed in a portion of the ceiling wall portion 15 surrounded by the general portions 41L, 41R, and 41B of the side wall portion 40. In addition, three spoke-side extending portions 16 (16L, 16R, and 16B) are formed around the opening forming portion 19 so as to be smoothly connected to the covering layer 7 of each of the spoke portions SL, SR, and SB. . On the lower surface side of each of the spoke-side extending portions 16L, 16R, and 16B, there is a substantially cylindrical pressing portion 17 that can press a mounting piece portion 53 (described later) of the bag holder 50 above the horn switch mechanism 57. 53 is disposed so as to contact 53. The opening forming portion 19 is configured by providing a thin breakable portion 33 that can be broken around, and arranging a front door portion 25, a left door portion 26, and a right door portion 27.
[0034]
The planned break portion 33 is a substantially T-shaped portion of the door portions 25, 26, and 27 that are adjacent to each other, and is substantially the same as the horizontal bar portion 34 and the horizontal bar portion 34 that are disposed in the left-right direction. And a vertical bar portion 35 extending rearward from the center. The horizontal bar portion 34 is disposed so as to traverse substantially the vicinity of the center in the front-rear direction of the pad 14 in the left-right direction, and the vicinity of the horizontal center of the horizontal bar portion 34 is an ellipse disposed at the center of the ceiling wall portion 15. It is arranged so as to be recessed rearward as viewed from above so as to bypass the shape decorative portion 15a. The left and right end portions 34a and 34b of the horizontal bar portion 34 are arranged in the arrangement direction of the left and right spoke portions SL and SR extending in the left and right direction on the front side, respectively, and the rear end portion of the vertical bar portion 35 The 35a side is arrange | positioned toward the arrangement | positioning direction of rear side spoke part SB. Further, the planned break portion 33 includes left and right extending portions 36 and 37 extending from the left and right end portions 34 a and 34 b of the horizontal bar portion 34 to both sides in the front-rear direction, and both left and right directions from the rear end portion 35 a of the vertical bar portion 35. And a rear extending portion 38 extending in the direction.
[0035]
The left and right extending portions 36 and 37 are disposed substantially along the general portions 41L and 41R so as to contact the general portions 41L and 41R inside the left and right general portions 41L and 41R of the side wall portion 40, respectively. Has been. The front end 36 a of the left extension 36 extends toward the lower end 21 a of the front outer peripheral edge 21 of the ceiling wall 15 so as to be hidden on the left edge of the front horizontal plate 42 as viewed from below the pad 14. ing. The rear end portion 36b of the left extension portion 36 extends toward the lower end portion 22a of the left outer peripheral edge 22 of the ceiling wall portion 15 so as to be hidden from the front edge side of the left lateral plate portion 43 when viewed from below the pad 14. Yes. Similarly, the front end portion 37a of the right extending portion 37 is located on the lower end portion 21a side of the front outer peripheral edge 21 of the ceiling wall portion 15 so as to be hidden on the right edge side of the front horizontal plate portion 42 when viewed from below the pad 14. It extends. The rear end portion 37 b of the right extension portion 37 extends toward the lower end portion 23 a of the right outer peripheral edge 23 of the ceiling wall portion 15 so as to be hidden on the front edge side of the right lateral plate portion 44 when viewed from below the pad 14. Yes.
[0036]
The rear extending portion 38 is disposed along the general portion 41B so as to be in contact with the general portion 41B inside the rear general portion 41B of the side wall portion 40. The left and right end portions 38a and 38b of the rear side extending portion 38 are hidden by the rear edge side of the left horizontal plate portion 43 and the rear edge side of the right horizontal plate portion 44, respectively, as viewed from below the pad 14. The left and right outer peripheral edges 22 and 23 of the ceiling wall portion 15 extend toward the lower end portions 22a and 23a.
[0037]
And the front door part 25 uses the hinge part 29 at the time of opening as the substantially linear site | part which connects the front-end parts 36a and 37a of the left side and right side extension parts 36 and 37, left spoke part SL and right side spoke part SR It arrange | positions in the vicinity of the space part AF between. And the shape of the front side door part 25 is the inner side of the part 36F * 37F ahead of the crossing part of the horizontal bar part 34 of the planned breaking part 33 and the horizontal bar part 34 in the left side / right side extension part 36 * 37. It is formed so as to be housed in the front space AF when the hinge 29 is opened around the rotation center.
[0038]
The left door portion 26 has a hinge portion 30 when opened as a substantially linear portion connecting the rear end portion 36b of the left extension portion 36 and the left end portion 38a of the rear extension portion 38. It arrange | positions in the vicinity of the space part AL between back side spoke parts SB. And the shape of the left door part 26 is the horizontal bar part of the part 34L on the left side from the crossing part with the vertical bar part 35 in the horizontal bar part 34 of the planned breaking part 33, the vertical bar part 35, and the left bar extending part 36. 34 is formed by an inner portion of a portion 36B on the rear side of the crossing portion with 34 and a portion 38L on the left side of the crossing portion with the vertical bar portion 35 of the rear extending portion 38, with the hinge portion 30 as the center of rotation. It is set to be stored in the left space AL when opened.
[0039]
The right door portion 27 is symmetrical with the left door portion 26 and has a substantially straight line connecting the rear end portion 37b of the right extension portion 37 and the right end portion 38b of the rear extension portion 38 when opening the hinge portion 31. As a shape-like part, it arrange | positions in the vicinity of the space part AR between right side spoke part SR and rear side spoke part SB. And the shape of the right side door part 27 is the horizontal bar part of the part 34R on the right side from the crossing part with the vertical bar part 35 in the horizontal bar part 34 of the planned breaking part 33, the vertical bar part 35, and the horizontal bar part of the right extending part 37. 34 is formed by an inner portion of a portion 37B on the rear side of the crossing portion with 34 and a portion 38R on the right side of the crossing portion with the vertical bar portion 35 of the rear extending portion 38, with the hinge portion 31 as the center of rotation. It is set to be stored in the right space AR when opened.
[0040]
The bag holder 50 is made of die cast made of magnesium or the like in consideration of weight reduction and shape shaping as shown in FIGS. 2 to 6 and 8, and an insertion hole through which the inflator main body 13a can be inserted from below in the center. The horizontal plate part 51 provided with 51a and the side wall part 52 extended in an up-down direction from the substantially whole periphery of the outer periphery of the horizontal plate part 51 are comprised. Around the insertion hole 51 a of the horizontal plate portion 51, a through hole 51 b through which each bolt 12 a of the retainer 12 is inserted is formed. The retainer 12 serves to hold the airbag 11 in the bag holder 50 and hold the inflator 13 in the bag holder 50.
[0041]
At the upper end of the side wall portion 52 in contact with the inner side surfaces of the front, left and right holding wall portions 46, 47 and 48 of the pad side wall portion 40, the front, left and right holding wall portions 46, 47 and 48 are provided. Locking claws 52a that can be locked from above are formed on the locking portions 46a, 47a, and 48a, and the front, left, and right holding wall portions are provided at portions below the locking claws 52a in the side wall portion 52. At the positions corresponding to the mounting holes 46 b, 47 b, 48 b of 46, 47, 48, the mounting holes 52 b when the front, left, right holding wall portions 46, 47, 48 of the pad side wall 40 are fixed to the rivets 54 (see FIG. Are formed.
[0042]
Further, three attachment pieces 53 extending laterally outwardly are formed at the upper end portions of the side wall portions 52 in the vicinity of the respective spoke portions SL, SR, and SB. A horn switch mechanism 57 is provided between the support plate 59 and a mounting piece portion 62 described later, and a nut 53b is embedded in each mounting piece portion 53 so that the horn switch mechanism 57 will be described later. A screw hole 53a for fastening the attached bolt 57d is formed.
[0043]
Note that a lead wire (not shown) is connected to the bag holder 50 so as to conduct to the positive electrode side of the horn operating circuit.
[0044]
In addition, the airbag 11 and the inflator 13 are held by the bag holder 50 with a plurality of bolts 12a extending downward from an annular retainer 12 disposed in the airbag 11, and these bolts 12a are attached to the airbag 11 as shown in FIG. This is done by passing through the mounting hole 11b, the through hole 51b of the bag holder 50, and the flange portion 13c of the inflator 13 and fastening the nut 12b. In addition, the pad 14 is held by the bag holder 50 when the pad side wall 40 is fixed to the side wall 52 of the front / left / right holding wall 46/47/48, and the front / left is held by the locking claw 52a. -The right holding wall portions 46, 47, 48 are engaged with the respective engaging portions 46a, 47a, 48a.
[0045]
As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the horn switch mechanism 57 is arranged at three positions on the back side of the spoke-side extension portions 16L, 16R, and 16B of the pads 14 in the vicinity of the spoke portions SL, SR, and SB. Each of the attachment pieces 53 of the bag holder 50 and each of the attachment pieces 62 of the support plate 59 are disposed. Each horn switch mechanism 57 is configured to operate the horn by bringing the contacts 57a and 57b into contact with each other by a pressing operation of the pad 14. Each horn switch mechanism 57 is configured so that the contacts 57a and 57b are separated from each other by the coil spring 57c when the horn is not operated, and the distance between the contacts 57a and 57b is made constant by the stepped bolt 57d. Yes. Each stepped bolt 57 d is screwed into the screw hole 53 a of the attachment piece 53 in the bag holder 50 from below the attachment piece 62 in the support plate 59.
[0046]
As shown in FIGS. 3, 4, and 9, the support plate 59 is made of sheet metal, and has a U-shaped connecting collar portion 60 as viewed from above, and from the position near each attachment piece portion 53 of the bag holder 50 in the connecting collar portion 60. Three vertical plate portions 61 that extend upward, three attachment piece portions 62 that extend outward in the lateral direction from the upper end of each vertical plate portion 61, and are arranged below each attachment piece portion 53, and a connecting collar portion 60. And a connecting piece 64 extending downward from the inner edges on both the left and right sides.
[0047]
At the center of each mounting piece 62, there is formed a mounting hole 62a that is opened in a shape such that the hypotenuse side of a substantially right-angled triangular hole is attached to both edges of the symmetrical position of the circular hole. A stepped bolt 57d of the horn switch mechanism 57 is inserted into the mounting hole 62a. Further, on the outer edge side of each attachment piece portion 62, an abutment piece portion 63 that is abutted against and supported by the covering layer 7 of each spoke portion SL, SR, and SB is formed.
[0048]
Each connecting piece 64 is fixed with a nut 64b on the side facing each other, and a connecting hole 64a is formed for fastening the airbag device 10 to each mounting seat 5c of the spoke core metal 5 with a bolt 9. Has been.
[0049]
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the switch operation unit 66 is disposed so as not to be covered by the doors 25, 26, and 27 when opened, and in the case of the embodiment, the left and right sides of the pad 14. In the vicinity of the spoke-side extending portions 16L and 16R, the left and right spoke portions SL and SR are disposed on the upper surface side. In the embodiment, the switch operation unit 66 includes an audio device operation button 67 disposed in the left spoke portion SL, a shift change shift up button 68 and a shift down button 69 disposed in the right spoke portion SR. A telephone operation button 70 and a navigation system operation lever 71 are provided. These switch operation portions 66 are arranged by bringing the operation surfaces 67a, 68a, 69a, 70a, 71a arranged on the upper surface side closer to the ring surface P so that they can be operated from the upper side when the steering wheel W is steered. It is installed.
[0050]
When the steering wheel W of the embodiment is mounted on a vehicle, the airbag device 10 is assembled in advance.
[0051]
In assembling the airbag device 10, first, the retainer 12 is inserted into the airbag 11, the bolts 12 a of the retainer 12 are protruded from the attachment holes 11 b, and the airbag 11 is folded. The airbag 11 is folded by providing three folded portions 11j, 11k, and 11m (see FIG. 2), and the respective folded portions 11j, 11k, and 11m are connected to the door portions 25, 26, and 27 of the pad 14, respectively. The doors 25, 26, and 27 are folded so that the pressing force when the doors 25, 26, and 27 are pushed open is appropriately acted on by the folding portions 11j, 11k, and 11m.
[0052]
To describe this folding process in detail, as shown in FIG. 11, first, the cloth material D2 on the driver side facing the opening 11a is overlapped on the cloth material D1 side on the inflator 13, and then flattened. Fold with.
[0053]
In the first stage, as shown in FIGS. 11A, 11B, and 12, the three peripheral edges 11d, 11e, and 11f that are equally divided into three radially around the opening 11a are brought closer to the opening 11a side. Fold it down. In the case of the embodiment, the peripheral edges 11d, 11e, and 11f are bellows folds that are folded on the cloth material D2 side facing the opening 11a with a fold fold CM and a valley fold CV, Folded.
[0054]
In the second stage, as shown in FIG. 11B, C, and FIG. 13, the peripheral edges 11g, 11h, and 11i on the folded end side in the three directions around the opening 11a are brought closer to the opening 11a side. As described above, when the folding portions 11j, 11k, and 11m are provided, the folding operation of the airbag 11 can be completed. In the case of the embodiment, each of the peripheral edges 11g, 11h, and 11i on the end side folded in the first stage is folded by outer roll folding, and each of the peripheral edges 11g, 11h, and 11i is a cloth material D1 having an opening 11a. It is folded so that it is wound on the side and placed on the cloth material D2 side facing the opening 11a.
[0055]
In addition, after completing the folding operation | work of the airbag 11, you may wrap with the thin packaging bag which can be fracture | ruptured, in order to prevent the collapse | folding which restore | restores and cancels | folds.
[0056]
After the airbag 11 is folded, it is stored in the bag holder 50. In this process, each bolt 12a of the retainer 12 protruding from the folded airbag 11 is passed through each through hole 51b of the bag holder lateral plate portion 51, and the airbag 11 is surrounded by the side wall portion 52. It mounts on the board part 51 (refer C of FIG. 11).
[0057]
At this time, among the three lumps (folded portions) 11j, 11k, and 11m formed by folding in the second stage of the folded airbag 11, the lumps 11j are arranged on the front edge side of the horizontal plate portion 51, The airbag 11 is placed on the horizontal plate portion 51 by placing the lumps 11k and 11m on the left and right sides of the rear edge side of the horizontal plate portion 51. Incidentally, vent holes 11c and 11c are arranged in the folded part of the lump 11j.
[0058]
Next, the main body portion 13a of the inflator 13 is inserted from below into the insertion hole 51a of the bag holder lateral plate portion 51, and the bolt 12a of the retainer 12 is inserted into the inflator flange portion 13c, so that the flange portion 13c of the inflator 13 is inserted. It abuts on the lower surface of the horizontal plate portion 51. Then, the nut 12b is screwed into the bolt 12a protruding from the flange portion 13c, and the airbag 11, the bag holder 50, and the inflator 13 are assembled together.
[0059]
Thereafter, the pad 14 is pushed down from above so as to surround the outer peripheral surface of the side of the folded airbag 11 with the side wall portion 40, and the locking portions 46 a of the front, left, and right holding wall portions 46, 47, 48. The latching claws 52a of the bag holder 50 are locked to the 47a and 48a, and the mounting holes 46b, 47b and 48b of the front, left and right holding wall portions 46, 47 and 48 of the pad 14 are attached to the bag holder 50. The rivets 54 are inserted into the mounting holes 46 b, 47 b, 48 b, 52 b so as to coincide with the holes 52 b, and the front, left, right holding wall portions 46, 47, 48 and the side wall portions 52 are fastened.
[0060]
Further, the horn switch mechanism 57 is disposed on each attachment piece portion 62 of the support plate 59, and the portion of the horn switch mechanism 57 is disposed on the lower surface of each attachment piece portion 53 of the bag holder 50. If the stepped bolt 57d is screwed into the screw hole 53a from below the portion 62, the airbag device 10 can be assembled.
[0061]
Then, the lower cover 8 is attached to the steering wheel core 2 by using a screw or the like to the steering wheel core 2 having the coating layer 7 formed by die casting, and a switch operation unit 66 is provided. Then, the steering wheel main body 1 is assembled, and in that state, the boss 4a of the boss core 4 is fitted on the steering shaft 80 of the vehicle and the nut 81 is fixed, and the steering wheel main body 1 is attached. The steering shaft 80 is inclined by about 30 ° from the horizontal direction so that the upper end is directed upward.
[0062]
Then, lead wires (not shown) extending from the horn switch mechanism 57 and the switch operation portions 66 of the airbag device 10 that are assembled in advance are connected to connectors (not shown) on the steering wheel body 1 side, and the support plate of the airbag device 10 is supported. 59, each contact piece 63 in contact with the covering layer 7 of the spokes SL, SR, and SB, and each connection piece 64, 64 is connected to the inner surface of each mounting seat 5c of the rear core 5a. If the respective mounting bolts 9 are screwed into the connecting holes 64a of the connecting piece 64 through the mounting holes 5d of the mounting seat 5c from the holes 8a of the lower cover 8, the steering wheel W is It can be assembled and mounted on the steering shaft 80.
[0063]
In the steering wheel W assembled as described above, the operation surfaces 67a, 68a, 69a, 70a, 71a of the switch operation portions 66 (operation buttons 67, 70, shift up button 68, shift down button 69, operation lever 71). If the button is operated by pressing or swinging downward, a predetermined device is activated.
[0064]
When the inflator 13 is activated, the inflation gas from the inflator 13 flows into the airbag 11, the airbag 11 is inflated, and the three folding pads 11j, 11k, and 11m are deployed while the three of the pads 14 are inflated. Since the door portions 25, 26, and 27 are pressed upward, the door portions 25, 26, and 27 of the pad 14 respectively break the surrounding breakage-desired portion 33, and the hinge portions 29, 30, and 31, respectively. , The opening forming portion 19 is greatly opened, and the airbag 11 protrudes from the pad 14 and expands into a predetermined shape.
[0065]
When the airbag 11 is deployed and inflated, the hinge portions 29, 30, and 31 of the door portions 25, 26, and 27 are located near the space portions AF, AL, and AR between the spoke portions SL, SR, and SB, respectively. In addition, the bag holder 50 in the vicinity of the hinge portions 29, 30, 31 is lowered downward from the upper portion Z (see FIGS. 3, 5, 6) of the holding portions (front / left / right holding wall portions) 46, 47, 48. The pad outer peripheral edges 21, 22, and 23 are disposed on the lower end portions 21 a, 22 a, and 23 a side. Therefore, the door portions 25, 26, and 27 are opened around the hinge portions 29, 30, and 31 near the lower peripheral edge lower end portions 21a, 22a, and 23a of the pad 14, respectively, to secure a wide area. It will open as much as possible.
[0066]
When the doors 25, 26, and 27 are opened with the hinges 29, 30, and 31 as rotation centers, they are arranged in the three spaces AL, AR, and AB between the spokes SL, SR, and SB. The switch operation part 66 is set in the area of the spoke parts SL and SR that are not covered by the door parts 25, 26, and 27 when opened. Therefore, the opened door portions 25, 26, and 27 are smoothly disposed in the three space portions AF, AL, and AR without interfering with the switch operation portion 66 at all, so that the door portions 25, 26, and 27 are opened widely. A state can be secured stably.
[0067]
Therefore, in the steering wheel W of the embodiment, even if the switch operation portion 66 is disposed in the spoke portions SL and SR near the boss portion B, the door portions 25, 26, and 27 of the pad 14 can be opened widely. Thus, the airbag 11 in the initial stage of inflation can be widely deployed. As a result, even if the airbag 11 is deployed and inflated while the driver is approaching the steering wheel W, it is possible to avoid applying a partial pressing force of the airbag 11 to the driver. it can.
[0068]
  In addition, in the pad 14 of the embodiment, the planned break portions 33 at the portions adjacent to each other of the door portions 25, 26, and 27 are a horizontal bar portion 34 and a horizontal bar portion that are disposed in the left-right direction when viewed from above. The vertical bar 35 extends rearward from the approximate center of the vertical bar 35, and the left and right ends 34 a and 34 b of the horizontal bar 34 are directed in the arrangement direction of the left and right spokes SL and SR on the front side. The rear end portion 35a is disposed in a substantially T shape with the rear spoke portion SB disposed in the arrangement direction. In the steering wheel W according to the three-spoke type embodiment, the front space portion AF is visible in the instrument panel on the instrument panel in the space portions AF, AL, and AR between the spoke portions SL, SR, and SB. SexPoint of viewTherefore, it is set to be larger than the left and right space portions AL / AR on the rear side. For this reason, if the scheduled breakage portions 33 of the portions adjacent to each other of the door portions 25, 26, and 27 are substantially T-shaped, the front door portion 25 on the front side is larger than the horizontal bar portion 34 of the planned breakage portion 33. Since the left and right left and right door portions 26 and 27 divided by the vertical bar portion 35 on the rear side of the horizontal bar portion 34 have a small area, the front side, the left side, The front, left, and right doors 25, 26, and 27 can be easily made to correspond to the right space AF, AL, and AR, and the front, left, and right doors 25, 26, and 27 Shape setting is easy.
[0069]
Further, in the pad 14 of the embodiment, the ceiling wall portion 15 that is disposed on the upper side and has the door portions 25, 26, and 27 and the planned fracture portion 33, and the bag holder 50 that extends downward from the ceiling wall portion 15. Side wall portions 40 arranged in the vertical direction so as to be connectable to each other, and the remaining portions 36 and 37 excluding the mutually adjacent portions 34 and 35 of the door portions 25, 26 and 27 in the planned breaking portion 33. 38 is disposed close to the inner surface side of the general portions 41L, 41R, and 41B of the side wall portion 40 in the ceiling wall portion 15 and substantially along the side wall portions 41L, 41R, and 41B. Therefore, the side wall portion 40 in which the remaining portions 36, 37, 38 excluding the mutually adjacent portions 34, 35 of the door portions 25, 26, 27 in the planned breaking portion 33 make the thickness of the ceiling wall portion 15 thick. Since the general portion 41 is close to the inner surface side, stress concentration tends to occur in the remaining portions 36, 37, and 38. Further, since the remaining portions 36, 37, and 38 are disposed along the general portion 41 of the side wall portion 40, the remaining portions 36, 37, and 38 are easily broken along the general portion 41. 27 can be opened smoothly.
[0070]
In the embodiment, the switch operation unit 66 is disposed not on the pad 14 side but on the portion of the spoke portion SL / SR on the steering wheel main body 1 side. However, as shown in FIG. Other than the portions 25, 26, and 27, the portions 14L and 16R of the pad 14 in the area that is not covered by the door portions 25, 26, and 27 when opened, the spoke-side extending portion 16B, or the spoke portion It may be arranged on both the S side and the pad 14 side. Furthermore, the switch operation part may be arranged so as to protrude from the boss part B on the steering wheel main body 1 side to the space part AL / AR so as to protrude not only from the pad 14 but also from the lower cover 8.
[0071]
In the embodiment, the pad 14 is held by the bag holder 50 using the locking claw 52a locked to the locking portions 46a, 47a and 48a and the rivet 54 locking. However, the hinge portions 29, 30, and 31 of the door portions 25, 26, and 27 are respectively close to the spaces AF, AL, and AB between the spoke portions, and the bags near the hinge portions 29, 30, and 31. If the pad 14 is disposed on the outer peripheral edge 21, 22, 23 side of the pad 14 that is lowered downward from the portion Z above the holding portion by the holder 50, the pad 14 can be held on the bag holder 50 only by the rivet 54. Alternatively, it may be configured as shown in FIGS.
[0072]
In the holding structure shown in FIG. 15, the bag holder 50 </ b> A holds the holding wall portions 46, 47, and 48 using a sheet metal auxiliary plate 55. On the side wall 52 of the bag holder 50A, locking claws 52a that can be locked to the protruding locking portions 46a, 47a, 48a of the holding wall portions 46, 47, 48 are formed. An insertion piece 55a to be inserted into the insertion grooves 46c, 47c, 48c provided on the lower end surfaces of the holding wall portions 46, 47, 48 is formed. And each holding wall part 46 * 47 * 48 is clamped by the latching claw 52a of the bag holder 50A, and the insertion piece 55a of the auxiliary | assistant plate 55, and is hold | maintained at the bag holder 50A. The auxiliary plate 55 is fastened to the lateral plate portion 51 of the bag holder 50A using the bolt 12a and the nut 12b of the retainer 12.
[0073]
In the holding structure shown in FIG. 16, the bag holder 50 </ b> B holds the holding wall portions 46, 47, and 48 using an auxiliary plate 56 made of sheet metal. The side wall 52 of the bag holder 50B is formed with locking claws 52c that are locked to the locking holes 46d, 47d, and 48d provided in the holding wall portions 46, 47, and 48. A regulating wall 56a is formed in contact with the outer surface of each holding wall portion 46, 47, 48. The retaining wall portions 46, 47, and 48 are regulated by the regulating wall 56a so that the latching claw 52c is disengaged from the latching holes 46d, 47d, and 48d. Is held in. The auxiliary plate 56 is also fastened together with the lateral plate portion 51 of the bag holder 50B using the bolt 12a and the nut 12b of the retainer 12.
[0074]
15 and 16, the hinge portions 29, 30, and 31 of the door portions 25, 26, and 27 are in the vicinity of the space portions AF, AL, and AR between the spoke portions, and the hinge portion 29. Arranged on the side of the outer peripheral edges 21, 22, and 23 lower end portions 21 a, 22 a, and 23 a of the pad 14 that is lowered downward from the portion Z above the holding portions 46, 47, and 48 by the bag holder 50 in the vicinity of 30 and 31 Thus, the doors 25, 26 and 27 can be opened widely.
[0075]
In the holding structure shown in FIG. 17, the bag holder 50C and the pad 14 are not provided with the side wall portions 52 and 40, and the pad horizontal plate portions 42, 43 and 44 are rivets at the portion of the horizontal plate portion 51 of the bag holder 50C. 45, and the pad 14 is held by the bag holder 50C. Also in this holding structure, the hinge portions 29, 30, and 31 of the door portions 25, 26, and 27 are located in the vicinity of the space portions AF, AL, and AR between the spoke portions, and the hinge portions 29, 30, and 31 are provided. It is disposed on the lower end portions 21a, 22a, and 23a side of the outer peripheral edges 21, 22, and 23 of the pad 14 that are lowered downward from the portion Z above the holding portion (the portion of the rivet 45) held by the nearby bag holder 50. Thus, the doors 25, 26, and 27 can be opened widely.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a plan view of a steering wheel according to an embodiment of the present invention, and is a plan view illustrating a door portion of a pad.
FIG. 2 is a partial plan view of the steering wheel according to the embodiment, and is a plan view illustrating a folded state of the bag holder and the airbag.
3 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the steering wheel according to the embodiment, showing a III-III portion in FIG. 1;
4 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the steering wheel according to the embodiment, showing a IV-IV portion in FIG. 1;
FIG. 5 is a schematic enlarged cross-sectional view showing the vicinity of a hinge part of a front door part in the pad of the same embodiment;
FIG. 6 is a schematic enlarged cross-sectional view showing the vicinity of a hinge part of a left door part in the pad of the same embodiment.
FIG. 7 is a bottom view of the pad of the same embodiment.
FIG. 8 is a plan view of a bag holder used in the airbag device of the embodiment.
FIG. 9 is a plan view of a support plate used in the airbag device of the embodiment.
FIG. 10 is a plan view showing a state where the airbag of the embodiment is flatly deployed.
FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating a folding process of the airbag according to the embodiment.
12 is a sectional view taken along the line XII-XII in FIG.
13 is a cross-sectional view taken along a line XIII-XIII in FIG.
FIG. 14 is a plan view of a steering wheel in which a switch operation unit according to another embodiment is disposed at another position.
FIG. 15 is a view showing a holding structure of a pad of a bag holder in another embodiment.
FIG. 16 is a diagram showing a pad holding structure of a bag holder in still another embodiment.
FIG. 17 is a diagram showing a pad holding structure of a bag holder in still another embodiment.
[Explanation of symbols]
10 ... Airbag device,
11 ... Airbag,
13 ... Inflator,
14 ... pad,
15 ... ceiling wall,
21.22.23 ... outer periphery,
25, 26, 27 ... door,
29, 30, 31 ... Hinge part,
33 ... Scheduled talk section,
34 ... Horizontal bar,
35 ... vertical bar,
40 ... side wall,
41 (41L, 41R, 41B) ... general part,
46, 47, 48 ... (holding part) holding wall,
50 / 50A / 50B / 50C ... Bag holder,
66 ... switch operation part,
R ... Ring part,
B ... Boss
S (SL, SR, SB) ... spoke part,
AF, AL, AR ... space part,
W ... Steering wheel.

Claims (1)

操舵時に把持するリング部と、該リング部の中央に配置されるボス部と、前記リング部と前記ボス部とを連結するように、前方側で左右方向に延びる左側スポーク部・右側スポーク部及び後方側の後側スポーク部の三本のスポーク部と、を備えて構成されるとともに、
前記ボス部の上部に、エアバッグ装置が配設され、
該エアバッグ装置が、膨張可能に折り畳まれたエアバッグと、該エアバッグに膨張用ガスを供給するインフレーターと、折り畳まれた前記エアバッグを覆うパッドと、折り畳まれた前記エアバッグ・前記インフレーター及び前記パッドを保持するバッグホルダと、ホーンスイッチ機構と、前記エアバッグ装置をステアリングホイール本体に連結させる支持プレートと、を備えて構成され、
前記パッドが、上部側に配置される天井壁部と、該天井壁部から下方に延びて前記バッグホルダに連結可能な側壁部と、を備えて構成され、
前記天井壁部が、周囲に破断予定部を配設させて、膨張時の前記エアバッグに押圧されて前記破断予定部を破断させるとともに前記パッドの外周縁側に配置されたヒンジ部を回転中心として開き、前記エアバッグを突出させるための一つの開口を中央に形成可能な三枚の扉部を、備え、
前記ボス部若しくは前記スポーク部の少なくとも一方に、上方側から操作可能なスイッチ操作部が配設されて構成されるエアバッグ装置を備えたステアリングホイールであって、
前記パッドの天井壁部が、
前記左側スポーク部、前記右側スポーク部、及び、前記後側スポーク部の被覆層間の前記ボス部の上方を覆うように配設されるとともに、前記左側スポーク部と前記右側スポーク部との間の前方側の前側空間部に隣接する前側外周縁、前記左側スポーク部と前記後側スポーク部との間の左側空間部に隣接する左側外周縁、及び、前記右側スポーク部と前記後側スポーク部との間の右側空間部に隣接する右側外周縁を、下方へ曲線状に下げるように形成して構成され、さらに、
膨張する前記エアバッグを突出させるための一つの開口を形成可能な開口形成部を備えるとともに、該開口形成部の周囲に、前記左側スポーク部、前記右側スポーク部、及び、前記後側スポーク部の被覆層にそれぞれ連なるスポーク側延設部を備えて構成され、
前記パッドの側壁部が、前記天井壁部の前記開口形成部を囲むように、前記天井壁部の下面から直接下方へ板状に延びる一般部と、前記バッグホルダに保持される保持壁部と、から構成され、
前記パッドの前記一般部が、
前記天井壁部の左前縁側から左縁側の中央付近まで延びるように配設される左側一般部、
前記天井壁部の右前縁側から右縁側の中央付近まで延びるように配設される右側一般部、及び、
前記天井壁部の後縁側で左右方向に延びるように配設される後側一般部、
から構成され、
前記パッドの前記保持壁部が、
前記天井壁部の前記前側外周縁の下端部付近から内側横方向に延び、かつ、前記左側一般部と前記右側一般部との前端側の下端相互を連結するように配設される前横板部、の後縁側から、下方に延びる前保持壁部、
前記天井壁部の前記左側外周縁の下端部付近から内側横方向に延び、かつ、前記左側一般部の後端側と前記後側一般部の左端側との下端相互を連結するように配設される左横板部、の内方側の縁から、下方に延びる左保持壁部、及び、
前記天井壁部の前記右側外周縁の下端部付近から内側横方向に延び、かつ、前記右側一般部の後端部と前記後側一般部の右端側との下端相互を連結するように配設される右横板部、の内方側の縁から、下方に延びる右保持壁部、
から構成され、
前記パッドの破断予定部が、
上方から見て、左右方向に配設される横棒部と該横棒部の略中央から後方へ延びる縦棒部とを有し、前記横棒部の左右両端を前記左側スポーク部と前記右側スポーク部との配置方向に向け、前記縦棒部の後端を前記後側スポーク部の配置方向に向けた略Ｔ字形状として、配設されるとともに、
さらに、前記横棒部の左端部から前後方向両側に延びて、前記左側一般部の内側面側に近接して前記左側一般部に沿うように配設されるとともに、前端部を、下方から見て前記前横板部の左縁側に隠れるように、前記天井壁部の前側外周縁の下端部側に延ばし、かつ、後端部を、下方から見て前記左横板部の前縁側に隠れるように、前記天井壁部の左側外周縁の下端部側に延ばして配設される左側延設部と、
前記横棒部の右端部から前後方向両側に延びて、前記右側一般部の内側面側に近接して前記右側一般部に沿うように配設されるとともに、前端部を、下方から見て前記前横板部の右縁側に隠れるように、前記天井壁部の前側外周縁の下端部側に延ばし、かつ、後端部を、下方から見て前記右横板部の前縁側に隠れるように、前記天井壁部の右側外周縁の下端部側に延ばして配設される右側延設部と、
前記縦棒部の後端部から左右方向両側に延びて、前記後側一般部の内側面側に近接して前記後側一般部に沿うように配設されるとともに、左端部を、下方から見て前記左横板部の後縁側に隠れるように、前記天井壁部の左側外周縁の下端部側に延ばし、右端部を、下方から見て前記右横板部の後縁側に隠れるように、前記天井壁部の右側外周縁の下端部側に延ばして配設させる後側延設部と、
を備えて構成され、
三枚の前記扉部が、前側扉部・左側扉部・右側扉部から構成されて、
前記前側扉部が、
開く際の前記ヒンジ部を、前記左側延設部と前記右側延設部の前端部相互を結ぶ略直線状の部位として、前記天井壁部の前側外周縁の下端部近傍に配設させて、
前記破断予定部の前記横棒部と、前記左側延設部と前記右側延設部とにおける前記横棒部との交差部位より前側の部位と、の内側部位によって形成されて、開いた際に、前記左側スポーク部と前記右側スポーク部との間の前方側の前記前側空間部に収納可能に構成され、
前記左側扉部が、
開く際の前記ヒンジ部を、前記左側延設部の後端部と前記後側延設部の左端部とを結ぶ略直線状の部位として、前記天井壁部の左側外周縁の下端部近傍に配設させて、
前記破断予定部の前記横棒部における前記縦棒部との交差部位より左側の部位と、前記縦棒部と、前記左側延設部における前記横棒部との交差部位より後側の部位と、前記後側延設部における前記縦棒部との交差部位より左側の部位と、の内側部位によって形成されて、開いた際に、前記左側スポーク部と前記後側スポーク部との間の左側の前記左側空間部に収納可能に構成され、
前記右側扉部が、
開き時の前記ヒンジ部を、前記右側延設部の後端部と前記後側延設部の右端部とを結ぶ略直線状の部位として、前記天井壁部の右側外周縁の下端部近傍に配設させて、
前記破断予定部の前記横棒部における前記縦棒部との交差部位より右側の部位と、前記縦棒部と、前記右側延設部における前記横棒部との交差部位より後側の部位と、前記後側延設部における前記縦棒部との交差部位より右側の部位と、の内側部位によって形成されて、開いた際に、前記右側スポーク部と前記後側スポーク部との間の前記右側空間部に収納可能に構成され、
前記バッグホルダが、前記エアバッグと前記インフレーターとを取り付ける横板部と、該横板部の外周縁から上下方向に延びて、前記パッドの前記前保持壁部、前記左保持壁部、及び、前記右保持壁部を取り付ける側壁部と、を備え、
前記バッグホルダの前記側壁部における各前記左側スポーク部・右側スポーク部・後側 スポーク部の近傍の上端部位に、それぞれ、外方に延びる取付片部が、形成され、
前記支持プレートが、前記バッグホルダの各前記取付片部の下方位置に、前記ホーンスイッチ機構を間に配設させて、それぞれ、取付片部を配設させて構成され、
前記パッドの天井壁部における前記各スポーク側延設部が、それぞれ、下面側に、前記バッグホルダの前記各取付片部を下方へ押圧可能に、前記バッグホルダの前記各取付片部に当接するように、押圧部を配設させ、
前記ホーンスイッチ機構が、前記各スポーク側延設部の裏面側の三箇所で、前記バッグホルダの取付片部と前記支持プレートの取付片部との間に、配設されて、前記パッドの押下げ操作により、ホーンを作動させるように構成され、
前記スイッチ操作部が、前記前側扉部、前記左側扉部、及び、前記右側扉部の部位以外であって、開いた際の前記前側扉部・左側扉部・右側扉部に覆われない前記ボス部若しくは前記スポーク部のエリアに、配設されていることを特徴とするエアバッグ装置を備えたステアリングホイール。A ring portion gripped during steering, a boss portion disposed in the center of the ring portion, a left spoke portion and a right spoke portion extending in the left-right direction on the front side so as to connect the ring portion and the boss portion; The three- spoke part of the rear side spoke part of the rear side, and configured,
An airbag device is disposed on the boss portion,
The airbag device includes an airbag folded inflatable, an inflator that supplies inflation gas to the airbag, a pad that covers the folded airbag, the folded airbag and the inflator, and A bag holder for holding the pad , a horn switch mechanism, and a support plate for connecting the airbag device to a steering wheel body ,
The pad comprises a ceiling wall portion disposed on the upper side, and a side wall portion extending downward from the ceiling wall portion and connectable to the bag holder,
The ceiling wall portion is provided with a planned break portion around it, pressed against the airbag during inflation to break the planned break portion, and a hinge portion disposed on the outer peripheral edge side of the pad as a rotation center Comprising three doors that can be opened and formed in the center with one opening for projecting the airbag,
A steering wheel provided with an airbag device configured by disposing a switch operation unit operable from above on at least one of the boss part or the spoke part,
The ceiling wall of the pad is
The left spoke part, the right spoke part, and the front part between the left spoke part and the right spoke part are arranged so as to cover the upper part of the boss part between the covering layers of the rear spoke part. A front outer peripheral edge adjacent to the front space part on the side, a left outer peripheral edge adjacent to the left space part between the left spoke part and the rear spoke part, and the right spoke part and the rear spoke part. The right outer peripheral edge adjacent to the right space part between is formed so as to be curved downward and further,
An opening forming portion capable of forming one opening for projecting the inflating airbag is provided, and the left spoke portion, the right spoke portion, and the rear spoke portion are provided around the opening forming portion. It is configured with spoke-side extending portions that are continuous with the coating layer,
A general portion extending in a plate shape directly downward from a lower surface of the ceiling wall portion so that a side wall portion of the pad surrounds the opening forming portion of the ceiling wall portion; and a holding wall portion held by the bag holder; Consists of
The general part of the pad is
A left side general part arranged to extend from the left front edge side of the ceiling wall part to the vicinity of the center of the left edge side,
A right general part arranged to extend from the right front edge side of the ceiling wall part to the vicinity of the center of the right edge side; and
A rear general part arranged to extend in the left-right direction on the rear edge side of the ceiling wall part,
Consisting of
The holding wall portion of the pad is
A front horizontal plate that extends in the inner lateral direction from the vicinity of the lower end of the front outer periphery of the ceiling wall and is arranged to connect the lower ends on the front end side of the left general part and the right general part. Front holding wall portion extending downward from the rear edge side of the portion,
Extending inward laterally from the vicinity of the lower end of the left outer peripheral edge of the ceiling wall, and arranged to connect the lower ends of the rear end of the left general part and the left end of the rear general part Left holding wall portion extending downward from the inner edge of the left lateral plate portion, and
Extending laterally inward from the vicinity of the lower end of the right outer periphery of the ceiling wall, and arranged to connect the lower ends of the rear end of the right general part and the right end of the rear general part. A right holding wall portion extending downward from the inner side edge of the right lateral plate portion,
Consisting of
The pad is scheduled to break,
When viewed from above, it has a horizontal bar portion disposed in the left-right direction and a vertical bar portion extending rearward from the approximate center of the horizontal bar portion, and the left and right spoke portions and the right side of the horizontal bar portion While being arranged as a substantially T-shape with the rear end of the vertical bar portion directed in the arrangement direction of the rear spoke portion, in the arrangement direction with the spoke portion,
Furthermore, it extends from the left end portion of the horizontal bar portion to both sides in the front-rear direction, is disposed along the left general portion in the vicinity of the inner surface side of the left general portion, and the front end portion is viewed from below. Extending to the lower end side of the front outer peripheral edge of the ceiling wall portion so as to be hidden on the left edge side of the front horizontal plate portion, and the rear end portion is hidden on the front edge side of the left horizontal plate portion when viewed from below As described above, the left extending portion disposed to extend to the lower end side of the left outer peripheral edge of the ceiling wall portion,
Extending from the right end portion of the horizontal bar portion to both sides in the front-rear direction, disposed so as to be close to the inner side surface of the right general portion and along the right general portion, and the front end portion as viewed from below. Extending to the lower edge side of the front outer periphery of the ceiling wall so as to be hidden on the right edge side of the front horizontal plate portion, and so that the rear end portion is hidden on the front edge side of the right horizontal plate portion when viewed from below A right-side extending portion disposed to extend to the lower end side of the right outer peripheral edge of the ceiling wall portion;
Extending from the rear end portion of the vertical bar portion to both sides in the left-right direction, being arranged along the rear general portion in the vicinity of the inner side surface of the rear general portion, and the left end portion from below Extending to the lower end side of the left outer peripheral edge of the ceiling wall so as to be hidden behind the left lateral plate portion when viewed, and hiding the right end portion behind the right lateral plate portion when viewed from below A rear extending portion that extends and is disposed on the lower end side of the right outer peripheral edge of the ceiling wall portion;
Configured with
The three door parts are composed of a front door part, a left door part, and a right door part,
The front door portion is
The hinge part at the time of opening is disposed in the vicinity of the lower end part of the front outer peripheral edge of the ceiling wall part as a substantially linear part connecting the front end parts of the left extension part and the right extension part,
When it is formed by the inner part of the horizontal bar part of the planned breaking part and the front part from the crossing part of the horizontal bar part in the left extension part and the right extension part, and opened. , Configured to be housed in the front space portion on the front side between the left spoke portion and the right spoke portion,
The left door is
In the vicinity of the lower end portion of the left outer peripheral edge of the ceiling wall portion, the hinge portion at the time of opening is a substantially linear portion connecting the rear end portion of the left extension portion and the left end portion of the rear extension portion. Arrange
A portion of the planned breaking portion on the left side of the crossing portion of the horizontal bar portion with the vertical bar portion, a portion of the vertical bar portion, and a portion of the left extending portion on the rear side of the crossing portion of the horizontal bar portion. The left side portion between the left side spoke portion and the rear side spoke portion when opened and formed by the inner side portion of the rear side extending portion at a portion on the left side of the crossing portion with the vertical bar portion. The left side space part of the
The right door part is
In the vicinity of the lower end portion of the right outer peripheral edge of the ceiling wall portion, the hinge portion at the time of opening is a substantially linear portion connecting the rear end portion of the right side extension portion and the right end portion of the rear side extension portion. Arrange
A portion on the right side of the crossing portion of the horizontal bar portion of the planned breaking portion with the vertical bar portion, a portion on the rear side of the crossing portion of the vertical bar portion and the horizontal bar portion of the right extending portion, and , Formed by an inner portion of the rear extension portion on the right side of the crossing portion with the vertical bar portion, and when opened, between the right spoke portion and the rear spoke portion. It can be stored in the right space,
The bag holder extends in a vertical direction from the outer peripheral edge of the horizontal plate portion to which the airbag and the inflator are attached, and the front holding wall portion, the left holding wall portion of the pad, and A side wall for attaching the right holding wall,
At the upper end portion in the vicinity of each of the left spoke part, the right spoke part, and the rear spoke part in the side wall part of the bag holder, an attachment piece part extending outward is formed, respectively.
The support plate is configured by disposing the horn switch mechanism in the lower position of each attachment piece portion of the bag holder, and disposing the attachment piece portion, respectively.
Each spoke-side extension portion of the ceiling wall portion of the pad is in contact with each attachment piece portion of the bag holder so that the attachment piece portion of the bag holder can be pressed downward on the lower surface side. So that the pressing part is arranged,
The horn switch mechanism is disposed between the attachment piece of the bag holder and the attachment piece of the support plate at three positions on the back surface side of each of the spoke-side extending portions, and presses the pad. It is configured to operate the horn by the lowering operation,
The switch operation unit, the front door portion, the left door section, and, be other than the site of the right door portion, not covered with the front door unit, left door portion and right door portion when opened the A steering wheel provided with an airbag device, which is disposed in an area of a boss portion or the spoke portion.
JP2000293166A 2000-09-26 2000-09-26 Steering wheel with airbag device Expired - Fee Related JP3804426B2 (en)

Priority Applications (6)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
JP2000293166A JP3804426B2 (en) 2000-09-26 2000-09-26 Steering wheel with airbag device
US09/953,159 US6626458B2 (en) 2000-09-26 2001-09-17 Steering wheel having airbag apparatus
EP03025916A EP1393995A3 (en) 2000-09-26 2001-09-19 Steering wheel having airbag apparatus
EP01122393A EP1190918B1 (en) 2000-09-26 2001-09-19 Steering wheel having airbag apparatus
DE60124476T DE60124476T2 (en) 2000-09-26 2001-09-19 Steering wheel with airbag device
US10/623,845 US6837514B1 (en) 2000-09-26 2003-07-22 Steering wheel having airbag apparatus

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
JP2000293166A JP3804426B2 (en) 2000-09-26 2000-09-26 Steering wheel with airbag device

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
JP2002104201A JP2002104201A (en) 2002-04-10
JP3804426B2 true JP3804426B2 (en) 2006-08-02

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Families Citing this family (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JP4409212B2 (en) * 2003-06-09 2010-02-03 芦森工業株式会社 Airbag device
JP4715136B2 (en) * 2004-09-08 2011-07-06 マツダ株式会社 Steering wheel with airbag device
JP4748997B2 (en) * 2005-01-27 2011-08-17 日本プラスト株式会社 Steering wheel
JP5823828B2 (en) * 2011-11-21 2015-11-25 芦森工業株式会社 Airbag device
JP7144657B2 (en) * 2019-07-26 2022-09-30 豊田合成株式会社 steering wheel

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