JP3930241B2 - Steering wheel - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a steering wheel in which a metal core is covered with a wooden part.
[0002]
[Prior art]
A steering wheel used in a steering device for a vehicle or the like includes a ring-shaped rim portion, a boss portion formed on the center side of the rim portion, and a spoke portion that integrally connects the rim portion and the boss portion. It has a metal core. In addition, an outer skin is usually attached to a part of the rim portion and the spoke portion of the metal core to improve the feeling when the steering wheel is gripped. Furthermore, there is also a configuration in which wood is used for such an outer shell, and it responds to various requests of users such as matching the steering wheel with decorations in the vehicle interior.
[0003]
On the other hand, a part of the outer skin is protruded radially inward of the rim portion to form a finger rest, and when gripping the steering wheel, gripping this finger rest seems to improve the grip feeling. It has become.
[0004]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
By the way, wooden members made of natural wood are generally more sensitive to humidity and temperature than synthetic resin materials, and may be slightly deformed by changes in humidity and temperature. Known to.
[0005]
Here, the above-mentioned finger rest has a larger cross-sectional area along the circumferential direction of the rim portion than the other portion by the amount protruding inward in the radial direction of the rim portion. The rate and possibility of deformation due to changes in temperature are also great.
[0006]
For this reason, the special and complicated assembly method which can absorb a deformation | transformation is applied to the assembly method of the partial piece which comprises a wooden outer cover, and cost increased.
[0007]
An object of the present invention is to obtain a steering wheel having a wooden outer shell in which finger rests are formed at low cost in consideration of the above facts.
[0008]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The steering wheel according to claim 1 is a pair of partial pieces formed of a core metal formed in a substantially ring shape and a solid material made of the same wood, each corresponding to at least a portion of the core metal. The pair of partial pieces is mounted in a state in which one of the pair of partial pieces is attached to the attachment portion from the axial occupant side of the core metal and the other is attached from the axial non-occupant side of the core metal. It is constituted by a wooden member that is integrally bonded to each other and covers the core metal at the mounting site, and a projecting portion that protrudes radially inward of the core metal from each of the pair of partial pieces, They are integrated in a state where they are bonded at the bonding surfaces facing each other along the axial direction of the gold, and the position of the bonding surface along the axial direction in the bonded state is opposite to the top of the protruding direction side. Equipped with finger rests on the passenger side To have.
[0009]
According to the steering wheel having the above-described configuration, a wooden member constituted by a pair of partial pieces formed of a solid wood material is mounted on at least a part of the cored bar, and the cored bar is covered with the wooden member. In addition, each of the pair of partial pieces constituting the wooden member has an overhang portion. Each overhanging part protrudes inward in the radial direction of the cored bar, and one partial piece is projected in a state where the pieces are mounted on the cored bar so that the partial pieces face each other along the axial direction of the cored bar. And the protruding portion of the other piece are opposed to each other along the axial direction of the core bar, and the bonding surfaces on the opposite sides of each protruding portion are bonded to each other, and are integrated with each other. Become. In this way, the finger rest is formed on the wooden member, and when gripping the steering wheel, grip performance is improved by gripping the finger rest.
[0010]
Here, the position of the joint surface of the finger rest along the axial direction of the cored bar is located on the side opposite to the occupant from the top in the protruding direction of the fingerrest (that is, the radially inner side of the cored bar). For this reason, even if one of the pair of partial pieces constituting the wooden member is deformed or one of them is displaced relative to the other, the grip feeling when gripping the finger rest is reduced. Prevented or suppressed. For this reason, a favorable grip feeling can be ensured over a long period of time.
[0011]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
FIG. 3 is a plan view showing a configuration of a steering wheel 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a front view of the steering wheel 10 viewed from the direction of arrow A in FIG. Has been. 3 and 4, the arrow R1 indicates the radially outer side of the rim portion 14 described later, and the arrow R2 indicates the radially inner side of the rim portion 14. An arrow Z1 indicates the axial occupant side of the rim portion 14 with the steering wheel 10 mounted on the vehicle, and an arrow R2 indicates the axial occupant side of the rim portion 14.
[0012]
As shown in these drawings, the steering wheel 10 includes a cored bar 12 formed entirely by casting, for example, a metal such as magnesium. The core metal 12 includes a rim portion 14. The rim portion 14 is formed in a ring shape as a whole, and as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the cross section cut along the axial direction is in the axially opposite occupant side (FIG. 1 And it is made into the concave shape (inverted "U" shape) opened toward the arrow Z2 direction of FIG.
[0013]
As shown in FIGS. A boss portion 16 is provided on the side opposite to the occupant in the axial direction at the center of the rim portion 14. The boss portion 16 is formed in a substantially thick cylindrical shape, and can be fitted to a steering shaft (none of which is not shown) constituting a steering device (steering device) of a vehicle.
[0014]
Three spoke portions 18, 20, 22 are provided between the boss portion 16 and the rim portion 14. As shown in FIG. 4, each of the spoke portions 18 to 22 is generally formed in a plate shape which is longitudinally along the radial direction of the rim portion 14 and whose longitudinal intermediate portion is appropriately bent or curved in a crank shape. The one end portion in the longitudinal direction is integrally connected to the rim portion 14, and the other end portion in the longitudinal direction is integrally connected to the boss portion 16.
[0015]
As a result, the boss portion 16 and the rim portion 14 are integrally connected via the spoke portions 18 to 22, and the rim portion 14 is rotated around its axis so that the steering shaft fitted with the boss portion 16 is rotated around its axis. As a result, the steering device can be operated. In addition, although this Embodiment is a structure which has the three spoke parts 18-22, from a viewpoint of the connection of the rim | limb part 14 and the boss | hub part 16, what is necessary is just at least one spoke part.
[0016]
Further, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, outer core portions 24, 26, and 28 are attached to the core metal 12. The outer skin part 24 is provided in each outer skin mounting part which is the rim part 14 side part of the spoke part 18 and the spoke part 18 vicinity part of the rim part 14. On the other hand, the outer skin part 26 is provided in each outer skin mounting part which is the rim part 14 side part of the spoke part 20 and the spoke part 20 vicinity part of the rim part 14. In addition, the outer skin portion 28 is provided at each outer skin mounting site, which is the rim portion 14 side portion of the spoke portion 22 and the vicinity of the spoke portion 22 of the rim portion 14.
[0017]
Each of the outer skin portions 24 to 28 is formed of, for example, a urethane-based synthetic resin material, and covers the rim portion 14 corresponding to the outer skin mounting portion and the spoke portions 18 to 22 from the outside, and the outer core material on the outer side. And a skin member that covers the substrate. In the present embodiment, as described above, the outer skin portions 24 to 28 are formed of the core material and the skin member, but the configuration of only the core material may be used.
[0018]
On the other hand, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, a range corresponding to a portion of the rim portion 14 where the outer skin portions 24 to 28 are not attached (that is, between the outer skin portion 24 and the outer skin portion 26, A portion between the outer skin portion 26 and the outer skin portion 28, and between the outer skin portion 28 and the outer skin portion 24) is a wood member mounting portion as a mounting portion. Among these wood member mounting portions, a wooden member 30 is mounted between the outer skin portion 24 and the outer skin portion 26, a wooden member 32 is mounted between the outer skin portion 26 and the outer skin portion 28, and A wood member 34 is mounted between the outer skin portion 28 and the outer skin portion 24.
[0019]
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, these wooden members 30 to 34 are each composed of a front side piece 40 and a back side piece 42 as a pair of pieces facing each other along the axial direction of the rim portion 14. (The wooden member 34 is basically the same in configuration as the wooden member 32, and therefore the cross-sectional illustration is omitted).
[0020]
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the front side piece 40 is cut out from a solid material of natural wood into a bar shape curved in an arc along the inner and outer circumferences of the rim portion 14. The occupant side surface 44 of the front side piece 40 is formed so as to project in an arc shape toward the occupant side (the arrow Z1 direction side in FIGS. 1 and 2). On the other hand, the mating surface 46 opposite to the occupant side surface 44 of the front side piece 40 is a plane whose surface direction is directed to the counter occupant side (arrow Z2 direction side in FIGS. 1 and 2), and its width. A groove-like rim receiving groove 48 that opens toward the non-occupant side is uniformly formed along the longitudinal direction of the front-side partial piece 40 (that is, the circumferential direction of the rim portion 14).
[0021]
On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, the back side piece 42 is made of the same solid material as the natural wood from which the front side piece 40 has been cut out. A bar shape curved in an arc shape is cut out along the inner and outer peripheries. The non-occupant side surface 50 of the back side piece 42 is formed so as to project in an arc shape toward the anti-occupant side (the arrow Z2 direction side in FIGS. 1 and 2). On the other hand, the mating surface 52 opposite to the non-occupant side surface 50 of the back side piece 42 is a plane whose surface direction is directed to the occupant side (the arrow Z1 direction side in FIGS. 1 and 2). The front side piece 40 and the back side piece 42 are integrally joined together by an adhering means such as an adhesive in a state of being in contact with the mating surface 46 of the front side piece 40 along the axial direction of 14.
[0022]
Further, a groove-like rim receiving groove 54 that opens toward the occupant side is formed in the longitudinal direction of the back-side partial piece 42 (that is, the circumferential direction of the rim portion 14) on the center side in the width direction of the mating surface 52 of the back-side partial piece 42. It is uniformly formed along. The open end of the rim receiving groove 48 is formed so as to substantially coincide with the open end of the rim receiving groove 54 in a state where the front side partial piece 40 and the back side partial piece 42 are joined. Therefore, the entire wooden member 30 has a hollow cylindrical shape, and as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the rim portion 14 is accommodated inside thereof (that is, inside the rim accommodating groove 48 and the rim accommodating groove 54). To do. The rim portion 14 is fitted in the inner peripheral portion of the rim receiving grooves 48 and 54, or is fixed in the rim receiving grooves 48 and 54 by a filler or the like (not shown) provided also in the rim receiving grooves 48 and 54. .
[0023]
Here, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 1, unlike the wooden members 32 and 34, finger rests 60 are formed on the wooden member 30.
[0024]
The finger rest 60 is composed of a front side overhang 62 as an overhang formed on the front side piece 40 and a back side overhang 64 as an overhang formed on the back side piece 42.
[0025]
The front side projecting portion 62 is formed by projecting a part of the front side partial piece 40 constituting the wooden member 30 toward the inner side in the radial direction of the rim portion 14, and the surface 66 on the occupant side is as if the front side partial piece. It is gently curved so as to continue from the 40 occupant side surfaces 44. Further, the surface on the side opposite to the occupant of the front side overhang portion 62 is a flat joint surface 68 that is continuous with the mating surface 46 of the front side piece 40.
[0026]
On the other hand, the back-side overhanging portion 64 is formed by protruding a part of the back-side partial piece 42 constituting the wooden member 30 toward the inner side in the radial direction of the rim portion 14. Is gently curved so as to continue from the non-occupant side surface 50 of the back side piece 42. The occupant-side surface of the back-side overhanging portion 64 is a flat joint surface 72 that is continuous with the mating surface 52 of the back-side partial piece 42.
[0027]
The front side overhanging portion 62 and the back side overhanging portion 64 are integrated by joining the joining surfaces 68 and 72 by a fixing means such as an adhesive in the same manner as the mating surfaces 46 and 52. A rest 60 is formed.
[0028]
Here, the finger rest 60 is a part formed by projecting a part of the wooden member 30 toward the radially inner side of the rim portion 14 (the arrow R2 direction side in FIG. 1). In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, the portion of the finger rest 60 that protrudes most inward in the radial direction of the rim portion 14, that is, the top portion 74, is radially inward of the rim portion 14. The joint surfaces 68 and 72 and the top portion 74 are substantially equidistant along the axial direction of the rim portion 14. As described above, in the present embodiment, the joining surfaces 68 and 72 and the top portion 74 are set at substantially equal positions along the axial direction of the rim portion 14. For example, as shown in FIG. Further, a portion corresponding only to the end portion of the surface 70 on the radially inner side of the rim portion 14 is set to the top portion of the finger rest 60, and the top portion 74 is joined to the joint surfaces 68 and 72 along the axial direction of the rim portion 14. You may set so that it may be located in the passenger | crew side rather than.
[0029]
Next, the operation and effect of the present embodiment will be described.
[0030]
In the present steering wheel 10, the wooden members 30 to 34 are provided on the rim portion 14. For example, the steering wheel 10 has an appearance and a texture different from those of the steering wheel having a configuration in which all are formed by the outer skin portion 26 made of a synthetic resin material. ing. Further, in the present steering wheel 10, the rim portion 14 other than the portion covered with the outer skin portion 24 is covered with the wooden members 30 to 34. However, since the finger rest 60 is formed on the wooden member 30, the steering wheel 10 is gripped. In doing so, the grip feeling can be improved by gripping the finger rest 60.
[0031]
On the other hand, if the temperature or humidity in the vehicle compartment changes, the front side piece 40 and the back side piece 42 constituting the wooden members 30 to 34 may be slightly deformed. In particular, the finger rest 60 of the wooden member 30 may be changed. Since the finger rest 60 is formed at the site where the cross-section is formed, the cross-sectional area is larger than the other portions, so the rate of change and the possibility are increased.
[0032]
Here, in the present embodiment, the flat joint surfaces 68 and 72 are fixed to form the finger rest 60 as one body, but the positions of the joint surfaces 68 and 72 along the axial direction of the rim portion 14 are Since the joint surfaces 68 and 72 are located at the same position as the top portion 74 of the finger rest 60 or on the side opposite to the occupant from the top portion 74, the joint surface 68 and the joint surface 72 are temporarily deformed by the deformation of the finger rest 60. Even if it is slightly separated, the occupant's hand holding the finger rest 60 does not feel uncomfortable, or even if it feels uncomfortable, the discomfort is extremely small, and a good grip is ensured for a long time. it can.
[0033]
Further, in the present embodiment, since the joining surfaces 68 and 72 are flat and only have to be fixed with an adhesive or the like, it is possible to manufacture at a low manufacturing cost.
[0034]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, in the present invention, even a wooden outer skin can have a finger rest at a low cost and can maintain a good grip feeling over a long period of time.
[Brief description of the drawings]
1 is a cross-sectional view of a steering wheel according to an embodiment of the present invention, and is a cross-sectional view of a main part taken along line 1-1 of FIG.
FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a steering wheel according to an embodiment of the present invention, and is a cross-sectional view of a main part taken along line 2-2 of FIG.
FIG. 3 is a plan view of a steering wheel according to an embodiment of the present invention.
4 is a front view of the steering wheel as viewed from the direction of arrow A in FIG. 3 (outside of the metal core).
FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view corresponding to FIG. 1 showing a modification of the finger rest.
[Explanation of symbols]
10 Steering wheel 12 Core metal 30 Wood member 32 Wood member 34 Wood member 40 Front side partial piece (partial piece)
42 Back side piece (part piece)
60 Finger rest 62 Front side overhang (overhang)
64 Back side overhang (overhang)
68 Joining surface 72 Joining surface 74 Top

Claims (1)

A core metal formed in a substantially ring shape;
Each has a pair of partial pieces formed of the same solid wood material so as to correspond to at least a part of the core metal, and one of the pair of partial pieces is an axial occupant side of the core metal. A wooden member that covers the cored bar at the mounting part by attaching the pair of partial pieces to each other while the other part is mounted from the side opposite to the axial direction of the cored bar and mounted on the mounting part. When,
Consists of a protruding portion that protrudes inward in the radial direction of the cored bar from each of the pair of partial pieces, and is united in a state of being joined at joint surfaces facing each other along the axial direction of the cored bar, And the finger rest where the position of the joined surface along the axial direction in the joined state is located on the side opposite to the occupant from the top on the protruding direction side,
Steering wheel with

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