JPH0436513Y2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] <Industrial Application Field> This invention relates to a steering wheel for an automobile, and more specifically, to a center horn type steering wheel in which a large horn pad is disposed from a boss portion to a spoke portion.

<Conventional technology and its problems> In conventional center horn type steering wheels, the horn pad is an abbreviation for the boss plate that is arranged to connect the core metal of the spoke part to the boss and constitutes the core metal of the boss part. Many of them were located in the upper range (see U.S. Pat.

The way the horn pad is assembled is that the fixed contact plate connected to the negative electrode side of the horn operating circuit is electrically connected and fixed to the core metal of the boss part, and the fixed contact plate is placed above the fixed contact plate. A movable contact plate was disposed at a predetermined distance apart so as to be contactable. In addition, in order to guide the horn operating operation of the horn pad, the locking leg of the horn pad is locked to one of the supporting members fixed to the movable contact plate or the boss core, and the horn pad is arranged above the movable contact plate. I had it set up.

However, due to design requirements, when the horn pad of a steering wheel with multiple spokes is formed large enough to cover about half of the upper part of the spokes, it is necessary to prevent the horn pad from rolling when the horn is operated. For,
The locking legs of the horn pad and the contact points between the movable contact plate and the fixed contact plate are arranged in the spoke portions near the outer periphery of the horn pad. That is, a fixed contact plate, a movable contact plate, a locking leg of a horn pad, etc. are assembled to each spoke part, particularly to each core metal of the spoke part, using each spoke part core metal as a reference.

However, with this kind of steering wheel,
Since the core metal of the spoke part projects obliquely upward from the boss plate of the boss part, it is difficult to obtain the flatness accuracy in the horizontal direction of each fixed contact plate assembled to the core metal of each spoke part. Therefore, there is a possibility that the horn pad, which is assembled via the movable contact plate with each fixed contact plate as a reference, may be tilted.

This invention solves the above-mentioned problem. In this type of steering wheel, when a fixed contact plate is assembled to the core metal of each inclined spoke part and a horn pad is assembled based on the fixed contact plate, the fixed To provide a steering wheel which can ensure horizontal plane accuracy of a contact plate and can arrange a horn pad without inclining.

<Means for Solving the Problems> The steering wheel according to this invention has a plurality of spoke parts, and horn pads are arranged on the boss part and the upper part of the spoke parts, and the horn pads are arranged diagonally upward from the core metal of the boss part. A fixed contact plate is fixed to the core metal of each spoke portion provided, and a movable contact plate is arranged above the fixed contact plate and held at a predetermined distance apart so as to be able to contact the fixed contact plate, and the horn pad is movable. A steering wheel held by a contact plate, wherein one support member is disposed that is supported by a core bar of a boss portion and holds each holding portion of a movable contact plate in a fixed contact plate in a horizontal direction, and the fixed contact A deformable part is located between the part of the plate that is fixed to the core of the spoke part and the holding part of the movable contact plate, so that the fixed part can be deformed relative to the holding part so as to follow the inclination of the core of the spoke part. By forming this, the above-mentioned problem is solved.

<Operations and effects of the invention> In the steering wheel according to this invention, the support member is an integral member supported by the core metal of the boss portion, and is held by the support member to support the movement of the movable contact plate in the fixed contact plate. Since each holding portion is formed with high horizontal plane accuracy, the holding portion of the fixed contact plate can sufficiently ensure horizontal plane accuracy with respect to the core metal of the boss portion.

Even if the holding part of the fixed contact plate cannot ensure horizontal flatness relative to the fixed part at the beginning of assembly, by the time assembly is completed, due to the deformation of the predetermined deformable part, This means that the holding portion of the fixed contact plate can ensure sufficient horizontal plane accuracy.

Therefore, in the steering wheel according to this invention, since the horn pad is attached to the holding part that ensures horizontal plane accuracy via the movable contact plate,
The horn pad can be placed without tilting.

<Example> An example of this invention will be described below based on the drawings.

The steering wheel W of the embodiment has first and second
As shown in the figure, it is provided with three spoke parts S, and a horn pad 24 is largely disposed from the boss part B to the upper part of about half of these spoke parts S.

The core metal 1 of the boss part B includes a boss 2 attached to the steering shaft, an annular boss plate 3 connected to the lower end of the core metal 5 of each spoke part S, and a boss 2.
and the boss plate 3 to form a known self-aligning mechanism.
It consists of a deformable plate 4 having a shape.

The upper surface of the boss plate 3 and the lower end of the spoke part core metal 5 connected to the boss plate 3 is made of PP.
An annular support member 7 made of hard synthetic resin such as ABS is arranged.

The support member 7 is provided with three support base portions 8 which extend upwardly at predetermined positions on the outer periphery and then are bent in the horizontal direction (see FIGS. 1 to 3). The upper surface of each of these support base portions 8 is formed with high planar accuracy so that when the support member 7 is placed on the boss portion core metal 1, it is horizontally oriented with respect to the boss portion core metal 1 as a reference. In addition, each support base portion 8 is provided with a through hole 8a that penetrates vertically in the center, and
Attachment holes 8 to which a fixed contact plate 11 (described later) can be fixed with screws 15 at predetermined positions on both sides of the through hole 8a.
b, 8b. Note that 7a indicates that when the supporting member 7 is disposed on the boss portion core metal 1 and the fixed contact plate 11 (fixed portion 12) is fixed to the spoke portion core metal 5 as described later, the support member 7 is placed on the boss plate 3. This is a locking leg used to temporarily lock the locking hole 3a in the locking hole 3a, and does not necessarily need to be provided. Further, the female threaded portion 13a of the fixed contact plate 11 is inserted into the through hole 8a when the fixed contact plate 11 is fixed with screws 15, which will be described later. Further, the reason why the support member 7 is formed in an annular shape is to arrange electronic devices such as a vibration control device for the steering wheel W fixed to the boss 2, an auto drive switch, etc. in the pad.

A fixed contact plate 11 is fixed to each spoke core metal 5 near the middle extending diagonally upward from the boss plate 3.

Each fixed contact plate 11 is connected to the negative electrode side of the horn operating circuit via the spoke part core metal 5 and the boss part core metal 1, and has a substantially T-shaped planar shape as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6. The vertical bar of the letter "T" is bent upward from near its base to its tip. Then, the bent upper side is used as a fixation part 12 fixed to the spoke part core metal 5 via the screw 9, and "T"
The side of the horizontal bar in the square shape is arranged horizontally to form a holding portion 13 on which a movable contact plate 19, which will be described later, is arranged upward.

A through hole (not shown) is formed at a predetermined position in the fixing portion 12, and a screw 9 is inserted on the upper surface of the periphery of the through hole.
A screw nut 12a is fixed by welding or the like.

The holding part 13 is burred at the center to form a female threaded part 13a, and screws 15 are inserted on both sides of the female threaded part 13a for fixing the holding part 13 to the support base part 8 of the support member 7. General-purpose insertion holes 13b, 13b are bored.

The bent portion between the fixed portion 12 and the holding portion 13 looks like a notch when viewed from above, and stress concentration is likely to occur.
3, the fixed portion 12 is made into a deformable portion 14 that can be deformed along the inclination of the core bar 5 of the spoke portion.

Retaining portion 13 of each fixed contact plate 11
As shown in FIGS. 4 and 6, a substantially cylindrical spacer 17 made of insulating synthetic resin is provided on the upper surface.
is fixed by a screw 18 that is threaded into the female threaded portion 13a of the holding portion 13.

This spacer 17 has a disk-shaped flange 17 at the top.
a, and an annular projection 17b on the upper surface of the collar portion 17a.
is installed protrudingly.

Then, the lower end of the compression coil spring 22 is disposed on the outer circumference of the projection 17b on the upper surface of the collar portion 17a, and
A movable contact plate 19 is disposed on the lower surface of the collar portion 17a.

The movable contact plate 19 has a substantially rectangular plate shape, and has a spacer 1 in the center as shown in FIGS. 4 and 6.
It is provided with an insertion hole 19a through which the lower side of the flange 17a at 7 can be inserted, and two tongue pieces 19b extending downward are provided on the periphery in the left and right direction in FIGS. 1 and 6 between the insertion hole 19a, 19b. The tongue piece 19b serves as a point of contact with the holding portion 13 of the fixed contact plate 11 when the movable contact plate 19 is connected to the positive electrode side of the horn operating circuit by connecting the lead wire 29.

This movable contact plate 19 has a tongue piece 19
Screws 20 and 20 are fixed to a socket 21 made of synthetic resin that locks the horn pad 24 at a position substantially perpendicular to the direction of arrangement of the horn pads 24 and 19b (see FIG. 4). A compression coil spring 2 is attached to the lower surface of an annular projection 21b formed on the inner peripheral surface of the locking hole 21a that locks the pad locking leg 24a of the socket 21.
By bringing the upper ends of 2 into contact with each other, the movable contact plate 19 contacts the flange 17 of the spacer 17.
It is disposed in contact with the lower surface of a by the urging force of the coil spring 22.

Next, the assembly of this steering wheel will be explained.

First, the coil spring 22 is inserted from below into the locking hole 21a of each socket 21, and then the flange 17 is inserted.
The flange 17a of the spacer 17 is inserted with the lower end of the coil spring 22 in contact with the upper surface of a, and the movable contact plate 19 is connected to the lower part of the flange 17a of the spacer 17 with the lead wire 29 connected through the insertion hole 19a. The movable contact plate 19, the socket 21, the coil spring 22, and the spacer 17 are assembled by attaching the screws 20, 20 to the socket from below the movable contact plate 19.

After that, the assembled spacer 17 is placed on the female threaded portion 13a of the fixed contact plate 11,
The spacer 1 is inserted through the locking hole 21a of the socket 21.
7. Screw the screw 18 into the female threaded portion 13a from above, and then attach the fixed contact plate 11, the movable contact plate 19, the spacer 17, the socket 21,
Horn switch structure H consisting of coil spring 22
form.

After that, the female screw portion 13a of the holding portion 13 of the fixed contact plate 11 is inserted into the through hole 8.
a, align the insertion hole 13b of the holding part 13 with the assembly hole 8b, screw the screw 15 into the assembly hole 8b through the insertion hole 13b, and connect each horn through the fixed contact plate 11. The switch structure H is assembled to the support base part 8 of the support member 7 perpendicularly to the upper surface of this support base part 8.

Thereafter, the temporary fixing leg 7a is locked in the locking hole 3a of the boss plate 3, and the support member 7 is attached to the upper surface of the lower end of the boss plate 3 of the boss part core metal 1 and the spoke part core metal 5 connected to the boss plate 3. At the same time, connect the lead wire 29 to the slip ring 10a on the lower surface of the lower cover 10, and while tightening the lower cover 10 together with the nut 12a of the fixing portion 12 of each fixed contact plate 11, insert the screw 9 below the spoke core bar 5. By screwing them together, the horn switch component H can be assembled to the steering wheel W.

Since each fixed contact plate 11 is fixed on the support base 8 which is formed with high plane accuracy, the plane accuracy in the horizontal direction is obtained at the beginning of assembly, but the screws 9 Natsu 12
Even if a force is applied through the fixed part 12 when screwing the holding part 13 to the screws 15, 1, even if a force is applied so that the flatness of the holding part 13 cannot be obtained,
5 and 18, the deformable portion 14 between the fixed portion 12 and the holding portion 13 deforms, and the holding portion 13
The fixing portion 12 can be fixed to the spoke core bar 5 in a predetermined manner while being held on the support base 8 (see FIGS. 1 and 6).

After the horn switch structure H is assembled in this way, the holding portions 13 of each fixed contact plate 11 are placed on the support base portion 8 of the support member 7 with horizontal flatness accuracy using the boss portion core bar 1 as a reference. Since each socket 2
The locking leg 2 of the horn pad 24 is inserted into the locking hole 21a of the horn pad 24.
By locking 4a, the horn pad 24 can be assembled without unnecessary inclination (see FIG. 1).

By the way, the locking leg 24 of this horn pad 24
A plurality of ribs 24b are formed around a,
Since the lower ends of these ribs 24b abut against the upper ends of the sockets 21, the horn pad 24 is fixed to the movable contact plate 19 via each socket 21 by these ribs 24b and locking legs 24a. .

Also, regarding the operation mode when the horn pad 24 is pressed, when the horn pad 24 is pressed down, the
The socket 21 resists the biasing force of the coil spring 22 and descends while bringing the inner circumferential surface of the locking hole 21a into sliding contact with the outer circumferential surface of the flange 17a of the spacer 17. Then, the movable contact plate 19, which is fixed to the socket 21 with screws 20, descends as the socket 21 descends, and the lower ends of the tongues 19b, 19b contact the holding portion 13 of the fixed contact plate 11, thereby activating the horn. It is what makes it possible.

In addition, in the steering wheel W configured in this manner, even if an impact is applied to the ring portion R and the spoke portion core bar 5 is deformed so as to bend downward, the deformed portion 14 in each fixed contact plate 11 is
is deformed and the deformation is not transmitted to each holding portion 13, so the horn pad 24 is not affected by the deformation.

In addition, in order to configure the deformable portion 14 of each fixed contact plate 11 to be more easily deformed, a notch 14a or a slit 14b may be further provided in that portion, as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8. . Moreover, it is also possible to deal with this problem by making the part thinner.

Further, in the embodiment, the holding portion 13 of each fixed contact plate 11 is connected to the support base portion 8 of the support member 7.
In addition to the screw 18 that fixes the spacer 17, the screws 15, 15 are shown to be used to hold the spacer 17, but as shown by the two-dot chain line in FIGS. The screws 15, 15 can be made unnecessary by forming locking protrusions 8c, 8c on the parts to restrict upward movement of the holding part 13.

Further, the fixed contact plate 11 may be formed into a substantially annular shape by punching and press forming a single metal plate.

In the embodiment, the socket 21 is provided coaxially with the spacer 17, but the socket 21 is provided between the movable contact plate 19 on the lower surface side of the flange 17a of the spacer 17 and the holding portion 13 of the fixed contact plate 11. If the structure is such that the coil spring 22 is insulated, the socket 21 does not need to be provided coaxially with the spacer 17, and furthermore, the locking leg 24a of the horn pad 24 can be connected to the movable contact plate 1 without providing the socket 21.
9 can also be directly locked.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a steering wheel showing an embodiment of this invention, showing the - portion of FIG. 2, FIG. 2 is a plan view of the steering wheel of the same embodiment, and FIG. 4 is a partially enlarged sectional view of the - portion of FIG. 1, FIG. 5 is a plan view of the fixed contact plate of the same embodiment, and FIG. 6 is a plan view of the fixed contact plate of the same embodiment. A sectional view showing the modification, and FIGS. 7 and 8 are plan views showing other embodiments of the fixed contact plate, respectively. DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1... Boss part core metal, 2... Boss, 3... Boss plate, 5... Spoke part core metal, 7... Support member, 8... Support base part, 11... Fixed contact plate, 12... Fixation site, 13... Retention site,
14...Deformation part, 19...Movable contact plate, 24...Horn pad.

Claims (1)

[Claims for Utility Model Registration] A core of each spoke portion comprising a plurality of spoke portions, wherein a horn pad is disposed on a boss portion and an upper portion of the spoke portion, and the core of each spoke portion is provided to protrude obliquely upward from a core bar of the boss portion. A fixed contact plate is fixed to the gold,
A movable contact plate is disposed above the fixed contact plate and is held at a predetermined distance apart from the fixed contact plate so as to be able to contact the fixed contact plate,
A steering wheel in which the horn pad is held by the movable contact plate, wherein one support is supported by a core metal of the boss portion and holds each holding portion of the movable contact plate in the fixed contact plate in a horizontal direction. A member is disposed between a portion of the fixed contact plate that is fixed to the core metal of the spoke portion and a holding portion of the movable contact plate, and a member is arranged between the fixed contact plate and the holding portion of the movable contact plate, and A steering wheel characterized by being formed with a deformable portion that can be deformed along the inclination of the metal.