JPH0639658U - Steering wheel - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Abstract] [Purpose] In a steering wheel that divides the ring part into four spoke parts, the rigidity of the maximum arc length is increased and the arc length of 180 degrees opposite to the maximum arc length is increased. The rigidity can be reduced and rolling in the direction of the maximum long arc can be prevented. [Structure] The mounting end of the pad 3 provided under the pair of mounting stays 11 is a bent portion 12 of a pad mounting bracket 12.
They are bent inwardly along each other along a, and a nut portion 11a is fixed to the upper surface of the bent portion 12a. The bolt 15 inserted through the operation hole 9a of the lower cover 9 is screwed into the screw hole 14 of the spoke core metal 6a or the like, the bolt insertion hole 12b of the pad mounting bracket 12, and the nut portion 11a of the mounting stay 11 of the pad 3. The bracket 1 for mounting the spoke core metal 6a, etc.
2 and the mounting stay 11 of the pad 3 are fastened together.

Description

[Detailed description of the device]

[0001]

[Industrial applications]

 The present invention relates to a steering wheel operated by a driver for steering operation of a vehicle, and particularly to a steering wheel equipped with an air bag.

[0002]

[Prior art]

 Conventionally, there is also a type of steering wheel in which an airbag is embedded in a pad, which is provided with a ring portion and four spoke portions connecting the ring portion and the boss. In this type of steering wheel, the rigidity of the maximum arc length side of the ring section divided by four spokes is increased and the rigidity of the arc side 180 degrees opposite the maximum length arc side is decreased. ing. That is, in order to absorb and absorb the impact at the time of collision, it is necessary to reduce the rigidity of the arc portion 180 degrees opposite to the maximum length arc portion and increase the rigidity on the maximum length arc portion side.

As a method of increasing the rigidity of the maximum arc length, a method of adding ribs or the like to the spokes that define the maximum arc length can be considered.

[0004]

[Problems to be solved by the device]

 However, the addition of carcass was large due to the pad itself becoming larger by incorporating an air bag, etc. Also, there was a limit in terms of productivity and the relationship with parts attached to the steering wheel body. Also, as a method of further increasing the rigidity on the side of the maximum arc, it is possible to increase the rigidity of the arc on the opposite side of the maximum arc by 180 degrees. There is a problem that the rigidity of the arc part on the opposite side cannot be lowered.

An object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problems, and in a steering wheel that has an air bag inside a pad and a ring portion is divided by four spoke portions, A steering wheel that can increase the rigidity on the side of the longest arc and reduce the rigidity of the arc on the opposite side of 180 degrees from the longest arc, thereby preventing rolling in the direction of the longest arc To do.

[0006]

[Means for Solving the Problems]

 The present invention is provided with a ring portion and four spoke portions connecting the ring portion and the boss, and a steering wheel body in which the ring portion is divided into four by the four spoke portions, and an upper portion of the steering wheel body. In a steering wheel equipped with a pad in which an air bag is installed, a pad mounting bracket is fixed to a spoke core metal bar that defines a maximum long arc portion of the four-divided ring portion, The pad mounting bracket, the pad mounting stay extending from the pad, and the spoke core bar that defines the maximum arc length were jointly fastened with a common bolt, and the pad mounting stay was fixed to the pad mounting bracket. That is the point.

[0007]

[Action]

 Since the pad mounting bracket, the pad mounting stay extending from the pad, and the spoke core metal that defines the maximum arc length section are fastened together by a common bolt, the maximum arc length section is defined. The torsional rigidity of the spoke core is increased, and it is no longer necessary to increase the rigidity of the remaining spokes. That is, the rigidity of the remaining spokes can be reduced.

[0008]

【Example】

 An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. As shown in FIG. 6, the steering wheel 1 is composed of a steering wheel body 2, a pad 3, and a horn button 16.

Explaining the steering wheel body 2, the boss 4 of the steering wheel body 2 is fitted to the tip of a steering shaft (not shown). A boss plate 5 is formed on the outer periphery of the upper end of the boss 4, and a plurality of (four in this embodiment) spoke cores 6a, 6b, 6c, 6d extend from the boss plate 5. A ring core metal 7 is fixed to the tips of the spoke core metals 6a, 6b, 6c, 6d. The upper parts of all the spoke cores 6a, 6b, 6c, 6d on the ring core 7 side and the entire ring core 7 are covered with a coating layer 8 made of PU (polyurethane) or the like. Of the four spoke cores 6a, 6b, 6c, 6d, the ring section defined by the spoke cores 6a, 6d extending in the left-right direction is the maximum arc length A. Further, a ring portion provided on the opposite side of the maximum length arc portion A by 180 degrees and divided by the spoke core metal bars 6b and 6c is an arc portion B.

A lower cover 9 made of synthetic resin is attached to the lower side of the boss plate 5. The steering wheel body 2 is composed of the boss 4, the boss plate 5, the spoke core metal 6, the ring core metal 7, the cover layer 8, and the lower cover 9. Further, at the base ends of the spoke metal cores 6 on the left and right sides, there are provided through-holes 14 penetrating in the vertical thickness direction. An operation hole 9a is formed in the lower cover 9 so as to correspond to the screw hole 14.

A pad 3 is provided on the upper side of the steering wheel body 2 to cover the boss 4, the boss plate 5, the boss 4 side portions of the spoke cores 6a, 6b, 6c, 6d, the lower cover 9, and the like. There is. The pad 3 is formed in a substantially square shape in a plane. The four vertices of the pad 3 are located on the spoke cores 6a, 6b, 6c, 6d of the steering wheel body 2. Inside the pad 3, an air bag and an operating device for operating the air bag (both not shown) are installed. A pair of mounting stays 11 (only the right stay is shown in FIG. 1) are projected downward from both sides of the lower portion of the pad 3.

Explaining the mounting structure of the pad 3, the pad mounting bracket 12 is fixed to the boss plate 5 of the steering wheel body 2 by bolts 13. The pad mounting bracket 12 has a plate shape, and both left and right sides thereof are bent upward so as to follow the spoke cores 6a and 6d extending from the boss plate 5 to the left and right. A bolt insertion hole 12b is formed in the bent portion 12a corresponding to the screw hole 14 of the spoke cores 6a, 6d. The center of one side of the pad mounting bracket 12 is formed in a concave shape so as to bypass the boss 4.

The mounting ends of the pad 3 provided under the pair of mounting stays 11 are bent inwardly along the bent portion 12 a of the pad mounting bracket 12, and are formed on the upper surface of the bent portion 12 a. Has a nut portion 11a fixed thereto. The bolts 15 inserted through the operation holes 9a of the lower cover 9 are screw holes 14 of the spoke cores 6a and 6d, bolt insertion holes 12b of the pad mounting bracket 12, and nuts of the mounting stay 11 of the pad 3. It is screwed into the portion 11a. That is, the spoke cores 6a and 6d, the pad mounting bracket 12, and the mounting stay 11 of the pad 3 are fastened together by the bolt 15.

Next, a mounting structure of the horn button 16 will be described. A mounting step portion 10 is formed at an intermediate portion of the spoke cores 6a and 6d extending to the left and right of the steering wheel body 2. The upper surface of each mounting step 10 is orthogonal to the axis L of the steering shaft. Each mounting step 10 is provided with a threaded hole 10a that opens upward. A metal horn button support bracket (hereinafter referred to as a support bracket) 17 is attached to the mounting step portion 10. The support bracket 17 is formed in a side crank shape, and an upper bent piece 17a and a lower bent piece 17b are provided on both upper and lower portions. Further, a shelf receiving piece 17c as a pair of supporting portions is bent and formed in a direction orthogonal to the connecting plate 17d so as to face the pad 3 side from both sides of the connecting plate 17d connecting the both bending pieces 17a. Has been done. The support bracket 17 is fixed to the mounting step portion 10 by inserting a bolt 18 into the lower bent piece 17b and screwing the bolt 18 into the screw hole 10a. The horn button 16 is mounted on the upper bent piece 17 a of the support bracket 17.

The horn button 16 will be described. A pair of horn buttons 16 are provided on the left and right sides of the steering wheel body 2, but since the shapes of both are linear, the horn button 16 arranged on the right side as shown in FIG. 5 will be described. Further, the left and right shown in FIG. 5A are referred to as the left and right of the horn button 16.

The horn button 16 includes a main body case 20 made of synthetic resin, a button cap 21 and an actuator 22, and a flexible cover body 23 made of urethane or the like for covering the main body case 20 and the upper portion of the button cap 21. Has been done. The main body case 20 is a box portion 24 having a rectangular box shape with a bottom, a cover body 25 connected to the box portion 24 via ribs and covering the other two sides except the left and right sides, and the bottom surface of the box portion 24. It is composed of a cylindrical guide portion 26 protruding upward from the center. A guide groove 27 is cut out from the lower part of the four side walls of the box portion 24. The body case 20 is fastened and fixed to the upper bent piece 17a of the support bracket 17 with a bolt 28.

On the left side surface of the main body case 20, a pair of positioning shelves 29 are horizontally provided so as to be located at the same height. On the lower surface of the positioning shelf 29, a leg piece 30 having a side surface orthogonal to the bending direction of the shelf receiving piece 17c of the support bracket 17 is projected and abutted on the shelf receiving piece 17c. Therefore, the positioning shelf 29 is adapted to be supported by the shelf receiving piece 17c when a load is applied. In the positioning shelf 29, when the horn button 16 is attached to the steering wheel main body 2 by the support bracket 17, the corresponding right side portion of the pad 3 (the left horn button 16 is the left side of the pad 3). The pad 3 is positioned when the pad 3 is assembled.

A button cap 21 is vertically movable between the main body case 20 and the guide portion 26. Locking protrusions 31 project from the lower portions of the four side portions of the button cap 21 and are inserted into the guide grooves 27 of the main body case 20. The locking projection 31 can be locked to the upper end of the guide groove 27 when the button cap 21 moves upward. An actuator 22 is vertically movable between the button cap 21 and the guide portion 26. The actuator 22 is formed in a substantially tubular shape, and a locking flange 32 is provided on the outer periphery of the central portion thereof. A coil spring 33 is arranged between the locking flange 32 and the bottom surface of the guide portion 26 to constantly urge the actuator 22 upward.

A movable contact 34 made of a conductive member is attached to the lower surface of the actuator 22. On the other hand, a fixed contact 35 made of a conductive member is attached to the bottom surface of the guide portion 26. The fixed contact 35 is always grounded via a bolt 28, a support bracket 17, and a cord (not shown) connected to the support bracket 17. The movable contact 34 is connected by a cord (not shown), and one end of the cord is always connected to the positive electrode. A cover 23 is arranged so as to cover the upper portions of the button cap 21 and the main body case 20 and the upper surface of the positioning shelf 29. When the cover 23 is pressed downward from the upper surface, the button cap 21 can be operated through the upper opening 20a of the main body case 20.

Therefore, as shown in FIG. 3, in the button horn 16, the locking projection 31 is normally locked to the upper end of the guide groove 27 by the urging force of the coil spring 33 so that the actuator 22 is positioned above. In this state, the movable contact 34 is separated from the fixed contact 35. When the pad 3 is pressed downward, the movable contact 34 comes into contact with the fixed contact 35 against the biasing force of the coil spring 33, so that both contacts 34, 35 are electrically conducted and the horn 3 is electrically connected. Is sounded.

Now, the operation of the steering wheel 1 configured as described above will be described. When the pad 3 is attached to the steering body 2, the horn button 16 is previously fixed to the steering wheel body 2 via the supporting bracket 17. Also, the pad mounting bracket 12 should be fixed to the boss plate 5 with bolts 13. In this state, the mounting stay 11 of the pad 3 is arranged so as to correspond to the bolt insertion hole 12 of the pad mounting bracket 12. When arranging the pad 3, the step portions 3a on both left and right sides of the pad 3 are locked to the positioning shelf 29 of the horn button 16. By engaging the stepped portion 3a with the positioning shelf 29, the vertical mounting height position of the pad 3 with respect to the steering wheel body 2 is determined. Then, in this state, the bolt 15 is inserted through the operation hole 9a of the lower cover 9, and the bolt 15 is screwed into the screw hole 14 of the spoke core metal 6, 6d, the bolt insertion hole 12b of the pad mounting bracket 12, and the pad. 3 is screwed onto the nut portion 11a of the mounting stay 11. That is, the spokes 6a, 6d, the pad mounting bracket 12, and the mounting stay 11 of the pad 3 are fastened together by the bolts 15.

Therefore, the pad mounting bracket 12, the pad mounting station 11 extending from the pad 3, and the spoke cores 6a and 6d defining the maximum arc length A are co-tightened by the common bolt 15. Therefore, the torsional rigidity of the spoke cores 6a and 6d that define the maximum arc length A is increased, and it is not necessary to increase the rigidity of the remaining spokes 6b and 6c. As a result, the rigidity of the remaining spoke portions 6b and 6c can be reduced. Therefore, by increasing the rigidity of the maximum long arc portion A, it is possible to prevent rolling in the maximum long arc portion A direction.

The present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiment, and can be arbitrarily modified without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

[0024]

[Effect of device]

 As described above in detail, in the present invention, in the steering wheel in which the air bag is installed inside the pad and the ring portion is divided into four spoke portions, the torsional rigidity of the spoke core bar that defines the longest arc portion Therefore, it is possible to increase the rigidity of the maximum arc length side of the ring part and decrease the rigidity of the arc part 180 degrees opposite to the maximum length arc part, which results in rolling toward the maximum length arc part. It has an excellent effect that can prevent.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view of an essential part of a steering wheel according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a partial plan view of the steering wheel body.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view showing a mounting structure of the horn button and the support bracket.

FIG. 4 is a side view of the same.

FIG. 5 shows a main body case of a horn button, (a) is a plan view, (b) is a central sectional view, (c) is a side view, and (d) is a perspective view seen from the bottom side.

FIG. 6 is a plan view of the steering wheel of the present embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 ... Steering wheel, 2 ... Steering wheel body, 3 ... Pad, 4 ... Boss, 5 ... Boss plate, 6
a, 6b, 6c, 6d ... Spoke core metal, 7 ... Ring core metal, 11 ... Mounting stay, 12 ... Pad mounting bracket, 14 ... Screw hole, 15 ... Bolt, 16 ... Horn button, 17 ... Horn button Support bracket, 17c ... Shelf receiving piece, 18 ... Bolt, 20 ... Main body case, 21 ... Button cap, 22 ... Operator, 23 ... Cover, 29 ... Positioning shelf, 30 ... Leg piece, A ... Maximum arc length section.

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] 1. A steering wheel main body (2) comprising a ring portion and four spoke portions connecting the ring portion and bosses, the ring portion being divided into four by the four spoke portions, and the steering wheel. A steering wheel equipped with a pad (3), which is attached to an upper portion of a wheel main body (2) and has an air bag installed therein, a spoke core for defining a maximum long arc portion (A) among the four divided ring portions. The pad mounting bracket (12) is fixed to the gold (6a, 6d), the pad mounting bracket (12), the pad mounting stay (11) extending from the pad (3), and the maximum arc length. The spoke cores (6a, 6d) that partition the section (A) are tightened together with a common bolt (15), and the pad mounting stay (11) is fixed to the pad mounting bracket (12). Steering wheel, characterized in that it was.