JPH078345Y2 - Steering wheel - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION (Industrial field of application) The present invention relates to a steering wheel of an automobile or the like, and more particularly to a steering wheel having a horn switch mechanism.

(Prior Art) A conventional steering wheel in which a horn button is detachably provided on a horn plate on a movable contact side of a horn switch mechanism is disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 60-93242.

In this structure, a mounting foot is formed in the lower part of the horn button (upper cover), and an engaging portion formed at the tip of the mounting foot is inserted into and engaged with a mounting hole formed in the horn plate (movable plate). It is a thing.

However, in the case of the structure described in Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 60-93242, in order to insert the tip engaging portion of the mounting foot into the mounting hole of the horn plate (movable plate) in a straight line, There is a problem that the hole is weakly engaged and the horn button (upper cover) is easily disengaged or rattling.

In addition, as the one with detachable horn button,
There is one disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 60-78543.

In this structure, the horn button is detachably attached to the upper contact base with the movable contact, and the mounting hole is formed in the upper contact base with the movable contact, and the slope is downward around the mounting hole. A cam portion having a surface is formed. In addition, the horn button is formed into a shape that fits into the outer peripheral portion of the upper contact base, and a mounting portion is provided at the lower portion of the horn button so that the lower end portion of the mounting portion is long in the horizontal direction. The spring body is attached by screwing. Then, by fitting the horn button to the upper contact base and rotating the horn button with the mounting portion of the horn button inserted in the mounting hole of the upper contact base, the spring body elastically moves to the cam portion. The horn button is fixed by being engaged.

However, in the case of the structure described in Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 60-78543, since the horn button is fitted to the outer peripheral portion of the upper contact base, there is a problem that the shape of the horn button is limited. There is. If the horn button is not fitted to the outer peripheral portion of the upper contact base in this way, the horizontal positioning force is weak only with the spring body that engages with the lower surface of the cam portion. It has a problem that it tends to cause rattling. Further, in a state where the spring body and the cam portion are elastically engaged, there is a problem in that the horn button is rotated in the loosening direction and easily comes off due to the biasing force of the spring body.

Further, as an example in which a horn button is provided so as to be attachable by engagement, there is one disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 57-8114.

In this structure, a horn button is engaged with and attached to a leaf spring provided with a movable contact, and a hook-shaped hooking piece is projected from the leaf spring provided with a movable contact toward the upper side.
From the horn button, a projection having a hooking portion formed at the tip is provided so as to project downward.

In this structure, by pushing the horn button toward the leaf spring side, the hook portion of the horn button and the hook-shaped hook portion piece of the leaf spring are engaged with each other to hold the horn button. There is.

However, in the case of the structure disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 57-8114, the hook-shaped hooking piece of the leaf spring and the hooking portion of the horn button can be simply engaged by pushing the horn button straight into the leaf spring side. Since the horn button is engaged and fixed to the leaf spring depending on the situation, there is a problem that the horn button is likely to come off or rattle.

In addition, as the one with detachable horn button,
There is one disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 61-16204.

In this structure, a fixed contact is formed on the boss portion of the steering wheel body, and a movable contact that comes in contact with and separates from the fixed contact is formed on an annular contact plate. The contact plate is biased by the coil spring in a direction away from the boss portion, and the contact plate is pressed downward by the spacer flange of the mounting bolt fixed to the boss portion. Also,
The horn button attached to the upper side of the contact plate is provided with a set plate having a long hole with a large diameter hole formed by connecting a large diameter hole to a long hole whose longitudinal direction is the circumferential direction. Therefore, while inserting the collar of the mounting bolt through the large-diameter hole of this horn button, pressing the horn button downward and rotating it in one direction, the set plate is sandwiched between the contact plate and the collar of the mounting bolt. , The horn button can be attached.

However, in the structure disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 61-16204, when the horn button is rotated in one direction, the horn button can be vertically held and held, but is elastic in the radial and rotational directions. Do not engage with each other. Therefore, there is a problem that the horn button is apt to rattle in the radial direction, and the horn button is rotated in the opposite direction to easily come off.

(Problems to be solved by the device) As described above, in the case of the structure disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 60-93242, the tip engaging portions of the mounting feet are aligned with the mounting holes of the horn plate (movable plate). However, there is a problem that the engagement between the tip engaging portion and the mounting hole is weak and the horn button (upper cover) is easily dislodged or rattling.

In the structure described in Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 60-78543, the shape of the horn button is limited because the horn button is fitted to the outer peripheral portion of the upper contact base. If the horn button is not fitted to the outer peripheral portion of the upper contact base in this way, the horizontal positioning force is weak only with the spring body that engages with the lower surface of the cam portion. It has a problem that it tends to cause rattling.

Also, in the case of the structure described in Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 57-8114,
By simply pushing the horn button straight into the leaf spring side, the hook-shaped hooking piece of the leaf spring and the hooking portion of the horn button engage the horn button with the leaf spring. It has a problem that it is easy to come off or rattle.

Furthermore, in the case of the structure disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 61-16204, when the horn button is rotated in one direction, the horn button can be vertically held and held, but is elastic in the radial and rotational directions. However, there is a problem that the horn button is easily rattled in the radial direction, and the horn button is rotated in the opposite direction so that the horn button is easily disengaged.

The present invention has been made in view of such a point, and it is an object of the present invention to prevent detachment and rattling of a horn button detachably provided on a horn plate.

(Means for Solving Problems) In the present invention, the contact plate 23 on the movable contact 43 side is pressably provided on the base plate 13 on the fixed contact 17 side of the steering wheel body 5, and the horn button is provided on the contact plate 23. The present invention relates to a steering wheel in which 4 is detachably provided, and an operating portion 32 for pressing the upper surface of the contact plate 23 is formed in the lower portion of the horn button 4, and the operating portion 32 projects below the operating portion 32. A supporting leg 33 is formed, and an engaging piece 34 for preventing the lower surface of the contact plate 23 from coming off is formed on the tip side portion of the supporting leg 33, and a fitting portion 36 on the engaging piece 34 on the supporting leg 33 side. The contact plate 23 is formed with an insertion portion 44 that allows the locking piece 34 of the horn button 4 to move to the lower surface of the contact plate 23. One side of the insertion portion 44 is formed. In, the locking piece 34 by the rotation movement of the horn button 4
The horn button 4 is engaged with the fitting portion 36 on the locking piece 34 and is elastically and unevenly fitted in the radial direction and the rotation direction to move the horn button 4 in the radial direction and in the reverse rotation direction. The fitting portion 46 for suppressing the above is formed.

(Operation) When the horn button 4 is attached, the steering wheel of the present invention has the locking piece 34 at the tip of the support leg 33 of the horn button 4.
When the horn button 4 is rotationally moved after inserting the horn button 4 into the insertion portion 44 of the contact plate 23, the locking piece 34 locks the lower side of the fitting portion 46 of the contact plate 23 so as not to come off, and The fitting portion 36 of the contact plate 23 and the fitting portion 46 of the contact plate 23 are elastically and unevenly fitted in the radial direction and the rotation direction to suppress the radial movement of the horn button 4 and the rotational movement in the reverse rotation direction. To be done. Further, in this state, the operating portion 32 for pressing the horn button 4 is connected to the contact plate 23.
Facing the upper surface of.

(Embodiment) An embodiment of the steering wheel of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 7.

In the steering wheel of this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 7, an annular rim portion 1 is connected to a central circular boss portion 3 via three spoke portions 2 arranged in a T shape. A circular horn button 4 having a shape and located on the upper surface of the boss portion 3 is provided so as to be able to press against the steering wheel body 5.

As shown in FIGS. 6 and 1, the steering wheel body 5 includes a metal core 11 of the rim portion 1, a metal core 12 of each of the spoke portions 2, and a metal annular base plate of the boss portion 3. Welding 13 and cores 11 and 12 for synthetic resin 1
While being covered with 4, a cylindrical surrounding wall 15 made of synthetic resin is integrally formed with the outer cover 14 upward from the peripheral portion of the base plate 13, and is further fitted to a steering shaft (not shown) below the base plate 13. A metal boss 16 is fixed by a plurality of, for example, three metal bolts 17 arranged in a circle, and the outside of the boss 16 and the lower portion of the base plate 13 are covered with a boss cover 18 made of synthetic resin. A conductive slip ring 19 is attached to the lower surface of 18.

In this embodiment, the heads of the three bolts 17 protruding above the base plate 13 are used as fixed contacts of the horn switch mechanism, and are grounded to the vehicle body of the automobile through the boss 16 and the steering shaft, and the battery Is connected to the negative side of.

Then, it is located in the surrounding wall 15 of the boss portion 3 and is insulated from the base plate 13 by the cylindrical spring receiver 21 made of synthetic resin on the base plate 13,
A metallic annular contact plate 23 is disposed so as to be pressed through a coiled spring 22, and the contact plate 23 is integrally formed on a washer 24 made of synthetic resin and an outer portion of the spring receiver 21. Insulated from the base plate 13 by the guide tube 25 made of synthetic resin, the contact plate 23 is attached to the base plate 13 via a screw 26 so as to be vertically movable. A metal contact spring 27 in an insulated state is connected to the slip ring 19 on the lower surface of the boss portion 3, and is connected to the plus side of the automobile battery via the slip ring 19 and the horn mechanism.

Further, the horn button 4 is made of synthetic resin, and as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, a cylindrical portion 31 that fits into a circular hole in the central portion of the contact plate 23 is integrally formed at the center of the lower surface thereof. Is formed on the periphery of the cylindrical portion 31, and a plurality of operating protrusions 32 as operating portions for pressing are integrally provided from the lower surface of the cylindrical portion 31 to the upper surface of the contact plate 23. , Located around the operating protrusion 32,
Three supporting legs 33 corresponding to the bolts 17 of the fixed contacts are integrally projected from the lower surface thereof so as to be longer and circular than the operating protrusion 32, and the lower surface of the contact plate 23 is provided on the outer side of the tip of each supporting leg 33. A locking piece 34 for preventing the slip-out is integrally provided on the supporting leg 33 side on the locking piece 34, and a concave groove is formed on the outer side.
A fitting portion 36 having 35 is integrally formed.

Correspondingly, the contact plate 23 has a fourth
As shown in FIGS. 5 and 5, the bolt 17 of the fixed contact is
Corresponding to, slits 41 are formed at three locations, and substantially triangular openings 42 are formed at the clockwise rotation positions of the respective slits 41 in plan view, with one side of the slits 41 arranged in parallel. Three movable contacts 43 are formed by bulging in a V-shape between the slit 41 and the opening 42 toward the lower base plate 13 side, and the recess formed on the movable contacts 43 forms the horn button 4 described above. Of the engaging piece 34 of the contact plate 23 to the movement of the insertion portion 44, the outer edge of the opening 42 adjacent to the insertion portion 44 has a projecting edge 45 protruding into the opening 42 The part 46 is formed, and this fitting part is formed.
46 moves the locking piece 34 in the clockwise direction,
It is adapted to be engaged with the upper part and to be fitted into the fitting part 36 on the locking piece 34 by means of concavity and convexity.

Then, the horn button 4 is positioned in the contact plate 23 by inserting the cylindrical portion 31 into the circular hole at the center of the contact plate 23, and the horn button 4 is positioned while the horn button 4 is being pressed. By rotating around the portion 31, the locking piece 34 at the tip of each supporting leg 33 enters the concave portion or the insertion portion 44 on the movable contact 43 of the contact plate 23, and then the horn button 4 is inserted into the cylindrical portion 31.
When it is rotated clockwise about, each locking piece 34 moves toward the opening 42 of the contact plate 23, and each locking piece 34 engages with the lower portion of the fitting portion 46 of the contact plate 23. At the same time, the fitting portions 36 on the respective locking pieces 34 elastically and unevenly fit into the fitting portions 46 of the contact plate 23, and in this state, the respective operating projections 32 contact the upper surface of the contact plate 23. The supporting legs 33, which are in contact with each other and are integral with the respective fitting portions 36, abut on the inner edge of the opening 42, whereby the horn button 4 is fixed to the contact plate 23.

From this fixed state, the horn button 4 can be detached from the contact plate 23 by rotating the horn button 4 counterclockwise and then pulling it upward.

In this way, since only the horn button 4 can be attached later, in the state before attaching the horn button 4,
The contact plate 23 can be pressed to confirm the operation of the horn switch mechanism and the adjustment can be performed. Then, when the horn button 4 is removed, the coiled spring 22 and the cylindrical shape from the upper part of the annular contact plate 23 are removed. An annular base plate through the spring receiver 21
Since there is a through hole to the bottom of 13, through this through hole,
The operation of attaching the steering wheel body 5 to the steering shaft can be performed.

Then, when the horn button 4 is attached to the contact plate 23, the respective locking pieces 34 of the horn button 4 engage with the lower part of the fitting portion 46 of the contact plate 23, and the respective operating projections 32 of the horn button 4 are attached. Since it contacts the upper surface of the contact plate 23, there is no rattling in the vertical direction. Moreover, in this state, the fitting portion 36 on each locking piece 34 of the horn button 4 elastically and unevenly fits the fitting portion 46 of the contact plate 23 in the radial direction and the rotation direction, so that the horizontal diameter Since there is no wobbling in the direction, and in addition, the area of the portion where each locking piece 34 of the horn button 4 and the fitting portion 46 of the contact plate 23 overlap can be increased, the horn button 4 can be used in the contact plate 23.
There is no concern that it will come off, and it can be securely and firmly installed. Furthermore, since the fitting 36 on each locking piece 34 of the horn button 4 and the fitting portion 46 of the contact plate 23 are elastically concavo-convex, it is possible to suppress the rotation in the direction in which the horn button 4 is removed. It is possible to reliably prevent the button 4 from accidentally coming off.

Also, when mounting the contact plate 23, since the movable contacts 43 are radial, it is possible to guide the upper portion of the spring 22 to a predetermined position by the inner inclined surface thereof, and when mounting the horn button 4. Also, the horn button 4 can be easily positioned and rotated using the cylindrical portion 31 as a guide.

Then, since the recess formed by forming the movable contact 43 is used for the insertion portion 44 of the contact plate 23 with respect to the locking piece 34 of the horn button 4, it is advantageous in terms of space and also in terms of strength of the contact plate 23. It is advantageous.

According to the present invention, the horn button can be easily attached to and removed from the contact plate by rotating the horn button. Then, in the state where the horn button is attached to the contact plate, the locking piece of the horn button is locked to the lower side of the contact plate so as not to come off, and
The fitting portion on the locking piece and the fitting portion of the contact plate elastically and unevenly fit in the radial direction and the rotation direction. Therefore,
The rattling of the horn button in the radial direction can be prevented, the rotational movement of the horn button in the reverse rotation direction can be suppressed, and the horn button can be reliably prevented from coming off.

[Brief description of drawings]

The figure shows an embodiment of the steering wheel of the present invention,
1 is an exploded perspective view thereof, FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of a part of FIG. 1 seen from a different direction, FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a part of FIG. 2 in a different state, FIG. FIG. 5 is a horizontal cross-sectional view of an assembled state of the main part, FIG. 6 is a vertical cross-sectional view corresponding to the view along VI-VI in FIG. 7, and FIG. 7 is an overall plan view. 4 ... Horn button, 5 ... Steering wheel body, 13 ... Base plate, 17 ... Fixed contact, 23 ... Contact plate, 32 ... Actuating projection as an actuating part, 33
…… Support legs, 34 …… Locking pieces, 36 …… Mating part, 43 …… Movable contact, 44 …… Insertion part, 46 …… Mating part.

Claims (2)

[Scope of utility model registration request] 1. A steering wheel having a movable contact side contact plate pressable on a fixed contact side base plate of a steering wheel body, and a horn button removably mounted on the contact plate. In the lower part of the contact plate, an operating part for pressing against the upper surface of the contact plate is formed, and a supporting leg protruding downward from this operating part is formed. The engaging piece is formed, a fitting portion is formed on the supporting leg side on the engaging piece, and an insertion portion that allows the engaging piece of the horn button to move to the lower surface of the contact plate is formed on the contact plate. , The one side portion of the insertion portion is engaged with the locking piece by the rotational movement of the horn button and A fitting portion that elastically and concavely fits with the fitting portion on one side in the radial direction and the rotation direction to suppress the radial movement of the horn button and the rotational movement in the reverse rotation direction is formed. Steering wheel. 2. The utility model registration claim 1 wherein the insertion portion of the contact plate is a concave portion on a movable contact in which a part of the contact plate bulges downward to the base plate side. Steering wheel.