JPH082424A - Vehicular steering wheel - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide a vehicular steering wheel with high safety, facilitate the arrangement, installation and wiring of a horn switch mechanism, and easy manufacturing and assembly of the vehicular steering wheel. CONSTITUTION:A horn cover is formed of a lower horn cover 16, an intermediate vertically moving member 49 fitted in a recessed part 17 for attaching a switch mechanism and an upper horn cover 54. The intermediate vertically moving member 49 is always moved upward by a sheet spring 21 on whose tip a movable contact point 20 is provided. A horn plate 25 having a fixed contact point 24 is installed by engaging a lower bent part 38 having a narrow part and an engagingly locking part 40 with the inserting hole and the engaging hole of the horn cover.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a vehicle steering wheel.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A conventionally known Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 4-79087 discloses a boss portion formed by a conducting member fixed to the upper end of a main shaft for a steering wheel provided on a vehicle body and having a surface covered with an insulating member. A vehicle steering wheel having a leaf spring having a movable contact provided above the boss portion and a horn cover that moves up and down to press the movable contact provided above the leaf spring is described.

[0003]

Since the above-mentioned known device does not have an energy absorber, there is a problem that the impact cannot be absorbed when a large force is applied to the steering wheel in a vehicle accident or the like. Moreover, if an energy absorber is simply provided, the arrangement and mounting of the horn switch mechanism,
There is a problem that wiring is not easy.

[0004]

It is an object of the present invention to provide a highly safe vehicle steering wheel, facilitate the arrangement, mounting and wiring of a horn switch mechanism, and facilitate the manufacture and assembly of a vehicle steering wheel.

[0005]

Therefore, according to the present invention, a boss portion 5 formed by a conductive member fixed to the upper end of a shaft 4 provided on the vehicle body side, and a conductive member provided above the boss portion 5 are formed. Has an energy absorber 12 that is deformed when the impact is applied, and a horn cover 13 made of synthetic resin provided above the energy absorber 12, the horn cover 13 having a switch mechanism mounting recess 17 A resin lower lower horn cover 16 and a hard synthetic resin intermediate vertical moving member 49 fitted in the switch mechanism mounting recess 17, and a soft synthetic resin covering the intermediate vertical moving member 49 and the upper surface of the lower horn cover 16. A leaf spring 2 which is formed of an upper horn cover 54 made of a metal and which always moves the intermediate vertical moving member 49 upward in the switch mechanism mounting recess 17.
1 and a horn plate 25 having a fixed contact 24 with which the movable contact 20 moved downward by the downward movement of the intermediate vertical moving member 49 comes into contact, and the horn plate 25 is a flat plate. A narrow portion 39 and a locking portion 40 formed by bending a part of the member toward the boss portion 5 side.
Forming a downward bent portion 38 and an engaging hole 34 having
The horn cover 13 has an insertion hole 44 into which the locking portion 40 can be inserted, an engagement hole 45 communicating with the insertion hole 44, and the horn when the narrow portion 39 engages with the engagement hole 45. When the locking portion 40 is inserted into the insertion hole 44 and has the engaging claw 36 that engages with the side edge of the plate 25, the engaging hole 3
4 is a vehicle steering wheel in which engaging protrusions 35 to be inserted into the respective parts 4 are formed. Further, according to the present invention, the downward bent portion 38 is a coupler locking portion 43 for inserting and fixing the code coupler 42 provided at the tip of the cord 41.
Is a vehicle steering wheel formed following the locking portion 40. In the present invention, the horn plate 25 is connected to a power source by the cord 41,
The leaf spring 21 has a terminal portion 27 formed at the base portion of the leaf spring 21 protruding from a window portion 28 formed in the horn cover 13 and brought into contact with the energy absorber 12 to be grounded to a vehicle steering wheel. It was done.

[0006]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS One embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
Reference numeral 1 is a steering wheel used for a vehicle or the like. In the steering wheel 1, a boss plate 6 is fixed to a boss portion 5 fitted and fixed to an upper end of a main shaft 4 provided on the vehicle body side, and a base portion of a spoke cored bar 7 is fixed to the boss portion 5 and the boss plate 6, A circular wheel core 8 is fixed to the tip of the spoke core 7, and a part of the spoke core 7 and the outer peripheral surface of the wheel core 8 are covered with a synthetic resin 9 to form a circular wheel portion 10 and a spoke portion. 11, an energy absorber 12 made of a thin metal plate material is provided above the boss plate 6, and a horn cover 13 is provided above the energy absorber 12.

Therefore, the horn cover 13 has a horn switch mechanism 14 incorporated therein.
Is attached to the energy absorber 12. Reference numeral 16 denotes a lower horn cover of the horn cover 13, which is made of a hard synthetic resin and has a switch mechanism mounting recess 17 in the center thereof. The bottom of the switch mechanism mounting recess 17 is provided with the switch mounting plate 1 of the horn switch mechanism 14.
It becomes 9. The horn switch mechanism 14 includes front and rear leaf springs 21 having movable contacts 20 formed at their ends (the front and rear directions thereof are based on the steering wheel 1 in the straight traveling direction, and the same applies hereinafter) and the left and right ends. The left and right leaf springs 23 having the movable contact 22 and the movable contact 2
0 and the horn plate 25 having a fixed contact 24 with which either the movable contact 22 contacts. The front and rear leaf springs 21 and the left and right leaf springs 23 fix the base side of the front and rear leaf springs 21 and the intermediate portion of the left and right leaf springs 23 to the switch mounting plate 19 with screws 26, and the base portions of the leaf springs 21 are bent downward. To form a terminal portion 27, and the terminal portion 27 is projected downward from a window portion 28 formed in the switch mounting plate 19. Therefore, when the horn cover 13 is attached to the energy absorber 12, the terminal portion 27 is attached to the energy absorber 12.
Make elastic contact with the upper surface of. Reference numeral 29 is a guide wall for positioning which facilitates attachment of the front and rear leaf springs 21 and the left and right leaf springs 23.

Therefore, the horn plate 25 is formed in the shape of an inverted triangular plate, the fixed contacts 24 are arranged at the respective apexes of the triangle of the horn plate 25, and the switch mounting plate 19 and the horn plate 25 are respectively described later. The engaging hole and the engaging protrusion are formed to fix without using screws. The switch mounting plate 19 has a holding projection 33 having a gap 32 into which the side edge 31 of the horn plate 25 can fit, and an engaging hole 3 formed in the horn plate 25.
4 is formed with an engaging projection 35, and an engaging claw 36 that engages with the front side surface of the horn plate 25 is formed at the tip of the engaging projection 35. Reference numeral 37 denotes a guide wall having the pressing projection 33 formed therein, which is arranged in an inverted C shape (when the horn plate 25 is formed in a quadrangular shape, the upward U-shaped 4 is formed).
Provide it in a place. ).

On the front side of the horn plate 25, a downward bending portion 38 that bends downward is formed, and an upper portion of the downward bending portion 38 is formed as a narrow portion 39, and a portion that protrudes laterally following the narrow portion 39 is formed. The stopper 40 is formed, and subsequently to the engaging portion 40, a coupler engaging portion 43 for inserting and fixing the code coupler 42 provided at the tip of the cord 41 is formed. The other end of the cord 41 is connected to a protruding portion of a ring member 46 provided in an insulating state below the boss portion 5, the ring member 46 is connected to a power source (plus side), and the terminals of the front and rear leaf springs 21 are connected. By bringing the portion 27 into contact with the upper surface of the energy absorber 12, the front and rear leaf springs 21 and the left and right leaf springs 23 are grounded via the energy absorber 12 and the boss plate 6.

On the other hand, the switch mounting plate 19 is formed with an insertion hole 44 into which the locking portion 40 can be inserted and an engagement hole 45 communicating with the insertion hole 44. Then, the locking portion 40 of the downward bent portion 38 of the horn plate 25 is attached to the switch mounting plate 1
9 is positioned above the insertion hole 44, the engaging projection 35 of the switch mounting plate 19 is engaged with the engaging hole 34 of the horn plate 25.
When the locking portion 40 is inserted into the insertion hole 44 from above, the engaging projection 3 of the switch mounting plate 19 is positioned.
5 is fitted in the engaging hole 34 of the horn plate 25, and when it is further displaced in this state, the engaging protrusion 35 of the switch mounting plate 19
Engaging claw 36 engages with the front side surface of the horn plate 25, and the engaging portion 40 of the downward bent portion 38 of the horn plate 25.
Engages with the lower surface of the switch mounting plate 19, and the horn plate 2
The side edge 31 of No. 5 is fitted below the pressing projection 33, and the horn plate 25 is attached to the switch attachment plate 19.

Then, the intermediate vertical moving member 49 is fitted into the switch mechanism mounting recess 17 of the horn cover 13.
On the intermediate up-and-down moving member 49, a pressing protrusion 50 protruding downward is arranged corresponding to the movable contact 20 of the front and rear leaf springs 21 and the movable contact 22 of the left and right leaf springs 23, and the pressing protrusion 50 is arranged on the movable contact 20 and the movable contact 22. Place it in this state,
The engaging legs 52 formed on the intermediate vertical moving member 49 are fitted and attached to the engaging holes 53 formed on the switch mounting plate 19.
Therefore, since the intermediate vertical moving member 49 is moved upward by the elastic force of the front and rear leaf springs 21 and the left and right leaf springs 23, when either portion is pressed, either the movable contact 20 or the movable contact 22 is fixed. To close the horn circuit.

The upper surfaces of the intermediate vertical moving member 49 and the lower horn cover 16 are covered with the upper horn cover 54 to form the horn cover 13, and the lower horn cover 16 has a large diameter portion at a predetermined position. The engagement protrusion 55 is provided,
The cover engagement protrusion 55 is engaged with and attached to the engagement hole 56 formed in the energy absorber 12.

[0013]

[Operation] Next, the operation will be described. The present invention has the above-mentioned configuration, and the horn switch mechanism 14 includes the front and rear leaf springs 21 having the movable contact 20 and the left and right leaf springs 23 having the movable contact 22, and the horn plate 25 with which the movable contacts 20 and 22 come into contact. The horn plate 25 of the horn switch mechanism 14 is configured without using screws.
Since it is mounted on 9, the mounting process is reduced and the mounting work is extremely simple.

That is, the downward bent portion 3 of the horn plate 25
When the locking portion 40 of No. 8 is inserted into the insertion hole 44 of the switch mounting plate 19, the engaging projection 35 of the switch mounting plate 19 is fitted into the engaging hole 34 of the horn plate 25, and in this state, the engaging projection 35 is displaced rearward. The engaging portion 40 of the downward bent portion 38 of the horn plate 25 engages with the lower surface of the switch mounting plate 19, and the engaging claw 36 of the engaging protrusion 35 of the switch mounting plate 19 engages with the front side surface of the horn plate 25. , Side edge 3 of horn plate 25
1 contacts the guide wall 37 and is fitted below the pressing protrusion 33, and the horn plate 25 is attached to the switch mounting plate 19
Mounted on. Therefore, the horn plate 25 is released from troublesome installation work such as screwing, and the installation work is simplified and speeded up.

In this case, the side edge 31 of the horn plate 25
Engages with the lower surface of the pressing protrusion 33, and the front side of the horn plate 25 engages with the lower surface of the engaging protrusion 35.
Since the engaging portion 40 formed on the downward bent portion 38 of the No. 5 engages with the lower surface of the switch mounting plate 19, the horn plate 25 is firmly fixed in the up-down direction, and vertical play is not generated. Further, the side edge 31 of the horn plate 25 is provided with the pressing projection 3
Since the engaging claw 36 at the tip of the engaging projection 35 engages with the front side surface of the horn plate 25, the horn plate 25 is fixed in the front-rear direction as well.
Moreover, since the guide wall 37 is arranged in an inverted C shape,
It is also fixed in the horizontal direction. Therefore, the horn plate 25 is easily and reliably fixed to the lower horn cover 16.

Next, the base portions of the front and rear leaf springs 21 and the intermediate portions of the left and right leaf springs 23 are superposed between the guide walls 29 arranged in a cross shape on the upper surface of the switch mounting plate 19, and the superposed portions are screwed with the screw 2.
It is fixed to the switch mounting plate 19 by 6. In the switch mechanism mounting recess 17 of the lower horn cover 16 in this state, an intermediate up-and-down moving member 49 having pressing protrusions 50 arranged corresponding to the movable contacts 20 of the front and rear leaf springs 21 and the movable contacts 22 of the left and right leaf springs 23 is provided. When fitted in the switch mechanism mounting recess 17, each pressing protrusion 50 is placed on the movable contact 20 and the movable contact 22, and in this state, the intermediate vertical moving member 49.
When the upper horn cover 54 is placed over the above, the assembly of the horn cover 13 is completed.

However, a part of the spoke core metal 7 and the outer peripheral surface of the wheel core metal 8 are covered with the synthetic resin 9 so that a large number of circular wheel portions 10 and spoke portions 11 are formed in advance and preassembled. The code coupler 42 is inserted and fixed to the coupler locking portion 43 of the horn cover 13, and in this state, the cover engagement protrusion 55 of the lower horn cover 16 of the horn cover 13 is formed in the energy absorber 12 as the engagement hole 5.
6 is engaged, the mounting of the horn cover 13 is completed. Therefore, the mounting of the horn cover 13 is very easy and easy. In this case, in the downward bent portion 38 of the horn plate 25, the narrow portion 39 is located in the insertion hole 44 and the locking portion 4 is provided.
Since 0 is located below the switch mounting plate 19, as described above, when connecting the code coupler 42 to the coupler locking portion 43 of the downward bending portion 38, the downward bending portion 38 is fixed to the switch mounting plate 19. Even if you push it strongly, the locking part 40
Only contacts the lower surface of the switch mounting plate 19 to prevent the downward bent portion 38 from being deformed. Therefore, the downward bent portion 3
By preventing the deformation of 8, the connection failure between the coupler locking portion 43 and the code coupler 42 is prevented, and the code coupler 42 is also prevented from falling off.

The front and rear leaf springs 21 and the left and right leaf springs 23 fix the base side of the leaf spring 21 and the intermediate portion of the left and right leaf springs 23 to the switch mounting plate 19 with screws 26. Is bent downward and the terminal portion 27
When the horn cover 13 is attached to the energy absorbing body 12, the terminal portion 27 is elastically attached to the upper surface of the energy absorbing body 12 by making the terminal portion 27 protrude downward from the window portion 28 formed in the switch mounting plate 19. Since there is no need to connect a cord to the leaf spring 21, the number of parts can be reduced.

That is, the horn switch mechanism 14 is attached to the boss portion 5.
When mounting, the boss portion 5 is grounded, the boss portion 5 is provided with a fixed contact, the movable contact of the leaf spring is set to the positive side, and the cord from the power supply is connected to the movable contact. , Horn switch 13 on horn cover 13
However, since the terminal portion 27 is formed in the leaf spring 21 to elastically contact the energy absorber 12, the wiring is unnecessary and the horn plate 25 is provided. Wiring the cord on the plus side is all that is required, and the installation process can be reduced.

The horn cover 13 is composed of a lower horn cover 16, an intermediate vertical moving member 49 and an upper horn cover 54, and the intermediate vertical moving member 49 moves up and down with respect to the lower horn cover 16. Since the upper horn cover 54 is made of soft synthetic resin, not only can the horn switch mechanism 14 be operated by pressing any portion above the intermediate vertical moving member 49, but also the lower horn cover 16 can be operated. Does not move up and down, the terminal portion 27 of the leaf spring 21 and the contact portion of the energy absorber 12 and the code coupler 42 of the cord 41 connected to the horn plate 25 do not move up and down, and the connection and contact are good. Therefore, the durability can be improved and the occurrence of failure can be extremely reduced.

[0021]

[Advantageous Effects] According to the present invention, the boss portion 5 formed by the conducting member fixed to the upper end of the shaft 4 provided on the vehicle body side, and the energy formed by the conducting member provided above the boss portion 5 are deformed when an impact is received. It has an absorber 12 and a horn cover 13 made of synthetic resin provided above the energy absorber 12, and the horn cover 13 has a lower horn cover 16 made of hard synthetic resin having a switch mechanism mounting recess 17. Also, the intermediate vertical moving member 49 and the intermediate vertical moving member 4 made of hard synthetic resin, which are fitted in the switch mechanism mounting recess 17
9 and an upper horn cover 54 made of a soft synthetic resin that covers the upper surface of the lower horn cover 16, and a leaf spring 21 for constantly moving the intermediate vertical moving member 49 upward in the switch mechanism mounting recess 17. Moving contact 20 provided at the tip
And a horn plate 25 having a fixed contact 24 with which the movable contact 20 moved downward by the downward movement of the intermediate vertical movement member 49 is provided. The horn plate 25 is formed of a flat plate member and a part thereof is An insertion into which the locking portion 40 can be inserted into the horn cover 13 by bending the boss portion 5 side to form a downward bending portion 38 having a narrow portion 39 and a locking portion 40 and an engaging hole 34. The hole 44 has an engaging hole 45 communicating with the insertion hole 44, and an engaging claw 36 that engages with a side edge of the horn plate 25 when the narrow portion 39 engages with the engaging hole 45. A plate having the movable contact 20 on the horn cover 13 is provided because the vehicle steering wheel is formed with the engagement protrusions 35 that are inserted into the engagement holes 34 when the locking portions 40 are inserted into the insertion holes 44. Spring 21 and solid Horn plate 2 having a contact 24
Since the horn switch mechanism 14 is provided in advance, the horn switch mechanism 14 is provided in advance on the horn cover 13, so that the work of assembling the entire steering wheel for a vehicle can be simplified, and the horn plate 25 of the horn switch mechanism 14 is attached to the lower horn. Since the cover 16 can be attached without using screws, the attaching process can be reduced and the cost can be reduced. Further, according to the present invention, the downward bending portion 38 is a vehicle steering wheel in which the coupler locking portion 43 for inserting and fixing the code coupler 42 provided at the tip of the cord 41 is formed following the locking portion 40. When the code coupler 42 is inserted into the coupler locking portion 43, since the locking portion 40 contacts the lower surface of the lower horn cover 16, deformation can be prevented and deformation of the downward bent portion 38 can be prevented. The connection failure between the coupler locking portion 43 and the code coupler 42 is prevented, and the code coupler 42 can be prevented from falling off. Further, according to the present invention, the horn plate 25 is connected to a power source by the cord 41, and the leaf spring 21 projects the terminal portion 27 formed on the base portion of the leaf spring 21 from the window portion 28 formed on the horn cover 13. Since the vehicle steering wheel is grounded by being brought into contact with the energy absorber 12, the wiring for mounting the horn cover 13 only needs to insert and fix the code coupler 42 into the coupler locking portion 43. Even in the vehicle steering wheel provided with the energy absorber 12, the wiring of the horn switch mechanism 14 can be simplified.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a steering wheel.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view before mounting the horn cover.

FIG. 3 is an assembled perspective view.

FIG. 4 is a partially enlarged view of FIG.

5 is a partially enlarged view of FIG.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of an engagement protrusion.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view of the engagement protrusion in an engaged state.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a pressing protrusion.

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of a state in which the pressing protrusion is engaged.

FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of a state in which the pressing protrusion is engaged.

FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view of the lower bent portion in an engaged state.

FIG. 12 is a sectional view of the same.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 ... Steering wheel, 5 ... Boss part, 6 ... Boss plate, 7 ... Spoke core metal, 8 ... Wheel core metal, 9 ... Synthetic resin, 10 ... Wheel part, 11 ... Spoke part, 12 ... Energy absorber, 13 ... Horn cover, 14 ... Horn switch mechanism, 16 ... Lower horn cover, 17 ... Switch mechanism mounting recess, 19 ... Switch mounting plate, 20 ... Movable contact, 21 ... Leaf spring, 22 ... Movable contact, 23 ... Left and right leaf spring, 24 ... Fixed contact, 25 ... Horn plate, 26 ... Screw, 27 ... Terminal part, 28 ... Window part, 29 ... Guide wall, 31
... side edge, 32 ... gap, 33 ... presser projection, 34 ... engagement hole,
35 ... Engaging projections, 36 ... Engaging claws, 37 ... Guide walls, 38
... downward bending part, 39 ... narrow part, 40 ... locking part, 41 ... cord, 42 ... code coupler, 43 ... coupler locking part,
44 ... Insertion hole, 45 ... Engagement hole, 46 ... Ring member, 49
... intermediate vertical moving member, 50 ... pressing protrusion, 52 ... engaging leg, 5
3 ... Engagement hole, 54 ... Upper side horn cover, 55 ... Cover engagement protrusion, 56 ... Engagement hole.

[Procedure amendment]

[Submission date] September 12, 1994

[Procedure Amendment 1]

[Document name to be corrected] Drawing

[Correction target item name] All drawings

[Correction method] Change

[Correction content]

FIG.

[Fig. 2]

[Figure 6]

[Figure 8]

[Figure 9]

[Figure 10]

[Figure 3]

[Figure 4]

[Figure 7]

FIG. 11

[Fig. 12]

[Figure 5]

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. An energy absorber which is deformed when an impact is formed by a boss portion 5 formed by a conducting member fixed to the upper end of a shaft 4 provided on the vehicle body side, and a conducting member provided above the boss portion 5. 12 and the energy absorber 1
2 and a horn cover 13 made of synthetic resin provided above the horn cover 13.
A lower side horn cover 16 made of a hard synthetic resin and an intermediate up-and-down moving member 49 made of a hard synthetic resin that fits into the switch mechanism mounting recess 17 and an upper and lower moving member 49 and an upper surface of the lower horn cover 16. A movable contact 20 is formed by an upper horn cover 54 made of a soft synthetic resin for covering, and inside the switch mechanism mounting recess 17, a movable contact 20 provided at the tip of a leaf spring 21 for always moving the intermediate vertical moving member 49 upward,
And a horn plate 25 having a fixed contact 24 with which the movable contact 20 moved downward by the downward movement of the intermediate vertical movement member 49 is provided. The horn plate 25 is formed by a flat plate member, and a part of the horn plate 25 is formed by the boss portion. The lower bent portion 38 having the narrow portion 39 and the locking portion 40 and the engaging hole 34 are formed by bending the locking portion 40 into the fifth side, and the insertion hole 44 into which the locking portion 40 can be inserted is formed in the horn cover 13. And the engaging hole 45 communicating with the insertion hole 44 and the narrow portion 39.
Has engaging claws 36 that engage with the side edges of the horn plate 25 when engaged with the engaging projections 35 that are inserted into the engaging holes 34 when the locking portions 40 are inserted into the inserting holes 44, respectively. The formed vehicle steering wheel. 2. The downward bending portion 38 according to claim 1,
Is a vehicle steering wheel in which a coupler locking portion 43 for inserting and fixing a code coupler 42 provided at the tip of the cord 41 is formed following the locking portion 40. 3. The horn plate 25 according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the horn plate 25 is connected to a power source by the cord 41, and the leaf spring 21 has a terminal portion 27 formed at a base portion of the leaf spring 21. A steering wheel for a vehicle, which is grounded by being projected from the window portion 28 formed in the above and brought into contact with the energy absorber 12.