JPH0976922A - Heater for automobile - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enable an operational means to be heated at the start of an automobile during winter period without any wasteful power consumption by providing a control circuit which feeds electric power to a heating material at the time of switch operation and stops the power after a specified period of time in the heater of an operational means such as a steering wheel and a shift lever. SOLUTION: When heater provision is applied to a steering wheel 4 as an operational means, a heating material 1 is attached so as to cover the outer periphery of the steering wheel 4, a steering wheel 4 cover is wound around the outside of the heating material 1 attached to the steering wheel 4 and a connector 31 is fixed to a spoke. And by inserting the plug 21 of a control part 2 in a cigar lighter socket, the plug 21 is placed in electrical connection to the contact provided on the cigar lighter socket and battery power is supplied to a control circuit. When a switch 23 is pushed under this condition, electrification to the heating material 1 is started via the control circuit and the steering is heated. Thereafter, if a preset time is counted in the control circuit, electrification to the heating material 1 is automatically stopped.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a heater device for warming operating means such as a steering wheel and a shift lever of an automobile.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art When driving an automobile in winter, operating means such as a steering wheel and a shift knob get cold because of low temperature, and it is not only uncomfortable to grip those operating means, but also the hands become cold, which hinders driving. There was a risk of causing

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, a technique provided with a heater for heating the steering wheel is a practical technique.
It is described in JP-A-4-15563. As shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, the seat heater cushion 50 covers an elastic material 51 with an outer cover 52, and a seat heater 60 heated by supply from a power source such as a battery is provided therein. In addition, a bag-shaped portion 63 is provided on the outer skin 52 of the cushion 50. To use the seat heater cushion 50, the steering wheel 70 is covered with the bag-shaped portion 53 to supply power to the seat heater 60. Then, the seat heater 60 generates heat, and the heat is transmitted to the steering wheel 70. To drive the automobile, the seat heater cushion 50 is removed from the steering wheel 70. The steering wheel 70 thus warmed can be gripped.

[0004]

However, the seat heater cushion 50 described above may have the following problems. When the seat heater cushion 50 is used, it is necessary to cover the steering wheel 70 with the bag-shaped portion 53 and supply power to the seat heater 60. If the driver leaves the vehicle while power is being supplied to the seat heater 60, and if the power is supplied to the seat heater 60 for a long period of time, the steering wheel 7 is unnecessarily
0 will be heated. Then, there is a fear that the steering wheel 70 is hot and cannot be gripped. Further, since the seat heater 60 is supplied with power for a long time, the power of the battery, which is a power source, is consumed more than necessary, and the electric capacity of the battery is reduced particularly in the winter season, which may hinder the starting of the engine in some cases. There was a fear that it would come. The present invention aims to solve such a problem.

[0005]

In order to solve the above problems, the present invention uses the following means. (1) In a vehicle heater device attached to an operating means of an automobile, a heating element that is attached to cover the operating means and that generates heat when energized and a cigarette lighter socket of the vehicle can be inserted, and the power of a battery is generated by the heat generation. A control circuit that is disposed between the plug that guides the body and the heating element and that electrically connects the heating element and the plug; and a control circuit that is electrically connected to the control circuit and that operates to send a signal to the control circuit. And a switch for outputting the electric current, and the control circuit is configured to energize the heating element by inputting a signal by operating the switch, and stop energizing after a predetermined time.

(2) In the automobile heater device of (1), the control circuit makes the time for energizing the heating element by the second or subsequent switch operation shorter than the time for energizing the heating element by the first switch operation. The heater device for an automobile according to claim 1, wherein the heater device has the above configuration.

According to the automotive heater device of (1),
By attaching a heating element covering the surface of the operating means, the heating element is energized by operating the switch. The energized heating element generates heat, and the heat is transmitted to the operating means and warmed. Then, after a lapse of a predetermined time, the energization is stopped and the heat generation of the heating element is stopped.

According to the automotive heater device of (2), the heating element is energized for a predetermined time by the first switch operation, and the operating means is warmed by the generated heat. Then, the heating element is again energized by the second and subsequent switch operations. At this time, since the second and subsequent energization times are shorter than the first energization time, the heat generation amount of the heating element due to the second and subsequent switch operations is smaller than the heat generation amount of the heating element due to the first switch operation. . Therefore, the temperature of the operating means does not rise sharply by the second and subsequent switch operations.

[0009]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION The heater device for an automobile of the present invention (hereinafter referred to as a heater device) can be attached to an operating means such as a steering wheel or a shift lever.

[0010]

Embodiment 1 An example in which the heater device of the present invention is attached to a steering wheel will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 5. As shown in FIG. 1, the heater device includes a heating element 1, a control unit 2, and a lead wire 3 that electrically connects the two. The heating element 1 has a thin and long shape, and includes a pair of substantially parallel conducting wires 11 along the longitudinal direction while resin films are superposed. The conductors 11 are arranged in a plurality of plate-shaped resistors 12 arranged at substantially equal intervals.
Are connected by That is, the resistors 12 are connected in parallel by the conductors, and the resistors 12 generate heat by energizing the pair of conductors 11. The pair of conducting wires 11 of the heating element 1 is connected to one end of the lead wire 3. The middle portion of the lead wire 3 is provided with connectors 31 and 32 that can be engaged and disengaged with each other, so that both ends of the lead wire 3 can be energized when engaged and non-energized between both ends of the lead wire 3 when disengaged. Has been done.

The control unit 2 comprises a plug 21 and a main body 22. The plug 21 has a cylindrical shape and can be inserted into a cigarette lighter socket S provided in the interior of an automobile. The plug 21 is provided with contacts a and b. When the plug 21 is inserted into the cigarette lighter socket S, the contacts provided in the cigarette lighter socket S and the contacts a and b of the plug 21 come into contact with each other, and the electric power of the automobile battery is supplied to the main body 22 of the control unit 2. It The main body 22 is provided with a switch 23 and an indicator 24. Further, the control circuit 20 is arranged in the main body 22.

As shown in FIG. 2, the control circuit 20 is electrically connected to the switch 23, the indicator 24, the lead wire 3, and the contacts a and b of the plug 21. When the switch 23 is pressed, a signal can be sent to the control circuit 20, and when the control circuit 20 inputs the signal, the lead wire 3,
That is, the heating element 1 is set to be energized.

As shown in FIG. 3, the control circuit 20 includes a plug 2
When a signal is input by operating the switch 23 while the power of the battery is supplied via the contacts a and b of 1, that is, the plug 21 is inserted in the cigarette lighter socket S, the lead wire 3 is supplied to the lead wire 3 only for the time T1. It is set to provide battery power. At this time, electric power is also supplied to the indicator 24 to light it. Further, when the signal is given again by operating the switch 23, the electric power of the battery is set to be supplied to the lead wire 3 for the time T2. That is, power is supplied for the time T1 only when the switch 23 is first operated, and
In the subsequent operations, power is supplied to the lead wire 3 for the time T2.

The control circuit 20 is also set to return to the initial state when the power from the contacts a and b is stopped. That is, the cigarette lighter socket S to the plug 21
In the state where the engine is pulled out or the engine is stopped (strictly, the engine key is arranged in the LOCK position), the power supply to the control circuit 20 can be stopped. When the plug 21 is reinserted or the engine is started with the plug 21 still inserted and power is supplied to the control circuit 20, the switch 23 is operated to supply power to the lead wire 3 for a time T1. ing.

Next, the case of using the heater device will be described. As shown in FIG. 4, the heating element 1 of the heater device
Is attached so as to cover the outer periphery of the steering 4.
Then, as shown in FIG. 5, the steering cover 5 is wound around the heating element 1 attached to the steering wheel 4, and the heating element 1 is fixed to the steering wheel. Then, the connector 31 is fixed to the spoke 41.

As shown in FIG. 6, a cigarette lighter socket S is generally arranged near an ashtray H attached to the interior of an automobile, and a cigarette lighter (not shown) for lighting a cigarette is inserted. Has been done. By removing the cigarette lighter from the cigarette lighter socket S and inserting the plug 21 of the control unit 2 into the cigarette lighter socket S,
The contacts a and b are electrically connected to the contacts provided in the cigarette lighter socket S, and the battery power is supplied to the control circuit 20. Then, the connector 32 of the lead wire 3 attached to the control unit 2 is engaged with the connector 31 fixed to the spoke 41 of the steering 4.

When the driver gets into the automobile in the morning such as winter, when the steering wheel 4 around which the steering wheel cover 5 is wound is cold, the switch 23 provided in the controller 2 of the heater device is pressed. A signal is input to the control circuit 20 by pressing the switch 23, and the control circuit 20 turns on the indicator lamp 24 by the input.
Further, the control circuit 20 starts supplying electricity to the heating element 1 by supplying electric power to the lead wire 3, and the heating element 1 starts heating the steering wheel 4. After that, the control circuit 20 stops energizing the heating element 1 after a lapse of time T1.

The driver can heat the steering wheel 4 simply by pressing the switch 23, and the heating is stopped after the lapse of time T1. Therefore, it is not necessary to stop the energization of the heating element 1. Therefore, the driver does not forget to stop the energization of the heating element 1, and the heating of the steering wheel 4 is surely stopped, so that the heating element 1 is energized for a long time and the steering wheel 4 becomes too hot. It is possible to prevent the power of the battery from being lowered by continuing to wastefully consume the power of the battery.

The temperature of the steering wheel 4 when using the heater device depends on the temperature and the like, and the temperature of the hand of the driver who holds the steering wheel 4 is not constant.
The temperature of the steering wheel 4 which the driver feels necessary is not constant. Therefore, when holding the steering wheel 4 warmed by the heating element 1, it may be desired to further increase the temperature of the steering wheel 4. In such a case, the control unit 2
A signal is input to the control circuit by pressing the switch 23 provided in the indicator again, and the indicator lamp 24 is turned on. Then, the heating element 1 is energized. The heating element 1 is de-energized after the time T2 and the heating of the steering wheel 4 is stopped. Since the time T2 is set shorter than the time T1, the heating element 1 has a smaller amount of heat generation than when the heating element 1 is heated for the time T1. Therefore, the temperature of the steering wheel 4 does not suddenly change, and the steering wheel 4 can be adjusted to a temperature suitable for the driver.

In order to adjust the temperature of the steering wheel 4 to an appropriate temperature without causing a sudden change, it is considered preferable that the time T2 is 1/2 to 1/3 of the time T1.

After the steering 4 is adjusted to an appropriate temperature by the heater device, when the automobile is driven, the steering 32 can be rotated by detaching the connector 32 from the connector 31 fixed to the spoke 41. Further, when the plug 21 of the control unit 2 is pulled out from the cigarette lighter socket, the control unit 2 is completely removed. Since the heating element 1 is fixed by the steering cover 5 and has a thin thickness, it does not interfere with the operation of the steering wheel 4 and therefore does not need to be removed when driving.

[0022]

Second Embodiment An example in which the heater device of the present invention is attached to a shift knob of an AT shift lever device will be described with reference to FIGS. 7 and 8. In the heater device of this embodiment, the length of the heating element 1 in the longitudinal direction is shortened. The other configuration is the same as that of the first embodiment, and the description is omitted.

As shown in FIG. 7, the heating element 1 has a knob cover 6
Is placed on top. The knob cover 6 is formed in a shape that conforms to the outer shape of the shift knob 7, and can cover the upper end portion of the shift knob 7.

When the heater device is used, the heating element 1 is attached to the shift knob 7 as shown in FIG. Then, the heating element 1 is fixed to the shift knob 7 by attaching the knob cover 6 from the outside of the heating element 1 so as to cover the upper end of the shift knob 7. The connector 31 is fixed to the lower part of the shift knob 7. As in the first embodiment, the plug 21 of the control unit 2 is inserted into the cigarette lighter socket, and the connector 3
When 1 and the connector 32 are engaged, the heater device is ready for use. Then, by pressing the switch 23, the heating element 1 is energized. When the heater device is not used, the heating element 1 is fixed to the shift knob 7, and since it does not interfere with the operation of the shift knob 7 during operation because it is thin, it is not necessary to remove it from the shift knob 7.

In Example 1 and Example 2, the heating element 1
Although the steering cover 5 and the knob cover 6 are provided separately, it is also possible to integrate them with the heating element 1. Further, the operating means of the automobile to which the heating element 1 is attached are not limited to the steering wheel and the shift knob of the AT shift lever device, but can be effectively attached to a member such as a manual shift knob or a parking brake that can be particularly touched.

[0026]

According to the vehicle heater device of (1), by attaching the heating element covering the surface of the operating means,
The heating element is energized by operating the switch. The energized heating element generates heat, and the heat is transmitted to the operating means and warmed. Then, after a lapse of a predetermined time, the energization is stopped and the heat generation of the heating element is stopped. Therefore, even if the driver of the vehicle leaves the heating element while the power is still being supplied, the power supply is reliably stopped, so that the operating means is not overheated. The problem that the operating means is too hot to hold is eliminated. Further, since the electric power of the battery is not wastefully used, there is no problem in starting the engine.

According to the vehicle heater device of (2), the heating element is energized for a predetermined time by the first switch operation, and the operating means is warmed by the generated heat. Then, the heating element is re-energized by the second and subsequent switch operations. At this time, by making the second and subsequent energization times shorter than the first energization time, the heat generation amount of the heating element due to the second and subsequent switch operations becomes smaller than the heat generation amount of the heating element due to the first switch operation. Therefore, the temperature of the operating means does not suddenly rise by the second and subsequent switch operations, and the operating means can be easily adjusted to the desired temperature.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a heater device according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a wiring diagram of the heater device according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an operating state of a control circuit of the heater device according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a state in which the heating element 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention is attached to the steering wheel.

5 is a diagram showing a cross section taken along line AA of FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a diagram in which the control unit 2 according to the first embodiment of the present invention is attached to a cigarette lighter socket.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a heater device according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a state where the heating element 1 according to the second embodiment of the present invention is attached to a shift knob.

FIG. 9: Conventional seat heater cushion (heater device)
FIG.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a cross section taken along the line BB of FIG. 9;

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 heating element 2 control section 3 lead wire 4 steering 5 steering cover 6 knob cover 7 shift knob 20 control circuit 21 plug 23 switch S cigarette lighter socket a, b contact

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A heating device for an automobile, which is attached to an operating means of an automobile, and which is attached so as to cover the operating means and which is capable of generating heat when energized and a cigarette lighter socket of the automobile. A plug leading to the heating element, a control circuit disposed between the heating element and the plug and electrically connecting the heating element and the plug, and a control circuit electrically connected to the control circuit and operated by the control circuit. A switch for outputting a signal to the heating device, wherein the control circuit energizes the heating element by inputting a signal by operating the switch and stops energization after a predetermined time. 2. The heating device for an automobile according to claim 1, wherein the control circuit shortens the time for energizing the heating element by operating the switch for the second time or later than the time for energizing the heating element by operating the first switch. The heater device for an automobile according to claim 1, wherein the heater device has a configuration.