JPH1120710A - Steering wheel - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To unify an operation load of a switch provided in a steering wheel. SOLUTION: A horn plate 18 is supported in a steering wheel main body 2 movably forward/backward by means of an upper bolt 31 and a lower bolt 32. An air bag device is installed to the horn plate 18. The horn plate 18 is formed into a rectangular frame shape, and its four corners are supported elastically by means of coil springs 41, 42. The upper bolt 31 is arranged concentrically with the upper coil spring 41. The lower bolt 32 is arranged while shifted upward from the lower coil spring 42. Influence due to weight of the air bag device functioning as a pressable movable part can be canceled, so that an operation load of a switch can be unified.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to a steering wheel provided with a switch mechanism.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as a steering wheel having a switch mechanism, for example, a configuration in which a horn switch mechanism is provided on an occupant side of a steering wheel body and an airbag device is supported via the horn switch mechanism is known. . The horn switch mechanism includes a fixed contact provided on the steering wheel body side and a pair of horn plates on both sides provided with movable contacts opposed to the fixed contact. Each horn plate has a pair of front and rear bolts. (Screw) and a spring body wound around this bolt are elastically supported by the steering wheel body so as to be able to advance and retreat. In this steering wheel, by pushing the airbag device,
The movable contact is brought into contact with the fixed contact, the horn switch is closed, and the horn is blown.

Further, as a configuration in which the horn plate is formed as an integral component, for example, a configuration described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 1-262255 is known.

[0004]

However, in the above-mentioned conventional construction, the load of the airbag device is applied to the horn plate, and the steering wheel is normally used in an inclined state. Has a problem that the operation load changes when the upper portion of the airbag is pushed and when the lower portion is pushed. Also, by making the spring constants of the upper and lower spring bodies different from each other,
Uniform operation load at each position of the airbag device,
Although the operational feeling can be improved, there is a problem that it is difficult to reduce the manufacturing cost because the types of parts increase and the management of the parts becomes complicated.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and has as its object to provide a steering wheel having a switch mechanism and capable of facilitating an assembling operation.

[0006]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a steering wheel body having a first contact, a movable body having a second contact connected to and separated from the first contact, A pushing portion attached to the movable body, first biasing means for biasing the movable body in a direction in which the second contact is separated from the first contact, and wherein the second contact is A second urging unit arranged to urge the movable body in a direction away from the first contact point, and to be disposed at a position where a load of the pushing portion is applied more than the first urging unit; Along with supporting the movable body so as to be able to move forward and backward and to be tiltable, a first support means arranged in proximity to the first urging means, and supporting the movable body so as to be able to move forward and backward and to be tiltable, The second biasing means is located on the side of the first support means. Is obtained by and a deployed second support means.

In this configuration, the pushing portion is pushed,
The movable body is moved against the biasing force of each biasing means, and when the second contact provided on the movable body comes into contact with the first contact, the switch is closed and the device connected to the switch is closed. Works. Then, when the first supporting means side is pushed relative to the second supporting means, the movable body rotates against the urging force of the first urging means and the second supporting means as a fulcrum. Then, the urging force of the second urging means acts in a direction to reduce the operation load. On the other hand, when the opposite side of the first support means is pushed against the second support means, the movable body opposes the urging force of the second urging means, and the first support means is used as a fulcrum. Rotate. At this time, the urging force of the first urging means does not act in the direction of reducing the operation load, but the load of the pushing portion acts in the direction of reducing the operation load. In this way, even when the first urging means and the second urging means have the same urging force, the influence of the load of the pushing portion is suppressed, the operation load is easily made uniform, and the operational feeling is improved. improves.

[0008] The steering wheel according to claim 2 is
2. The steering wheel according to claim 1, wherein the first urging means and the second urging means have the same urging force.

In this configuration, the types of members are reduced, the members are easily managed, and the productivity is improved.

The steering wheel according to claim 3 is
3. The steering wheel according to claim 1, wherein the first urging unit and the second urging unit are coil springs, and the first supporting unit and the second supporting unit are
A screw portion screwed and fixed to the steering wheel main body, a sliding portion inserted into a through hole formed in the movable body, and a head that abuts on the movable body and regulates a moving range of the movable body are provided. It is a supporting member.

[0011] In this configuration, highly reliable components are used without using special components, and the assembling work is also facilitated.

[0012] The steering wheel according to claim 4 is
4. The steering wheel according to claim 1, wherein the movable body is formed in a frame shape.

In this configuration, the rigidity of the movable body is improved, and the operational feeling can be improved. Further, it is possible to stably support at three places, and the number of parts is reduced and the manufacturing cost is reduced as compared with a configuration using a pair of movable bodies on both sides that requires support at a total of four places. It becomes possible.

[0014]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of a steering wheel according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a steering wheel of an automobile. The steering wheel 1 includes a steering wheel main body 2 and an airbag as a pushing portion shown in FIG. Device (airbag module) 4 and the like.

The steering wheel 1 is mounted on a steering shaft (not shown) which is normally provided in an inclined state. Hereinafter, the airbag device 4 side will be referred to as an occupant side, and the steering shaft side will be referred to as a vehicle body side. The direction along the shaft will be referred to as the axial direction, the front side of the vehicle body provided with the steering wheel 1 will be referred to as the front side, and the rear side of the vehicle body will be referred to as the rear side or the near side.

The steering wheel body 2 is
An annular rim portion (ring portion) 5, a boss portion 6 located inside the rim portion 5, a rim portion 5 and a boss portion 6
And, in the present embodiment, four spoke portions 7 for connecting the two. A boss 8 to be fitted to the steering shaft is provided on the vehicle body side of the boss portion 6, and a boss plate 9 is integrally formed on the boss 8 such as by casting. And so on. The core metal 7a of the spoke portion 7 is fixed to the boss plate 9 by welding or the like, or is integrally extended. Furthermore, the core metal of the spoke portion 7
The core metal 5a of the rim portion 5 is fixed to 7a by welding or the like. A skin portion 10 made of a soft foamed polyurethane or the like is formed on the outer peripheral portion of the core metal 5a of the rim portion 5 and the outer peripheral portion of the spoke metal 7 on the rim portion 5 side of the core metal 7a. I have.

As shown in FIG. 7, a portion of the boss portion 6 and the spoke portion 7 on the boss portion 6 side is covered with a back cover 11 formed by injecting a thermoplastic resin or the like, as shown in FIG. The back cover 11 is screwed to the boss plate 9 or the core metal 7a of the spoke portion 7.

Further, the steering wheel body 2
Is provided with a horn switch mechanism, which is a switch device.
Is attached.

As shown in FIG. 7, the airbag device 4 includes a base plate 14 made of a metal plate or the like.
And a cover 17 made of resin and the like.
On the other hand, an inflator for injecting gas from the lower side of the base plate 14 is attached. Further, the base plate 14 is formed with a pair of mounting pieces on both sides.

When a vehicle collides, for example, an inert gas such as nitrogen gas is rapidly injected from the inflator into the airbag 15, and the folded and stored airbag 15 is rapidly expanded. . Then, due to the pressure of the inflation of the airbag 15, the cover body 17 is cleaved into a predetermined shape to form a projecting opening of the airbag 15, and the airbag 15 projects from the projecting opening and inflates and deploys in front of the occupant. , To protect the occupants.

As shown in FIG. 1, the horn switch mechanism includes a plurality of members integrally or separately provided on the steering wheel main body 2 side, and a movable body supported by the steering wheel main body 2 so as to be able to advance and retreat. It is composed of a horn plate 18 and the like.

As the members on the steering wheel main body 2 side, first, the bolt mounting seat 2 is located at the upper front side portions of the boss plate 9 and the lower rear center portion thereof.
1, 21 and 22 are formed, and these bolt mounting seats 21, 21 and 22 are formed.
Are formed with bolt screw holes 21a, 21a, 22a, respectively. In addition, spring mounting seats (hub cores) 24, 24 are formed at the middle position of the core metal 7a of the spoke portion 7 located on the lower rear side by projecting or recessing. Further, the spring mounting seats 24, 24 are formed so as to be located below the lower bolt mounting seat 22. Fixed contact seats 26, 26, 27, 27 are formed above the upper bolt mounting seats 21, 21 and inside the spring mounting seats 24, 24, respectively. , 27, 27, a fixed contact 28 as a first contact is embedded and fixed by a conductive metal or the like at the occupant side tip. As shown in FIG. 7, insulating members 29, 30 are appropriately mounted on the bolt mounting seats 21, 21, 22, and the like.

Further, upper bolts 31, 31 as first support means and lower bolts 32 as second support means are respectively attached to the bolt mounting seats 21, 21, 22. The bolts 31, 31, and 32 are the same so-called Torx bolts, and the bolt screw holes 21a, 21a
, 22a, a sliding portion 35 having a larger diameter than the screw portion 34, and a head 36 having a larger diameter than the sliding portion 35 are coaxially arranged.

Further, upper coil springs 41, 41, which are wound around the sliding portion 35 of the upper bolts 31, 31 and are resilient means as first urging means, are provided. Lower end coil springs 42, 42, which are resilient means as second urging means, are provided with the end portions on the vehicle body side supported by the mounting seats 24, 24. The coil springs 41 and 42 have the same member, that is, the same shape and the same spring constant (biasing force).

The horn plate 18 is formed in a frame shape from a conductive metal or the like. That is, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the horn plate 18 is formed in an approximately square frame shape in a front view from an upper plate portion 44, a pair of side plate portions 45, 45 on both sides, and a lower plate portion 46. At the same time, the lower plate portion 46 is arranged so that its central portion is deviated upward, and is formed in a substantially V shape. The upper and lower corners of the upper and lower four corners of the horn plate 18 are formed with upper receiving plate portions 47, 47 and lower receiving plate portions 48, 48 extending in a fan shape inside, A central receiving plate portion 49 extends in a front and rear circular shape at a central corner of the lower plate portion 46. Further, the upper receiving plate portions 47, 47 and the central receiving plate portion 49 are formed with circular mounting holes 47a, 47a, 49a, respectively. Further, a flange portion 51 is formed from the outer peripheral portion of the horn plate 18 toward the occupant side.
From both sides of the vehicle, the support pieces 52, 52
Is extended. Although not shown, the horn plate 18 is provided with a movable contact as a second contact (not shown) on the back surface side, or a separate movable contact 54 is embedded and fixed as shown in FIG. ing. Further, in the horn plate 18, a part of a conductive metal is integrally covered with an insulating resin by so-called outsert formation, or as shown in FIG. Insulating members 56, 57, 58, 59 are mounted.

The horn plate 18 is provided with upper coil springs 41, 41 and lower coil springs 42, 42 on the vehicle body side of the upper receiving plate portions 47, 47 and the lower receiving plate portions 48, 48, respectively. The upper bolts 31, 31 and the lower bolt 32 are inserted from the occupant side of the mounting holes 47a, 47a, 49a, and the screw portion 34 at the tip is screwed into the bolt screw holes 21a, 21a, 22a of the steering wheel body 2. In this state, the horn plate 18 has the respective coil springs 41, 41,
42, and is guided and supported by the sliding portions 35 of the bolts 31, 31, 32 so as to be able to advance and retreat in the axial direction and to be rotatable within a predetermined range.
The moving range is regulated by the heads 31, 31, and 32.

A horn cord (not shown) connected to the horn plate 18 may be electrically connected to a connection device such as a clock spring disposed on the vehicle body side of the back cover 11 before or after the horn plate 18 is attached. Connect to

Further, in this state, as shown in FIG.
The airbag device 4 is arranged on the occupant side of the horn plate 18 and the mounting pieces of the airbag device 4 and the support pieces 53 of the horn plate 18 are fixed with bolts, so that the airbag device 4 Attached to the steering wheel body 2 through the steering wheel 1
Is configured.

When the steering wheel 1 is assembled as described above, the circuit of the horn switch mechanism is such that the fixed contact 28 is connected to the minus terminal of the battery from the boss plate 9, the boss 8 and the steering shaft via the vehicle body. (Earth), and the movable contact of the horn plate 18 is connected to the horn device from a horn cord via a connection device.

The steering wheel 1 is
When no force is applied to the airbag device 4, the movable contacts are supported in a state separated from the fixed contact 28 by the urging forces of the coil springs 41, 41, 42, and the airbag device 4 is moved toward the vehicle body. In the pressed state, the movable contact contacts the fixed contact 28, the horn switch circuit is closed, and the horn is blown.

Next, the operation of the horn switch mechanism during operation will be described with reference to FIGS. The steering wheel 1 is mounted on a steering shaft at a neutral position, and the front of the airbag device 4 is inclined upward and rearward, that is, the lower bolt 32 is
It is in a state located below and behind 31.

First, when the horn switch mechanism is operated, when the upper portion of the airbag device 4 is pushed, FIG.
As shown in the figure, the operating force F1 is applied to the upper part of the horn plate 18. Then, this horn plate 18
The upper coil spring 41 is compressed against the urging force (reaction force f1 toward the occupant side), and the lower coil spring 42 follows the urging force a1. Elongate.

On the other hand, when the lower part of the airbag device 4 is pushed when the horn switch mechanism is operated,
As shown in FIG. 7, the operating force F2 is applied to the lower part of the horn plate 18. Then, this horn plate 18
The upper coil spring 41 is compressed against the urging force (reaction force f2 toward the occupant), and the lower coil spring 42 also resists the urging force. And compressed (reaction force a2 toward the occupant).

Comparing these states, the upper bolt 31 is arranged coaxially with the upper coil spring 41, while the lower bolt 32 is deflected to the front side of the lower coil spring 42. When the upper and lower coil springs 41 and 42 having the same spring constant are used, the operation force required to push the upper portion is small (F1 <F2). However, due to the weight of the airbag device 4, a larger load is applied to the lower coil spring 42 than to the upper coil spring 41.
These forces are canceled out, and the operating force when each position in the vertical direction of the airbag device 4 is pushed can be made uniform.

As described above, according to the steering wheel 1 of the present embodiment, the operating force when each vertical position of the airbag device 4 serving as the pushing portion is pushed can be made uniform.
Operation feeling can be improved.

Since the upper and lower coil springs 41 and 42 are made of the same member, the types of parts can be reduced, the parts can be easily managed, and the productivity can be improved. Further, since the urging means and the supporting means can use general coil springs and Torx bolts, respectively,
The assemblability can be improved, the manufacturing cost can be reduced, and the reliability can be improved.

Further, as compared with a configuration using a pair of horn plates on both sides, an integrated frame-shaped horn plate
Since 18 is used, three Torx bolts can be used, the number of parts can be reduced, the manufacturing cost can be reduced, the rigidity of the horn plate 18 can be improved, and the operational feeling of the switch can be improved.

In the above-described embodiment, the upper bolt 31 and the upper coil spring 41 are arranged coaxially. However, the present invention is not limited to this structure. As shown in FIG. May be displaced slightly below the upper bolt 31. In this configuration, the upper receiving plate portion 47 of the horn plate 18 is extended downward so as to be able to support the upper coil spring 41, and each of the bolt mounting seats 21 on the upper side of the boss plate 9 has A spring mounting seat 21b is formed.

Further, the shape of the horn plate 18 is not limited to the above-described embodiment, but can be variously shaped. For example, the horn plate 18 is integrally formed in a substantially V-shaped plane or a substantially U-shaped plane. Alternatively, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, a pair of horn plates 18 on both sides can be used. In this configuration, a pair of lower bolts 32 on both sides are used together with the upper bolt 31, and a mounting hole 49 a is formed in each horn plate 18, and a core bar 7 a of the spoke portions 7 on both lower sides is formed. A bolt mounting seat 22 is provided.

As the urging means for supporting the horn plate 18, a plate-shaped resilient member or the like can be used in addition to the coil spring.

Further, as the pushing portion, the airbag device 4 is used.
In addition, for example, a pad body having a shock absorber can be attached.

[0043]

According to the steering wheel of the first aspect, the pushing portion is pushed to move the movable body against the urging force of each urging means. By bringing the contact into contact with the first contact, the switch can be closed and the device connected to the switch can be operated. Then, when the first supporting means side is pushed relative to the second supporting means, the movable body rotates against the urging force of the first urging means and the second supporting means as a fulcrum. Then, the urging force of the second urging means acts in a direction to reduce the operation load. On the other hand, when the opposite side of the first supporting means is pushed against the second supporting means, the movable body resists the urging force of the second urging means and uses the first supporting means as a fulcrum. Rotate. At this time, the urging force of the first urging means does not act in the direction of reducing the operation load, but the load of the pushing portion acts in the direction of reducing the operation load. In this way, even if the biasing force of the first biasing means and the biasing force of the second biasing means are the same, the influence of the load of the pushing portion can be suppressed, and the operating load can be easily made uniform,
Operation feeling can be improved.

According to the steering wheel of the second aspect, in addition to the effect of the first aspect, the first urging means and the second urging means have the same urging force, so that the types of the members are different. Can be reduced, the members can be easily managed, and the productivity can be improved.

According to the steering wheel of the third aspect, in addition to the effects of the first or second aspect, the first urging means and the second urging means are coil springs,
The supporting means and the second supporting means include a screw portion screwed and fixed to the steering wheel body, a sliding portion inserted into a through hole formed in the movable body, and a movable portion abutting on the movable body. By using a support member with a head that regulates the range of movement of the body, it is possible to improve reliability using highly reliable components without using special components,
Assembly work can be facilitated.

According to the steering wheel of the fourth aspect, in addition to the effects of any one of the first to third aspects, by forming the movable body in a frame shape, the rigidity of the movable body is improved and the operational feeling is improved. As well as stable support at three locations, reducing the number of parts and manufacturing costs compared to a configuration using a pair of movable bodies on both sides that requires support at a total of four locations. it can.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a partially exploded perspective view showing an embodiment of a steering wheel according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a front view of a movable body of the steering wheel.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing an operation when an upper part of a movable body of the steering wheel is pushed.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing an operation when a lower part of a movable body of the steering wheel is pushed.

FIG. 5 is a partial exploded perspective view showing another embodiment of the steering wheel of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a partial exploded perspective view showing still another embodiment of the steering wheel of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view of a part of the steering wheel.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Steering wheel 2 Steering wheel main body 4 Airbag device as a pushing part 18 Horn plate as a movable body 28 Fixed contact as a first contact 31 Upper bolt as a first supporting means 32 As a second supporting means Lower bolt 41 Upper coil spring as first urging means 42 Lower coil spring as second urging means 54 Movable contact as second contact

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A steering wheel body provided with a first contact, a movable body provided with a second contact that is brought into contact with and separated from the first contact, a pushing portion attached to the movable body, First urging means for urging the movable body in a direction in which a second contact is separated from the first contact; and moving the movable body in a direction in which the second contact is separated from the first contact. A second urging means disposed at a position to which the load of the pushing portion is applied more than the first urging means, and the movable body is supported to be movable forward and backward and tiltable. A first support unit disposed in proximity to the first urging unit; a first supporting unit of the second urging unit, the first supporting unit supporting the movable body so as to be able to move forward and backward and tiltable. And second support means located on the side. Steering wheel. 2. The steering wheel according to claim 1, wherein the first urging means and the second urging means have the same urging force. 3. The first urging means and the second urging means,
A coil spring, wherein the first support means and the second support means are a screw part screwed into the steering wheel body, a sliding part inserted into a through hole formed in the movable body, 3. The steering wheel according to claim 1, wherein the steering wheel is a support member provided with a head which comes into contact with a body and regulates a moving range of the movable body. 4. The steering wheel according to claim 1, wherein the movable body is formed in a frame shape.