JPS634676Y2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Industrial Field of Application] The present invention relates to an automobile steering wheel.

[Conventional technology]

Conventional steering wheels can be divided into so-called circular steering wheels, which have a circular shape when viewed from the front, and so-called deformed steering wheels, which have a rectangular or circular shape when viewed from the front, depending on the application. However, if you need to turn the steering wheel a lot, such as in a city,
The circular steering wheel has the same outer radius, allowing smooth steering operation. However, at high speeds, the steering wheel does not have to be rotated so much, and it is preferable that the instrument panel be seen clearly, and from this point of view, modified steering wheels have been provided.

[Purpose of invention]

The purpose of the present invention is to provide a steering wheel that improves the operability of the steering wheel in urban areas and at the same time improves the visibility of instrument panels and the like at high speeds.

[Means to achieve the purpose]

In order to achieve such an object, the steering wheel of the present invention is configured such that the upper part of the rim, which has a circular shape when viewed from the front, is rotatably connected to the rim main body and is foldable. .

〔Example〕

Hereinafter, details of the present invention will be explained using examples shown in the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a front view showing an embodiment of a steering wheel according to the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a partially cutaway enlarged front view of section A in FIG. The rim 1 in this embodiment has a structure in which it is divided into two parts: a rim body part 1a and an arch-shaped upper part 1b, and this upper part 1b is rotatable with respect to the rim body part 1a via a pin 2. They are connected together and configured to be foldable as shown by the two-dot chain line 1b'. Further, at the joint portion between the rim main body portion 1a and the upper portion 1b, the upper portion 1
The joint surface 1c of the upper part 1b is formed in a stepped shape, and the joint surface 1d of the rim main body 1a is also formed in a step shape in accordance with this.
When it is rotated 180 degrees toward the front with respect to the rim body 1a, the stepped portion 1e of the upper portion 1b and the stepped portion 1f of the rim body 1a come into contact with each other, so that further forward rotation is prevented. It is configured to be blocked. At this time, the rotation of the upper part 1b in the direction opposite to the front direction is not restricted in any way, but as a rotation prevention means for this purpose, although it is not clearly shown in the figure, the upper part 1b can be folded in the folded state as shown by the two-dot chain line. It may be provided at the contact portion between a certain upper portion 1b' and the center portion of the spoke 3.

In addition, the upper part 1b is arranged so that there is no edge on the outer circumference when the upper part 1b is rotated toward the front.
b to R parts 1g and 1h, and R parts to rim body part 1a.
A section 1i is provided.

[Other Examples]

In addition to the above-mentioned embodiments, the mechanisms shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 are conceivable as a rotation prevention mechanism for the rim main body portion 1a of the upper portion 1b. That is, the mechanism shown in FIG. 3 has a hole 6 provided in the rim body 1a with a ball 4 and a spring 5 that always presses the ball 4 toward the upper part 1b.
At the same time, the ball 4 is attached to the upper part 1b side.
Two engagement holes 7 are provided at an angular interval of 180 degrees, into which the ball 4 engages, and by pressing the ball 4 into the engagement hole 7 by the elasticity of the spring 5, the upper part 1b is inserted. The rim main body portion 1a is prevented from rotating. Also, the fourth
In the figure, a support 8 is erected on the side of the rim body 1a, and an operating lever 10 is swingably supported on the support 8 via a pin 9.
A locking rod 11 is rotatably supported at one end of the operating lever 10 via a pin 12.
is always biased in the direction of arrow B by a return spring 13. On the other hand, upper part 1
On the b side, there is an engagement hole 14 into which the locking rod 11 engages.
There are two pieces spaced apart at an angle of 180 degrees.
By pressing the locking rod 11 into the insertion hole 14 by the elasticity of the return spring 13, the upper portion 1b is prevented from rotating relative to the rim body portion 1a. In the mechanism shown in FIG. 4, when the upper part 1b is rotated relative to the rim main body 1a, the operating lever 10 is swung in the direction opposite to the arrow B direction against the elasticity of the return spring 13. This is done after the locking rod 11 is removed from the insertion hole 14. In addition, the above third
If the mechanism is as shown in Figures 1 and 4, the upper part 1
There is an advantage in that it is possible not only to prevent b from rotating toward the front, but also to prevent it from rotating in the opposite direction.

[Effect of idea]

As explained above, according to the steering wheel according to the present invention, the upper part of the rim having a circular shape in front view is rotatably connected to the rim body, and the spoke upper end surface and the steering wheel before folding are connected to each other. Since the bow-shaped upper part of the steering wheel is configured to be foldable toward the front within the space formed by the bow-shaped upper part, it can be used as a circular steering wheel in urban areas.
In addition, it can be used as a deformable steering wheel at high speeds, which has the effect of improving both the operability of the steering wheel in urban areas and the visibility of the instrument panel at high speeds.

In addition, since rounded parts are provided on both end faces of the upper outer periphery of the rim body and the bow-shaped rim upper part, when the upper part is rotated toward you, there is no edge part on the outer periphery, so it is smooth when operating the handle. This has the effect of giving you a good feeling.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Fig. 1 is a front view showing one embodiment of a steering wheel according to the present invention, Fig. 2 is a partially cutaway enlarged front view of part A in Fig. 1, and Fig. 3 and Fig. 4 are partially cutaway enlarged front views showing the respective embodiments of the steering wheel according to the present invention. 1... rim, 1a... rim body, 1b... upper part.

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] The rim is divided into two parts, a rim body part and a bow-shaped upper part, and both parts are rotatably connected via a pin.
The bow-shaped upper part of the steering wheel can be folded freely into the space formed by the upper end surface of the spokes and the bow-shaped upper part of the steering wheel before folding, and both end surfaces of the upper outer periphery of the rim body and the bow-shaped upper part are rounded. A steering wheel characterized by having a section.