JPH0456678A - Steering wheel - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To prevent the lifting of a rear cover by providing an assembling means formed of an insertion groove and a locking claw to be inserted into this insertion groove at the time of assembling the rear cover for covering the back faces of the right-left spoke parts and center spoke part of a steering wheel, to the center spoke part. CONSTITUTION:At the time of forming a synthetic resin outer skin 13 made of soft polyvinyl chloride or the like continuously on both front and back faces of a rim part 1, a right spoke part, a left spoke part and a center spoke part 5 in a steering wheel, an insertion groove 14 is undercut-molded, toward the rim part 1 side, at the end face of the synthetic resin outer skin 13 on the back face side of the center spoke 5. A rear cover 17 molded out of synthetic resin material such as polypropylene into the shape conformed to the contour of the synthetic resin outer skin 13 is mounted to the back sides of a boss 2, the right spoke part, the left spoke part and the center spoke part 5, and a locking claw 21 to be inserted into the above-mentioned insertion groove 14 of the synthetic resin outer skin 13 is protrusively provided at the tip edge of the rear cover 17 at its part corresponding to the center spoke part 5.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Industrial Field of Application] The present invention relates to a steering wheel for an automobile, etc., and particularly relates to a steering wheel equipped with a back cover that covers the back surfaces of three left, right and center spokes. .

[Prior art] As a conventional steering wheel of this type, the
For example, the technique disclosed in Japanese Patent No.-128457 can be mentioned.

FIG. 7 is a front view showing the conventional steering wheel disclosed in the above-mentioned publication, and FIG. 8 is a sectional view taken along line DD in FIG. 7.

As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the conventional steering wheel includes a rim portion 50, a boss portion 51, left and right spoke portions 5,
2, and a central spoke portion 53. The rim portion 50 has an annular rim core metal 54, and a spoke core metal 55 is installed between two opposing positions of the rim core metal 54. A boss plate 56 is installed between the center portion of the spoke core metal 55 and the rim core metal 54, and a boss 57 is fixed to the back surface of the boss plate 56. The entire rim core metal 54 and the spoke core metal 5
5 and a part of the boss plate 56 are continuously coated with a synthetic resin outer skin 58.

A back cover 59 made of synthetic resin is placed on the back side of the left and right spoke portions 52 and the center spoke portion 53, and is fastened to the boss plate 56 with screws 60. A locking pawl 61 is provided on the inner surface of the back cover 59 at a portion corresponding to the left and right spoke portions 52 so as to protrude in the axial direction. Further, the synthetic resin outer skin 58 of the left and right spoke portions 52 is formed with an engaging portion 62 to which the locking pawl 61 is locked. In addition, in FIG. 8, 63 is a horn pad.

When assembling the conventional steering wheel configured as described above, after sliding the back cover 59 in the axial direction and locking the locking pawl 61 in the engaging portion 62, the screw 6
0 to fix the back cover 59 to the boss plate 56. In this way, since the back cover 59 is connected to the left and right spoke portions 52 at its central portion and the outer portion thereof, it is possible to prevent the back cover 59 from floating in these portions, and to avoid chatter noise due to vibration. etc. can be suppressed.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] However, according to the conventional steering wheel, as described above, the back cover 59 is connected only to the left and right spoke portions 52, so that the portion corresponding to the center spoke portion 53 is There was a problem that floating of the back cover 59 and vibration noise etc. could not be effectively prevented. Note that also in the left and right spoke portions 52, since the locking claws 61 are provided at positions inside the tip of the back cover 59, the locking claws 61
With the base of 1 as a fulcrum, parts outside of it tend to vibrate. Therefore, it is not possible to expect a sufficient effect of preventing vibration noise by simply converting the configuration of the left and right spoke portions 52 to the center spoke portion 53.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a steering wheel that can reliably prevent floating of the back cover and vibration noise at the central spoke part, and that can easily assemble the back cover at an accurate position using the structure for this purpose. Our goal is to provide wheels.

[Means for Solving the Problems] In order to solve the above problems, the steering wheel of the present invention includes a rim portion formed by covering an annular rim core metal, and a rim portion formed from three positions of the rim core metal. Left and right spoke parts and a center spoke part formed by covering the left and right spoke core metals and the center spoke core metal with a synthetic resin outer skin, and the center lines of the left and right spoke core metals and the center spoke core metal, which are erected so as to extend in the center direction of the , a back cover that covers the back surfaces of the left and right spoke parts and the center spoke part, and an assembly means for assembling the back cover to the left and right spoke parts and the center spoke part. The assembly means includes an insertion groove formed in the synthetic resin outer skin of the central spoke part by undercutting toward the rim part, and a fitting protruding from the tip edge of the back cover to be inserted into the insertion groove. Consists of a stopper.

[Function] According to the steering wheel of the present invention, the locking pawl of the back cover is inserted into the insertion groove of the center spoke, so the lifting of the back cover at the center spoke can be prevented without using screws. This allows the outer surface of the back cover at this portion to be smoothly connected to the back surface of the synthetic resin outer cover. Further, since the locking pawl is provided to protrude from the tip edge of the back cover, the entire back cover at the central spoke portion can be restrained, thereby reliably preventing the generation of vibration noise and the like. Furthermore, the insertion groove is undercut molded in the synthetic resin outer floor of the central spoke part toward the rim, so if you insert the locking pawl into this insertion groove and position it, you can adjust the center position of the back cover. can be determined accurately, and in that state, if the back cover is fixed to the left and right spoke parts by the assembling means, the entire back cover can be easily assembled to the left and right spoke parts and the center spoke part.

[Example] Hereinafter, an example embodying the present invention will be described based on the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a partial front view of a steering wheel showing an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a front view showing the structure of the core metal in the steering wheel of FIG. 1, and FIG.
- A sectional view, and FIG. 4 is a BB sectional view of FIG. 1.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the basic structure of the steering wheel of this embodiment is a known structure consisting of a rim portion 1, a boss portion 2, a right spoke portion 3, a left spoke portion 4, and a center spoke portion 5. have.

Further, the boss portion 2 having the boss 9 is disposed at the intersection of the center lines of the right spoke portion 3, the left spoke portion 4, and the center spoke core metal 5, as is well known.

The rim portion 1 is provided with a rim core metal 7 made of an annular metal tube. 2 facing approximately in the diametrical direction of the rim core metal 7
Between the positions, a spoke core metal 8 made of a thick metal plate in the shape of a front profile, which constitutes the right spoke part 3 and the left spoke part 4, is constructed and fixed at both ends by welding. A concave portion 8a is bent in the center of the spoke core metal 8 at a position corresponding to the boss portion 2, and a cylindrical boss 9 that is screwed onto the steering shaft (path shown) is provided on the back surface of the concave portion 8a. It is fixed.

Two positions of the spoke core metal 8 on both left and right sides of the boss 9, and a bisector of the straight line connecting the two positions and the rim core metal 7
A central spoke core metal 10 made of a shape-retaining core metal that constitutes the central spoke portion 5 is installed between the three intersection positions. The central spoke core 10 is formed from a thin metal sheet into a Y-shaped front surface, and its boss portion 2
An opening part 10a is formed on the side to largely open the space in front of the boss 9 to the left and right, and a locking part is formed at the left and right open ends of the opening part 10a to be positioned and locked to the protrusion 11 of the spoke core metal 8. A stopper 10b is integrally formed. Also,
The other end, ie, the lower end, of the central spoke core metal 10 is fixed to the inner peripheral surface of the rim core metal 7 by welding. 10 shown in Figure 2
A plurality of resin flow holes c are transparently provided in the central spoke core metal 10.

In this embodiment, a relatively thick metal plate (for example, about 4 mm) is used as the molding material for the spoke core metal 8.
is used, which substantially ensures the strength of the entire steering wheel.

Therefore, the central spoke core metal 10 is not required to have much strength, and a relatively thin metal plate (for example, about 1.6 mm) is used as the molding material to reduce the weight of the steering wheel.

As shown in FIG. 1, a synthetic resin outer skin 13 made of soft polyvinyl chloride or the like is continuously formed on both the front and back surfaces of the rim portion 1, right spoke portion 3, left spoke portion 4, and center spoke portion 5. . As shown in FIG. 3, the rim core metal 7 of the rim portion 1 and the central spoke core metal 10 of the central spoke portion 5
is entirely embedded in the synthetic resin outer skin 13. Synthetic resin outer skin 1 on the back side of the central spoke portion 5
3, an insertion groove 14 is undercut formed toward the rim portion 1 side. Also, as shown in Figure 4,
The spoke core metals 8 of the right spoke part 3 and the left spoke part 4 are made of synthetic resin outer skin 1 except for the central part corresponding to the boss part 2.
It is buried in 3. A stepped portion 15 is formed in the synthetic resin outer skin 13 on the back side of the right spoke portion 3 and the left spoke portion 4.

As shown in FIG. 1, the boss portion 2, the right spoke portion 3,
A back cover 17 is attached to the back side of the left spoke part 4 and the center spoke part 5. This back cover 17 is made of a synthetic resin material such as polypropylene, and the synthetic resin outer cover 13 is
It is molded into a shape that matches the contour of the

As shown in FIG. 4, a pair of left and right screw tubes 18 (only the right side is shown) protrudes from the inner surface of the back cover 17.
8 is connected to the spoke core metal 8 by screws 19 as attachment means. At the tip of the back cover 17 in a portion corresponding to the right spoke portion 3 and the left spoke portion 4, a contact piece 20 that abuts the stepped portion 15 of the synthetic resin outer skin 13 is bent. As shown in FIG. 3, a locking pawl 21 that is inserted into the insertion groove 14 of the synthetic resin outer cover 13 is protruded from the tip edge of the back cover 17 in a portion corresponding to the central spoke portion 5. . Further, a fitting hole 22 through which the boss 9 is positioned and fitted is provided in the center of the back cover 17 .

In addition, in FIG. 1, 23 is a contact plate of the horn switch mechanism. In FIG. 3, 24 is a horn pad for operating the contact plate 23, and 25 is an electrical component mounting space in which the horn switch mechanism and other electrical components are mounted.

Next, a method for assembling each component in the steering wheel of this embodiment configured as described above will be explained.

First, the rim core metal 7, the spoke core metal 8, the boss 9, and the center spoke core metal 10 are assembled as shown in FIG. In this case, the boss 9 is welded to the back surface of the central part of the spoke core 8, both ends of the spoke core 8 are welded to the inner peripheral surface of the rim core 7, and the pair of locking pieces 10b of the center spoke core 10 are welded to the inner surface of the rim core 7. It is positioned on the protrusion 11 of the spoke core metal 8, and in this state, the other end of the central spoke core metal 10 is welded to the inner circumferential surface of the rim core metal 7.

Next, the thus assembled core metal structure is set in an injection mold as an insert, and as shown in FIG. 1, a synthetic resin outer skin 13 is injection molded over the entire front and back surfaces excluding the boss portion 2. At this time, as shown in FIG. 4, the locking piece 10b of the central spoke core 10 is connected to the spoke core 8 via the protrusion 11, and the connected portion is molded into the synthetic resin outer skin 13. Ru. Therefore, the three ends of the central spoke core metal 10 can be firmly assembled to the rim core metal 7 and the spoke core metal 8.

Subsequently, the back cover 17 is attached to the back side of the steering wheel on which the synthetic resin outer skin 13 is molded. in this case,
As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the locking claw 21 is inserted into the insertion groove 1.
4, the fitting hole 22 is positioned to the boss 9, the left and right contact pieces 20 are brought into contact with the stepped portion 15, and in this positioned state, the screw 19 is tightened to the left and right screw cylinders 18. In this way, the back cover 17 can be easily assembled at the correct center position, and the engagement between the locking claw 21 and the insertion groove 14 prevents the back cover 17 from floating in this area. The outer surface of the back cover 17 and the back surface of the synthetic resin outer cover 13 can be connected by a smooth surface with no step. In addition, when the screws 19 are tightened, the abutment piece 20 is pressed against the stepped portion 15 via the elasticity of the back cover 17, so that the back cover 17 is prevented from floating at this portion as well, and the back cover 1
7 and the synthetic resin outer skin 13 can be connected by a smooth surface.

Thereafter, the horn pad 24, the horn switch mechanism including the contact plate 23, and other required electrical components are assembled into the electrical component mounting space 25 of the boss portion 2, thereby completing the steering wheel of this embodiment. Note that these parts may be assembled on an automobile production line.

As described above, the steering wheel of this embodiment has a rim portion 1 formed by covering an annular rim core metal 7 with a synthetic resin outer skin 13, and a steering wheel extending from three positions of the rim core metal 7 toward the center of the rim portion 1. A right spoke portion 3, a left spoke portion 4, and a center spoke portion 5, which are formed by covering a right and left spoke core metal 8 and a center spoke core metal 10 extending upright with a synthetic resin outer skin 13; A boss part 2 having a boss 9 disposed at the intersection of the center lines of the spoke part 4 and the center spoke core 5, and a back cover 17 that covers the back surfaces of the right spoke part 3, the left spoke part 4, and the center spoke part 5. and,
An insertion groove 14 is formed by undercutting the synthetic resin outer skin 13 of the central spoke portion 5 toward the rim portion 1 side, and a locking claw 21 is provided protruding from the tip edge of a back cover 17 that can be inserted into the insertion groove 14. It is equipped with an assembly means consisting of. In this embodiment, the left and right mounting means are attached to the back cover 1.
7 to the spoke core metal 8, a stepped portion 15 formed on the synthetic resin outer skin 13 of the right spoke portion 3 and left spoke portion 4, and a tip of the back cover 17 so as to be in pressure contact with the stepped portion 15. The contact piece 20 is formed by bending the contact piece 20. Further, the assembly means includes an insertion groove 14 formed by undercutting the synthetic resin outer skin 13 of the central spoke portion 5 toward the rim portion 1 side, and a back cover 17 that is inserted into the insertion groove 14. It is composed of a locking pawl 21 protruding from the tip edge.

Therefore, according to the steering wheel of the above embodiment, since the locking pawl 21 of the back cover 17 is inserted into the insertion groove 14 of the central spoke part 5, the back cover of the central spoke part 5 can be inserted without using screws. The cover 17 can be prevented from floating, and even if the back cover 17 is thermally deformed, this portion of the outer surface of the back cover 17 can be smoothly connected and maintained to the back surface of the synthetic resin outer cover 13. In addition, the locking claw 21 is connected to the back cover 17.
Since the rear cover 17 is provided protrudingly from the tip edge of the center spoke portion 5, the entire back cover 17 at the center spoke portion 5 can be restrained, thereby reliably preventing the generation of vibration noise and the like.

Moreover, since the insertion groove 14 is undercut molded in the synthetic resin outer skin 13 of the central spoke part 5 toward the rim part 1 side, if the locking pawl 21 is inserted into this insertion groove 14 and positioned, The center position of the back cover 17 can be determined accurately,
In this state, by tightening the back cover 17 to the spoke core metal 8 with the screws 19, the entire back cover 17 can be easily assembled to the right spoke part 3, the left spoke part 4, and the center spoke part 5. In this case, the abutment piece 20 bent at the tip of the back cover 17 is pressed against the stepped portion 15 through the elasticity of the back cover 17 by tightening the screw 19, so that unlike the conventional case, the right spoke portion 3 and Also in the left spoke portion 4, floating of the back cover 17, vibration noise, etc. can be reliably prevented.

By the way, the assembly means shown in FIGS. 1 to 4 in the above embodiment can also be configured as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6.

FIG. 5 is a partial front view of a steering wheel showing another embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along line CC in FIG. 5. In the drawings, the same reference numerals as in the above embodiment indicate the same or corresponding components as in the above embodiment.

In this embodiment, the back cover 17 is attached to the right spoke portion 3.
The assembly means for assembling the left spoke portion 4 is the back cover 1.
7 to the spoke core metal 8, and a slit 2 undercut formed on the back side of the synthetic resin outer skin 13 of the right spoke part 3 and the left spoke part 4 toward the rim part 1.
7 and a locking tongue piece 28 bent at the tip of the back cover 17 so as to be inserted into the slit 27 and locked therein. As shown in FIG. 5, the locking tongue piece 28 is bent only at a portion of the tip of the back cover 17, so that the locking tongue piece 28 can be easily inserted into the slit 27 during assembly. It has become.

Therefore, according to the above-described structure of the assembly means, it is possible to provide the right spoke part 3 and the left spoke part 4 with the same effect as that of the central spoke part 5 of the above embodiment, and the slit 27 and the locking tongue piece 28 This engagement reliably prevents the back cover 17 from floating up, and allows the outer surface of the back cover 17 in this area to be constantly and smoothly connected to the back surface of the synthetic resin outer skin 13. By restraining the entire back cover 17 in the portion 4, it is possible to reliably prevent generation of vibration noise and the like.

Note that when the back cover 17 is structurally rigid, the shape of the locking tongue piece 28 that joins the slit 27 is changed to the shape of the locking claw 21.
It is preferable to form one side wide and the opposite side narrow, and to form the tongue piece so that it ends on the center line of the right spoke part 3 and the left spoke part 4.

In this type of embodiment, it is possible to prevent the right spoke portion 3, left spoke portion 4, and center spoke portion 5 of the back cover 17 from floating up.

[Effects of the Invention] As described above, in the steering wheel of the present invention, the left and right spoke core metals and the center spoke core metal, which are erected so as to extend from the three positions of the annular rim core metal toward the center of the rim portion, are made of synthetic resin. Left and right spoke portions and a center spoke portion covered with an outer skin, a boss portion having a boss disposed at an intersection of center lines of the left and right spoke core metals and the center spoke core metal, and the left and right spoke portions and the center spoke portion. and an assembly means for assembling the back cover to at least the central spoke part, the assembly means being undercut molded on the synthetic resin outer skin of the central spoke part toward the rim part side. Since it is composed of an insertion groove and a locking pawl protruding from the tip edge of the back cover to be inserted into the insertion groove, it prevents the back cover from floating at the central spoke part. The outer surface of the back cover at this part can be connected smoothly to the back surface of the synthetic resin outer cover, and the entire back cover at the central spoke part can be restrained to reliably prevent the generation of vibration noise, etc. Moreover, the insertion groove The center position of the back cover can be determined accurately by positioning the back cover with the locking pawl, and the back cover can be easily assembled to the center spoke part.
Even if aging occurs in the assembled state, floating can be prevented.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a partial front view of a steering wheel showing an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a front view 1 showing the structure of the core metal in the steering wheel of FIG. 1, and FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line B-B in FIG. 1, FIG. 5 is a partial front view of a steering wheel showing another embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along line C-- in FIG. 5. C line sectional view,
FIG. 7 is a front view showing a conventional steering wheel, and FIG. 8 is a sectional view taken along the line DD in FIG. 7. In the figure, 1: Rim part 2: Boss part 3: Right spoke part 4: Left spoke part 5: Center spoke part 7: Rim core metal 8 = Spoke core metal
9: Boss 10: Central spoke core 13: Synthetic resin outer skin 14: Insertion groove 17: Back cover 21: Locking claw
27: Slit 28: Locking tongue piece. In the drawings, the same reference numerals and the same symbols indicate the same or equivalent parts. Patent applicant Toyoda Gosei Co., Ltd.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] A rim portion formed by covering an annular rim core metal, and left and right spoke core metals and a center spoke core metal provided upright so as to extend from three positions of the rim core metal toward the center of the rim portion. left and right spoke portions and a center spoke portion which are covered with a synthetic resin outer skin, a boss portion having a boss disposed at the intersection of the center lines of the left and right spoke core metals and the center spoke core metal, the left and right spoke portions and A back cover that covers the back surface of the central spoke part, an insertion groove formed by undercutting the synthetic resin outer skin of the central spoke part toward the rim part, and a protrusion on the tip edge of the back cover that can be inserted into the insertion groove. A steering wheel characterized by comprising: assembling means consisting of a locking pawl.