JPS61132463A - Steering wheel - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To secure the always superior grip feeling by forming the concaved parts or the convex parts in a prescribed pitch onto the back surface side of a core member, as for a ring part consisting of the core member and the covering part made of soft high polymeric material. CONSTITUTION:In a steering wheel, the ring part 5 is constituted of a core member 2 and a covering part 3 made of soft high polymeric material. In this case, the core member 2 is prepared by covering an iron round rod a s core metal 4 with the hard synthetic resin which possesses rigidity and is not deformed by the grasp by a driver, and the convex parts 1 are formed in a prescribed pitch onto the back side of the hard synthetic resin. In operation, the smooth feeling can be obtained because of the action of the covering part 3 when the steering wheel is touched by hands lightly, while the fingers of the driver sink into the covering part 3 along the convex part 1 of the core member 2 when the steering wheel is grasped strongly, and the always superior grip feeling can be secured.

Description

【発明の詳細な説明】 〈産業」−の利用分野〉 この発明は、ステアリングホイールに関し、さらに詳し
くは、運転者の手の大きさに関係なく常に良好なグリッ
プ感覚が得られるステアリングホイールに関する。DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION <Field of Application in Industry> The present invention relates to a steering wheel, and more particularly to a steering wheel that always provides a good grip feeling regardless of the size of the driver's hands.

〈従来の技術〉 ステアリングホイールのリング部は、芯金と芯金の周囲
にＰＰやウレタン等の硬質あるいは軟質合成樹脂からな
る被覆層とによって構成されていた。そしてそのリング
部裏面側にはステアリング操作向上の目的で凹凸部が設
けられており、運転者はこの凹凸部に合わせてリング部
を握るため安定したグリップ感覚をイ■Ｉていた。<Prior Art> A ring portion of a steering wheel is composed of a core metal and a coating layer around the core metal made of a hard or soft synthetic resin such as PP or urethane. On the back side of the ring part, an uneven part is provided for the purpose of improving steering operation, and the driver grips the ring part according to the uneven part, thereby providing a stable grip feeling.

〈発明が解決しようとする問題点〉 しかし、前記リング部衷面側の凹凸部は、標準的な運転
者の手（特に指）の大きさに合せて形成しであるので、
すべての運転者の手に合致するものでなく、例えば、手
の小さな女性運転者にとって、前記門１”７部は大ｙす
ぎて、ステアリングホイールを握ったときに異和感を感
じ、良好なグリップ感覚を得られないという不具合があ
った。<Problems to be Solved by the Invention> However, since the uneven portion on the inner side of the ring portion is formed to match the size of a standard driver's hand (particularly fingers),
It does not fit the hands of all drivers.For example, the 1"7 part of the gate is too large for a female driver with small hands, which makes her feel uncomfortable when she grips the steering wheel, and it does not fit well. There was a problem with not being able to feel the grip.

尚、この発明に係るステアリングホイールに関連する技
術としては、リング部芯材に凹凸を設けたもの（実開昭
５７−１０９６９号）があるが、このステアリングホイ
ールもリング部外形が凹凸状となり、前記と同様な不具
合が生じる。Incidentally, as a technology related to the steering wheel according to the present invention, there is one in which the core material of the ring part is provided with unevenness (Utility Model Application Publication No. 57-10969), but this steering wheel also has an uneven outer shape of the ring part, The same problem as above occurs.

く問題点を解決するための手段〉 前記問題点を解決するために、本発明者らは、リング部
の被覆層を握った時に可変性を有する軟質高分子材料で
形成することを思いつき、この発明を完成したものであ
る。Means for Solving the Problems In order to solve the above problems, the present inventors came up with the idea of forming the coating layer of the ring part from a soft polymeric material that is variable when squeezed. It is a completed invention.

［ｊｌｌち、リング部が芯材と軟質高分子材料からなる
被覆部から形成されているステアリングホイールにおい
て、前記芯材の少なくとも裏面側に所定ピッチで凹部ま
たは凸部を形成したステアリングホイールである。This is a steering wheel in which a ring portion is formed of a core material and a covering portion made of a soft polymeric material, and in which concave portions or convex portions are formed at a predetermined pitch on at least the back side of the core material.

〈実施例〉 以下、この発明の実施例を図面に基づいて説明するが、
これらだけに限定されるものではない。<Example> Hereinafter, an example of the present invention will be described based on the drawings.
It is not limited to these.

第１実施例（第１図） 第１実施例のリング部５は、所定ピッチの凸部が裏側に
形成された芯材２と軟質高分子材料からなる被覆部３と
で形成されているものであり、断面外形は略円形あるい
は略楕円形の同一形状となっている。First Example (Fig. 1) The ring portion 5 of the first example is formed of a core material 2 having convex portions formed at a predetermined pitch on the back side and a covering portion 3 made of a soft polymer material. and have the same cross-sectional shape of a substantially circular or substantially elliptical shape.

上記芯材２は、芯金４として例えば鉄製丸棒に運転者が
握ったときに変形しない剛性をもつ硬質合成樹脂、例え
ばＰＰやＡＢＳ樹脂等で被覆してあり、この硬質合成樹
脂が裏側に凸部ｌを有するように形成される。このとき
、凸部１のピッチは例えば２５ｍｍ前後とする。The core material 2 is coated with a hard synthetic resin, such as PP or ABS resin, which has a rigidity that does not deform when the driver grips the iron round bar as the core metal 4, and this hard synthetic resin is coated on the back side. It is formed to have a convex portion l. At this time, the pitch of the convex portions 1 is, for example, approximately 25 mm.

被覆部３を形成する軟質高分子材料としては、手で握っ
たときに変形可能なゴム状弾性を有する（通常硬さがＪ
ＩＳ硬度で７０度以下）のものなら特に限定されないが
、例えば一般ゴム、黙過塑性ゴム、Ｐ　’Ｖ　Ｃ等の合
成樹脂及びそれらの発泡体を挙げることができる。The soft polymer material forming the covering part 3 has rubber-like elasticity that can be deformed when held by hand (usually hardness is J
The material is not particularly limited as long as it has an IS hardness of 70 degrees or less, but examples include general rubber, silent plastic rubber, synthetic resins such as P'VC, and foams thereof.

上記硬質合成樹脂材ネ゛ｌ及び軟質高分子材料の被覆は
、射出成形（ＲＩＭ成形も含む）・トランスファー成形
で行うが、前者の場合はさらに圧縮成形であってもよい
。The coating with the hard synthetic resin material and the soft polymer material is performed by injection molding (including RIM molding) or transfer molding, but in the case of the former, compression molding may also be used.

第２実施例（第２・３図） 第２実施例では、芯材１２として中空金属パイプに波形
状の凸部１１をプレス成形して、該凸部１１を裏面側と
した点のみ前記実施例と異なり、これに前記軟質高分子
材料からなる被覆部３を被覆してリング部５を形成する
ものである。Second Example (Figures 2 and 3) In the second example, a corrugated convex portion 11 is press-molded on a hollow metal pipe as the core material 12, and the convex portion 11 is placed on the back side. Unlike the example, the ring portion 5 is formed by covering this with the covering portion 3 made of the soft polymer material.

第３実施例（第４〜９図） 第３実施例では、芯材２２としての硬質合成樹脂の凸部
の形状や周方向におけるピッチが前記第１実施例と異な
り、凸部が裏面側に設けられる点や、芯材２２を被覆す
る被覆部３の材質は第１実施例と同様である。Third Example (Figures 4 to 9) In the third example, the shape of the convex portion of the hard synthetic resin as the core material 22 and the pitch in the circumferential direction are different from the first example, and the convex portion is on the back side. The provision and the material of the covering portion 3 that covers the core material 22 are the same as in the first embodiment.

ここに、芯材２２に一体成形された凸部の形状は、略円
錐状のもの２１ａ（第４〜５図）、半球形状のもの２１
ｂ（第６〜７図）、柱状のもの２１ｃ（第８〜９図）を
用いることができ、また、リング部芯材２２の芯金４の
材質・構造は、第１．２実施例に記載したものの他に、
第１実施例において、鉄製丸棒を軽量化のために中空体
にしたものや、他の断面形状にしてもよい。Here, the shapes of the convex parts integrally molded on the core material 22 are approximately conical 21a (FIGS. 4 and 5), and hemispherical 21.
b (Figs. 6 to 7), columnar type 21c (Figs. 8 to 9) can be used, and the material and structure of the core bar 4 of the ring member core material 22 are the same as in the 1.2 embodiment. In addition to what is listed,
In the first embodiment, the iron round bar may be made hollow to reduce weight, or may have another cross-sectional shape.

第４実施例（第１０−１３図） 第４実施例では、芯材３２としての硬質合成樹脂の凸部
を裏面側だけでなく全面に、周方向において所定のピッ
チで一体成形した点のみ前記第３実施例と異っている。Fourth Embodiment (Figures 10-13) In the fourth embodiment, the only difference is that the convex portions of hard synthetic resin as the core material 32 are integrally molded not only on the back side but also on the entire surface at a predetermined pitch in the circumferential direction. This is different from the third embodiment.

上記において凸部の形状は、そろばん玉形状の３１ａ　
（第１０．１１図）やリング部芯材の正面側で低く（図
中上側）、裏面側で高く（図中下側）、１１つ、正面側
から裏面側にいくに従って凸部の幅を小さくしていく形
状のもの３１ｂ（第１２．１３図）等がある。In the above, the shape of the convex portion is 31a in the shape of an abacus bead.
(Fig. 10.11), the width of the convex portion increases from the front side to the back side. There is one 31b (Fig. 12.13) that has a shape that decreases in size.

以上実施例において、凸部の間に形成されている谷間を
凹部とみることができる。　　　□〈発明の効果〉 この発明に係るステアリングホイールは、操作時におい
て、軽く手を添えた状態で滑らかな感触を与え、強く握
った状態では、運転者の指が運転者自信の握力によって
リング部の被覆層の中に沈み込んで、リング部自体が運
転者の手の形状に変形するものであるから、いかなる運
転者の手に対してもジャストフィツトし、常に良好なグ
リップ感覚を与えるものである。In the above embodiments, the valleys formed between the convex parts can be considered as concave parts. □〈Effects of the Invention〉 When operating the steering wheel, the steering wheel according to the present invention provides a smooth feel when the hand is lightly applied, and when the driver's hand is gripped strongly, the driver's fingers will touch the ring part due to the driver's own grip strength. The ring part sinks into the coating layer and deforms itself to the shape of the driver's hand, so it fits perfectly in any driver's hand and always provides a good grip. be.

【図面の簡単な説明】[Brief explanation of drawings]

第１図は第１実施例の一部切欠き斜視図、第２．３図は
第２実施例のリング方向における縦断面図と横断面図、
第４．５図は第３実施例を示す同縦断面図と横断面図、
第６．７図は同じく第３実施例の変形態様を示す同縦断
面図と横断面図、第８．９図は同じく第３実施例の変形
態様を示す同縦断面図と横断面図、第１Ｏ１１１図は第
４実施例を示す同縦断面図と横断面図、第１２図は同じ
く第４実施例の変形態様を示す同縦断面図、第１３図は
同しく横断面図である。 １・・・凸部、２・・・芯材、３・・・被覆部、５・・
・リング部。 特　　許　　出　　願　　人 □（ １−Ｖ−２，、−寸Fig. 1 is a partially cutaway perspective view of the first embodiment, Figs. 2.3 are longitudinal sectional views and transverse sectional views in the ring direction of the second embodiment,
Fig. 4.5 is a vertical sectional view and a horizontal sectional view showing the third embodiment;
Fig. 6.7 is a longitudinal sectional view and a transverse sectional view showing a modified version of the third embodiment; Fig. 8.9 is a longitudinal sectional view and a transverse sectional view showing a modified version of the third embodiment; 10111 is a longitudinal sectional view and a transverse sectional view showing the fourth embodiment, FIG. 12 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a modification of the fourth embodiment, and FIG. 13 is a transverse sectional view. 1...Convex part, 2...Core material, 3...Coating part, 5...
・Ring part. Patent application person □ (1-V-2,, - size

Claims (1)

【特許請求の範囲】[Claims] リング部が芯材と軟質高分子材料からなる被覆部から形
成されているステアリングホイールにおいて、前記芯材
の少なくとも裏面側に所定ピッチで凹部または凸部を形
成したことを特徴とするステアリングホイール。1. A steering wheel in which a ring part is formed of a core material and a covering part made of a soft polymeric material, characterized in that concave parts or convex parts are formed at a predetermined pitch on at least the back side of the core material.