Heating element for steering wheel

• US 20030218004A1
• Filed: 04/23/2003
• Published: 11/27/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 04/25/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Panasonic Corporation (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Panasonic Corporation (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Asami, Naohito, Nagayama, Kazumi, Abe, Norio, Yoneyama, Mitsuru, Shiratake, Akira
• Application Number:
  US10/420,738
• Publication Number:
  US 20030218004A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 219/528
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 1/065 Steering wheels with heating and ventilating means heating and ventilation of steering wheel when connected to vehicle HVAC B60H1/00292
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 2203/003 using serpentine layout
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 2203/014 Heaters using resistive wires or cables not provided for in H05B3/54
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 2203/017 Manufacturing methods or apparatus for heaters
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 2203/033 Heater including particular mechanical reinforcing means
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 3/34 flexible, e.g. heating nets or webs
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/20834 Hand wheels

Abstract

A heating element comprises a base material and a heater disposed on the base material, which can be deformed to accommodate a part of the heater. A steering wheel equipped with the heating element is free from surface protrusions caused by the heater. Employment of a linear heater reduces connections between the heater and power supply lines, and a high connecting reliability is obtained. A steering wheel of the present invention comprises the heating element and the power lines, and connections between the heating element and the power lines are disposed in the boss portion of the steering wheel. The steering wheel is further provided with a temperature detector, a temperature detector heater and a temperature controller, and the detector and the detector heater are disposed in the boss portion. Thus a steering wheel with good grip feeling and a good appearance can be provided at a low cost.

Claims

1. A heating element comprising:

a base material comprising a deformable material; and

a heater disposed on said base material;

wherein said heater is at least partially buried in said deformable material of said base material.

2. The heating element of claim 1, further comprising

a steering wheel core supporting said base material.

3. The heating element of claim 1, further comprising a protection layer for protecting said heater.

4. The heating element of claim 2, wherein

said protection layer covers said heater, such that said heater is interposed between said base material and said protection layer.

5. The heating element of claim 1, wherein

said heater comprises one of a linear heater and a planar heater.

6. The heating element of claim 1, further comprising

sewing thread securing said heater in an at least partially buried position in said deformable material of said base material.

7. The heating element of claim 1, wherein

said heater comprises a linear heater constituted by one of stranded wires and braided wires, each of said wires being formed of a plurality of conductors.

8. The heating element of claim 6, wherein

said conductors comprise metal fiber reinforced alloy wires.

9. The heating element of claim 1, wherein

said heater comprises a conductor provided with a plating layer.

10. The heating element of claim 1, wherein

said heater comprises a conductor provided with an insulating layer.

11. A steering wheel comprising:

a heating element including a base material comprising a deformable material, and a heater disposed on said base material, wherein said heater is at least partially buried in said deformable material of said base material; and

a power supply line connected to said heating element to supply electric power to said heating element.

12. The steering wheel of claim 11, further comprising

a steering wheel core, said steering wheel core being disposed closer to said heater than to said base material.

13. The steering wheel of claim 11, wherein

said heater comprises one of a linear heater and a planar heater.

14. The steering wheel of claim 11, further comprising

sewing thread securing said heater in an at least partially buried position in said deformable material of said base material.

15. The steering wheel of claim 11, wherein

said heater comprises a linear heater constituted by one of stranded wires and braided wires, each of said wires being formed of a plurality of conductors.

16. The steering wheel of claim 15, wherein

said conductors comprise metal fiber reinforced alloy wires.

17. The steering wheel of claim 11, wherein

said heater comprises a conductor provided with a plating layer.

18. The steering wheel of claim 11, wherein

said heater comprises a conductor provided with an insulating layer.

19. The steering wheel of claim 11, further comprising

a boss portion;

wherein said heating element and said power supply line are connected together at a connection; and

wherein said connection is disposed in said boss portion.

20. The steering wheel of claim 11, further comprising

at least one steering wheel spoke;

wherein said boss portion is disposed in a central area of said steering wheel and supported by said at least one spoke.

21. The steering wheel of claim 11, further comprising:

a boss portion;

a temperature detection element disposed in said boss portion and being arranged to detect a temperature of said heating element;

a temperature detection element heater disposed in said boss and being arranged to heat said temperature detection element; and

a temperature controller for controlling a temperature of said heater based on information from said temperature detection element.

22. The steering wheel of claim 21, wherein said temperature detection element is one of a thermistor, a thermostat and a thermal sensitive resistor sensor.

23. The steering wheel of claim 21, wherein

said temperature detection element comprises a thermostat;

and

said thermostat and said temperature detection element heater are connected together at a connection; and

said connection heater is disposed in said boss portion.

24. The steering wheel of claim 21, wherein

said temperature detection element comprises a thermostat;

and

said thermostat, temperature detection element heater and said heater are connected in series.

25. A steering wheel comprising:

a steering wheel core; and

a heating element mounted to said steering wheel core, said heating element including a base material comprising a deformable material, and a heater at least partially buried in said deformable material of said base material.

26. The steering wheel of claim 25, wherein

said heating element further includes a protection layer provided on said linear heater and said base material such that said linear heater is interposed between said base material and said protection layer.

27. The steering wheel of claim 25, wherein

said base material of said heating element has a first surface facing said steering wheel core and a second surface facing away from said steering wheel core;

and

said heater is at least partially buried in said first surface of said base material.

28. The steering wheel of claim 27, wherein

said heating element is disposed about said steering wheel core.

29. The steering wheel of claim 28, further comprising

a steering wheel cover provided about said heating element.

30. The steering wheel of claim 25, further comprising

a steering wheel cover provided about said heating element.

31. The steering wheel of claim 25, further comprising

a power supply line connected to said heating element to supply electric power to said heating element.

32. The steering wheel of claim 25, wherein

said deformable material of said base material comprises one of a non-woven fabric and a foamed resin.