VEHICLE STEERING WHEEL

• US 20130233114A1
• Filed: 03/11/2013
• Published: 09/12/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 03/12/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Subaru Corp.
• Original Assignee: Fuji Jukogyo KK (Subaru Corp.)
• Inventors: MATSUO, Noriyoshi, NAGASAWA, Isamu
• Granted Patent: US 9,656,683 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 74/484.R
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 1/046 Adaptations on rotatable parts of the steering wheel for accommodation of switches
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/20256 Steering and controls assemblies

Abstract

There is provided a vehicle steering wheel including a circular rim, a grip forming a part of the rim and being held by a user, and input units formed inside the rim. Each input unit includes first and second input switches to be actuated by a pressing action of a user'"'"'s thumb, and a third input switch provided between the first and second input switches to be actuated by a sliding action of the user'"'"'s thumb on the third input switch while the user is holding the grip. The first input switch is located at a position of the user'"'"'s thumb that can be placed without applying any force when the user is holding the grip. The second input switch is located at a lower position where the user'"'"'s thumb can be placed without changing positions of other four fingers when the user is holding the grip.

Claims

1. A vehicle steering wheel comprising:

a circular rim;

a grip forming a part of the circular rim and being held by a user; and

input units formed inside the circular rim;

wherein each of the input units includes;

a first input switch to be actuated by a pressing action of the user'"'"'s thumb;

a second input switch to be actuated by a pressing action of the user'"'"'s thumb; and

a third input switch provided between the first input switch and the second input switch to be actuated by a sliding action of the user'"'"'s thumb on the third input switch while the user is holding the grip;

the first input switch being located at a position of the user'"'"'s thumb that can be placed without having to apply any force when the user is holding the grip; and

the second input switch being located at a lower position where the user'"'"'s thumb can be placed without having to change positions of other four fingers when the user is holding the grip.

2. The vehicle steering wheel according to claim 1, wherein

the third input switch has a flat surface;

and

the flat surface detects an up-and-down movement of the user'"'"'s thumb.

3. The vehicle steering wheel according to claim 2, wherein

the first and second input switches are button-shaped;

the third-input-switch side of the first input switch projects further forward than the flat surface of the third input switch; and

the third-input-switch side of the second input switch projects further forward than the flat surface of the third input switch.

4. The vehicle steering wheel according to claim 2, wherein

a pressing direction of the first input switch and a pressing direction of the second input switch are set to be at either one of a right angle and an obtuse angle with respect to the flat surface of the third input switch.

5. The vehicle steering wheel according to claim 3, wherein

a pressing direction of the first input switch and a pressing direction of the second input switch are set to be at either one of a right angle and an obtuse angle with respect to the flat surface of the third input switch.