Striking energy absorbing structure for steering wheel and method of manufacturing the same
First Claim
1. A striking energy absorbing hub structure for a steering wheel, said hub structure being comprised of a hollow exterior cover member with one open end, an energy absorbing brittle plastic material molded inside said hollow cover, and a horn switch member integrally molded(a) said energy absorbing material fills the inside of said cover member;
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1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A striking energy absorbing structure for a steering wheel is composed of a cover member, an energy absorbing member of a brittle plastic filling the inside of the cover member, and a horn switch member buried therebetween. Also disclosed is a method of manufacturing the above-described striking energy absorbing structure. The energy absorbing member is molded by casting a brittle plastic material into the inside of the cover member. In this cast molding, the horn switch member is previously set inside the cover member, so that the three members, that is, the cover member, the horn switch member and the energy absorbing member are simultaneously integrated with each other.
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Citations
5 Claims
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1. A striking energy absorbing hub structure for a steering wheel, said hub structure being comprised of a hollow exterior cover member with one open end, an energy absorbing brittle plastic material molded inside said hollow cover, and a horn switch member integrally molded
(a) said energy absorbing material fills the inside of said cover member; - and
(b) so that said horn switch member is buried between said cover member and said energy absorbing material. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3)
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4. A method of manufacturing a striking energy absorbing structure for a steering wheel, said structure being composed of a cover member, an energy absorbing member of a brittle plastic, and a horn switch member disposed therebetween, comprising the steps of:
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(a) setting said horn switch member inside said cover member; and (b) casting a brittle plastic material into the inside of said cover member to mold said energy absorbing member. - View Dependent Claims (5)
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Specification