Impact energy absorbing steering wheel
First Claim
1. An impact energy-absorbing steering wheel, comprising:
- a steering wheel having an axially-central boss portion having an upper end provided with a boss plate having an outer periphery;
a cover pad having an upper end wall and a depending peripheral sidewall means;
said cover pad being arranged on said steering wheel boss portion and having said sidewall means thereof juxtaposed with said outer periphery of said boss plate so as to enclose above said boss plate an inner space;
an impact energy absorber, comprising;
(a) support means secured on said boss portion and including at least two laterally-spaced support members which project axially upwardly from respective sites located near said outer periphery of said boss plate radially within bounds of said inner space;
(b) a thin metal sheet having a transversally extending annular base flange portion from which at least two laterally spaced leg portions project axially upwardly from respective sites, said leg portions having upper ends;
(c) transversally extending plate means secured with an interconnecting said upper ends of said leg portions; and
(d) first connecting means provided on said support members of said support means engaged with second connecting means provided on further support members provided on said base flange portion of said thin metal sheet for securing said thin metal sheet in place on said support means with said leg portions of said thin metal sheet occupying radially outer portions of said inner space and said transversally extending plate occupying an axially upper portion of said inner space, with both said thin metal sheet and said transversally extending plate being enclosed by said cover pad and said transversally extending plate being located under and adjacent said upper end wall of said cover pad;
said leg portions of said thin metal sheet being composed and shaped to comprise a bending point to bend, upon delivery of an axially downward impact force on said cover pad, downwardly and inwardly, in a folded manner, so as to become disposed at least partially axially below said annular base flange portion of said thin metal sheet.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An impact energy absorber of a steering wheel is formed of a thin metal sheet and is disposed within a cover pad above a boss plate in a boss portion of the steering wheel. The impact energy absorber is composed of an annular base portion which is supported by a supporting member above the boss plate with a predetermined inner space between the base portion and the boss plate, and a plurality of leg portions which are protruded inwardly from the inner periphery of the base portion and are thereafter bent upward so as to be brought into contact with the inner wall of the upper portion of the cover pad. When impact is applied to the cover pad, the impact energy absorber absorbs the impact energy by deforming the lower portion of each leg portion by bending it from the inner periphery of the base portion and inserting it to the inner space between the base portion and the boss plate.
19 Citations
13 Claims
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1. An impact energy-absorbing steering wheel, comprising:
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a steering wheel having an axially-central boss portion having an upper end provided with a boss plate having an outer periphery; a cover pad having an upper end wall and a depending peripheral sidewall means; said cover pad being arranged on said steering wheel boss portion and having said sidewall means thereof juxtaposed with said outer periphery of said boss plate so as to enclose above said boss plate an inner space; an impact energy absorber, comprising; (a) support means secured on said boss portion and including at least two laterally-spaced support members which project axially upwardly from respective sites located near said outer periphery of said boss plate radially within bounds of said inner space; (b) a thin metal sheet having a transversally extending annular base flange portion from which at least two laterally spaced leg portions project axially upwardly from respective sites, said leg portions having upper ends; (c) transversally extending plate means secured with an interconnecting said upper ends of said leg portions; and (d) first connecting means provided on said support members of said support means engaged with second connecting means provided on further support members provided on said base flange portion of said thin metal sheet for securing said thin metal sheet in place on said support means with said leg portions of said thin metal sheet occupying radially outer portions of said inner space and said transversally extending plate occupying an axially upper portion of said inner space, with both said thin metal sheet and said transversally extending plate being enclosed by said cover pad and said transversally extending plate being located under and adjacent said upper end wall of said cover pad; said leg portions of said thin metal sheet being composed and shaped to comprise a bending point to bend, upon delivery of an axially downward impact force on said cover pad, downwardly and inwardly, in a folded manner, so as to become disposed at least partially axially below said annular base flange portion of said thin metal sheet. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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Specification