Vehicle steering wheel structure

• US 5,228,362 A
• Filed: 06/26/1992
• Issued: 07/20/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 06/26/1992
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Chrysler Corporation (Stellantis NV)
• Original Assignee: Chrysler Corporation (Stellantis NV)
• Inventors: Mahrous, Michael, Chen, Benjamin S.
• Primary Examiner(s): LUONG, VINH
• Application Number:
  US07/904,622
• Time in Patent Office: 389 Days
• Field of Search: 74/552, D12/175, D12/176, 280/731, 280/743, 280/750, 200/61.55, 200/61.56, 200/61.57
• US Class Current: 74/552
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/2037 the module or a major component thereof being yieldably mounted, e.g. for actuating the horn switch or for protecting the driver in a non-deployment situation horn switches integrated in steering wheel covers with tear lines B60R21/21658
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 1/04 Hand wheels
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/20834 Hand wheels

Abstract

A vehicle steering wheel has an armature which defines a structural circular steering wheel. The armature has a depressed central body portion providing a well for an air bag canister. A center pad which supports the air bag canister in the well extends across the well between the spokes, with a gap between each spoke and the edge of the pad. A spacer is provided between each spoke and the edge of the center pad so that the gaps are of equal width. The air bag canister is mounted to the body portion of the steering wheel by pins extending through openings in the body portion and conical springs surrounding the pins. The openings are substantially larger in diameter than the pins to permit the pins to shift radially and facilitate exact centering of the pad with respect to the spokes to maintain the gaps of uniform width. This mounting of the canister also accommodates shifting of the canister when a marginal portion of the center pad is depressed to close a horn switch and sound the horn. The springs, being conical, urge the pins to a centered, at-rest position with respect to the openings even when the springs are distorted by radial shifting of the pins.

Claims

1. In combination, a steering wheel having a body portion, a ring portion encircling said body portion in radially spaced relation thereto, angularly spaced generally radial spokes extending between said ring portion and said body portion, said spokes having radially inner ends, said body portion being depressed centrally relative to said ring portion and spokes to provide a well, an air bag canister disposed in said well and adapted to contain an air bag, said canister including a pad extending across said well between said spokes, said pad having marginal portions terminating in outer edges adjacent to the radially inner ends of said spokes to provide gaps therebetween, spacers engaged with said outer edges of said marginal portions of said pad to maintain said gaps substantially equal, and means mounting said canister to said body portion of said steering wheel comprising spaced pins connected adjacent one end to said body portion, said body portion having openings through which said respective pins extend, each pin having a head at the opposite end thereof, and a coil spring encircling each of said pins having one end abutting said head and the other end abutting said body portion around an opening through which said pin extends, said openings being substantially larger in diameter than said pins to permit said pins to shift radially and facilitate exact centering of said pad with respect to said spokes to maintain said gaps equal in width, said coil springs being conical and urging said pins to an at-rest position even when distorted radially due to radial shifting of said pins.

2. A combination as defined in claim 1, and further including horn switches mounted on said wheel adjacent to said radially inner ends of said spokes, said marginal portions of said pad overlying said horn switches, said horn switches being operated by depressing the overlying marginal portions of said pad.

3. A combination as defined in claim 2, wherein said horn switches each have a mounting channel including a wall, said walls being of equal thickness and constituting said spacers.

4. A combination as defined in claim 1, wherein said conical coil springs each have a large end and a small end, each coil spring having the large end thereof abutting said body portion and the small end thereof abutting said pin heads, said pins being retained in position by said conical springs, said openings in said body portion being smaller than said pin heads to prevent removal of said canister from said steering wheel.

5. A combination as defined in claim 4, and further including horn switches mounted on said wheel adjacent to said radially inner ends of said spokes, said marginal portions of said pad overlying said horn switches, said horn switches being operable by depressing the overlying marginal portions of said pad, said horn switches each having a mounting channel including a side wall, said side walls being of equal thickness and constituting said spacers.

6. A combination as defined in claim 5, wherein said pins have threaded shanks, and further comprising nuts mounted on said canister with which said respective pin shanks are threadedly engaged to provide said connection of said pins to said canister.