Steering wheel pad structure

• US 5,597,177 A
• Filed: 06/12/1995
• Issued: 01/28/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 11/13/1992
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Tokai RIKA Denki Seisakusho
• Original Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Tokai RIKA Denki Seisakusho
• Inventors: Matsuura, Naoki
• Primary Examiner(s): Culbreth, Eric D.
• Application Number:
  US08/424,475
• Time in Patent Office: 596 Days
• Field of Search: 280/731, 280/728.2, 280/728.1, 280/750, 280/751, 200/61.54, 200/61.55, 200/61.56
• US Class Current: 280/731
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 5/003 mounted on the steering wheel
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/05 associated with the steering wheel, steering hand lever or steering column yieldable steering columns B62D1/18
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/203 in steering wheels or steering columns
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 1/04 Hand wheels

Abstract

A steering wheel pad structure in which an energy absorbing member is mounted to a steering wheel separately and independently of a pad so that the energy absorbing member is prevented from moving in accordance with movement of the pad when the pad is pressed in order to operate a horn switch. When the pad is pressed, a small pressing force suffices, and operation of the horn switch can be effected smoothly.

Claims

1. A steering pad structure in which a pad, which houses an energy absorbing member which absorbs inertial movement force of a vehicle occupant, is supported at a steering wheel via an urging member, and by pushing said pad against the urging force of said urging member, the entire pad moves and a horn switch is operated,

wherein said energy absorbing member is mounted to said steering wheel separately and independently of said pad so that said energy absorbing member dos not move in accordance with movement of said entire pad, and

said steering wheel has a base portion, and said pad is mounted to said base portion via said urging member, and said energy absorbing member is mounted to said base portion, and

said pad includes a contact plate portion having a contact of said horn switch, and said contact plate portion being mounted to said base portion via said urging member.

2. A steering wheel pad structure according to claim 1, wherein a base plate member is mounted to said base portion, and said energy absorbing member is mounted to said base plate member.

3. A steering wheel pad structure according to claim 1, wherein said energy absorbing member is formed from an air bag device.

4. A steering wheel pad structure according to claim 1, wherein said energy absorbing member is formed from a cushion member.

5. A steering wheel pad structure in which a pad, which houses an air bag device which absorbs inertial movement force of a vehicle occupant, is supported at a steering wheel via an urging member, and by pushing said pad against the urging force of said urging member, the entire pad moves and a horn switch is operated,

wherein said air bag device is mounted to said steering wheel separately and independently of said pad so that said air bag device does not move in accordance with movement of said entire pad.