Vehicle steering apparatus

• US 6,224,093 B1
• Filed: 08/25/1998
• Issued: 05/01/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 08/27/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha (Honda Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha (Honda Motor Company)
• Inventors: Sato, Kouichi, Tanida, Koji, Ochiai, Fumiharu
• Primary Examiner(s): Dickson, Paul N.
• Application Number:
  US09/139,520
• Time in Patent Office: 980 Days
• Field of Search: 280/731, 74/552, 180/402, 180/446
• US Class Current: 280/731
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/203 in steering wheels or steering columns
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 1/04 Hand wheels
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/20834 Hand wheels

Abstract

A vehicle steering handle comprises a boss portion disposed centrally thereof for accommodating an air bag, right and left grip portions disposed vertically on right and left sides of the boss portion for allowing gripping by a driver, and upper and lower horizontal connector portions connecting respective upper and lower ends of the right and left grip portions to thereby make the handle generally rectangular in shape. At least the upper connector portion extends substantially linearly. As a result, it becomes possible for the air bag to suitably deform to thereby support a collision load of a driver. Further, with the upper connector portion extending linearly, improved view to vehicle instruments is provided.

Claims

1. A vehicle steering apparatus for a vehicle with steering angle ratio variable steering, comprising:

steering handle;

means for steering the vehicle so that wheels being steered have a larger steered angle as vehicle speed is lowered relative to a rotational angle of said steering handle and have a smaller steered angle as vehicle speed is increased relative to the rotational angle of said steering handle;

an air bag;

a boss portion disposed centrally of said handle for housing said bag therein, said boss portion including a pad and a frame having a ring portion with a space for said air bag being formed between said pad and said ring portion;

said steering handle having right and left grip portions disposed vertically on right and left sides of said boss portion for allowing gripping by a driver and positioned on vehicle widthwise sides when said steering handle is placed at a neutral position; and

said steering handle also having upper and lower horizontal connector portions connecting respective upper and lower ends of said right and left grip portions so that said handle becomes generally rectangular in shape, said upper and lower connector portions extending substantially linearly;

leg portions extending radially from an outer periphery of said ring portion to intermediate portions of said upper and lower horizontal connector portions;

wherein said right and left grip portions are appropriate for said steering means and said substantially linear upper and lower connector portions provide support for said bag when it inflates.

2. A vehicle steering handle apparatus according to claim 1, wherein

said right and left grip portions are ring-shaped and rotatable about a rotational center of said steering handle.

3. A vehicle steering handle according to claim 2, wherein said right and left grip portions have projections protruding inwardly thereof, said projections having recessed portions which are inwardly curved to receive an inner surface of a thumb.