Back light of steering wheel

• US 8,136,425 B2
• Filed: 04/06/2011
• Issued: 03/20/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 11/10/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Joyson Safety Systems Acquisition, LLC
• Original Assignee: TK Holdings Incorporated (Ningbo Junsheng Investment Group Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Bostick, William E.
• Primary Examiner(s): LUONG, VINH
• Application Number:
  US13/081,235
• Publication Number:
  US 20110179902A1
• Time in Patent Office: 349 Days
• Field of Search: 745/52, 745/58, 280/728.3, 701/49, 340/438, 362/487, 362/488, 362/26, 345/173
• US Class Current: 74/552
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/283 Steering wheels; Gear levers
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/54 Lighting devices embedded in interior trim, e.g. in roof liners
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 9/00 Arrangement or adaptation of signal devices not provided for in one of main groups B60Q1/00 - B60Q7/00 , e.g. haptic signalling
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 1/046 Adaptations on rotatable parts of the steering wheel for accommodation of switches
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 1/06 Rims, e.g. with heating means; Rim covers B62D1/11 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/20834 Hand wheels
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/2087 Rim grips and covers

Abstract

A steering wheel comprises a rim connected to spokes. A covering material is provided to enclose at least a portion of the rim and/or the spokes. The covering material includes an outer cover and a light element positioned under the outer cover. The light element is configured to emit light through at least a portion of the outer cover. The light element is positioned over a casing that is provided to give shape to the steering wheel so that a vehicle driver may easily grasp the steering wheel. The light element may provide continuous, pulsed, or non-continuous lighting.

Claims

1. A steering wheel, comprising:

a rim; and

a covering material disposed about the rim, the covering material including;

an outer cover; and

a light element positioned under the outer cover, and wherein the light element is configured to emit light through at least a portion of the outer cover,

wherein the outer cover includes a first area portion, a second area portion, and a third area portion configured to form a continuous portion, wherein the third area portion is configured to be thinner than the first area portion, wherein the first area portion includes at least one perforation to permit light from the light element to pass through each of the perforations in the first area portion, wherein the second area portion is substantially impermeable to light, and wherein light from the light element is configured to transmit through the third area portion;

wherein the covering material further includes a sealant material configured to seal the at least one perforation in the outer cover.

2. The steering wheel of claim 1, wherein the sealant material is configured to permit light emitted from the light element to pass through the sealant material.

3. The steering wheel of claim 1, wherein the light element includes electroluminescent mylar.

4. The steering wheel of claim 1, wherein the light element includes electroluminescent tubing.

5. The steering wheel of claim 1, wherein the light element includes at least one light emitting diode.

6. The steering wheel of claim 1, wherein the light element includes incandescent material or wires.

7. The steering wheel of claim 1, wherein the light element includes fiber optic material.

8. The steering wheel of claim 1, wherein the light element includes light emitting acrylic.

9. The steering wheel of claim 1, wherein the sealant material fills the at least one perforation.

10. A steering wheel, comprising:

a rim connected to spokes; and

a covering material positioned about at least a portion of the rim and/or spokes, the covering material including an outer cover and a light element positioned under the outer cover, and

wherein the light element is configured to emit light through at least a portion of the outer cover,

wherein the outer cover includes a first area portion, a second area portion, and a third area portion configured to form a continuous portion, wherein the third area portion is configured to be thinner than the first area portion, wherein the first area portion includes at least one perforation to permit light from the light element to pass through each of the perforations in the first area portion, wherein the second area portion is substantially impermeable to light, and wherein light from the light element is configured to transmit through the third area portion;

wherein the covering material further includes a sealant material configured to seal the at least one perforation in the outer cover.

11. The steering wheel of claim 10, wherein the light element includes electroluminescent mylar.

12. The steering wheel of claim 10, wherein the light element includes electroluminescent tubing.

13. The steering wheel of claim 10, wherein the light element includes at least one light emitting diode.

14. The steering wheel of claim 10, wherein the light element includes incandescent material or wires.

15. The steering wheel of claim 10, wherein the light element includes fiber optic material.

16. The steering wheel of claim 10, wherein the light element includes light emitting acrylic.

17. The steering wheel of claim 10, wherein the sealant material is configured to permit light emitted from the light element to pass through the sealant material.