Steering wheel

Abstract

The present invention relates to a steering wheel, characterized by comprising an armature, a lower cover coupled to the armature, a HOD controller coupled to the lower cover, and a bezel coupled to the lower cover to prevent the HOD controller from detaching.

Description

Technology Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a steering wheel, and more specifically, to a steering wheel that improves the assembly of a HOD controller and can reduce investment costs and production costs by reducing the number of parts. Background Technology

[0003] The steering wheel is a circular steering device used to change the vehicle's direction of travel by moving the wheels left and right, and it is a device that comes into frequent physical contact with the driver.

[0004] In order to warm up a steering wheel that has cooled down during the winter, a heating pad may be installed on the steering wheel of a high-spec vehicle. Additionally, in order to cool a steering wheel that has been heated by the hot sun during the summer, a cooling pad may be installed on the steering wheel. The cooling pad or the heating pad may be provided on a foamed grip portion, but may also be fitted into the grip portion while mounted on the inner side of a cover, such as leather, that wraps around the steering wheel.

[0005] In addition, as the number of vehicles equipped with driver assistance systems has increased recently and research and development of autonomous vehicles has grown, HOD (Hands On Detection) pads that detect whether the driver is gripping the steering wheel while the vehicle is in operation are being used.

[0006] The above HOD pad can be mounted on the grip portion of the steering wheel while attached to the inner surface of a cover, such as leather, that wraps the steering wheel. Additionally, the HOD controller is screw-fastened to the armature by means of a separate fixing bracket.

[0007] However, the fixed structure of this HOD controller has the problem of increasing the number of parts by adding a separate part to fix the controller, and has a structure that does not fit with the steering wheel structure that is becoming increasingly compact.

[0008] Therefore, there is a need to improve this.

[0009] The background technology of the present invention is disclosed in Korean Registered Patent No. 10-1955501 (Registered on February 28, 2019; Title of Invention: Steering Device for Detecting Driver Behavior of an Automobile). The problem to be solved

[0011] The present invention has been devised to improve upon the aforementioned problems and aims to provide a steering wheel that improves the assemblability of the HOD controller and reduces investment costs and production costs by reducing the number of parts. means of solving the problem

[0013] A steering wheel according to the present invention may include an armature, a lower cover coupled to the armature, a HOD controller coupled to the lower cover, and a bezel coupled to the lower cover to prevent the HOD controller from detaching.

[0014] In addition, the armature may include a hub coupled to a steering shaft, a rim portion in which at least a portion surrounds the hub in a circumferential direction, and a plurality of spokes connecting the rim portion and the hub.

[0015] In addition, the lower cover is provided to surround the hub and the spokes, and may include an installation part in which the HOD controller is installed corresponding to one of the spokes.

[0016] In addition, the spoke corresponding to the installation part is bent to form a vertical part and a horizontal part, and the vertical part may correspond to the installation direction of the HOD controller installed in the installation part.

[0017] Additionally, the HOD controller is installed in the installation part by means of a fixing part, and the fixing part may include a support bracket formed in the installation part and a guide bracket formed in the HOD controller to be slidably coupled to the support bracket.

[0018] In addition, the support bracket may be formed upright and spaced apart from each other, and a stopper may be formed to fix the sliding movement of the guide bracket.

[0019] In addition, the above-mentioned installation part may be equipped with an auxiliary fixing part that prevents the vertical movement of the HOD controller.

[0020] In addition, a loop portion for guiding a wire connected to the HOD controller may be formed on the bottom surface of the HOD controller.

[0021] In addition, it may include a bezel coupled to the upper part of the installation part to prevent the HOD controller from detaching.

[0022] In addition, a contact rib that contacts the upper surface of the HOD controller may be formed on the lower surface of the bezel. Effects of the invention

[0024] As described above, the steering wheel according to the present invention has a mounting portion formed in the lower cover that corresponds to the spokes of the armature and allows for the assembly of a HOD controller, thereby eliminating the need for a separate bracket for assembling the HOD controller, which improves the assemblability of the HOD controller and reduces investment costs and costs by reducing the number of parts.

[0025] In addition, the present invention may have a structure in which the spoke corresponding to the installation part is composed of a vertical part and a horizontal part, and the vertical part can secure space for the installation part and improve support rigidity.

[0026] In addition, the present invention can maximize space utilization and improve assembly by means of a structure that slides to a support bracket provided in the installation part. Brief explanation of the drawing

[0028] FIG. 1 is a perspective view for explaining a steering wheel according to one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view for explaining a steering wheel according to one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of a key part to explain the assembly state of the HOD controller of a steering wheel according to one embodiment of the present invention. Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view of AA of Figure 1. Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view of the BB section of Figure 1. Specific details for implementing the invention

[0029] Hereinafter, a preferred embodiment of a steering wheel according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the attached drawings. In this process, the thickness of lines or the size of components shown in the drawings may be exaggerated for clarity and convenience of explanation.

[0030] Furthermore, the terms described below are defined in consideration of their functions in the present invention, and these may vary depending on the intent or practice of the user or operator. Therefore, the definitions of these terms should be based on the content throughout this specification.

[0031] FIG. 1 is a perspective view for explaining a steering wheel according to one embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view for explaining a steering wheel according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0032] Referring to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, a steering wheel (100) according to one embodiment of the present invention may include an armature (110), a lower cover (120), a HOD controller (140), and a bezel (150).

[0033] The armature (110) may include a hub (112) as an armature (110) base coupled to a steering shaft, a rim portion (114) in which at least a portion surrounds the hub (112) in a circumferential direction, and a plurality of spokes (116) connecting the rim portion (114) and the hub (112).

[0034] For example, a plurality of spokes (116) may be formed with a first spoke (117) that extends from each side of the hub (112) and connects to the rim (114), and a second spoke (118) that extends vertically from the first spoke (117) and connects the hub (112) and the rim (114).

[0035] For example, the armature (110) may include aluminum or magnesium material.

[0036] And, the lower cover (120) is attached to the bottom surface of the armature (110). For example, the lower cover (120) can be formed from an injection molded product.

[0037] This low cover (120) is provided to surround the hub (112) and the spoke (116), and may include an installation part (125) in which a HOD controller (140) is installed corresponding to one of the spokes (116).

[0038] That is, as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, the installation portion (125) of the low cover (120) is formed to correspond to the second spoke (118) and can form a certain space capable of accommodating the HOD controller (140).

[0039] At this time, the second spoke (118) is bent and consists of a vertical section (118b) and a horizontal section (118a). The HOD controller (140) receiving space formed by the installation section (125) of the lower cover (120) can be protected from external forces by the second spoke (118) consisting of the vertical section (118b) and the horizontal section (118a). That is, the vertical section (118b) can function as a configuration capable of supporting a load applied from above.

[0040] And, the vertical section (118b) can be formed to correspond to the installation direction of the HOD controller (140) installed in the installation section (125).

[0041] FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of a key part to explain the assembly state of the HOD controller (140) of the steering wheel (100) according to one embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view AA of FIG. 1, and FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view BB of FIG. 1.

[0042] Referring to FIGS. 3 to 5, the HOD controller (140) can be installed in the installation part (125) by the fixing part (130).

[0043] The fixed part (130) may include a support bracket (132) formed on the installation part (125) and a guide bracket (134) formed on the HOD controller (140) to be slidably coupled to the support bracket (132).

[0044] The support bracket (132) is formed upright from the bottom surface of the installation part (125) upward and consists of a pair spaced apart. And, a stopper (135) is formed to fix the sliding movement of the guide bracket (134).

[0045] Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, the guide bracket (134) is formed with a mutually facing 'L' cross-sectional shape, and the stopper (135) may include a fixed rib (136) that contacts the guide bracket (134) to restrict sliding movement and a locking projection (137) that prevents unintended separation of the guide bracket (134) which is slidably coupled to the support bracket (132).

[0046] That is, the fixed rib (136) is formed at the rear end of the support bracket (132) to limit the connection depth of the guide bracket (134), and the locking projection (137) is formed at the front end of the support bracket (132) to prevent the guide bracket (134) that is slidably connected to the support bracket (132) from detaching.

[0047] The locking projection (137) is formed in an embossed shape so that the locking with the guide bracket (134) can be released by a certain force.

[0048] Referring to FIG. 5, the installation part (125) may be equipped with an auxiliary fixing part (138) that prevents the HOD controller (140) from moving up and down.

[0049] The auxiliary fixing part (138) is formed as a hook that stands upright on the bottom surface of the installation part (125) and can be hook-coupled to the lower part of the HOD controller (140).

[0050] In this way, when the HOD controller (140) aligns the guide bracket (134) with the support bracket (132) that is formed upright and then slides the guide bracket (134) into the longitudinal direction of the support bracket (132), the movement of the HOD controller (140) in the X-axis and Y-axis can be fixed by the support bracket (132) and the guide bracket (134).

[0051] Additionally, it may include a bezel (150) coupled to the upper part of the installation part (125) to prevent the HOD controller (140) from detaching. The bezel (150) may function as a cover that covers the installation part (125).

[0052] A contact rib (152) is formed on the bottom surface of the bezel (150) to contact the upper surface of the HOD controller (140). The contact rib (152) is formed protruding from the bottom surface of the bezel (150) and spaced apart from each other to contact the upper surface of the HOD controller (140). At this time, the contact rib (152) is formed in a shape similar to the contour of the upper surface of the HOD controller (140) to prevent movement of the HOD controller (140).

[0053] As described above, the HOD controller (140) housed in the installation unit (125) has its X-axis and Y-axis movement fixed by the combination of the support bracket (132) and the guide bracket (134), and its Z-axis movement can also be fixed by the bezel (150).

[0054] Meanwhile, a loop portion (142) is formed on the bottom surface of the HOD controller (140) to guide the wire connected to the HOD controller (140).

[0055] The loop portion (142) extends to the lower part of the HOD controller (140) and can be formed by bending to one side to wrap around the wire. Accordingly, the wire connected to the HOD controller (140) can be organized in the loop portion (142) and then inserted into the installation portion (125), thereby improving assembly workability.

[0056] As described above, according to the present invention, an installation part is formed in the lower cover that corresponds to the spokes of the armature and allows the HOD controller to be assembled, thereby eliminating the need for a separate bracket for assembling the HOD controller, which improves the assemblability of the HOD controller and reduces investment costs and costs by reducing the number of parts.

[0057] Although the present invention has been described with reference to the embodiments illustrated in the drawings, this is merely illustrative, and those skilled in the art will understand that various modifications and equivalent alternative embodiments are possible therefrom.

[0058] Therefore, the true technical scope of protection of the present invention should be determined by the patent claims. Explanation of the symbols

[0060] 100 : Steering wheel 110 : Amateur 112 : Herb 114 : Rimbu 116 : Spoke 117 : 1st spoke 118: 2nd spoke 118a: Horizontal section 118b : Vertical section 120 : Low cover 125 : Installation part 130 : Fixing part 132 : Support bracket 134 : Guide bracket 135 : Stopper 136 : Fixing rib 137 : Locking projection 138 : Auxiliary fixing part 140: HOD Controller 142: Ring part 150 : Bezel 152 : Contact rib

Claims

Claim 1 The armature comprises: a lower cover coupled to the armature; a HOD controller coupled to the lower cover; and a bezel coupled to the lower cover to prevent the HOD controller from detaching, wherein the armature comprises: a hub coupled to a steering shaft; a rim portion in which at least a portion surrounds the hub in a circumferential direction; and a plurality of spokes connecting the rim portion and the hub, wherein the lower cover is provided to surround the hub and the spokes; and the armature comprises an installation portion corresponding to one of the spokes in which the HOD controller is installed, wherein the spoke corresponding to the installation portion is bent to form a vertical portion and a horizontal portion; wherein the vertical portion corresponds to the installation direction of the HOD controller installed in the installation portion, and the HOD controller is installed in the installation portion by a fixing portion; and wherein the fixing portion comprises a support bracket formed in the installation portion. A steering wheel comprising a guide bracket formed on the HOD controller to be slidably coupled to the support bracket, wherein the support bracket is formed upright and consists of a pair spaced apart, a stopper is formed to fix the sliding movement of the guide bracket, and a contact rib is formed on the bottom surface of the bezel to contact the upper surface of the HOD controller. Claim 2 delete Claim 3 delete Claim 4 delete Claim 5 delete Claim 6 delete Claim 7 A steering wheel according to claim 1, characterized in that the installation part is equipped with an auxiliary fixing part that prevents the vertical movement of the HOD controller. Claim 8 A steering wheel according to claim 1, characterized in that a loop portion is formed on the bottom surface of the HOD controller to guide a wire connected to the HOD controller. Claim 9 delete Claim 10 delete

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