Steering wheel leather wrapping method and steering wheel

Abstract

The application discloses a steering wheel leather wrapping method, comprising the following steps: pre-coating a first powder glue and a second powder glue on the back of leather, the melting point of the first powder glue is less than that of the second powder glue; heating the leather to a first set temperature, melting the first powder glue, and then bonding the leather to a steering wheel; heating the steering wheel to a second set temperature, the second set temperature is higher than the first set temperature, melting the second powder glue, and further bonding the leather to the steering wheel. The application also discloses a steering wheel. The application does not need manual glue brushing due to the introduction of powder glue, the leather coating efficiency is improved, and the manufacturing cost is greatly reduced.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the technical field of steering wheel processing methods, and more particularly to a method for wrapping steering wheel with leather and a steering wheel. Background Technology

[0002] The existing steering wheel includes a rim portion forming an operating ring and a boss portion located at the center of the rim portion, as well as multiple spoke portions for connecting the rim portion and the boss portion.

[0003] To achieve a high-quality steering wheel appearance or operability, the rim area is required to be covered with leather.

[0004] The existing process involves hand-wrapping leather, and the typical steps for hand-wrapping leather are as follows:

[0005] 1. Cut the leather into thin slices;

[0006] 2. Align the ends of the leather and sew them together by hand to form a leather loop;

[0007] 3. Install the leather loop on the steering wheel, wrapping the leather loop around the outer edge of the steering wheel;

[0008] 4. Apply liquid adhesive to the back of the leather and the steering wheel foam to bond the inside of the leather ring to the wheel rim;

[0009] 5. Dry the glue;

[0010] 6. Activate the liquid adhesive with hot air and attach the leather ring to the rim;

[0011] 7. Sew the ends of the leather loops to complete the leather wrapping process;

[0012] 8. Perform final tidying and cleaning.

[0013] The existing leather wrapping process involves manual application and gluing of liquid adhesive, which requires a lot of work and labor and is inefficient. Summary of the Invention

[0014] The purpose of this invention is to overcome the shortcomings of the prior art and provide a method and steering wheel for wrapping leather without manual glue application, which is efficient and low-cost.

[0015] The present invention provides a method for wrapping a steering wheel with leather, comprising the following steps:

[0016] A first powder adhesive and a second powder adhesive are pre-coated on the back of the leather, wherein the melting point of the first powder adhesive is lower than that of the second powder adhesive.

[0017] The leather is heated to a first set temperature to melt the first powder adhesive, and then the leather is bonded to the steering wheel.

[0018] The steering wheel is heated to a second set temperature, which is higher than the first set temperature, to melt the second powder adhesive and further bond the leather to the steering wheel.

[0019] Furthermore, the melting point of the first powder adhesive is 40–60°C.

[0020] Furthermore, the highest melting point of the second powder adhesive is 100–120°C.

[0021] Furthermore, when heating the leather to the first set temperature, a low-temperature heat gun is used for heating.

[0022] Furthermore, when the steering wheel is heated to a second set temperature, the steering wheel is placed in a high-temperature heating chamber.

[0023] Furthermore, the first powder adhesive and the second powder adhesive are hot melt adhesives.

[0024] Furthermore, before heating the leather to the first set temperature, the following steps are also included:

[0025] The leather is cut into pieces;

[0026] The leather pieces are sewn into leather loops;

[0027] Place the leather ring onto the steering wheel.

[0028] Furthermore, before the step of heating the steering wheel to the second set temperature, the leather band is sewn on.

[0029] The present invention also provides a steering wheel, including an annular rim portion and leather covering the rim portion, wherein the back of the leather is pre-coated with a first powder adhesive and a second powder adhesive, the melting point of the first powder adhesive being lower than the melting point of the second powder adhesive, and the leather being bonded to the outside of the rim portion by the first powder adhesive and the second powder adhesive.

[0030] Furthermore, the first powder adhesive and the second powder adhesive are applied alternately to the back of the leather.

[0031] Furthermore, the first powder adhesive is arranged in multiple straight lines, the second powder adhesive is arranged in multiple straight lines, and the multiple lines of the first powder adhesive and the second powder adhesive are arranged alternately.

[0032] Furthermore, a PU foam layer is provided between the leather and the rim portion, the leather and the PU foam layer are directly bonded together, and the PU foam layer is bonded to the rim portion.

[0033] The above technical solution has the following beneficial effects:

[0034] This invention, by introducing powdered adhesive, eliminates the need for manual application of adhesive, improves leather covering efficiency, and significantly reduces manufacturing costs. Attached Figure Description

[0035] The disclosure of this invention will become more readily understood by referring to the accompanying drawings. It should be understood that these drawings are for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to limit the scope of protection of this invention. In the drawings:

[0036] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the steering wheel in Embodiment 1 of the present invention;

[0037] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the back of the leather in Embodiment 1 of the present invention;

[0038] Figure 3 yes Figure 2 Side view;

[0039] Figure 4 This is a flowchart of the steering wheel leather wrapping method in Embodiment 2 of the present invention. Detailed Implementation

[0040] The specific embodiments of the present invention will be further described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0041] It is readily understood that, based on the technical solution of this invention, various structural and implementation methods can be interchanged by those skilled in the art without altering the essential spirit of the invention. Therefore, the following detailed embodiments and accompanying drawings are merely illustrative examples of the technical solution of this invention and should not be considered as the entirety of the invention or as limitations or restrictions on the technical solution of the invention.

[0042] The directional terms such as up, down, left, right, front, back, front, back, top, and bottom mentioned or possibly used in this specification are defined relative to the structures shown in the accompanying drawings. They are relative concepts and may therefore vary depending on their location and usage. Therefore, these or other directional terms should not be interpreted as restrictive.

[0043] Example 1:

[0044] like Figure 1-3 As shown, the steering wheel includes an annular rim portion and leather 1 covering the rim portion. The back of the leather 1 is pre-coated with a first powder adhesive 2 and a second powder adhesive 3. The melting point of the first powder adhesive 2 is lower than that of the second powder adhesive 3. The leather 1 is bonded to the outside of the rim portion by the first powder adhesive 2 and the second powder adhesive 3.

[0045] First, heat to a lower temperature to melt the first powder adhesive 2, then bond the leather 1 to the outside of the rim; then heat to a higher temperature to melt the second powder adhesive 3, further enhancing the bonding effect.

[0046] By introducing powdered adhesive, the powdered adhesive can be sprayed onto the back of leather 1 by machine, eliminating the need for manual brushing. The powdered adhesive automatically melts and bonds to the rim when heated, improving the efficiency of leather covering and greatly reducing manufacturing costs.

[0047] Furthermore, such as Figure 2-3 As shown, the first powder adhesive 2 and the second powder adhesive 3 are applied alternately to the back of the leather.

[0048] Preferably, such as Figure 2 As shown, the first powder adhesive 2 is arranged in multiple straight lines, the second powder adhesive 3 is arranged in multiple straight lines, and the multiple first powder adhesives and second powder adhesives are arranged alternately.

[0049] In this context, the triangle represents the first powder adhesive 2, and the square represents the second powder adhesive 3.

[0050] The first powder adhesive 2 and the second powder adhesive 3 are arranged longitudinally at intervals on the back of the leather 1. The interval arrangement allows the first powder adhesive 2 and the second powder adhesive 3 to be evenly distributed on the back of the leather 1, preventing them from falling off the steering wheel during the wrapping process.

[0051] Optionally, the first powder adhesive 2 and the second powder adhesive 3 can also be arranged at intervals along the transverse direction, or at irregular intervals.

[0052] Furthermore, a PU foam layer is provided between the leather and the rim, with the leather and PU foam layer directly bonded together, and the PU foam layer bonded to the rim. The PU foam layer enhances the steering wheel's handling feel.

[0053] Alternatively, the PU foam layer can be replaced with a latex layer, a sponge layer, or other elastic layers.

[0054] Example 2:

[0055] In one embodiment of the present invention, the method for wrapping a steering wheel with leather includes the following steps:

[0056] A first powder adhesive and a second powder adhesive are pre-coated on the back of the leather, the melting point of the first powder adhesive being lower than that of the second powder adhesive;

[0057] The leather is heated to a first set temperature to melt the first powder adhesive, and then the leather is bonded to the steering wheel.

[0058] The steering wheel is heated to a second set temperature, which is higher than the first set temperature, to melt the second powder adhesive and further bond the leather to the steering wheel.

[0059] like Figure 1 As shown, the steering wheel includes a circular rim section, and leather 1 needs to be wrapped around the outside of the rim section for decoration and to increase comfort.

[0060] Two types of adhesive are pre-coated on the back of leather 1: a first powder adhesive and a second powder adhesive. Since both the first and second powder adhesives are in powder form, they can be sprayed by machine, eliminating the need for manual brushing. This improves the efficiency of leather covering and reduces manufacturing costs.

[0061] Before the leather is bonded to the steering wheel, it is heated to a first set temperature. The first set temperature is greater than the melting point of the first powder adhesive but less than the melting point of the second powder adhesive, so that the first powder adhesive melts while the second powder adhesive does not melt and remains in powder form.

[0062] After the first powder adhesive melts, it is pre-bonded to the steering wheel, achieving initial bonding and fixation between the leather and the steering wheel.

[0063] When the steering wheel is heated to the second set temperature, because the second set temperature is higher than the first set temperature and also higher than the melting point of the second powder adhesive, the second powder adhesive melts, making the leather and steering wheel bond more firmly.

[0064] Preferably, the melting point of the first powder adhesive is 40–60°C. The maximum melting point of the second powder adhesive is 100–120°C.

[0065] In some embodiments of the present invention, a low-temperature heat gun is used to heat the leather to a first set temperature.

[0066] Because the first powder adhesive has a low melting point, it is heated only with a low-temperature hot air gun during the wrapping process. The heating time is short, and the temperature of the first powder adhesive and the leather is low, which makes it convenient for workers to wrap the leather on the steering wheel. This solves the problem of the leather being too hot to handle and also improves the wrapping efficiency.

[0067] In some embodiments of the present invention, when the steering wheel is heated to a second set temperature, the steering wheel is placed in a high-temperature heating chamber.

[0068] The first powder adhesive can solve the leather wrapping problem, but in order to meet the environmental testing requirements of the steering wheel, it is also necessary to ensure that the adhesive does not completely melt and lose its stickiness at high temperatures, thus preventing peeling. Therefore, a second powder adhesive is also applied to the back of the leather, optimizing the existing wrapping process.

[0069] When heated to the second set temperature, the adhesive strength of the first powder adhesive may decrease. However, the second powder adhesive will not lose its adhesiveness and peel off at the second set temperature, resulting in a stronger bond between the leather and the steering wheel.

[0070] Furthermore, both the first and second powder adhesives are hot melt adhesives.

[0071] The first powder adhesive and the second powder adhesive can be existing conventional hot melt adhesives, and there is no reaction between the first powder adhesive and the second powder adhesive.

[0072] The first and second powder adhesives can be of types such as PA / PES / TPU.

[0073] In some embodiments of the present invention, the first powder adhesive and the second powder adhesive may also be special hot melt adhesives. When the second powder adhesive melts, the first powder adhesive also melts, and a polymerization reaction occurs between the first powder adhesive and the second powder adhesive to form an adhesive with stronger adhesion.

[0074] In some embodiments of the present invention, before heating the leather to a first set temperature, the following steps are further included:

[0075] Cut the leather into pieces;

[0076] Sew the leather pieces into leather loops;

[0077] Put the leather strap on the steering wheel.

[0078] The first and second powdered adhesives are applied to a whole piece of leather. Before heating, the first and second powdered adhesives are not sticky. The whole piece of leather is then cut and processed into multiple leather pieces, which are then sewn into leather rings. Finally, the leather rings are put onto the steering wheel.

[0079] Further, before heating the steering wheel to the second set temperature, the leather ring is sewn on. At this point, the leather ring has already been bonded to the steering wheel by the melted first powder adhesive, and then the end of the leather ring is sewn to itself, so that the leather ring completely wraps around the rim of the steering wheel.

[0080] Finally, heat the steering wheel to the second set temperature to further ensure a firm bond between the back of the leather strap and the steering wheel.

[0081] like Figure 4 As shown, a preferred embodiment of the steering wheel leather wrapping method of the present invention includes the following steps:

[0082] Step 01: Pre-apply a first powder adhesive and a second powder adhesive to the back of the leather. The melting point of the first powder adhesive is lower than that of the second powder adhesive.

[0083] Step 02: Cut the leather into pieces;

[0084] Step 03: Sew the leather pieces into leather loops;

[0085] Step 04: Put the leather strap on the steering wheel;

[0086] Step 05: Heat the leather to the first set temperature to melt the first powder adhesive, and then bond the leather ring to the steering wheel;

[0087] Step 06: Sew the leather band;

[0088] Step 07: Heat the steering wheel to the second set temperature, which is higher than the first set temperature, to melt the second powder adhesive and further bond the rubber ring to the steering wheel.

[0089] This embodiment provides a solution that satisfies both the leather wrapping process for steering wheels and the stringent environmental testing requirements for automotive steering wheels:

[0090] 1) To solve the problem of leather overlay, we laminated a low-melting-point first powder adhesive onto the back of the leather. Because of the low melting point of the first powder adhesive, only a low-temperature heat gun is used to heat the adhesive during overlay. The heating time is short, and the temperature of the adhesive and leather is low, which makes it easier for workers to overlay the leather onto the PU foam layer of the steering wheel. This solves the problem of the leather being too hot to handle and also improves the overlay efficiency.

[0091] 2) To meet the environmental testing requirements for steering wheels, we need to ensure that the adhesive on the steering wheel does not completely melt and lose its stickiness and peel off at high temperatures. Therefore, a second powder adhesive is also applied to the back of the leather, which optimizes the existing coating process.

[0092] 3) With the introduction of first and second powder adhesives, manual application of adhesive is no longer required, the efficiency of leather covering is improved, and the manufacturing cost is greatly reduced.

[0093] The above description is merely the principle and preferred embodiment of the present invention. It should be noted that, for those skilled in the art, several other modifications can be made based on the principle of the present invention, and these modifications should also be considered within the scope of protection of the present invention.

Claims

1. A method for wrapping a steering wheel in leather, characterized in that, Includes the following steps: A first powder adhesive and a second powder adhesive are pre-coated on the back of the leather, wherein the melting point of the first powder adhesive is lower than that of the second powder adhesive. Before heating the leather to a first set temperature, the leather is cut into leather pieces, the leather pieces are sewn into leather rings, and the leather rings are put on the steering wheel; The leather is heated to a first set temperature. The melting point of the first powder adhesive is 40°C to 60°C. The first powder adhesive is melted by heating with a low-temperature hot air gun. Then, the worker covers and glues the leather onto the steering wheel. Before heating the steering wheel to the second set temperature, the leather band is sewn on; The steering wheel is heated to a second set temperature. The highest melting point of the second powder adhesive is 100℃~120℃. The second set temperature is higher than the first set temperature. The steering wheel is placed in a high-temperature heating chamber to melt the second powder adhesive, thereby further bonding the leather to the steering wheel.

2. The method for wrapping a steering wheel with leather according to claim 1, characterized in that, The first powder adhesive and the second powder adhesive are hot melt adhesives.

3. A steering wheel made using the steering wheel leather wrapping method according to any one of claims 1-2, comprising an annular rim portion and leather covering the rim portion, characterized in that, The back of the leather is pre-coated with a first powder adhesive and a second powder adhesive. The melting point of the first powder adhesive is lower than that of the second powder adhesive. The leather is bonded to the outside of the rim portion by the first powder adhesive and the second powder adhesive.

4. The steering wheel according to claim 3, characterized in that, The first powder adhesive and the second powder adhesive are applied alternately to the back of the leather.

5. The steering wheel according to claim 4, characterized in that, The first powder adhesive is arranged in multiple straight lines, the second powder adhesive is arranged in multiple straight lines, and the multiple lines of the first powder adhesive and the second powder adhesive are arranged alternately.

6. The steering wheel according to claim 3, characterized in that, A PU foam layer is provided between the leather and the rim portion, and the leather and the PU foam layer are directly bonded together, while the PU foam layer is bonded to the rim portion.

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