Recyclable steering wheel

Abstract

The invention relates to a steering wheel (01), for example for a motor vehicle, comprising a rigid frame (10), and a combination of thermoplastic injection-moulded trim parts arranged as a half-shell, advantageously put together by clipping and / or screwing, or by any other fastening means on said frame, the injection-moulded parts constituting the trim of said frame (10) and forming the design and grip of said steering wheel (01).

Description

[0001] Recyclable steering wheel

[0002] CORRESPONDING REQUEST

[0003] This international application under the PCT claims priority from earlier international application No. PCT / IB2023 / 052419 filed on March 13, 2023 in the name of SOFT CAR SA, the contents of this earlier application being incorporated by reference in its entirety into this application.

[0004] TECHNICAL FIELD

[0005] The present invention relates to the architecture of a steering wheel, for example for a motor vehicle, which can be recycled and the manufacturing processes used to produce it, with ecological and recyclable materials in a circular economy.

[0006] The invention also relates to a steering wheel diffusing light, thus becoming a driving aid, a safety element, a guidance element and an aesthetic element of the interior of a vehicle.

[0007] PRIOR TECHNIQUE

[0008] Since the beginnings of the automobile, steering wheels have been produced in wood, then in steel, in steel frame with wood rim, in aluminum, in steel / aluminum frame, and in metal frame overmolded with thermosetting resin, often opaque and dark in color.

[0009] Today, the universal steering wheel manufacturing process is based on four distinct industrial operations: • Manufacturing of a fluted steel insert that connects to the steering column.

[0010] • Pressure overmolding of a magnesium-aluminum frame on the grooved steel insert. This frame forms the rigid core of the steering wheel. Magnesium provides performance linked to its low density (lightweighting, polar inertia, integration of functions, crash resistance, etc.). In addition, magnesium (AM50 and AM60B in particular) provides a high capacity for absorbing energy in the event of impacts and very good vibration damping capacity. Note that there are versions where the frame is made of steel, aluminum, TRE stampable reinforced thermoplastic or advanced composite (which is recyclable).

[0011] • Overmolding of the crown on the frame. The element called "crown" in the present application is the generally toroidal or close to the torus part which forms the perimeter of the steering wheel and on which the user mainly places his hands. It is sometimes called hoop, rim, or other but will be called "crown" here. The overmolding of the crown on the frame is carried out by compression by polyurethane (PU), then foaming of this. This operation makes it possible to produce a skin of good appearance and also to carry out the foaming in the same material and in the same molding cycle. This overmolding forms a solid part, around the frame. Before the chemical reaction the components are liquid There is therefore no empty space inside the crown. This overmolding makes it possible to obtain an entry-level steering wheel, in one piece, with perfect adhesion with the frame. The flexible PU makes it possible to protect the user from the metal of the steering wheel, particularly in a crash.It also gives an ergonomic shape to the steering wheel and a pleasant touch.

[0012] • A covering for a soft and pleasant touch: in high-end production, the PU is covered with genuine hand-stitched leather. For more classic steering wheels, the covering is made with imitation leather and directly molded imitation seams. Increasingly, steering wheel coverings are made with alternatives to leather that are not of animal origin and that do not contain any products tested on them. Animal leather is thus replaced by “vegan” leathers such as orange peel leather, pineapple (Pinatex), grape leather, Muskin (made from mushrooms) or even cork etc.

[0013] The steering wheel is finally completed by parts forming a central housing and a central housing cover, the central housing being able to contain technical elements (such as for example: switch, horn, airbag, pyrotechnic triggering system, airbag triggering computer, various control buttons, etc.), and covering the central part of the steering wheel. These parts are overmolded in PU or injected in polymer and assembled on the steering wheel, for example by screwing or clipping or by other equivalent means. This architecture poses problems at all stages of the steering wheel's lifespan:

[0014] • From a design point of view, due to the exothermic chemical reaction and the temperature generated during the overmolding and foaming process of the PU, no electrical or electronic components can be integrated into the steering wheel rim. Since polyurethane is a thermoset, it is opaque and cannot diffuse any light.

[0015] • In manufacturing, flexible PU foam is made by chemically mixing two liquid components: MDI isocyanate (Methylene Diphenylmethane, 4-4 diisocyanate) and Polyicynene. The polyaddition chemical reaction takes place in the tooling. The personnel in the manufacturing workshops are therefore directly exposed to isocyanates, which are irritants.

[0016] • During vehicle use, the PU releases MDI vapors considered toxic. These are invisible and odorless, but they will pollute the air in the vehicle's passenger compartment.

[0017] • Recycling thermosets is by definition impossible, the three-dimensional chemical synthesis reaction is irreversible. Separating the steering wheel materials is therefore difficult due to the adhesion between the metal frame and the overmolded PU. While in theory the PU on the frame can be shredded, there is no economically viable recovery or reuse. At the end of its life, the steering wheel can be burned, but the combustion of PU releases isocyanates, carbon monoxide and hydrocyanic acid. The flame retardant substances in PU release gases that are toxic to the human nervous system. Recycling current steering wheels in a circular economy is therefore not possible and recycling is practically impossible. If the vehicle is renovated, the steering wheel will be dismantled with the airbag and disposed of in landfill, which then poses an ecological problem.

[0018] SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0019] The present invention makes it possible to overcome all of the drawbacks mentioned above, in particular by removing the PU and its foaming operation from the steering wheel, and by replacing them with thermoplastic polymer shells obtained by injection and which are then fixed to the frame.

[0020] The frame is, for example, integrally cast in magnesium aluminum, in a single piece without the separate steel insert described in prior techniques.

[0021] Preferably, according to embodiments of the invention, the frame is made of two parts: a main body or frame preferably made of magnesium-aluminum and a grooved insert preferably made of steel. The assembly of these two parts is carried out after their manufacture and the grooved steel insert can be mounted or dismounted at any time. This is centered in the frame and then assembled favorably by screwing. During recycling, the insert can be easily separated from the frame and the metals are therefore separated very easily.

[0022] The trim and grip elements are injected from inert thermoplastic and form two half-shells, one at the front (driver's side) and the other at the rear (steering column side) of the steering wheel. This shortens the production cycle time. Toxic fumes are eliminated.

[0023] To allow easy separation of the materials and their recycling in dedicated channels, these trim elements are conveniently assembled to the frame by clipping and / or screwing. When recycled, they are thus easily disassembled, allowing instant separation of the materials and their recovery for reuse in a circular economy model. This advantageously allows the half-shells on the frame to be changed in a few seconds, for example to refurbish a used steering wheel trim when renovating a vehicle for hygiene reasons, the invention allows the use of new aseptic shells, for example when lending a vehicle. The invention allows the steering wheel style or color to be changed at any time by changing the polymer shells.

[0024] According to embodiments of the invention, the steering wheel can be made in three parts: a specific central frame, a front half-shell, and a rear half-shell. It can also be made with a higher number of parts, and include, for example, similar parts at the level of the upper and lower half-shells.

[0025] Favorably, the thermoplastic polymer used to form the half-shells is preferably a pure or bio-sourced thermoplastic resin, which can be in contact with the skin of the fingers without any risk, for example a semi-transparent polypropylene or a copolyester, favorably bio-sourced and favorably having an existing recycling channel. The material constituting the half-shells can also be foamed during the injection process.

[0026] The half-shells can also be made of transparent or translucent polymers that allow light to pass through or diffuse it, for example PMMA, SMMA, PC, PLA, TPE, copolyester, PET or other equivalent materials, in order to be able to display information or decorations directly on the steering wheel, via screens (for example LCD), LEDs, LED strips, image projectors or other display means. In this case, the information will be transmitted to the driver by transparency of the polymer or diffusion through the half-shells. In the case of opaque half-shells, the displays can be placed in openings on the surface of these. In both cases, this creates a head-up display directly integrated into the steering wheel.

[0027] The addition of electrical or electronic components in the steering wheel rim is made possible by eliminating the PU overmolding operation on the frame, which frees up space in the rim and avoids damaging the components in question. These electrical components are display components, but they can also be vibrators, accelerometers, sensors, or other equivalent means, or even a GPS integrated circuit allowing additional and new functions on the steering wheel.

[0028] The addition of these electrical components to the steering wheel brings many new possibilities, for example for safety, steering, ergonomics, battery charge status visible from outside the vehicle, or as a replacement for GPS. This list is of course non-exhaustive.

[0029] In embodiments, the invention relates to a steering wheel, for example for a motor vehicle, comprising a rigid frame, and first covering parts made of thermoplastic material and arranged in half-shells, said first covering parts being assembled by fixing means on said frame, said first covering parts forming the covering of said frame for gripping said steering wheel.

[0030] In embodiments, the steering wheel comprises second trim pieces made of thermoplastic material, said second trim pieces being assembled by fixing means on said frame. These trim pieces are assembled favorably by clipping and / or screwing and by fixing means such as clips and / or screws, or by any other suitable fixing means on said frame and said frame may comprise fixing interfaces for the trim pieces.

[0031] In embodiments, said first trim pieces comprise: a rear crown, a front crown, said second trim pieces comprise a housing, and a cover, said frame being sandwiched between said first and second trim pieces, said first and second trim pieces being fixed to each other and / or directly fixed to said frame, the replacement of said first trim pieces and / or said second trim pieces being able to be carried out quickly and simply.

[0032] In embodiments, the steering wheel comprises at least one steering wheel display making it possible to broadcast light indications to the driver in his field of vision and / or ambient lighting from the steering wheel.

[0033] In embodiments, one or more of said trim pieces are partially or totally transparent or translucent and allow luminous indications and / or ambient lighting to be diffused to the driver by transparency. In embodiments, the rear crown and the front crown are preferably identical. Preferably, they comprise means (clips, complementary shapes, etc.) for fixing them to each other.

[0034] In embodiments, said trim pieces form a rear piece and / or a front piece, said rear piece comprising the rear crown and the housing, and said front piece comprising the front crown and the cover.

[0035] In embodiments, the trim pieces are preferably customization elements and can be easily interchanged as they are attached in a removable manner. In the present application, the notion of removable indicates that the assembly or attachment is reversible: the assembly can be undone ("disassembled") from the assembled pieces and separated, for example for recycling.

[0036] In embodiments, at least one trim piece broadcasts information giving the direction to take in direct reading in an intuitive manner on the steering wheel itself, on part or all of the peripheral circular surface of said steering wheel, thus shortening the cognitive circuit.

[0037] In running modes, the battery charge status is displayed by a light indicator on the rear rim of the steering wheel.

[0038] In some embodiments, the diffusion of light produced by the steering wheel is strong enough to be visible from outside the vehicle, thus making it easy to find the vehicle, for example in a parking lot with a large number of cars.

[0039] In embodiments, the steering wheel is coupled to GPRS GPS positioning software, an angular position sensor, and a speed indicator such that a geographic position and / or an angular position and / or a speed may be indicated on the steering wheel display.

[0040] In some embodiments, the steering wheel incorporates components of a GPS system and communicates through the windshield glass.

[0041] In some execution modes, the steering wheel forms both a GPS driving aid and an instrument for turning the vehicle's steering wheels, indicating (preferably with high precision) the changes of direction to be made.

[0042] In embodiments, said frame comprises a grooved insert and a main frame body which are assembled so as to be able to be disassembled.

[0043] In embodiments, the steering wheel includes a serrated cutout simulating a trim seam. In embodiments, the invention relates to a vehicle (car, truck, etc.) comprising a steering wheel as described and illustrated in the present application.

[0044] In embodiments, the invention relates to a method for producing a steering wheel, for example for a motor vehicle, as described in the present application, said method preferably using neither thermosetting resin nor an overmolding method.

[0045] In embodiments, the invention relates to a method of producing a steering wheel, wherein

[0046] -) we produce a rigid frame,

[0047] -) at least the first trim pieces are produced, for example by injection or another equivalent process,

[0048] -) the frame and the first trim pieces are combined, preferably by a removable assembly, to form a steering wheel.

[0049] In some embodiments, the first trim pieces can be removed without touching the airbag.

[0050] In embodiments, the first trim pieces include a front crown and a rear crown.

[0051] In embodiments, second cladding parts are produced which comprise a cover and a housing and the frame and the second cladding parts are combined by a detachable assembly. In embodiments, the detachable assembly of the frame and the first and second cladding parts is carried out by clipping and / or screwing.

[0052] In embodiments, the first and second covering parts are made of thermoplastic material(s), for example thermoplastic polymer(s). Other equivalent materials are possible as described in the present application.

[0053] In some embodiments, the thermoplastic used to manufacture the trim parts has an identified recycling channel, preferably PET for example.

[0054] Preferably, the trim parts are manufactured by injection.

[0055] In embodiments, the front crown and cover are formed as a single piece and / or the rear crown and case are formed as a single piece.

[0056] In some embodiments, the removable assembly of the frame and the cladding parts is done by clipping and / or screwing.

[0057] In embodiments, for the production of the rigid frame, a main frame body and a grooved insert are produced and assembled in a removable manner. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0058] The present invention and its advantages will appear better in the description below of embodiments given as non-limiting examples, with reference to the appended drawings in which:

[0059] - figure 1 represents a front perspective view of the steering wheel,

[0060] - figure 2 represents a rear perspective view of the steering wheel,

[0061] - figure 3 represents an exploded view of the steering wheel,

[0062] - figure 4 shows a front view of the steering wheel frame with the rear parts fitted,

[0063] - Figure 5 shows a rear view of the steering wheel frame with the front parts fitted,

[0064] - Figure 6 shows a sectional view of a steering wheel clip

[0065] - figure 7 shows a view of the three-piece steering wheel,

[0066] - figure 8 represents a particular cutout between the front and rear crowns

[0067] - figure 9 represents the steering wheel with transparent half-shells, equipped with electric displays,

[0068] - figure 10 represents a sectional view of the steering wheel equipped with a display flush in the crown,

[0069] - figure 11 represents a sectional view of the steering wheel provided with an internal display in the steering wheel in the crown,

[0070] - Figure 12 shows an exploded sectional view of the steering wheel with a flush display in the crown.

[0071] - Figure 13 shows a front perspective view of the two-piece frame. Figure 14 shows an exploded view of the two-piece frame.

[0072] DIGITAL REFERENCES OF THE ELEMENTS

[0073] - 01: steering wheel

[0074] - 02: serrated cut

[0075] - 03: flying display

[0076] - 10: frame

[0077] - 101: grooved insert

[0078] - 101a: grooved insert cone

[0079] - 102: main body of the frame

[0080] - 102a: main body cone of armature

[0081] - 103: armature pin

[0082] - 104: reinforcement screw

[0083] - 105: armature nut

[0084] - 11: connecting groove on the steering column

[0085] - 12: fixing thread

[0086] - 13: clipping cavity

[0087] - 14: ring

[0088] - 15: groove

[0089] - 20: rear crown

[0090] - 21: rear crown clips

[0091] - 21a: rear clipping face

[0092] - 21b: rear unclipping faces

[0093] - 22: rear crown rib

[0094] 30: front crown - 31: front crown clips

[0095] - 31a: front clipping face

[0096] - 31b: front unclipping faces

[0097] - 32: front crown rib

[0098] - 33: opening

[0099] - 40: case

[0100] - 50: cover

[0101] - 51: screw well

[0102] - 60: housing fixing screw

[0103] - 70: cover fixing screw

[0104] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF MODES OF CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

[0105] The invention is not limited to the embodiments or modes of execution described, but is capable of being modified by using means equivalent to those described. The invention and its principle therefore relate to both a steering wheel architecture, a steering wheel with particular functions and an ecological process for the industrial manufacture of said steering wheel.

[0106] With reference to the figures, the steering wheel 01 comprises a frame 10, a rear crown 20, a front crown 30, a housing 40, a cover 50, housing fixing screws 60 and cover fixing screws 70. Said housing 40 and cover 50 may contain other elements such as control buttons, an airbag, a horn or a switch, this list not being exhaustive, other means may be included. Said frame 10 is mainly molded by gravity or under high pressure, favorably in a rigid and resistant material, in order to take up the forces applied to said steering wheel 01 without risk of breakage or excessive deformation. The material in question is favorably, for example, an alloy of aluminum and magnesium. Aluminum provides the necessary rigidity and strength. The addition of magnesium brings performances linked to its low density (polar inertia, integration of functions, crash resistance, etc.).In addition, magnesium (AM50 and AM60B in particular) provides a high capacity for absorbing energy in the event of impacts and a very good vibration damping capacity. Said frame 10 may also be made of another material, for example a magnesium alloy, an aluminum alloy, steel or a reinforced thermoplastic composite. The frame will be arranged to receive the attachment of the crown. The invention is also not limited to a method of forming said frame 10. It may just as easily be machined, forged, stamped, or produced according to another method.

[0107] After forming the frame 10, other operations can be carried out on it. For example, precision broaching of the centering insert to create the connecting groove 11 on the steering column; or machining of fixing threads 12.

[0108] According to another embodiment illustrated in Figures 13 and 14, said frame 10 is formed of a main frame body 102 and a removable grooved insert 101. Said main frame body 102 is manufactured with the methods and materials described below for said frame. Said grooved insert 101 is preferably manufactured from steel or another rigid material, by casting, machining, forging, stamping, or any other suitable method. The purpose of this embodiment is to have said grooves 11 made from a high-strength material so that they do not deteriorate (which could cause safety problems), while retaining, for the rest of said frame 10, the properties of the aluminum and magnesium alloys described above (lightness, polar inertia, integration of functions, crash resistance, shock absorption, vibration damping, etc.).Overmolding said main frame body 102 onto said grooved insert 101 according to prior art techniques would make separation of the two parts and therefore their recycling impossible. In this embodiment according to the invention, the assembly is removable, favorably with frame centering pins 103 to center the assembly and to transmit torque from the driver's hands via the frame to the steering column and wheels, and frame screws 104 to keep the two parts fixed against each other. Said reinforcing screws 104 can be screwed directly into said grooved insert 101, into said main reinforcing body 102, or into reinforcing nuts 105. Favorably, said grooved insert 101 has an insert cone 101a, and said main reinforcing body 102 has a main body cone 102a, arranged to be pressed against each other by the screwing of said reinforcing screws 104.The cone-on-cone assembly thus achieves centering between the two parts, contributes by friction to the transmission of torque between the two parts, and reinforces by wedging the hold between the two parts. This method of fixing is given as an example, the invention is not limited to it and other equivalent methods are possible.

[0109] Said rear crown 20, front crown 30, housing 40 and cover 50 are preferably injected in inert thermoplastic polymer and form half-shells at the front (driver's side) and at the rear (steering column side) of the steering wheel. The injection consists for example of heating polymer pellets and pushing them under pressure into an injection mold. Thus, there is no chemical reaction as in the PU manufacturing process which generates toxic vapor emissions. These parts according to the invention are produced on an injection press independently of said frame 10. They can therefore be mounted on said frame 10 at any time during the assembly process.

[0110] The injection of said rear crown 20, front crown 30, housing 40 and cover 50 also makes it possible to have better reproducibility of the details of the injection mold (creation of textures, graining, engraving of decorative patterns), to reduce the production time and to significantly improve productivity (there is no insert to place in the tooling for manufacturing the trim parts, the injection is faster than the operation for manufacturing thermosets, and the reject rate is significantly lower).

[0111] Favorably, the thermoplastic polymer used to inject these trim parts (rear crown 20, front crown 30, housing 40, and cover 50) is a pure resin, which can be in contact with the skin without any risk of contamination and does not release toxic compounds. Said resin can for example be a semi-transparent polypropylene or a copolyester. The invention is however not limited to these thermoplastics and other equivalent materials are possible. The thermoplastic can also be foamed during injection or produced by a water injection process.

[0112] After injection, said rear crown 20, front crown 30, housing 40, and cover 50 are favorably assembled to the frame by clipping and / or screwing. Thus, according to a non-limiting embodiment presented in Figures 1 to 6, said rear crown 20 and front crown 30 respectively have rear crown clips 21 and front crown clips 31 housed in clipping cavities 13 of said frame 10. Said rear crown clips 21 have a rear clipping face 21a comprising a small angle with the ring 14 of said frame 10. This angle makes it possible to always keep said rear crown clips 21 under stress to avoid having play between said frame and said rear crown 20. The fact that this angle is small prevents said rear crown 20 from being disassembled too easily.Said front crown clips 31 have a front clipping face 31a having the same properties and behaving like said rear clipping faces 21a. Said housing 40 is fixed to said frame 10 by screwing said housing fixing screws 60 into said fixing threads 12 of said frame 10. Said cover 50 is fixed to the assembly by screwing said cover fixing screws 70 into the screw wells 51 of said cover 50. These assemblies are all reversible, which allows simple and rapid disassembly of the steering wheel, the disassembly being able to be partial or complete. During recycling, the different parts are thus easily disassembled, allowing good separation of the materials and their recovery in dedicated channels with a view to being reused in a circular economy model. Said used housing 40 can thus be disassembled and reused to form new housings 40 by injection.The same applies to said rear crown 20, front crown 30, and cover 50. This also allows for replacement of said rear crown 20, front crown 30, housing 40, and cover 50 on the frame. This can be useful in many cases. Advantageously, said parts 20, 30, 40, and 50 are made from a material corresponding to an existing recycling channel such as PET, facilitating the recycling process described above.

[0113] Indeed, currently a growing trend is the sale of leasing, long-term rental or subscription of vehicles, which implies that the vehicles must be renovated as quickly as possible and with the lowest possible environmental impact upon return of the vehicles at the end of the contract. Consequently, the principle of the invention makes it possible, for example, to refurbish a damaged steering wheel 01, by changing these few injected trim parts, without having to change said frame 10 or the internal elements of said box40 (buttons, airbag, horn, etc.). This can be useful in renovation operations to change at low cost, quickly, and without recourse to a specialized technician, parts which are light and which can then be recycled or thrown away.For car rental, car sharing, leasing, garage work and of course for manufacturers, it can be useful, for hygiene reasons, to provide new trim pieces that have not been previously touched by previous users. It is important for the user's perceived quality to have a steering wheel that looks new and aseptic. This can also be interesting from an aesthetic point of view; if a user wishes to change the color and / or shape of their steering wheel, they can easily do so by changing only these trim pieces.

[0114] The replacement of the said rear crown 20 and front crown 30 is carried out in a few seconds, without having to touch or deactivate the airbag trigger, and the dismantled parts are easily recycled in dedicated channels. Changing two light half-shells (for example 200 grams) made of recyclable polymer in a few seconds has much less environmental impact than dismantling a heavy conventional steering wheel (for example more than a kilo), triggering the airbag and putting all of these non-separable and non-recyclable materials in landfill.

[0115] According to a particular embodiment in which it is desired to keep the worn shells of the steering wheel after disassembly and that these are clipped, said rear crown clips 21 and front crown clips 31 are designed to be removable. Favorably, disassembly is carried out with local pressure on the rear unclipping faces 21b and front unclipping faces 31b. This pressure can be favorably applied using a needle passing through a small hole made when molding said shells.

[0116] The invention is not, however, limited to screwing and clipping attachments. Said rear crown 20, front crown 30, housing 40, and cover 50 may also be glued, ultrasonically welded, riveted, or assembled by other means to said frame 10, the attachment means being able to be combined with each other.

[0117] During assembly, rear crown ribs 22 of said rear crown 20 and front crown ribs 32 of said front crown 30 are housed in grooves 15 of said frame 10. This embedding allows the torque to be passed between said rear crown 20 and front crown 30, and said frame 10. As arranged, said ribs 22 and 32 work in shear, which allows a significant torque to be passed without risk of breakage or play between the crowns and the frame.

[0118] According to the architecture and the embodiments presented in figures 1 to 6, the covering parts are preferably four in number: said rear crown 20, said front crown 30, said housing 40, and said cover 50. Said flywheel 01 thus comprises five parts including said frame 10 and the four covering parts. According to a particular embodiment, said rear crown 20 and said front crown 30 are identical, and therefore come from the same injection tooling. The four covering parts are thus injected with only three tools, or even fewer in the case of the use of family molds. In this embodiment, said rear crown clips 21, front crown clips 31, rear crown rib 22 and front crown rib 32 must be arranged in a particular manner so that each of these elements finds its location in a clipping cavity 13 or in a groove 15.

[0119] In an embodiment shown in Figure 7, said rear crown 20 and said housing 40 form a single piece, and said front crown 30 and said cover 50 form a single piece. In this embodiment, there are therefore two trim pieces and said steering wheel 01 thus comprises three pieces including said frame 10 and the two trim pieces. In this case, triggering of the airbag will cause the cover / front crown piece to disassemble or separate.

[0120] Regardless of the architecture and the way in which the trim pieces are formed, a trim can be added as for a traditional steering wheel. This trim can be made of animal leather, imitation leather, vegan vegetable leather, orange peel, pineapple peel (Pinatex), grape skin, Muskin, cork, etc. The invention is not limited to these trims given as non-limiting examples.

[0121] A serrated cutout 02 between said rear crown 20 and said front crown 30, as shown in Figure 8, can also give the illusion of having a trim, by reproducing the pattern of a stitching by thread. The fact of producing said rear crown 20 and said front crown 30 by injection rather than by overmolding said frame 10, makes it possible to have parts forming half-shells around said frame 10, which frees up space inside said rear crowns 20 and front crown 30. The freed space makes it possible to incorporate one or more electronic components at the level of said rear crown 20 and front crown 30. This is not possible in the case of a conventional steering wheel, because the heat released and the chemical reaction accompanying the shaping of the PU would burn, oxidize, and / or destroy all the electrical or electronic components integrated in said steering wheel 01 or in any case would be harmful to their integrity.

[0122] A steering wheel display 03 can thus be integrated into said front ring 30, inserted into an opening 33 made in said front ring 30 as shown in Figures 10 and 12, in order to display information directly on the steering wheel, said steering wheel display 03 being able to be a screen, LEDs or any other electrical or electronic display means. Said steering wheel display 03 can be fixed inside said steering wheel 01 using screws, clips, glued, riveted or by any other fixing means. Said steering wheel 01 can have a single or several openings 33, able to accommodate a single or several steering wheel displays 03 according to this configuration, as illustrated in Figure 9.

[0123] Said front crown 30 may also be made of a translucent or transparent polymer that allows light to pass through or diffuses it, for example PMMA, SMMA, PC, PLA, copolyester or PET (or other equivalent materials), the invention not being limited to these materials alone. In this case, said flying display 03 may be placed inside said steering wheel 01, in the space located between said frame 10 and said front crown 30, as shown in FIG. 11, without having to make an opening, thus preserving the smooth surface of said front crown 30, and protecting said flying display from external elements such as liquids or any other element that could potentially damage them. Said steering wheel 01 may comprise a single or several flying displays 03 according to this configuration.

[0124] In the same way, flying displays 03 can also be mounted in said rear crown 20, housing 40, and cover 50, either through an opening, or without an opening with one or more transparent parts to let the light of said flying display pass through.

[0125] This new function of the steering wheel makes it possible to use a large circular surface on part or all of the periphery of said steering wheel 01, placed in the best possible location close to the driver's eyes and in the field of vision on the fundamental part used to steer the vehicle. This function therefore creates a "head-up display" directly integrated into the steering wheel. The support for the display elements (LEDs, screens, etc.) may be favorably integrated mechanically into said frame 10. The electrical power supply during the rotation of said steering wheel 01 is provided by the same rotating connector as for the horn or the airbag, namely the "clockspring". It is also possible to provide light-sensing elements (e.g. solar cells) arranged for example on the rear crown 20 to generate electrical energy useful for the displays 03.

[0126] The trim pieces 20, 30, 40, 50 may be used to capture and / or diffuse light or to transmit information to the user by illuminating segments. The information disseminated may be the signaling of dangers, alerts, obstacles or cars slowing down or pulling out, speed, acceleration, braking, battery charge level, fuel tank fill level, turn signal reminder, alarm signals, proximity, crossing a white line, crossing the road limits, wrong direction, or any other element usually displayed on the dashboard.

[0127] The invention provides a new intuitive safety, the light being produced directly on the steering wheel, allowing to correct a dangerous situation, avoidance or otherwise, without looking away from the danger, the display being directly located on the instrument thanks to which the driver can modify the direction of the vehicle

[0128] According to the invention, for example, the battery charge status can be displayed, which can then be seen at a glance from outside the car through the windshield. This highly legible information, in the driver's field of vision and close to his gaze, like a head-up display, allows a cognitive shortcut and a prioritization of fundamental driving information for the driver. This head-up display differs from the display module behind the steering wheel or the display module in the middle of the vehicle, which contain secondary or entertaining and / or more general information intended for passengers. The information close to the driver's gaze makes it possible to reduce the size of the information display, freeing up space in the cockpit.

[0129] According to one embodiment, said steering wheel 01 has display means over the entire periphery of said front crown 30 then becoming a dial, and said steering wheel 01 is equipped with a sensor allowing the on-board computer to know at any time the position of said steering wheel 01, for example an angular sensor or an accelerometer. The display can thus be adjusted so that the information broadcast does not rotate, even when the steering wheel itself rotates. For example, the speed of the vehicle is displayed at the top of said steering wheel 01 (see figure 9) when said steering wheel 01 and the wheels are straight. When the driver turns the steering wheel 10 degrees to the right, the computer detects the rotation, and displays the speed 10 degrees further to the left, so that the speed is always displayed at the top of said steering wheel 01 while it is turned 10 degrees to the right.The invention is not limited to this particular example given for illustrative purposes and this principle is applicable to any information displayed on the steering wheel.

[0130] By being coupled with a GPRS GPS positioning program / software, said steering wheel 01 can broadcast ultra-precise information on the direction to take. For example, said steering wheel 01 can illuminate a segment of said steering wheel 20 degrees from the vertical to indicate to the driver that to take the next turn, he will have to turn said steering wheel 01 by 20 degrees to place said illuminated segment vertically. The invention is of course not limited to this particular example given for illustrative purposes. Thus, to turn in a complex junction where two roads are possible and where the driver only has a few tenths of a second to take the information from his GPS, said driver has the piloting information directly in his field of vision, and does not need to refocus his gaze on a GPS screen usually located on the windshield or on the dashboard.The steering wheel then becomes both the main direction indication and the instrument for steering the vehicle. The steering wheel can indicate whether the angle taken by the vehicle is too great or not enough to take the right direction, for example by displaying the cursor indicating the direction with an angle relative to the vertical, or by changing the color of said steering wheel 01 or the color of the cursor indicating the direction to take. This feedback provides great safety and serenity to the driver, induced by the fact that the driver is in direct reading, and that he knows with certainty and precision in which direction to go by following the steering wheel indication. This certainty comes from the ultra short cognitive circuit requiring very few movements on the part of the driver. It avoids possible panic of the driver in case of hesitation and therefore limits accidents.This feedback and level of information certainty does not currently exist on any system.

[0131] With positioning software and anticipation software, the invention makes it possible, in the case of a sports steering wheel, for example a rally or rally raid, to indicate precisely in advance and in the driver's field of vision (head-up display), the exact angle at which the steering wheel 01 must be turned at the next bend. This information supports or replaces the co-driver.

[0132] Said steering wheel 01, coupled with GPS GPRS positioning software, an angular position sensor, and a speed indicator, makes it possible to know the position of the vehicle in space relatively precisely, and therefore to reduce the exchange of signals with the positioning satellite, thus limiting the energy consumption of the calculation servers, and reducing CO2 emissions.

[0133] A steering wheel with such display means can also be useful for learning to drive and be an aid for a student driver. They can learn to follow smoother trajectories (without sudden movements of the steering wheel), to perform maneuvers or to countersteer for example.

[0134] In the space freed between said frame 10 and said rear crown 20 and front crown 30, said steering wheel can integrate other elements than displays, for example a vibrator which, in addition to lighting, makes it possible to alert the driver either to the crossing of road limits, line, or wrong direction. Coupled with a camera or another means detecting whether the driver has his eyes open, said vibrator can also start if the driver closes his eyes, in an attempt to wake him up. Said steering wheel 01 can also contain a radar, a lidar, or a camera. These components are used for filming, when stationary or while moving, and make it possible to guide the vehicle. Their integration in said steering wheel 01 thus makes it possible to free the windshield space from these components.

[0135] The steering wheel according to the present invention can also be coupled to a "black box" of the vehicle and be useful, in the event of an accident, to understand how the vehicle was maneuvered: for example information transmitted to the driver and his reactions to said information.

[0136] Of course, the principles of the invention can also be transposed to the field of gaming: for steering wheels for driving and piloting simulators, for example.

[0137] Embodiments have been described to provide a comprehensive understanding of the principles of structure, function, manufacture, and use of the systems and methods described in this application. One or more of these embodiments are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. The systems and methods specifically described in this application and illustrated in the accompanying drawings are non-limiting embodiments, and the scope of the present invention is not defined solely by the claims. Features illustrated or described in connection with one embodiment may be combined with features of other embodiments. Such modifications and variations are intended to be included within the scope of the present invention. A number of problems with conventional methods and systems are noted herein, and the methods and systems described herein may solve one or more of these problems.Additionally, while this invention has been described in conjunction with a number of embodiments, alternatives, modifications, equivalents, and variations that are within the spirit and scope of the present invention are also covered by this application.

Claims

CLAIMS 1. Steering wheel (01), for example for a motor vehicle, comprising a rigid frame (10), and first covering parts (20, 30) made of thermoplastic material and arranged in half-shells, said first covering parts being assembled by fixing means on said frame (10), said first covering parts forming the covering of said frame (10) for gripping said steering wheel (01).

2. Steering wheel (01) according to claim 1, comprising second covering pieces (40, 50) made of thermoplastic material, said second covering pieces being assembled by fixing means on said frame (10).

3. Steering wheel (01) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said first trim pieces comprise: a rear crown (20), a front crown (30), said second trim pieces comprise a housing (40), and a cover (50), said frame (10) being sandwiched between said first and second trim pieces, said first and second trim pieces being fixed to each other and / or directly fixed to said frame, the replacement of said first trim pieces and / or said second trim pieces being able to be carried out quickly and simply.

4. Steering wheel (01) according to one of the preceding claims, comprising at least one steering wheel display (03) making it possible to broadcast to the driver light indications in his field of vision and / or ambient light from said steering wheel (03).

5. Steering wheel (01) according to one of the preceding claims, in which one or more of said trim pieces is (are) transparent or translucent and allows luminous indications and / or ambient light to be transmitted to the driver by transparency.

6. Steering wheel (01) according to one of claims 3 to 5, wherein said rear crown (20) and said front crown (30) are identical.

7. Steering wheel (01) according to one of the preceding claims 2 to 5, wherein said trim pieces form a rear piece (20,40) and / or a front piece (30,50), said rear piece comprising the rear crown (20) and the housing (40), and said front piece comprising the front crown (30) and the cover (50).

8. Steering wheel (01) according to one of the preceding claims, in which the trim parts are customization elements which can be easily interchanged.

9. Steering wheel (01) according to one of the preceding claims, in which at least one trim piece diffuses information by light indication giving the direction to take in direct reading intuitively on the steering wheel itself, on part or all of the peripheral circular surface of said steering wheel (01), thus shortening the cognitive circuit.

10. Steering wheel (01) according to one of the preceding claims, in which the state of charge of the battery is displayed by light indication on the rear ring (20) of the steering wheel.

11. Steering wheel (01) according to one of the preceding claims, in which the diffusion of light produced by the steering wheel is strong enough to be visible from outside the vehicle, thus making it easy to find the vehicle, for example in a parking lot comprising a large number of cars.

12. Steering wheel (01) according to one of the preceding claims, said steering wheel (01) being coupled to GPS GPRS positioning software, to an angular position sensor, and to a speed indicator so that a geographical position and / or an angular position and / or a speed can be indicated on the steering wheel display (03).

13. Steering wheel (01) according to the preceding claim, comprising components of a GPS system, and communicating directly through the windshield glass.

14. Steering wheel (01) according to claim 12 or 13, said steering wheel forming both a GPS driving aid and an instrument for turning the steering wheels of the vehicle indicating the changes of direction to be made.

15. Steering wheel (01) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein said frame (10) comprises a grooved insert (101) and a main frame body (102) assembled so as to be able to be disassembled.

16. Steering wheel (01) according to one of the preceding claims, comprising a serrated cutout (02) simulating a trim seam.

17. Vehicle comprising a steering wheel according to one of the preceding claims.

18. Method for producing a steering wheel (01), for example for a motor vehicle, according to one of the preceding claims, said method using neither thermosetting resin nor overmolding method.

19. A method of producing a steering wheel, wherein -) we produce a rigid frame, -) we produce at least the first pieces of clothing, -) we combine the frame and the first trim pieces by a removable assembly to form a steering wheel.

20. Production method according to one of claims 18 or 19, wherein the first trim parts can be dismantled without touching the airbag.

21. Method according to one of claims 18 to 20, in which the first trim pieces comprise a front crown and a rear crown.

22. Method according to one of claims 18 to 21, in which second cladding parts are produced which comprise a cover and a housing and the frame and the second cladding parts are combined by a removable assembly.

23. Method according to one of claims 18 to 22, in which the reversible assembly of the frame and the first and second covering parts is done by clipping and / or screwing.

24. Method according to one of claims 18 to 23, in which the first and second covering parts are made of thermoplastic material(s).

25. Method according to the preceding claim, in which the thermoplastic used to manufacture the trim parts has an identified recycling channel, favorably PET.

26. Method according to one of claims 18 to 25, in which the first and second trim pieces are produced by injection.

27. Method according to one of claims 21 to 26, in which the front crown and the cover are formed in one piece and / or the rear crown and the housing are formed in one piece.

28. Method according to one of claims 21 to T1, in which for the production of the rigid frame, a main frame body and a grooved insert are produced and they are assembled in a removable manner.

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