Steering wheel for motor vehicles including a remote airbag

Abstract

STEERING WHEEL FOR A MOTOR VEHICLE COMPRISING AN OFFSET AIRBAG The present invention relates to a steering wheel (4) for a motor vehicle (2), comprising: a hub (6) having a front portion (6.1) and a rear portion (6.2) intended to extend longitudinally towards a dashboard of the motor vehicle; and a rim (8) extending around the hub; and a protective device (10) comprising an airbag configured to deploy in the event of a collision; notable in that the protective device is disposed near the rim at the rear portion of the hub, said steering wheel further comprising a guide segment configured to guide the deployment of the airbag, in the event of a collision, over the rim. (Figure to be published with the abbreviation: Figure 1)

Description

Title of the invention: STEERING WHEEL FOR MOTOR VEHICLES COMPRISING A REMOTE AIRBAG technical field

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of motor vehicles, more particularly to the field of airbags in motor vehicles. Previous technique

[0002] Conventionally, steering wheel airbags are positioned in the center of the hub behind a fusible cover bearing the vehicle manufacturer's logo. This arrangement maximizes the airbag's effectiveness in the event of a frontal collision by placing it directly in front of the driver of the vehicle.

[0003] With the evolution of embedded technologies and the increasing number of dashboard features, the central front portion of the steering wheel hub can now be occupied by elements such as screens or other control devices, thus improving ergonomics and comfort for drivers. However, this arrangement does not leave enough space to install the airbag in this area.

[0004] There is therefore a need among car manufacturers to ensure that the airbag can deploy effectively to protect the driver, and this without interference with the control devices or the screens.

[0005] Published patent document US 2022 / 0063539 Al discloses an airbag system integrated behind the steering wheel of a motor vehicle, designed to be deployed towards the driver while avoiding an LCD screen mounted in the center of the steering wheel.

[0006] However, the solution proposed in the document has room for improvement, particularly regarding the efficiency and accuracy of airbag deployment. It is also essential to enhance the safety of this deployment. Indeed, the airbag, as disclosed in the document, deploys directly near the hub, risking impact with the steering wheel rim. Furthermore, the solution proposed in the document cannot be used with a steering wheel that has a non-circular shape. Description of the invention

[0007] The present invention aims to overcome at least one of the drawbacks of the aforementioned prior art. More particularly, the invention aims to provide a simple, effective, and economical solution for efficiently protecting a motor vehicle driver in the event of a collision, without require the installation of an airbag in a central front part of the steering wheel hub of said motor vehicle.

[0008] To this end, the invention relates to a steering wheel for a motor vehicle, comprising: a hub having a front part and a rear part intended to extend longitudinally towards a dashboard of the motor vehicle; and a rim extending around the hub; and a protective device comprising an airbag configured to deploy in the event of a collision; notable in that the protective device is disposed close to the rim at the rear part of the hub, said steering wheel further comprising a guide segment configured to guide the deployment of the airbag, in the event of a collision, over the rim.

[0009] According to one embodiment, the protective device includes a cover masking the airbag and the guide segment, said cover including a weakening line intended to open and be crossed by said airbag during deployment.

[0010] According to one embodiment, the protection device comprises a housing fixed to the rear part of the hub at the right of an upper face of said rear part, said housing being entirely covered by the cap.

[0011] According to one embodiment, the cap comprises a proximal end fixed to the upper face of the rear part, and a distal end covering a front edge of the housing.

[0012] According to one embodiment, the guide segment comprises a proximal part fixed to the front edge of the housing and a distal part forming a deformable plate covering the airbag, said deformable plate being configured to, in the event of a shock, come into contact with the rim and guide longitudinally the deployment of the airbag towards a driver of the motor vehicle.

[0013] According to one embodiment, the guide segment is formed by an elastic deformable material.

[0014] According to one embodiment, during the deployment of the airbag, the cover is configured to open by pivoting in a first direction, and the guide segment is configured to deform and release said airbag by pivoting in a second direction opposite to the first direction.

[0015] According to one embodiment, the airbag is oblique, configured to deploy, in the event of a frontal impact, at an angle of at least 45° so as to go around the rim and extend longitudinally.

[0016] According to one embodiment, the rim comprises a general non-circular, essentially rectangular shape, provided with an upper portion extending in a substantially straight line, the protective device being arranged parallel to said upper portion of the rim.

[0017] The invention also relates to a motor vehicle comprising a steering wheel, notable in that said steering wheel is according to the invention.

[0018] The measures of the invention are advantageous in that the airbag located at the rear of the hub and close to the steering wheel rim maximizes protection in the event of deployment.

[0019] Indeed, the guide segment directs the airbag in a controlled manner over the rim, thus improving the effectiveness of the protection device, without requiring the installation of the airbag in the front part of the hub. Brief description of the drawings

[0020] [Fig. 1] represents a perspective view of a steering wheel for a motor vehicle according to the invention;

[0021] [Fig.2] illustrates a schematic side view of the steering wheel of [Fig.1] equipped with a protective device located at the rear part of a hub of said steering wheel;

[0022] [Fig.3] illustrates an exploded perspective view of the steering wheel of [Fig.2], showing in isolation a guide segment for an airbag of the protective device;

[0023] [Fig.4] illustrates a side view of the steering wheel of the [Fig.2] during a first phase of the deployment of the airbag;

[0024] [Fig.5] illustrates a kinematic of deployment of the airbag in three phases. Detailed description

[0025] Fig. 1 represents a perspective view of a steering wheel 4 for a motor vehicle 2 according to the invention.

[0026] The steering wheel 4 includes a hub 6 having a front portion 6.1 intended to be facing a driver of the motor vehicle 2, and a rear portion 6.2 intended to extend longitudinally towards a dashboard (not shown) of said vehicle 2. The steering wheel 4 also includes a rim 8 extending around the hub 6.

[0027] Preferably, the front part 6.1 joins an upper portion 8.1 and a lower portion 8.2 of the rim 8. The front part 6.1 preferably includes a screen 12 which does not allow sufficient space to install an airbag in the center, as is traditionally the case.

[0028] Advantageously, the steering wheel 8 according to the present invention comprises a protective device 10 including an inflatable cushion, commonly referred to as an airbag, configured to deploy in the event of a collision. Said protective device 10 is advantageously located near the rim 8 at the rear portion 6.2 of the hub 6.

[0029] The term "close" here means that the protective device 10 is preferably at most 50 mm from the rim 8, in particular from the upper portion 8.1, both along the longitudinal direction X and the vertical direction Z when the steering wheel 4 is in a normal mounting position on the motor vehicle 2.

[0030] Preferably, the rim 8 has a generally non-circular, essentially rectangular shape. In this configuration, the upper portion 8.1 preferably extends in a substantially straight line. Advantageously, the steering wheel 8 according to the invention can be adapted to a vehicle comprising electrically driven functions, which may in particular include steer-by-wire control functions provided by electrically assisted steering components without a steering column, i.e., without a mechanical link between the steering wheel and the wheels.

[0031] Fig. 2 illustrates a schematic side view of the steering wheel 4 according to the invention, in which the arrangement of the protective device 10 near the upper portion 8.1 of the rim 8 can be better observed.

[0032] Preferably, the rear part 6.2 of the hub 6 joins the upper portion 8.1, said rear part 6.2 has an upper face 6.3 on which the protective device 10 is arranged. The latter preferably includes a housing 11 fixed to the right of the upper face 6.3, which corresponds to a gas generator capable of inflating and deploying the airbag 9.

[0033] In this regard, and in order to ensure effective deployment, the protection device 10 further comprises a guide segment 14 configured to guide the deployment of the airbag 9 over the rim 8. The shape and kinematics of the guide segment 14 will be detailed according to figures 3 and 4.

[0034] Preferably, the protective device 10 also includes a cover 16 that can fully or partially conceal the airbag 9 in the housing 11 and the guide segment 14.

[0035] The cap 16 includes a proximal end 16.1 fixed to the upper face 6.3 of the rear part 6.2, and a distal end 16.2 covering a front edge 11.1 of the housing 11.

[0036] Preferably, the cover 16 includes a weakening line designed to open and be traversed by the airbag 9 in the event of a collision. The weakening line may extend in a transverse direction of the motor vehicle 2, and may be presented at the distal end 16.2 at a junction between the cover 16 and the rim 8.

[0037] Fig. 3 illustrates an exploded perspective view of the steering wheel 4, showing the guide segment 14 in isolation.

[0038] The housing 11 can extend substantially parallel to the upper portion 8.1 of the rim 8.

[0039] Preferably, the guide segment 14 is made of a deformable elastic material, functioning as a flexible spring capable of progressively deforming during the deployment of the airbag 9. In this regard, the guide segment 14 can be obtained from a composite material or an elastomer.

[0040] The guidance segment 14 preferentially comprises a proximal part 14.1 intended to be fixed to the front edge 11.1 of the housing 11, and a distal part 14.2 forming a deformable plate configured to cover the airbag 9 in the rest position, and to, in the event of a collision, come into contact with the rim 8 in order to guide the deployment of the airbag 9 in the vertical and longitudinal directions towards the driver of the vehicle 2, as illustrated in [Fig.4].

[0041] With reference to [Fig.4], we can observe a first phase of the deployment of the airbag 9, where the cover 16 opens by pivoting in a first direction (counterclockwise in [Fig.4]), while the guide segment 14 deforms to release the airbag 9 by pivoting in a second direction (clockwise) opposite to the first direction.

[0042] In this configuration, the deformable plate formed at the distal part 14.2 of the guide segment 14 comes into direct contact against the rim 8, and precisely against the upper portion 8.1. Advantageously, the airbag 9 is then in this position able to be guided longitudinally both by the guide segment 14 and by the cover 16 remaining fixed to the upper face 6.3 of the hub 6.

[0043] Fig. 5 illustrates a deployment kinematic of the airbag in three phases A, B and C.

[0044] The left part of [Fig.5] illustrates a first phase A in which the airbag 9 deploys vertically upwards through a top opening in the housing 11. The kinematics are similar to those illustrated in [Fig.4], where the cap 16 and the guide segment move apart to allow the first phase A of vertical deployment of the airbag 9.

[0045] The airbag 9 is preferably of the oblique type, configured to deploy at an angle of at least 45° so as to pass over the rim 8 and then extend longitudinally towards the driver, as illustrated in phases B and C. The deployment angle of the airbag 9 can be measured with respect to a normal vertical deployment direction, essentially along the arrow visible in [Fig.4].

[0046] The central part of [Fig.5] illustrates a second phase B, which corresponds to an intermediate phase before a final deployment in phase C. Here, the airbag 9 is in contact with the guide segment which contacts the rim 8.

[0047] Preferably, the airbag 9 is capable of deploying up to 120°, and more preferably at about 90° (±10°).

[0048] The right-hand part of [Fig.5] illustrates a third final phase C, where the airbag 9 is fully deployed.

[0049] The inflation of the airbag 9 between phases B and C is achieved by its sliding along the guide segment. The risk of tearing is minimized by choosing a flexible and elastic material for the guide segment.

Claims

Demands

1. Steering wheel (4) for a motor vehicle (2), comprising: - a hub (6) having a front portion (6.1) and a rear portion (6.2) intended to extend longitudinally towards a dashboard of the motor vehicle (2); and - a rim (8) extending around the hub (6); and - a protective device (10) comprising an airbag (9) configured to deploy in the event of a collision; characterized in that the protective device (10) is disposed near the rim (8) at the rear portion (6.2) of the hub (6), said steering wheel (4) further comprising a guide segment (14) configured to guide the deployment of the airbag (9), in the event of a collision, over the rim (8).

2. Steering wheel (4) according to claim 1, wherein the protective device (10) comprises a cover (16) masking the airbag (9) and the guide segment (14), said cover (16) comprising a weakening line intended to open and be traversed by said airbag (9) during deployment.

3. Steering wheel (4) according to claim 2, wherein the protection device (10) comprises a housing (11) fixed to the rear part (6.2) of the hub (6) at the right of an upper face (6.3) of said rear part (6.2), said housing (11) being entirely covered by the cover (16).

4. Steering wheel (4) according to claim 3, wherein the cap (16) comprises a proximal end (16.1) fixed to the upper face (6.3) of the rear part (6.2), and a distal end (16.2) covering a front edge (11.1) of the housing (11).

5. Steering wheel (4) according to any one of claims 1 to 3 and according to claim 4, wherein the guide segment (14) comprises a proximal part (14.1) fixed to the front edge (11.1) of the housing (11) and a distal part (14.2) forming a deformable plate (14.2) covering the airbag (9), said deformable plate (14.2) being configured to, in the event of a collision, come into contact with the rim (8) and guide longitudinally the deployment of the airbag (9) towards a driver of the motor vehicle (2).

6. Handwheel (4) according to claim 5, wherein the guide segment (14) is formed by an elastic deformable material.

7. Steering wheel (4) according to any one of claims 2 to 6, wherein during deployment of the airbag (9), the cover (16) is configured to open by pivoting in a first direction, and the guide segment (14) is configured to deform and release said airbag (9) by pivoting in a second direction opposite to the first direction.

8. Steering wheel (4) according to any one of claims 1 to 7, in which the airbag (9) is oblique, configured to deploy, in the event of a frontal impact, at an angle of at least 45° so as to bypass the rim (8) and extend longitudinally.

9. Steering wheel (4) according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the rim (8) comprises a generally non-circular, essentially rectangular shape, provided with an upper portion (8.1) extending substantially in a straight line, the protective device (10) being arranged parallel to said upper portion (8.1) of the rim (8).

10. Motor vehicle (2) comprising a steering wheel (4), characterized in that said steering wheel (4) is according to any one of claims 1 to 9.

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