Steering wheel for motor vehicle

Abstract

The invention relates to a steering wheel (1) for a motor vehicle comprising a central body (2) having, on the one hand, a housing (3) designed to accommodate an airbag and, on the other hand, at least one control unit (4) disposed in the body (2) around the housing (3) and separated from the housing (3) by a gap (5), the control unit (4) comprising at least one contact area (6) designed to, when a user presses on the contact area (6), control the execution of a function, the steering wheel (1) comprising a layer (7) of flexible material covering the housing (3), at least one control unit (4) of the body (2) and the corresponding gap (5), pressing on a contact area (6) of the covered control unit (4) requiring pressing on the layer (7) of flexible material. (Figure 1)

Description

Title of the invention: Steering wheel for motor vehicle

[0001] The technical field relates to steering wheels of motor vehicles having controls and to motor vehicles having such a steering wheel.

[0002] Automobile manufacturers take great care in developing their vehicles in order to offer their customers vehicles with impeccable build quality. Build quality is reflected, first and foremost, in the quality of the assembly and the materials used in the vehicle.

[0003] Furthermore, the ergonomics of a driver's seat in a motor vehicle are of crucial importance to car manufacturers, as they primarily contribute to the driver's perceived driving experience. Traditionally, most steering wheels are equipped with function buttons that allow certain vehicle functions to be operated while keeping the hands on the wheel.

[0004] In this context, the assembly of the various constituent elements of the steering wheel is complex and generates visible gaps between the different elements. These thin gaps create spaces that are difficult to access for cleaning and are therefore susceptible to accumulating dirt easily.

[0005] Thus, there is a need for a solution to limit the playing lines of a classic shuttlecock.

[0006] The present invention aims to overcome the problems described above. In this technical context, one objective of the present invention is to provide a shuttlecock without playing lines.

[0007] To this end, the present invention relates to a steering wheel for a motor vehicle comprising a central body having, on the one hand, a housing designed to accommodate an airbag and, on the other hand, at least one control unit disposed in the body around the housing and spaced from the housing by a spacing, the control unit comprising at least one support area designed to, when a user presses on the support area, control the execution of a function, the steering wheel comprising a layer of flexible material covering the housing, at least one control unit of the body and the corresponding spacing, pressing on a support area of ​​the covered control unit requiring pressing on the layer of flexible material.

[0008] The invention finally relates to a motor vehicle having at least one steering wheel according to the invention.

[0009] Thus, the steering wheel according to the invention has no visible gap between the airbag housing and the control units. The layer of flexible material thus covers the spaces between the various constituent elements of the steering wheel according to the invention. The steering wheel according to the invention improves perception by passengers of the vehicle's trim level. Furthermore, the assembly of the various components of the steering wheel is simplified since the arrangement is concealed by the layer of flexible material.

[0010] According to one embodiment, the steering wheel comprises a plurality of control units arranged in the body, each spacing being covered by the same layer of flexible material.

[0011] According to one possibility, the flexible material layer has at least one micro-perforated and / or transparent area to allow the display of visual information, including a pictogram, relating to a function of the steering wheel.

[0012] Advantageously, at least one micro-perforated and / or transparent area covers a support area.

[0013] According to one embodiment of the steering wheel, the flexible material layer has at least one transmissive zone allowing tactile activation of a support zone covered by the transmissive zone through the transmissive zone.

[0014] According to one possibility of the steering wheel, at least one support area is designed to cause haptic feedback when the support exerted on the support area ceases.

[0015] According to one embodiment of the steering wheel, at least one support area of ​​a control unit has at least one pivot associated with elastic return means designed to return the support area to its initial position when the support ceases.

[0016] According to one possibility, the layer of flexible material forms a covering that contributes to the aesthetics.

[0017] Advantageously, the body has at least one rim extending around the central body.

[0018] The invention will be better understood upon reading the following detailed description, given solely by way of non-limiting example and made with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

[0019] [Fig-1] [Fig.1] represents a schematic cross-sectional view of a steering wheel according to the invention;

[0020] [Fig.2] [Fig.2] represents a schematic cross-sectional view of the steering wheel of [Fig.1], a support zone subjected to support;

[0021] In these figures, the same references are used to designate the same elements.

[0022] A steering wheel 1 according to the invention, schematically illustrated in the figures, is designed to equip a motor vehicle. The steering wheel 1 comprises a central body 2 and optionally a rim, not shown, extending around the body 2. The body 2 has, on the one hand, a housing 3 designed to accommodate an airbag, not shown, and, on the other hand, at least one control unit 4 disposed in the body 2 around the housing 3 and separated from the housing by a gap 5. In the example illustrated in the figures, the steering wheel 1 comprises two control units 4. When the control unit 4 is mounted against the housing 3, the spacing 5 then corresponds to a mounting clearance and / or the wall thicknesses delimiting the control unit 4 and the housing 3.

[0023] Each control unit 4 comprises at least one touch zone 6 designed to trigger a function when a user presses on the touch zone 6. A function typically relates to cruise control or a multimedia player. Other functions are obviously possible. Pressing the touch zone 6 is indicated in [Fig. 2] by an arrow.

[0024] As illustrated in the figures, the steering wheel 1 comprises a layer 7 of flexible material covering the housing 3, at least one control unit 4 of the body 2, and the corresponding gap 5. The layer 7 of material is arranged such that pressing on a bearing area 6 of a covered control unit 4 requires pressing on the layer 7 of flexible material. Thus, the layer 7 is dimensioned to have sufficient flexibility to allow pressing on each covered bearing area 6. Advantageously, the layer 7 of flexible material forms an aesthetic covering directly visible to a passenger of the vehicle. For example, the layer 7 is made of leather, synthetic leather, and / or synthetic hide. Any covering commonly used for a conventional steering wheel is suitable.

[0025] In the embodiment illustrated in the figures, the steering wheel 1 has a plurality of control units 4 arranged in the body 2, each spacing 5 being covered by the same layer 7 of flexible material.

[0026] As illustrated in the figures, at least one support area 6, in this case each support area 6, has a mechanical pivot 8 associated with elastic return means 9, in this case a spring 10, designed to return the support area 6 to its initial position when the support ceases. [Fig. 1] illustrates the control units 4 in their initial positions, while [Fig. 2] illustrates one of the two control units 4 in a supported position under the effect of a support.

[0027] In the embodiment illustrated in the figures, each control unit 4 comprises, for example, an electronic circuit 11 advantageously arranged along the housing 3.

[0028] Advantageously, the flexible material layer 7 has at least one micro-perforated and / or transparent area, not shown, to allow the display of visual information, in particular a pictogram, relating to a steering wheel function. Advantageously, at least one micro-perforated and / or transparent area covers a support area 6.

[0029] The layer 7 of flexible material has at least one transmissive zone, not shown, allowing tactile activation of a support zone 6 covered by the transmissive zone through the transmissive zone.

[0030] According to one possibility, at least one support area 6 of the steering wheel 1 according to the invention is designed to cause haptic feedback when the support area 6 is no longer being applied.

[0031] Advantageously, the steering wheel 1 is equipped with an airbag installed in the housing 3. When the airbag is inflated, it tears the layer 7 of flexible material. To facilitate this tearing, the layer 7 advantageously has a pre-cut, not shown.

[0032] Thus, the steering wheel 1 has no visible gap between the airbag housing 3 and the control units 4. The flexible material layer 7 covers the gaps 5 between the various components of the steering wheel 1 according to the invention. The steering wheel 1 improves passengers' perception of the vehicle's level of finish. Furthermore, the assembly of the various components of the steering wheel 1 is simplified since the arrangement is concealed by the flexible material layer 7.

[0033] The invention is not limited to the embodiment of the steering wheel described above, only by way of example, but other embodiments can be designed by a person skilled in the art without departing from the scope and extent of the present invention.

Claims

Demands

1. Steering wheel (1) for a motor vehicle comprising a central body (2) having, on the one hand, a housing (3) designed to accommodate an airbag and, on the other hand, at least one control unit (4) disposed in the body (2) around the housing (3) and spaced from the housing (3) by a gap (5), the control unit (4) comprising at least one support area (6) designed to, when a user presses on the support area (6), control the execution of a function, the steering wheel (1) comprising a layer (7) of soft material covering the housing (3), at least one control unit (4) of the body (2) and the corresponding gap (5), pressing on a support area (6) of the covered control unit (4) requiring pressing on the layer (7) of soft material.

2. Steering wheel (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises a plurality of control units (4) arranged in the body (2), each spacing (5) being covered by the same layer (7) of flexible material.

3. Steering wheel (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the layer (7) of flexible material has at least one micro-perforated and / or transparent area to allow the display of visual information, in particular a pictogram, relating to a function of the steering wheel (1).

4. Steering wheel (1) according to claim 3, characterized in that at least one micro-perforated and / or transparent area covers a support area (6).

5. Steering wheel (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the layer (7) of soft material has at least one transmissive zone allowing tactile activation of a support zone (6) covered by the transmissive zone through the transmissive zone.

6. Steering wheel (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that at least one support area (6) is designed to cause haptic feedback when the support received by the support area (6) ceases.

7. Handwheel (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that at least one support area (6) of a control unit (4) has at least one pivot (8) associated with elastic return means (9) designed to return the support area (6) to its initial position when the support ceases.

8. 6 Steering wheel (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the layer (7) of flexible material forms a covering contributing to the aesthetics.

9. Steering wheel (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the body (2) has at least one rim extending around the central body (2).

10. Motor vehicle having at least one steering wheel (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 9.

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