Handle cover body

Abstract

To provide a handle cover body that enables components in different shapes to be mounted on the same region by a simple configuration.SOLUTION: A cover body 4 covers the back side of a handle main body of a steering handle. The cover body 4 includes a component mount portion 20 on which a component 21 is mounted. The component mount portion 20 includes a support structure 30 that selectively supports the component 21 in a different external shape by having a plurality of supporting portions 32 with different heights from each other in a predetermined first direction, the plurality of supporting portions being provided in a predetermined direction orthogonal to the first direction.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a cover body of a steering wheel that covers the back side of a handle body of a steering handle.

Background Art

[0002] In recent years, in vehicles such as automobiles, a steering wheel, which is a steering handle connected to a steering shaft, may be provided with functions such as an operation function of an in-vehicle system and sensing. In such a steering wheel, an in-vehicle control device (ECU) for controlling those functions is provided in a lower cover attached to the back side of the steering wheel.

[0003] Conventionally, there is known a method of directly providing a wiring pattern for constituting an in-vehicle control device on a lower cover body using an LDS method (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] Generally, the functions provided to the steering wheel differ in specifications for each vehicle type. Therefore, in the case of the above configuration, a lower cover must be manufactured for each specification of the in-vehicle control device.

[0006] In addition, regarding the shape of components such as an IC that forms part of the in-vehicle control device, since they also differ in specifications for each specification, it is desired to be able to mount components with different shapes.

[0007] The present invention has been made in view of such points, and an object thereof is to provide a cover body for a handle that has a simple configuration and can mount parts of different shapes in the same region.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0008] A cover body for a handle according to an aspect of the present invention is a cover body for a handle that covers the back side of a handle main body of a steering handle, and includes a component mounting portion on which components are mounted. The component mounting portion has a support structure that selectively supports the components having different outer shapes by providing a plurality of support portions having different heights in a predetermined first direction in a predetermined direction intersecting the first direction.

Effects of the Invention

[0009] According to the present invention, with a simple configuration, it becomes possible to mount components of different shapes in the same region.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0010]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0011] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0012] In FIG. 5, reference numeral 1 denotes a steering wheel for a vehicle such as an automobile. The steering wheel 1 is configured by attaching a module 3 such as an airbag device and a cover body 4 to a handle body portion 2. In the present embodiment, as the steering wheel 1, an example is a steering wheel in which a handle body portion 2 is connected by a spoke portion 7 which is a radial connecting portion between a boss portion 5 located at the center and a rim portion (grip) 6 which is an annular or arcuate gripping portion surrounding the boss portion 5. However, the present invention is not limited thereto, and a so-called yoke type or the like, which is a joystick type, may be used. The steering wheel 1 is attached to a steering shaft which is a steering shaft normally provided in a tilted state on the vehicle. Hereinafter, when the steering wheel 1 is viewed from the passenger side, the direction of arrow U is defined as the upper side and the direction of arrow D is defined as the lower side for explanation. In addition, regarding the front-rear, left-right directions, in each figure, based on the direction viewed from a passenger seated in the driver's seat, the direction of arrow FR is defined as the front side, the direction of arrow RR is defined as the rear side, the direction of arrow L is defined as the left side, and the direction of arrow R is defined as the right side. Further, regarding each part of the steering wheel 1, the position and shape will be described with reference to the steering reference state shown in FIG. 5, that is, the neutral position (neutral).

[0013] The handle body portion 2 is formed by covering a part of a core metal (armature) with a covering portion such as a synthetic resin. The core metal includes a boss core metal portion corresponding to the boss portion 5, a rim core metal portion corresponding to the rim portion 6, and a spoke core metal portion corresponding to the spoke portion 7. The spoke core metal portion is continuously and integrally formed from the boss core metal portion, and the rim core metal portion is fixed to the spoke core metal portion by welding or the like to be integrally formed. Note that not necessarily all of the spoke portions 7 are provided with spoke core metal portions, and a part of the spoke portions 7 may be configured by a finisher, a cover body 4, or the like without a spoke core metal portion. The covering portion covers, for example, the rim core metal portion and the connecting portion between the rim core metal portion and the spoke core metal portion, and forms the rim portion 6 and the connecting portion between the rim portion 6 and the spoke portion 7.

[0014] The boss portion 5 is attached to the steering shaft and is located at the center of rotation of the steering wheel 1. The module 3 is attached to the front, i.e., the rear portion, of the boss portion 5.

[0015] The rim portion 6 is the part that the occupant (driver) grips to operate the steering wheel 1. That is, the rim portion 6 is the part for steering operation. The surface of the rim portion 6 may be covered by a skin body.

[0016] A plurality of spoke portions 7 are provided. In the present embodiment, three spoke portions 7 are provided so as to connect the left and right side portions and the lower portion of the boss portion 5 and the rim portion 6, but it is not limited thereto, and for example, two or four or more may be provided.

[0017] The cover body 4 is also called a lower cover, a back cover, a backside cover, a lower cover, or a body cover, etc. The cover body 4 is formed of a member such as a synthetic resin, for example. The cover body 4 is disposed so as to cover the front side, which is the back side of the steering wheel main body portion 2. In the present embodiment, the cover body 4 is disposed so as to cover the front side, which is the back side of the boss core metal portion and the spoke core metal portion.

[0018] As shown in FIG. 4, the cover body 4 has a cover body main body portion 10. The cover body main body portion 10 integrally has a substrate portion 12 and a side wall portion 13 that rises from the outer edge portion of the substrate portion 12 to the rear side, which is the front side, and an arm portion 14 is integrally formed continuous with the side wall portion 13.

[0019] The substrate portion 12 is a portion that covers the back side of the boss core metal portion. The substrate portion 12 is formed in a substantially flat plate shape. An opening 16 is formed in the substrate portion 12. At least a part of the opening 16, for example, the lower edge portion, is arc-shaped. A part of the boss core metal portion is fitted into the opening 16, and a part of this boss core metal portion is exposed from the opening 16. Further, a part outside the opening 16 of the substrate portion 12, in the present embodiment, the portion of the substrate portion 12 extending from the left and right side portions of the opening 16 to the lower portion is located outside the boss core metal portion and faces the back side of the module 3 (shown in FIG. 5).

[0020] The side wall portion 13 is formed continuously along the entire outer edge portion of the substrate portion 12. Reinforcing ribs or the like are formed on the side wall portion 13.

[0021] The arm portion 14 is a portion that covers the back side of the spoke core metal portion. The arm portion 14 is located on the rear side with respect to the substrate portion 12. The arm portion 14 is formed according to the spoke portion 7 (shown in FIG. 5). In the present embodiment, the arm portion 14 is formed continuously on both the left and right side portions and the lower portion of the substrate portion 12. Note that a part of the arm portion 14 may form a part of the spoke portion 7 (shown in FIG. 5) that does not have a spoke core metal portion. Further, an opening or the like for leading out components to the outside may be formed in the arm portion 14 as necessary.

[0022] And, a component mounting portion 20 is formed in the cover body main body portion 10. The component mounting portion 20 is a portion that holds the component 21 shown in FIGS. 1(b) and 1(c). As the component 21, for example, functional components such as an IC that constitutes at least a part of an in-vehicle control device (ECU) are used. The component 21 is used for the electrical functions for operating various systems such as a car navigation system, an audio system, a driving system such as an automatic driving system, which are mounted on the vehicle, and the functions for controlling a sensor, a heater, etc. provided on the steering wheel 1 (shown in FIG. 5), or the functions for imparting a function for controlling the operation of the module 3 such as an airbag device are preferably used.

[0023] As shown in FIG. 4, the component mounting portion 20 is formed, for example, in the substrate portion 12 of the cover body main body portion 10. In the present embodiment, the component mounting portion 20 is formed at the edge portion of the opening 16, at the position of the lower left of the opening 16 in the illustrated example, in the substrate portion 12. Therefore, the component mounting portion 20 is located outside the boss core metal portion and faces the back side of the module 3 (shown in FIG. 5). In the present embodiment, the component mounting portion 20 is arranged along the edge portion of the opening 16. For example, the component mounting portion 20 is formed to extend from the upper left side to the lower right side when viewed from the front.

[0024] As shown in FIGS. 1(a) and 2, the component mounting portion 20 has a holding portion 23 that holds the outer portion of the component 21 (shown in FIG. 1(b) etc.). The holding portion 23 is formed as a rib that protrudes from the substrate portion 12 in one direction (arrow D1a direction) in the thickness direction of the substrate portion 12, which is the backward direction in this embodiment. The holding portion 23 forms the outer contour of the component mounting portion 20 when viewed from the front. That is, the component 21 (shown in FIG. 1(b) etc.) is accommodated inside the holding portion 23 when viewed from the front. The virtual region surrounded by the holding portion 23 when viewed from the front is the inner side of the component mounting portion 20, that is, the region where the component 21 (shown in FIG. 1(b) etc.) is accommodated. In this embodiment, the holding portion 23 is formed so as to surround a rectangular region, a rectangular region in the illustrated example, when viewed from the front.

[0025] The holding portion 23 holds the outer portion of the component 21 (shown in FIG. 1(b) etc.) from directions intersecting each other. The holding portion 23 includes side holding portions 25 located on one (arrow D2a direction) and the other (arrow D2b direction) in the longitudinal direction of the component mounting portion 20, which is the second direction intersecting or orthogonal to the first direction, and end holding portions 26 located on one (arrow D3a direction) and the other (arrow D3b direction) in the short-side direction of the component mounting portion 20, which is the third direction intersecting or orthogonal to the first and second directions.

[0026] In this embodiment, one and the other side holding portions 25a, 25b are set, which are formed as ribs extending continuously or intermittently in the third direction. One side holding portion 25a has one end formed adjacent to or continuous with the side wall portion 13 of the cover body main body portion 10, and the other end side extends toward the opening portion 16. The other side holding portion 25b is connected to a boss 28 formed on the lower arm portion 14 by a rib-shaped connecting portion 29, and the other end extends toward the opening portion 16 side. Also, the maximum protrusion amounts in one direction of the first direction from the substrate portion 12 of the one and the other side holding portions 25a, 25b are set to be equal or substantially equal to each other.

[0027] In addition, in the present embodiment, the end holding portions 26 are set to include one and the other first end holding portions 26a and 26b formed as ribs continuously or intermittently extending in the second direction, and one and the other second end holding portions 26c and 26d formed as ribs continuously or intermittently extending in the third direction. One first end holding portion 26a is located on the other side in the third direction in the component mounting portion 20, and one end thereof is formed continuously with the other end of one side holding portion 25a. The other first end holding portion 26b is located on one side in the third direction in the component mounting portion 20, and one end thereof is formed continuously with one end of the other side holding portion 25b. One first end holding portion 26a and one side holding portion 25a, and the other first end holding portion 26b and the other side holding portion 25b each form a right-angled rib and constitute a diagonal portion of the component mounting portion 20. In the illustrated example, the one and the other first end holding portions 26a and 26b are set such that the maximum protrusion amounts in one direction from the substrate portion 12 to the one and the other side holding portions 25a and 25b are equal to or substantially equal to each other.

[0028] Also, the one and the other second end holding portions 26c and 26d are respectively located on one side in the third direction in the component mounting portion 20. The one and the other second end holding portions 26c and 26d are separated from each other in the second direction with the one second end holding portion 26c located on one side in the second direction and the other second end holding portion 26d located on the other side in the second direction. The other second end holding portion 26d is formed continuously with the other end of the other first end holding portion 26b. In the present embodiment, the inner ends of the one and the other second end holding portions 26c and 26d in the third direction, that is, the inner ends of the component mounting portion 20, are on the same or substantially the same virtual line as the other first end holding portion 26b.

[0029] In addition, a support structure 30 for supporting a component 21 (shown in FIG. 1(b) etc.) is formed in the component mounting portion 20. The support structure 30 is located inside the component mounting portion 20 when viewed from the front, that is, within the region surrounded by the holding portion 23. The support structure 30 includes a plurality of support portions 32 having different heights in the first direction, and is provided in a predetermined direction intersecting the first direction. Due to the difference in the heights of these plurality of support portions 32, a plurality of components 21 (shown in FIG. 1(b) etc.) having different outer shapes can be selectively supported. That is, for components 21 (shown in FIG. 1(b) etc.) having different outer shapes (dimensions), any one of the support portions 32 having different heights selectively abuts and supports them, so that components 21 (shown in FIG. 1(b) etc.) having different outer shapes (dimensions) can be supported.

[0030] It is preferable that a plurality of support portions 32 are respectively set in at least the second direction and the third direction, so that the component 21 (shown in FIG. 1(b) etc.) can be held in the component mounting portion 20 from a plurality of directions. In the present embodiment, a plurality of first support portions 34 having different heights in one direction (arrow D1a direction) of the first direction are set in the second direction in the support portion 32, and a plurality of second support portions 35 having different heights in the other direction (arrow D1b direction) of the first direction are set in the third direction.

[0031] As shown in FIGS. 1(b) and 2, the first support portion 34 protrudes from the substrate portion 12 of the cover body main body portion 10 forming the bottom portion of the component mounting portion 20 in one direction of the first direction. The height of the first support portion 34 in one direction of the first direction from the substrate portion 12 is set lower than each portion of the holding portion 23. The plurality of first support portions 34 are arranged side by side in the second direction. The first support portion 34 is located inward of the component mounting portion 20 with respect to the side holding portion 25 of the holding portion 23. The first support portion 34 is basically formed as a rib extending continuously or intermittently in the third direction. For example, one first support portion 34a and another first support portion 34b are set in the first support portion 34. One first support portion 34a is located near the edge of the hole portion 37 formed in the substrate portion 12 forming the bottom portion of the component mounting portion 20. The hole portion 37 is formed in a rectangular shape surrounded by, for example, a side along the second direction and a side along the third direction, and is located at the central portion in the second direction and the third direction at the bottom of the component mounting portion 20. The other first support portion 34b is located on the side opposite to the hole portion 37 with respect to one first support portion 34a, that is, closer to the outside of the component mounting portion 20. The other first support portion 34b extends longer in one side of the third direction with respect to one first support portion 34a. In the illustrated example, the other first support portion 34b has a protruding arm portion 34c extending continuously or intermittently in the second direction. Therefore, the other first support portion 34b is formed in a T shape or an L shape. The protruding arm portion 34c is close to the end of one first support portion 34a.

[0032] In the present embodiment, when the first support portion 34 is located outside the component mounting portion 20 when viewed from the central portion of the component mounting portion 20, the one located closer to the relatively inner side, that is, the central portion side in the second direction and / or the third direction of the component mounting portion 20 rather than the one located relatively outside the component mounting portion 20 has a lower height in the first direction, that is, in one direction of the first direction, as viewed from the bottom of the component mounting portion 20. In the present embodiment, the protruding height of one first support portion 34a in one direction of the first direction is formed lower than that of the other first support portion 34b.

[0033] In addition, in the present embodiment, a plurality of first support portions 34 are set to be paired in the second direction. That is, one first support portion 34a and the other first support portion 34b form a pair. In the illustrated example, one first support portion 34a and the other first support portion 34b are formed substantially symmetrically in the second direction on one side and the other side in the second direction with reference to the hole portion 37. In the present embodiment, the end portion of the other first support portion 34b is close to or continuous with the one and the other first end portion holding portions 26a and 26b.

[0034] As shown in FIGS. 1(c), 2, and 3, the second support portion 35 is formed at a position facing the bottom of the component mounting portion 20 in the first direction. In the present embodiment, the second support portion 35 is formed on a hook portion 40 formed in the component mounting portion 20. The hook portion 40 is a portion for pressing the component 21 from one side in the first direction to prevent the component 21 from coming off. The hook portion 40 has a protruding portion 42 protruding from the substrate portion 12 toward one side in the first direction, and an extending portion 43 protruding inward of the component mounting portion 20 from the protruding portion 42. In the present embodiment, the hook portion 40 is located on the other side in the third direction in the component mounting portion 20. That is, the hook portion 40 is located on the opposite side in the third direction from the one and the other second end portion holding portions 26c and 26d in the component mounting portion 20. Further, the width of the hook portion 40 in the second direction is set to be equal to or less than the distance between the one and the other second end portion holding portions 26c and 26d.

[0035] The protruding portion 42 is formed in a plate shape having a thickness in the third direction and is elongated in the first direction. Therefore, the protruding portion 42 is elastically bent in the third direction. The protruding portion 42 protrudes in one direction of the first direction from the side holding portion 25 and the end holding portion 26 of the holding portion 23. The base end portion of the protruding portion 42 is located along the edge portion of the hole portion 37. On the surface of the protruding portion 42 opposite to the surface facing the hole portion 37, a reinforcing rib portion 45 is formed across the substrate portion 12. The protruding portion 42 is formed such that its width gradually decreases in the second direction from the base end portion to the tip end portion. In the present embodiment, the protruding portion 42 forms a part of the holding portion 23 that holds the component 21 from the second direction or the third direction. In the illustrated example, the protruding portion 42 forms a part of the end holding portion 26 located on the same or substantially the same virtual line in the second direction as one first end holding portion 26a, and cooperates with the other end holding portion 26 to have a function of holding the outer side portion of the component 21 from the third direction.

[0036] The extending portion 43 is continuous with the tip end portion of the protruding portion 42. The extending portion 43 is located at a position facing the hole portion 37 in the first direction. The extending portion 43 is formed in a triangular shape such that, when viewed from the second direction, for example, the height in the first direction gradually decreases from the other side to one side in the third direction. That is, the extending portion 43 is formed to gradually become thinner from the base end portion continuous with the protruding portion 42 to the tip end portion. On the surface on the other side in the first direction of the extending portion 43, the second support portion 35 is formed. Therefore, the second support portion 35 is located at a higher position on one side in the first direction with respect to each portion of the holding portion 23.

[0037] The plurality of second support portions 35 are arranged side by side in the third direction. For example, one second support portion 35a and another second support portion 35b are set on the second support portion 35. One second support portion 35a is formed in a planar shape, for example. One second support portion 35a is formed as a surface extending from the base end portion to the tip end portion side of the extending portion 43 continuous with the protruding portion 42. That is, one second support portion 35a extends from the other side to one side in the third direction in the component mounting portion 20. One second support portion 35a is formed wider in the second direction than the other second support portion 35b. In the present embodiment, one second support portion 35a is formed such that the height in the first direction is constant or substantially constant. The other second support portion 35b is adjacent to one second support portion 35a on one side in the third direction. The other second support portion 35b is formed at the tip end portion of the extending portion 43 away from the protruding portion 42 on one side in the third direction.

[0038] In the present embodiment, the other second support portion 35b protrudes in a claw shape or a stepped shape toward the other side in the first direction with respect to one second support portion 35a, and is at a lower position on one side in the first direction when viewed from the bottom of the component mounting portion 20. The other second support portion 35b is located closer to one side in the third direction in the component mounting portion 20. The other second support portion 35b is formed as a rib extending continuously or intermittently in the second direction. Further, the surface where the other second support portion 35b is continuous with one second support portion 35a is inclined toward one second support portion 35a.

[0039] In the present embodiment, the hole portion 37 is for forming, for example, the extending portion 43 including the second support portion 35 of the hook portion 40, and is formed as a hole portion through which a slide core of a mold for forming the cover body 4 is inserted.

[0040] When assembling the component 21 to the component mounting portion 20, the component 21 is pushed into the component mounting portion 20 while being pressed against the extending portion 43 of the hook portion 40 from one side in the first direction with respect to the component mounting portion 20, so that the protruding portion 42 elastically bends, and the protruding portion 42 returns at the position where the component 21 is pushed into the component mounting portion 20.

[0041] In this state, the component 21 is sandwiched between any one of the first support portions 34 and any one of the second support portions 35 in the first direction, whereby the position in the first direction is restricted. Further, the component 21 abuts against at least any one of the side holding portion 25 and the end holding portion 26 of the holding portion 23 in the second direction and the third direction, whereby the positions in the second direction and the third direction are restricted.

[0042] For example, as shown in FIGS. 1(b) and 1(c), for a certain component 21a having a relatively large dimension in the first direction and a relatively small dimension in the third direction, in the first direction, it is sandwiched between a certain first support portion 34a and a certain second support portion 35a. Further, since the dimension of the certain component 21a in the second direction is relatively small, in the second direction, it abuts against a certain side holding portion 25a and is separated from the other side holding portion 25b, and in the third direction, it is sandwiched between the other side surface in the third direction of the other second support portion 35b, the protruding portion 42, and a certain first end holding portion 26a (shown in FIG. 1(a)). Further, for another component 21b having a relatively small dimension in the first direction and a relatively large dimension in the third direction, in the first direction, it is sandwiched between the other first support portion 34b and the other second support portion 35b. Further, the other component 21b is sandwiched between a certain side holding portion 25a and the other side holding portion 25b in the second direction, and in the third direction, it is sandwiched between one and the other second end holding portions 26c, 26d (shown in FIG. 1(a)), the protruding portion 42, and a certain end holding portion 26a (shown in FIG. 1(a)).

[0043] Not limited to this, according to the shape of the component 21, the position of the component 21 is selectively restricted in the first direction by any one of a certain first support portion 34a and a certain second support portion 35a and any one of the other first support portion 34b and the other second support portion 35b.

[0044] In this way, the support structure 30 of the component mounting portion 20 includes a plurality of support portions 32 having different heights in the first direction in a predetermined direction intersecting the first direction, thereby selectively supporting components 21 having different outer shapes. Therefore, with a simple configuration, components 21 having different shapes can be mounted in the same region. Thus, in particular, even when it is difficult to integrally insert-mold the component 21 into the cover body 4, it is not necessary to manufacture the cover body 4 for each specification of the component 21 to be mounted, and the cover body 4 can be made common for a plurality of different specifications.

[0045] By setting a plurality of first support portions 34 in the second direction and a plurality of second support portions 35 in the third direction, various components 21 with different outer shapes can be supported and fixed to the component mounting portion 20 with a simple configuration by a selective combination of the first support portion 34 and the second support portion 35.

[0046] By setting a plurality of first support portions 34 in pairs in the second direction, a plurality of components 21 can be selectively and stably supported on the component mounting portion 20.

[0047] By forming the second support portion 35 on the extending portion 43 that protrudes inward from the component mounting portion 20 from the protruding portion 42 that protrudes toward one side in the first direction, the second support portion 35 can be easily formed at a position separated from the first support portion 34 in the first direction.

[0048] Since the protruding portion 42 functions as a holding portion 23 for holding the component 21 from the second direction or the third direction, it becomes possible to more reliably hold the component 21 on the component mounting portion 20 by using the protruding portion 42.

[0049] Note that, in one embodiment, the first support portion 34 and the second support portion 35 are not limited to two, and three or more of each may be provided.

Industrial Applicability

[0050] The present invention is suitably used as a lower cover for a steering wheel of a vehicle such as an automobile.

Explanation of Signs

[0051] 1 Handle 2 Handle body part 4 Cover body 20 Component mounting part 21 Component 23 Holding part 30 Support structure 32 Support part 34 First support part 35 Second support part 42 Protruding part 43 Extending part

Claims

1. A cover body for a steering handle that covers the back side of the handle body of the steering handle, comprising a component mounting portion on which components are mounted, wherein the component mounting portion has a support structure for selectively supporting the components having different outer shapes by providing a plurality of support portions having different heights in a predetermined first direction in a predetermined direction intersecting the first direction. A cover body for a handle, characterized by the above.

2. The support portion has a plurality of first support portions having different heights in one direction of the first direction, and a plurality of second support portions having different heights in the other direction of the first direction, wherein a plurality of the first support portions are set in a predetermined second direction which is a predetermined direction intersecting the first direction, and a plurality of the second support portions are set in a predetermined third direction which is a predetermined direction intersecting the first direction and the second direction. The cover body for a handle according to claim 1, characterized by the above.

3. The plurality of first support portions are set in pairs in the second direction. The cover body for a handle according to claim 2, characterized by the above.

4. The component mounting portion has a protruding portion protruding toward one side of the first direction, and an extending portion protruding from the protruding portion inward of the component mounting portion, wherein the second support portion is formed on the extending portion. The cover body for a handle according to claim 2 or 3, characterized by the above.

5. The protruding portion is a holding portion for holding a component from the second direction or the third direction. The cover body for a handle according to claim 4, characterized by the above.

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