Vehicle parts

Abstract

To provide a vehicle part capable of maintaining good appearance. [Solution] A vehicle component 1 includes a substrate 10, a skin material 11 that covers the substrate 10, and a stitching thread 12 that sews together edge portions 15 of the skin material 11. The skin material 11 is synthetic leather that has a woven or knitted base fabric layer 20 and a skin layer 21 that covers the base fabric layer 20, and the grain of the base fabric layer 20 is inclined with respect to the direction in which the edge portions 15 of the skin material 11 extend.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a vehicle component in which edge portions of a skin material covering a base material are sewn together with a sewing thread. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, in vehicle parts such as steering wheels and shift knobs for automobiles, in which a base material is covered with a skin material, a configuration has been known in which multiple through holes are formed in advance at the edge of the skin material, and after threading a suture through the through holes, the suture is tied down to hold the entire skin material in a state in which tension is applied (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

[0003] When natural leather is used as the skin material, after wrapping is complete, a force is generated in the opposite direction to the tension, which causes the natural leather to return to its original state from the tensioned state described above. This reduces the diameter of the through-holes that have been stretched by the tension and makes them less noticeable, making it possible to maintain a good appearance. In contrast, synthetic leather has recently been used as the skin material. When synthetic leather is used, unlike natural leather, no force is generated in the direction of restoration against the tension of the sewing thread, so the stretched state of the through-holes that are tightly bound with the sewing thread becomes more noticeable, raising concerns about a loss of appearance. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2014-69613 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and has as its object to provide a vehicle part that can maintain good appearance. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] A vehicle part according to one aspect of the present invention is a vehicle part comprising a base material, a skin material covering the base material, and a suture thread for sewing together the edge portions of the skin material, wherein the skin material is synthetic leather having a woven or knitted base fabric layer and a skin layer covering the base fabric layer, and the grain of the base fabric layer is inclined with respect to the direction in which the edge portions of the skin material extend. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] According to the present invention, it is possible to maintain good appearance. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] 3(a) is a cross-sectional view showing a part of the vehicle component according to the embodiment of the present invention, taken along a line II in FIG. 3(a). [Figure 2] 1A is an explanatory diagram showing a cutting process of the skin material of the vehicle part from the skin base material, and FIG. 1B is an enlarged plan view showing a part of the base fabric layer of the skin material of FIG. 1A. [Figure 3] 1A is an enlarged front view of the vicinity of an edge portion of a skin material of the vehicle part, and FIG. 1B is an enlarged front view of the vicinity of an edge portion of a skin material of a vehicle part of a comparative example. [Figure 4] 1A is an explanatory diagram showing a cutting process of a skin material of a vehicle part of the comparative example from a skin base material, and FIG. 1B is an enlarged plan view showing a part of the base fabric layer of the skin material of FIG. 1A. [Figure 5] 1(a) is a photograph showing an example of the vicinity of an edge portion of a skin material of the same vehicle part, and FIG. 1(b) is a photograph showing an example of the vicinity of an edge portion of a skin material of the same vehicle part of a comparative example. [Figure 6] FIG. 2 is a front view showing an example of the vehicle part. [Figure 7] 10 is an explanatory view schematically showing cutting of a skin material from a skin base material of a vehicle component according to another embodiment of the present invention. FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0009] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0010] In Fig. 6, reference numeral 1 denotes a vehicle part used in a vehicle such as an automobile. In this embodiment, the vehicle part 1 is an example of a steering wheel (steering handle) for steering a vehicle. The vehicle part 1 is exemplified as a steering wheel in which a boss part 2 located in the center is surrounded by a rim part (grip) 3 that is an annular or arc-shaped grip part, and the boss part 2 and the rim part 3 are connected by radial spoke parts 4, but the vehicle part 1 is not limited to this, and may be a control stick type, such as a so-called yoke type.

[0011] The boss portion 2 is attached to the steering shaft and is located at the center of rotation of the vehicle component 1. A module such as an airbag device may be attached to the boss portion 2.

[0012] The rim portion 3 is a portion that an occupant (driver) grips to operate the vehicle component 1. In other words, the rim portion 3 is a portion for steering operation. The rim portion 3 is formed to extend in a predetermined direction (indicated by arrow X). In the illustrated example, the rim portion 3 is formed to extend in the rotational direction of the vehicle component 1, i.e., the circumferential direction. Therefore, hereinafter, in this embodiment, the "predetermined direction" refers to the rotational direction of the vehicle component 1, which is the circumferential direction of the rim portion 3, i.e., the latitude (longitude) direction, the circumferential direction when viewed from the front, or the large diameter direction.

[0013] There are multiple spokes 4. In this embodiment, three spokes 4 are provided so as to connect the left and right sides and the bottom of the boss 2 to the rim 3 when viewed from the front, but the number is not limited to this and may be, for example, two or four or more.

[0014] As shown in FIG. 1, the rim portion 3 of the vehicle component 1 is configured such that the surface of a base material 10 is covered with a sheet-like skin material 11, and this skin material 11 is sewn together with a sewing thread 12.

[0015] In this embodiment, the substrate 10 is formed as a resin layer that encases the rim core metal that constitutes the core of the rim portion 3. The resin layer may be, for example, a finely foamed soft polyurethane resin. The substrate 10 is elongated in a predetermined direction, and in this embodiment is annular (donut-shaped). That is, the substrate 10 in this embodiment is formed in a curved shape. The cross section of the substrate 10 is circular or elliptical. However, the substrate 10 may have any suitable shape depending on the shape of the rim portion 3. The cross section of the substrate 10 does not need to be the same at all positions.

[0016] The skin material 11 is formed in a longitudinal shape and is wrapped around the base material 10 in the meridian direction, with edge portions 15, 15 facing each other in the meridian direction sewn together with a sewing thread 12, so that the skin material 11 is fixed to the base material 10 in a state where it covers the base material 10. In this embodiment, the edge portion 15 of the skin material 11, together with the sewing thread 12, is located on the inner edge side of the rim portion 3. In the example shown in the figure, the edge portions 15, 15 are located along the seam of the mold used when molding the base material 10, i.e., the parting line. Note that a sheet-like functional component such as a heater or sensor may be interposed at least partially between the skin material 11 and the base material 10.

[0017] In the example shown in FIG. 6, the skin material 11 is made up of a plurality of skin pieces 16 that are elongated in a predetermined direction, and these skin pieces 16 are connected to each other at their longitudinal ends by sewing or the like to form a longitudinal shape.

[0018] As shown in Fig. 2(a), the skin material 11 is cut from a skin base material 18 formed into a long rectangular shape. The skin base material 18 is stored in a rolled state, and the required length is pulled out when used. In this embodiment, the skin material 11 is formed by cutting each skin piece 16 from the skin base material 18.

[0019] As shown in Fig. 1, the skin material 11 is synthetic leather integrally having a base fabric layer 20 and a skin layer 21 covering the base fabric layer 20. The skin layer 21 may further be made up of multiple layers. In this embodiment, the skin layer 21 is directly bonded to the surface of the base fabric layer 20 with an adhesive or the like to form a sheet, but this is not limiting, and an additional layer may be formed between the base fabric layer 20 and the skin layer 21.

[0020] The fabric layer 20 is a woven or knitted sheet member. In this embodiment, the fabric layer 20 is formed in a knitted form. That is, as shown in FIG. 2(b), the fabric layer 20 is formed by connecting stitches (loops) as basic units. In this embodiment, the fabric layer 20 is formed in a weft knit form in the skin base material 18 (FIG. 2(a)), in which rows of stitches formed by a single knitting yarn 23 are connected in the width direction and then connected in the length direction, or in a plain knit form in the illustrated example. Therefore, the skin base material 18 (FIG. 2(a)) has a directional stretchability, stretching most easily in the width direction and least easily in the diagonal direction and then in the length direction. 2(a), the skin material 11 or skin piece 16 is cut so that its longitudinal direction is inclined relative to the longitudinal and width directions of the skin base material 18, so that the stitches of the base fabric layer 20 shown in Fig. 2(b) are positioned along a predetermined direction, which is the length direction of the skin material 11 or skin piece 16 (Fig. 2(a)), i.e., a direction inclined at a predetermined angle relative to the extending direction of the edge portion 15. The stitches of the base fabric layer 20 are preferably set so as to be inclined at approximately 45° relative to the extending direction of the edge portion 15 (Fig. 2(a)).

[0021] 1 forms the surface of the rim portion 3 and is the portion that comes into contact with an occupant. The surface layer 21 is formed in basically the same shape as the base fabric layer 20.

[0022] The suture thread 12 functions as a fastener that secures the upholstery material 11 to the substrate 10 by sewing together the edge portions 15, 15 of the upholstery material 11 under tension in a direction that draws them closer together, and also functions as a decorative stitching that forms an intermittent line on the front side of the upholstery material 11, i.e., on the skin layer 21. The suture thread 12 is threaded between the edge portions 15, 15 and applies tension to each of the edge portions 15, 15 in a direction that draws them closer together, i.e., in a direction that intersects or is perpendicular to the direction in which the edge portions 15 extend. In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3(a), multiple suture threads 12 are used to form a V-shaped or V-shaped design in a predetermined direction, a so-called baseball stitch. However, the suture thread 12 may also be a European stitch that forms an X-shaped design in a predetermined direction.

[0023] The through holes 25 are arranged at equal or approximately equal intervals along the edge portion 15. For example, the through holes 25 are formed in the shape of a round hole corresponding to the thickness of the suture thread 12.

[0024] When manufacturing the vehicle component 1, first, the skin material 11 is prepared. That is, as shown in Fig. 2(a), skin pieces 16 are cut with the longitudinal direction inclined relative to the rolling direction of the skin base material 18, and these skin pieces 16 are sewn together at their longitudinal ends to form the skin material 11. After that, a plurality of through holes 25 are formed along the edge portions 15, 15 of this skin material 11, as shown in Fig. 3(a).

[0025] Next, the skin material 11 is set on a pre-formed substrate 10 as shown in Fig. 1. At this time, the skin material 11 is arranged with the base fabric layer 20 facing the substrate 10, and is wrapped around the substrate 10 in the meridian direction while the seams between the skin pieces 16 are adhered to grooves formed in the substrate 10, and the base fabric layer 20 side is adhered to the substrate 10 so that the edge portions 15, 15 face each other in the meridian direction.

[0026] The edge portions 15, 15 of the covering material 11 adhered to the base material 10 are then sewn together with the suture thread 12. The suture thread 12 is inserted from the back side to the front side through the through-hole 25 of one and the other edge portions 15, and is then passed between the edge portions 15, 15 to the back side of one of the other edge portions 15, and is then further inserted through the through-hole 25 of that edge portion 15 from the back side to the front side. After that, the suture threads 12 are tightened by applying tension, and the same operation is repeated alternately in the specified direction to pass the suture thread 12 between the edge portions 15, 15 and sew the edge portions 15, 15 together.

[0027] In this case, for example, in a comparative example in which the skin piece 16a is cut so that its longitudinal direction is aligned with the width direction relative to the longitudinal direction of the skin base material 18 as shown in Fig. 4(a), the stitches are positioned in the longitudinal direction of the synthetic leather skin material 11a, making it relatively easy to stretch in the longitudinal direction and relatively difficult to stretch in the lateral direction. Therefore, as shown in Fig. 4(b), tension is applied to the stitches in the desired direction, i.e., in a direction perpendicular to the direction of the knitting yarn 23 of the base fabric layer 20a (indicated by arrow T), causing the skin material 11a to partially stretch in a narrow range in a predetermined direction near the through-hole 25a, as shown in Fig. 3(b). As a result, the shape of the through-hole 25a becomes elongated in a direction intersecting or perpendicular to the edge portion 15a, making the skin material 11 appear to be torn, or making it prone to the formation of longitudinally striated wrinkles S (shown in Fig. 5(b)). In FIG. 5(b), the brightness is reduced to clearly show the wrinkles S.

[0028] In contrast, in this embodiment, the stitches of the woven or knitted base fabric layer 20 of the synthetic leather upholstery material 11 are inclined with respect to the direction in which the edge portion 15 of the upholstery material 11 extends. As a result, as shown in Fig. 2(b), tension is applied to the suture thread 12 in the direction inclined with respect to the direction of the stitches, i.e., the direction of the knitting yarn 23 (indicated by arrow T), which tightens the upholstery material 11. This causes movement of the upholstery material 11 over a wide area, not just the local area near the through-hole 25a. Therefore, as shown in Fig. 3(a), the shape of the through-hole 25 is less likely to stretch in directions intersecting or perpendicular to the edge portion 15, and wrinkles in the meridian direction are less likely to occur in the upholstery material 11 (as shown in Fig. 5(a)). This maintains a good appearance and also allows the upholstery material 11 to stretch appropriately in the direction perpendicular to the direction in which the edge portion 15 extends, making it easier to handle when pulling the edge portion 15 and wrapping it around the substrate 10.

[0029] In particular, in the case of the knitted base fabric layer 20, the stretch is greatest in the direction of the stitches and least in the direction perpendicular to that. Therefore, the stitches of the base fabric layer 20 are inclined at approximately 45° with respect to the direction in which the edge portions 15 of the skin material 11 extend. This makes it possible to suppress large stretches that affect the appearance while ensuring appropriate stretch of the skin material 11 when the tension of the suture thread 12 acts on the skin material 11 in a direction that intersects or is perpendicular to the direction in which the edge portions 15 extend.

[0030] The vehicle part 1 of this embodiment is a vehicle handle that is gripped and operated by the occupant, and since the edge portion 15 of the skin material 11 is positioned along the inner edge portion of the rim portion 3, a handle that has a good appearance and a good feel when gripping the rim portion 3 can be provided.

[0031] In one embodiment, the skin base material 18 is manufactured so that the stitches of the base fabric layer 20 are aligned in the width direction, and the skin piece 16 (skin material 11) is cut so that the longitudinal direction is inclined relative to the width direction of the skin base material 18, thereby inclining the stitch direction of the base fabric layer 20 relative to the extending direction of the edge portion 15 of the skin material 11. However, this is not limiting, and for example, as in another embodiment shown in FIG. 7, the skin base material 18 may be pre-cut so that the stitch direction of the base fabric layer 20 is biased and inclined relative to the longitudinal direction or width direction of the skin base material 18. When manufactured, even if the skin piece 16 (skin material 11) is cut in the longitudinal direction along the width direction of the skin base material 18, the grain of the base fabric layer 20 can be configured to be inclined with respect to the extending direction of the edge portion 15 of the skin material 11, and even if the tension of the suture thread 12 acts on the skin material 11 in a direction intersecting or perpendicular to the extending direction of the edge portion 15, local stretching of the skin material 11 can be suppressed and good appearance can be maintained, thereby achieving the same effects as in the first embodiment and enabling effective use of the area of ​​the skin base material 18.

[0032] Furthermore, the angle of the mesh of the base fabric layer 20 relative to the direction in which the edge portion 15 extends is not limited to 45°, and may be set arbitrarily within a range that can achieve the same effects as those of each embodiment, depending on the ease of stretch of the base fabric layer 20, etc.

[0033] Furthermore, the fabric layer 20 may be a woven fabric. In this case, the weave of the fabric layer 20, i.e., the warp and weft directions, may be formed so as to be inclined with respect to the direction in which the edge portion 15 extends, thereby achieving the same effects as those of the above-described embodiment.

[0034] Furthermore, the vehicle part 1 is not limited to a steering wheel, but may be, for example, a shift knob or any other vehicle part in which the surface of the base material 10 is covered with the skin material 11. [Industrial Applicability]

[0035] The present invention can be suitably used as a steering wheel for a vehicle such as an automobile. [Explanation of symbols]

[0036] 1. Vehicle parts 3 Rim part that serves as the gripping part 10 Base material 11 Skin material 12 Sutures 15 Edge 20 Base fabric layer 21 Epidermal layer

Claims

1. A vehicle component including a base material, a skin material covering the base material, and a sewing thread for sewing together edge portions of the skin material, The skin material is synthetic leather having a woven or knitted base fabric layer and a skin layer covering the base fabric layer, The grain of the base fabric layer is inclined with respect to the direction in which the edge of the skin material extends. A vehicle part characterized by:

2. The grain of the base fabric layer is inclined at approximately 45° with respect to the direction in which the edge of the skin material extends.

2. The vehicle part according to claim 1.

3. A steering wheel for a vehicle that is gripped and operated by a vehicle occupant, in which the edge of the cover material is positioned along the inner edge of the grip.

3. The vehicle part according to claim 1 or 2.

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