Steering wheel

Abstract

To provide a steering wheel in which, even if a driver's finger gets caught in a hole provided in the connecting part, the finger can be easily removed from the hole. [Solution] A rim portion 24 for the driver to grip is located on the outer circumference of the boss portion 22 when viewed in the axial direction, and the boss portion 22 and the rim portion 24 are connected by connecting portions 26, 27, and 28. The pad portion 30, located on the driver side relative to the boss portion 22, has a top wall portion 30A and a peripheral wall portion 30B. The left and right connecting portions 26 and 27 are provided with holes 32 and 34, which have openings 32A and 32B on the driver side and whose inner surface is part of the peripheral wall portion 30B of the pad portion 30. The peripheral wall portion 30B of the pad portion 30 is provided with a deformable portion that can be elastically deformed by pressing force from the inside of the holes 32 and 34 toward the peripheral wall portion 30B.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a steering wheel.

Background Art

[0002] Patent Document 1 below discloses a structure in which a hole penetrating in the axial direction of a column portion is formed between upper and lower pairs of spoke portions extending left and right on the outer peripheral side of the column portion located at the center of the steering.

Prior Art Document

Patent Document

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] By the way, in a structure in which a hole is provided in the connecting portion between the boss portion and the grip portion of the steering wheel, if the driver's finger gets into the hole, the finger may be pinched depending on the way the finger is inserted, the size of the finger, and the size of the hole.

[0005] In consideration of the above fact, an object of the present invention is to obtain a steering wheel that can easily pull out a finger from the hole even if the driver's finger is pinched in the hole provided in the connecting portion.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] A steering wheel according to the first embodiment includes a boss portion fixed to the steering shaft of a vehicle; a pad portion having a top wall portion positioned on the driver side relative to the boss portion and facing toward the driver, and a peripheral wall portion extending from the outer circumference of the top wall portion toward the opposite side from the driver; a grip portion positioned on the outer circumference of the boss portion when viewed in the axial direction of the boss portion and gripped by the driver; a connecting portion connecting the boss portion and the grip portion, having a hole portion with an opening toward the driver and a part of the peripheral wall portion forming part of the inner circumferential surface; and a deformable portion provided on the peripheral wall portion that is elastically deformable by a pressing force from the inside of the hole toward the peripheral wall portion.

[0007] In the steering wheel of the first embodiment, a boss portion is fixed to the steering shaft of the vehicle. A grip portion for the driver to hold is arranged on the outer circumference of the boss portion when viewed in the axial direction, and the boss portion and the grip portion are connected by a connecting portion. Therefore, the driver can rotate the steering shaft around the center of rotation while holding the grip portion. On the other hand, the pad portion, which is positioned on the driver side relative to the boss portion, has a top wall portion and a circumferential wall portion. The top wall portion of the pad portion faces the driver side, and the circumferential wall portion of the pad portion extends from the outer circumference of the top wall portion toward the opposite side from the driver side. Furthermore, the connecting portion that connects the boss portion and the grip portion is provided with a hole portion that has an opening on the driver side and whose inner surface is part of the circumferential wall portion of the pad portion. Here, the circumferential wall portion of the pad portion is provided with a deformable portion that can be elastically deformed by the pressing force from the inside of the hole toward the circumferential wall portion. Therefore, even if the driver's finger gets caught in the hole, the deformable portion will deform, allowing the finger to be easily removed from the hole.

[0008] In the second embodiment of the steering wheel, the deformable portion is set in the portion of the peripheral wall that includes a part of the inner circumferential surface of the hole, and is expandable and contractible in the thickness direction of the set portion.

[0009] According to the steering wheel of the second embodiment, the deformable portion is set in the part of the peripheral wall that includes a part of the inner surface of the hole, and the set portion is expandable and contractible in the thickness direction. Therefore, even if the driver's finger gets caught in the hole, the deformable portion shrinks in the thickness direction in the part that includes a part of the inner surface of the hole, allowing the finger to be easily removed from the hole.

[0010] In the third embodiment of the steering wheel, the top wall portion is the part that is pressed when the horn device is activated, and the deformable portion has a lower modulus of elasticity than the top wall portion.

[0011] According to the steering wheel of the third embodiment, when the driver presses the top wall of the pad to activate the horn device, the elastic deformation of the top wall is prevented or suppressed, making the pressing operation easier. When the driver removes a finger that has become trapped in the hole, the deformable part is elastically deformable, allowing the finger to be easily removed from the hole.

[0012] In the fourth embodiment of the steering wheel, in the first embodiment, a space is provided inside the pad portion that allows the portion of the peripheral wall corresponding to the hole portion to deform inward towards the pad portion, and the deformable portion is configured to bend and deform due to a pressing force from the inside of the hole portion toward the peripheral wall portion.

[0013] According to the steering wheel of the fourth embodiment, a space is provided inside the pad portion that allows the portion of the peripheral wall corresponding to the hole to deform inward towards the pad portion. Furthermore, the deformable portion can bend and deform due to the pressing force from the inside of the hole towards the peripheral wall portion. Therefore, even if the driver's finger gets caught in the hole, the deformable portion elastically deforms and the peripheral wall portion deforms inward towards the pad portion, allowing the finger to be easily removed from the hole.

[0014] In the fifth embodiment of the steering wheel, in the first embodiment, a space is provided inside the pad portion that allows the portion of the peripheral wall corresponding to the hole portion to deform inward towards the pad portion, and the deformable portion includes a low-rigidity portion formed in part of the peripheral wall portion and set to have lower bending rigidity than the other portion of the peripheral wall portion, and is configured to bend elastically at the low-rigidity portion due to a pressing force from the inside of the hole portion toward the peripheral wall portion.

[0015] According to the fifth embodiment of the steering wheel, a space is provided inside the pad portion that allows the portion of the peripheral wall corresponding to the hole to deform inward. The deformable portion also includes a low-rigidity portion formed in a part of the peripheral wall portion and set to have lower bending rigidity than the rest of the peripheral wall portion, and the low-rigidity portion bends elastically due to the pressing force from the inside of the hole towards the peripheral wall portion. Therefore, even if the driver's finger gets caught in the hole, the deformable portion in the peripheral wall portion of the pad portion bends elastically at the low-rigidity portion, allowing the finger to be easily removed from the hole.

[0016] In the sixth embodiment of the steering wheel, the low-rigidity portion is set at the end of the peripheral wall portion that is on the top wall portion side.

[0017] According to the steering wheel of the sixth embodiment, even if the driver's fingers get caught in the back of the hole, the low-rigidity portion set at the end of the peripheral wall on the top wall side will bend elastically, so the width of the hole at the back can be easily widened, and the fingers can be easily removed from the back of the hole. [Effects of the Invention]

[0018] As described above, the steering wheel according to the present invention has the excellent effect that even if the driver's finger gets caught in the hole provided in the connecting part, the finger can be easily removed from the hole. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0019] [Figure 1]It is a diagram showing a simplified view of a part of the front of the vehicle interior of a vehicle having a steering wheel according to the first embodiment of the present invention as viewed from the driver's side. [Figure 2] It is a side view showing a part of the front of the vehicle interior including the steering wheel of FIG. 1. [Figure 3] It is an enlarged front view of the steering wheel of FIG. 1. [Figure 4] It is a cross-sectional view showing a state cut along the line 4-4 of FIG. 3. [Figure 5] It is a cross-sectional view showing a steering wheel according to the second embodiment. [Figure 6] It is a cross-sectional view showing a steering wheel according to the third embodiment.

Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0020] [First Embodiment] The steering wheel according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 4. In FIGS. 1 to 4, the arrow FR appropriately shown indicates the front side of the vehicle, the arrow UP indicates the upper side of the vehicle, and the arrow RH indicates the right side in the vehicle width direction. Also, in each figure, some reference numerals may be omitted for the sake of clarity of the drawing.

[0021] (Configuration) FIG. 1 shows a simplified view of a part of the front of the vehicle interior 10F in a vehicle 10 having a steering wheel 20 according to an embodiment of the present invention as viewed from the driver's side (driver's seat side). As shown in FIG. 1, an instrument panel 12 is provided in the front of the vehicle interior 10F of the vehicle 10. A front glass 13 is disposed above the front end of the instrument panel 12. A front pillar 14 is disposed along the vehicle up and down direction on the outer side in the vehicle width direction of the front glass 13.

[0022] Figure 2 shows a side view of a portion of the front part 10F of the vehicle interior. The front seats 16 shown in Figure 2 are provided on the rear side of the instrument panel 12 shown in Figure 1. The front seats 16 consist of a driver's seat 16D on one side of the front part 10F of the vehicle interior (the right side in this embodiment) and a passenger seat on the other side (the left side in this embodiment). Also, on one side of the front part 10F of the vehicle interior (the right side in this embodiment), a steering wheel 20, shown in Figures 1 and 2, is provided on the vehicle front side of the driver's seat 16D. As shown in Figure 2, the steering wheel 20 is operated by the driver PD seated in the driver's seat 16D. The steering wheel 20 is sometimes referred to as a handle.

[0023] Figure 3 shows an enlarged front view of the steering wheel 20. As shown in Figures 2 and 3, the steering wheel 20 has a boss portion 22 that is fixed to the steering shaft 18 of the vehicle 10 (see Figure 1). As shown in Figure 2, the tip end (upper end) of the steering shaft 18 is covered by the steering column cover 19. As shown in Figure 3, the boss portion 22 is located in the central region of the steering wheel 20. The boss portion 22 is fixed to the tip of the steering shaft 18 using fixing means such as a nut N (see Figure 4). The boss portion 22 is sometimes referred to as the hub portion.

[0024] The steering wheel 20 has a rim portion 24 which is an annular gripping portion that is positioned on the outer circumference of the boss portion 22 when viewed in the axial direction of the boss portion 22 (see the direction of extension of the dashed line CL in Figure 2) and is gripped by the driver. The boss portion 22 and the rim portion 24 are connected by a plurality (three in this embodiment) connecting portions (also called "spoke portions") 26, 27, and 28.

[0025] Figure 4 shows a cross-sectional view taken along line 4-4 in Figure 3. As shown in Figure 4, the boss portion 22 is part of the core metal 21 that constitutes the frame of the steering wheel 20. The shape of the core metal 21 in a front view is not shown. The core metal 21 is made of, for example, an aluminum alloy, a magnesium alloy, or steel. The core metal 21 is composed of the boss portion 22, an annular ring core metal portion 21B that constitutes the frame of the rim portion 24, and spoke core metal portions 21C that constitute the frame of the connecting portions 26, 27, and 28 (see Figure 3). In the spoke core metal portion 21C, through holes 21H are formed in a part of the portion that becomes the frame of the left and right connecting portions 26 and 27.

[0026] As shown in Figures 3 and 4, a synthetic resin pad portion 30 is positioned on the driver side relative to the boss portion 22. The pad portion 30 is sometimes referred to as a wheel pad. The pad portion 30 is formed in a substantially cylindrical shape with one end closed and positioned with the open end facing the boss portion 22. It comprises a top wall portion 30A facing the driver side and a peripheral wall portion 30B extending from the outer circumference of the top wall portion 30A toward the opposite side from the driver side. The peripheral wall portion 30B is composed of left and right side wall portions 30L and 30R, an upper wall portion 30U (see Figure 3), and a lower wall portion 30D (see Figure 3). Although detailed illustrations are omitted, the pad portion 30 is biased toward the driver by a spring, and a predetermined portion at the tip of the peripheral wall portion 30B is locked to a predetermined portion on the core metal 21 (see Figure 4), allowing the pad portion 30 to be displaced by a predetermined amount along the central axis direction (same direction as the axis direction of the boss portion 22).

[0027] As shown in Figure 4, an airbag device 50 is positioned in the inner space of the pad portion 30. The airbag device 50 includes a metal base plate 52 positioned on the leading edge (open end) of the peripheral wall portion 30B of the pad portion 30. The base plate 52 consists of a rectangular flat base portion 52A to which the inflator 56 is fixed, and a mounting portion 52B formed by bending from the edge of the base portion 52A toward the opposite side from the driver. Meanwhile, metal or resin insert plates 54 are embedded in the side walls 30L and 30R of the pad portion 30 by insert molding, and the mounting portion 52B of the base plate 52 is fixed to these insert plates 54. A folded bag 58 is stored in the space formed by the base plate 52 and the pad portion 30. In Figure 4, the cross-section of the bag 58 is shown with a thick line without indicating the thickness for convenience. The bag 58 has its opening fixed to the base portion 52A of the base plate 52, and is designed to inflate and deploy when expansion gas is supplied from the inflator 56 during a vehicle collision.

[0028] Furthermore, the top wall portion 30A of the pad portion 30 shown in Figure 3 is the part that is pressed when the horn device 60 (shown as a block in the figure) is activated. A horn switch 62 is located near the tip of the lower wall portion 30D of the pad portion 30. That is, the pad portion 30 is configured such that when the top wall portion 30A is pressed, the tip of the lower wall portion 30D presses the horn switch 62. When the horn switch 62 is pressed, the horn device 60 is activated. The horn device 60 is a warning device, and since a known configuration can be applied to activate the horn device 60, detailed illustrations and detailed explanations are omitted.

[0029] The rim portion 24 is positioned to surround the boss portion 22 when viewed in the axial direction of the boss portion 22, and includes a covering portion 24A that covers the annular ring core portion 21B (see Figure 4). The rim portion 24 is rotated by the driver who grips the rim portion 24, with the steering shaft 18 as the center of rotation.

[0030] Of the three connecting parts 26, 27, and 28, connecting part 26 is provided on the left side relative to the boss part 22, connecting part 27 is provided on the right side relative to the boss part 22, and connecting part 28 is provided below the boss part 22. The connecting parts 26, 27, and 28 are provided on the spoke core metal part 21C (see Figure 4) and are equipped with synthetic resin covers 26A, 27A, and 28A that cover the portion including the spoke core metal part 21C.

[0031] As shown in Figure 4, the left and right covers 26A and 27A form a space together with the spoke core metal portion 21C, etc., on the front side relative to the spoke core metal portion 21C. In the space formed by the left cover 26A, etc., a circuit board (not shown) on which a cruise control switch is mounted is housed, for example. In the space formed by the right cover 27A, etc., a circuit board (not shown) on which an audio switch is mounted is housed, for example.

[0032] The steering wheel 20 also has operating switches 42 and 44 that protrude from the left and right covers 26A and 27A toward the driver (front) and are rotatable. The operating switch 42 protruding toward the driver from the left cover 26A is used to operate the cruise control to increase or decrease the set vehicle speed by a predetermined speed. The operating switch 44 protruding toward the driver from the right cover 26A and 27A is used to select the music to be played on the in-vehicle audio system. The operating switches 42 and 44 can move their protruding tips both upward and downward from the home position (neutral position) shown in Figure 3.

[0033] As shown in Figure 4, the operating switches 42 and 44 are part of the toggle switch devices 36 and 38. Since known toggle switch devices can be used for the toggle switch devices 36 and 38, a detailed explanation is omitted. The operating switches 42 and 44 are formed, for example, in a roughly rectangular plate shape.

[0034] Furthermore, as shown in Figure 3, as an example, among the three connecting parts 26, 27, and 28, the left and right connecting parts 26 and 27 are provided with holes 32 and 34 on the side walls 30L and 30R of the pad part 30. The holes 32 and 34 have openings 32A and 34A on the driver's side (front side) and are formed in a shape that is longer in the vertical direction than in the horizontal direction when viewed from the front. The holes 32 and 34 are provided, as an example, from the viewpoint of improving the design of the steering wheel 20 and, consequently, the design of the front part 10F of the vehicle interior shown in Figure 1.

[0035] As shown in Figure 3, the holes 32 and 34 are formed by notched recesses 26K and 27K formed on the pad portion 30 side of the covers 26A and 27A, and a part of the side wall portions 30L and 30R of the pad portion 30. That is, as shown in Figure 4, the holes 32 and 34 incorporate a part of the side wall portions 30L and 30R of the pad portion 30 as part of its inner circumferential surface.

[0036] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the side walls 30L and 30R of the pad portion 30 are provided with deformable portions 70 and 72 that can be elastically deformed by pressing force from the inside of the holes 32 and 34 toward the side walls 30L and 30R. The deformable portions 70 and 72 are provided in the portion of the side walls 30L and 30R that includes a part of the inner circumferential surface of the holes 32 and 34, and are elastic in the thickness direction of the side walls 30L and 30R. The deformable portions 70 and 72 are made of a flexible material (for example, urethane foam) and have a lower modulus of elasticity (i.e., are softer) than the top wall portion 30A.

[0037] The deformable portions 70 and 72 are formed, for example, by two-color molding, in the side walls 30L and 30R of the pad portion 30, including the portion opposite to the inner side of the pad portion 30 relative to the insert plate 54. The position of the insert plate 54 inside the side walls 30L and 30R of the pad portion 30 is shifted inward from the center in the thickness direction of the side walls 30L and 30R. This is advantageous for increasing the thickness of the deformable portions 70 and 72 compared to, for example, the case where the position of the insert plate 54 inside the side walls 30L and 30R of the pad portion 30 is at the center in the thickness direction of the side walls 30L and 30R.

[0038] (Effects / Actions) Next, the operation and effects of this embodiment will be described.

[0039] As shown in Figure 3, in the steering wheel 20 of this embodiment, the boss portion 22 is fixed to the steering shaft 18. Furthermore, a rim portion 24 for the driver to grip is positioned on the outer circumference of the boss portion 22 when viewed in the axial direction, and the boss portion 22 and the rim portion 24 are connected by connecting portions 26, 27, and 28. Therefore, the driver can rotate the steering wheel with the steering shaft 18 as the center of rotation while gripping the rim portion 24.

[0040] On the other hand, the pad portion 30, which is positioned on the driver side relative to the boss portion 22, has a top wall portion 30A and a peripheral wall portion 30B. The top wall portion 30A of the pad portion 30 is oriented toward the driver side, and the peripheral wall portion 30B of the pad portion 30 extends from the outer circumference of the top wall portion 30A toward the opposite side from the driver side (see Figure 4). In addition, the left and right connecting portions 26 and 27 are provided with holes 32 and 34, which have openings 32A and 34A toward the driver side and whose inner surface is part of the peripheral wall portion 30B of the pad portion 30. Here, as shown in Figure 4, the peripheral wall portion 30B of the pad portion 30 is provided with deformable portions 70 and 72 that can be elastically deformed by pressing force from the inside of the holes 32 and 34 toward the peripheral wall portion 30B side. Therefore, even if the driver's fingers get caught in the holes 32 and 34, the deformable parts 70 and 72 will deform, allowing the fingers to be easily removed from the holes 32 and 34.

[0041] More specifically, the deformable parts 70 and 72 are defined in this embodiment as follows: the deformable parts 70 and 72 are defined in the portion of the peripheral wall 30B that includes a part of the inner surface of the holes 32 and 34, and are expandable and contractible in the thickness direction of the defined portion. Therefore, even if a driver's finger gets caught in the holes 32 and 34, the deformable parts 70 and 72 flexibly deform in the portion including a part of the inner surface of the holes 32 and 34, allowing the finger to be easily removed from the holes 32 and 34.

[0042] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the elastic modulus of the deformable parts 70 and 72 is set to be lower than that of the top wall portion 30A. Therefore, when the driver presses the top wall portion 30A of the pad portion 30 to activate the horn device 60, the elastic deformation of the top wall portion 30A is prevented or suppressed, making the pressing operation easier. Also, when the driver removes a finger that has become trapped in the holes 32 and 34, the deformable parts 70 and 72 are easily elastically deformed, allowing the finger to be easily removed.

[0043] As described above, according to the steering wheel 20 of this embodiment, even if the driver's fingers get caught in the holes 32 and 34 provided in the connecting portions 26 and 27, the fingers can be easily removed from the holes 32 and 34.

[0044] [Second Embodiment] Next, a steering wheel according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to Figure 5. Figure 5 shows a cross-sectional view (corresponding to Figure 4 of the first embodiment) of the steering wheel 80 according to the second embodiment of the present invention. The steering wheel 80 according to the second embodiment has substantially the same configuration as the first embodiment, except for the following points. Components that are substantially the same as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals and their description is omitted.

[0045] As shown in Figure 5, the steering wheel 80 is equipped with an airbag device 150 in place of the airbag device 50 of the first embodiment (see Figure 4). The airbag device 150 includes a base plate 152 in place of the base plate 52 of the first embodiment (see Figure 4). The base plate 152 includes a rectangular flat base portion 152A to which the inflator 56 is fixed, a side plate portion 152B formed by bending from the edge of the base portion 152A toward the opposite side from the driver, and a mounting portion 152C bent from the end of the side plate portion 152B opposite to the base portion 152A and fixed to the core metal 21 with bolts (not shown).

[0046] Furthermore, a protective cloth 154 (shown with a solid cross-section for convenience) is provided on the outer periphery of the bag 58 to maintain the folded shape of the bag 58 until the airbag device 150 is activated. The protective cloth 154 is positioned at a distance from the inner surface of the pad portion 82.

[0047] The pad portion 82 of this embodiment differs from the pad portion 30 of the first embodiment (see Figure 4, etc.) in that its peripheral wall portion 82B has left and right side wall portions 82L and 82R instead of the left and right side wall portions 30L and 30R of the first embodiment (see Figure 4, etc.). The holes 32 and 34 in this embodiment are formed from the notches 26K and 27K of the covers 26A and 27A and a part of the side wall portions 82L and 82R of the pad portion 82, and in this respect differ from the holes 32 and 34 of the first embodiment (see Figure 4, etc.), but for convenience, they are given the same reference numerals as the holes 32 and 34 of the first embodiment. The holes 32 and 34 of this embodiment have a part of the side wall portions 82L and 82R of the pad portion 82 as part of the inner circumferential surface.

[0048] Inside the pad portion 82, spaces 86 and 87 are provided that allow the portion of the peripheral wall portion 82B corresponding to the holes 32 and 34 to deform inward towards the pad portion 82. In addition, the left and right side wall portions 82L and 82R are provided with deformable portions 84 and 85 instead of the deformable portions 70 and 72 (see Figure 4) of the first embodiment.

[0049] The deformable portions 84 and 85 are elastically deformable by pressing force from the inside of the holes 32 and 34 toward the side walls 82L and 82R, and are provided in the portion of the side walls 82L and 82R that includes a part of the inner circumferential surface of the holes 32 and 34. The deformable portions 84 and 85 are made of a material that is thinner than the top wall portion 30A of the pad portion 82 and is flexible. As a result, the deformable portions 84 and 85 are configured to be flexible and deformable by pressing force from the inside of the holes 32 and 34 toward the side walls 82L and 82R.

[0050] According to the second embodiment, even if the driver's fingers get caught in the holes 32 and 34, the deformable parts 84 and 85 elastically deform, causing the side walls 82L and 82R to deform inward towards the pad part 82, allowing the fingers to be easily removed from the holes 32 and 34.

[0051] [Third Embodiment] Next, a steering wheel according to a third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to Figure 6. Figure 6 shows a cross-sectional view (corresponding to Figure 4 of the first embodiment) of the steering wheel 90 according to the third embodiment of the present invention. The steering wheel 90 according to the third embodiment has substantially the same configuration as the second embodiment, except for the following points. Components that are substantially the same as those in the second embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals and their description is omitted.

[0052] The pad portion 92 in the third embodiment differs from the pad portion 82 of the second embodiment (see Figure 5) in that its peripheral wall portion 92B has left and right side wall portions 92L and 92R instead of the left and right side wall portions 82L and 82R of the second embodiment (see Figure 5). The holes 32 and 34 in this embodiment are formed from the notches 26K and 27K of the covers 26A and 27A and a part of the side wall portions 92L and 92R of the pad portion 92, and in this respect differ from the holes 32 and 34 of the first and second embodiments (see Figures 4 and 5), but for convenience, they are given the same reference numerals as the holes 32 and 34 of the first and second embodiments. The holes 32 and 34 in this embodiment have a part of the side wall portions 92L and 92R of the pad portion 92 as part of the inner circumferential surface.

[0053] Inside the pad portion 92, spaces 96 and 97 are provided that allow the portion of the peripheral wall portion 92B corresponding to the holes 32 and 34 to deform inward towards the pad portion 92. In addition, the left and right side wall portions 92L and 92R are provided with deformable portions 94 and 95 in place of the deformable portions 84 and 85 of the second embodiment (see Figure 5).

[0054] The deformable portions 94 and 95 are elastically deformable by pressing force from the inside of the holes 32 and 34 toward the sidewalls 92L and 92R, and are provided in the portion of the sidewalls 92L and 92R that includes a part of the inner circumferential surface of the holes 32 and 34. The deformable portions 94 and 95 include low-rigidity portions 94A and 95A formed in a part of the sidewalls 92L and 92R, which have lower bending rigidity than the other parts of the sidewalls 92L and 92R. The low-rigidity portions 94A and 95A are set at the ends of the sidewalls 92L and 92R toward the top wall 30A.

[0055] The low-rigidity sections 94A and 95A are formed by creating a roughly V-shaped groove from the inner surface of a portion of the side walls 92L and 92R. The low-rigidity sections 94A and 95A extend along the direction of extension of the boundary between the side walls 92L and 92R and the top wall 30A, and are formed at the ends on the top wall 30A side of the entire area of ​​the deformable sections 94 and 95. The deformable sections 94 and 95 are configured to bend elastically in the low-rigidity sections 94A and 95A due to a pressing force from the inside of the holes 32 and 34 toward the side walls 92L and 92R.

[0056] The deformable portions 94 and 95 have substantially the same configuration as the deformable portions 84 and 85 of the second embodiment (see Figure 5), except that they have the low-rigidity portions 94A and 95A described above. To further explain, the deformable portions 94 and 95 include portions that can bend and deform in such a way that the side walls 92L and 92R are elastically bent at the low-rigidity portions 94A and 95A by a pressing force from the inside of the holes 32 and 34 toward the side walls 92L and 92R.

[0057] According to the third embodiment, by providing deformable portions 94 and 95 including low-rigidity portions 94A and 95A, even if the driver's fingers get caught in the holes 32 and 34, the deformable portions 94 and 95 in the side walls 92L and 92R of the pad portion 92 bend elastically at the low-rigidity portions 94A and 95A, allowing the fingers to be easily removed from the holes 32 and 34. Furthermore, because the low-rigidity portions 94A and 95A are set at the ends of the side walls 92L and 92R on the side of the top wall 30A, even if the driver's fingers get caught in the back of the holes 32 and 34, the low-rigidity portions 94A and 95A set at the ends of the side walls 92L and 92R on the side of the top wall 30A bend elastically, allowing the width of the holes 32 and 34 to be easily widened, and the fingers to be easily removed from the back of the holes 32 and 34.

[0058] [Supplementary explanation of the embodiment] In the first to third embodiments shown in Figures 1 to 6, the rim portion 24, which serves as a gripping portion for the driver, is formed in an annular shape. However, as a modification of the above embodiments, the gripping portion, which is positioned on the outer circumference of the boss portion (22) when viewed in the axial direction of the boss portion (22) and is gripped by the driver, may be formed in an arc shape or a substantially U-shape, or other than an annular shape.

[0059] Furthermore, in the above embodiment, holes 32 and 34 are provided in the left and right connecting portions 26 and 27, and deformable portions 70, 72, 84, 85, 94, and 95 are provided in the side wall portions 30L, 30R, 82L, 82R, 92L, and 92R of the peripheral wall portions 30B, 82B, and 92B of the pad portions 30, 82, and 92. However, as a modification of the above embodiment, for example, a hole is provided in the lower connecting portion (28) that has an opening on the driver side and makes part of the peripheral wall portion (30B) of the pad portion (30) part of the inner circumferential surface, and a deformable portion is provided in the lower wall portion (30D) of the peripheral wall portion (30B) of the pad portion (30).

[0060] Furthermore, in the third embodiment described above, the low-rigidity sections 94A and 95A are set at the ends of the side walls 92L and 92R on the side of the top wall 30A. However, a configuration in which the low-rigidity section is set in the central part between the tip end and the end of the side wall (92L, 92R) on the side of the top wall 30A is also possible.

[0061] Furthermore, as a modification of the third embodiment described above, for example, the side walls of the pad portion are formed to be thicker than the side walls 92L and 92R of the third embodiment, and slits are formed in the side walls near the portions corresponding to the holes (32 and 34) along the same direction as the penetration direction of the holes (32 and 34), thereby allowing the low-rigidity portion (94A and 95A) to be elastically bent by the pressing force from the inside of the holes (32 and 34) toward the side wall portion.

[0062] Furthermore, the above embodiments and the various modifications described above can be combined as appropriate.

[0063] Although an example of the present invention has been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above, and it is of course possible to implement it in various ways without departing from its spirit. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0064] 10 vehicles 18 Steering shaft 20 Steering Wheel 22 Boss Section 24. Rim section (gripping section) 26 Connecting part 27 Connecting part 30 Pad section 30A Top wall 30B Peripheral wall part 32 Hole 32A aperture 34 Hole 34A aperture 60 Horn device 70 Deformable parts 72 Deformable parts 80 Steering Wheel 82 Pad section 82B Peripheral wall part 84 Deformable parts 85 Deformable part 86 Space 87 Space 90 Steering Wheel 92 Pad section 92B Peripheral wall part 94 Deformable parts 94A Low rigidity part 95 Deformable part 95A Low rigidity part 96 Space 97 Space

Claims

1. A boss portion that is fixed to the vehicle's steering shaft, A pad portion comprising a top wall portion positioned on the driver side relative to the boss portion and facing toward the driver, and a peripheral wall portion extending from the outer circumference of the top wall portion toward the opposite side from the driver, A gripping portion is positioned on the outer circumference of the boss portion when viewed in the axial direction of the boss portion and is gripped by the driver, A connecting portion is provided which connects the boss portion and the gripping portion, and which has an opening on the driver side and a hole portion which makes part of the peripheral wall portion part of the inner peripheral surface, A deformable portion provided on the peripheral wall portion, which is elastically deformable by a pressing force from the inside of the hole portion toward the peripheral wall portion, A steering wheel having a steering wheel.

2. The steering wheel according to claim 1, wherein the deformable portion is set in a portion of the peripheral wall that includes a portion that constitutes a part of the inner circumferential surface of the hole, and the set portion is expandable and contractible in the thickness direction.

3. The aforementioned top wall portion is the part that is pressed when the horn device is activated. The steering wheel according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the deformable portion has a lower modulus of elasticity than the top wall portion.

4. Inside the pad portion, there is a space provided that allows the portion of the peripheral wall corresponding to the hole to deform inward towards the pad portion. The steering wheel according to claim 1, wherein the deformable portion is configured to be deformable by bending due to a pressing force from the inside of the hole toward the peripheral wall portion.

5. Inside the pad portion, there is a space provided that allows the portion of the peripheral wall corresponding to the hole to deform inward towards the pad portion. The steering wheel according to claim 1, wherein the deformable portion includes a low-rigidity portion formed in a part of the peripheral wall portion and set to have lower bending rigidity than the other part of the peripheral wall portion, and is configured to bend elastically at the low-rigidity portion by a pressing force from the inside of the hole portion toward the peripheral wall portion.

6. The steering wheel according to claim 5, wherein the low-rigidity portion is set at the end of the peripheral wall portion on the top wall portion side.

Images