Non-Annular Steering Wheel Protrusion for Visibility and Grip Stability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing steering wheels with non-annular rim parts require unnatural gripping and careful rotation operations due to the presence of the spoke part at the thumb position, obstructing forward visibility and leading to potential hand displacement during steering.
Innovation Solution
A steering wheel design with a non-annular rim part featuring a protrusion portion that includes an inclination rear or front surface, allowing natural gripping and stable rotation by positioning the thumb inside the protrusion and utilizing the inclined surfaces as resistance to prevent hand displacement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If the rim part is formed in a non-annular shape with a missing upper section to ensure forward visibility, then forward visibility is improved, but the spoke part blocks the natural thumb position for gripping
Solution Approach 1:
The rim part is segmented into multiple sections including a first rim part, second rim part, and third rim part connected by curved portions. This segmentation allows the upper section to be non-continuous (improving visibility) while providing multiple gripping zones including intersection regions where the spoke part meets the rim part (restoring natural thumb positioning and gripping comfort)
2Illumination intensity
If the rim part lacks an upper section in the steering neutral state, then forward visibility is ensured, but hand displacement occurs during rotation operation
Solution Approach 1:
The rim part incorporates intersection regions where the spoke part intersects with the first and second rim parts. These intersection regions have enhanced structural properties and provide localized gripping zones with natural thumb positioning. When the driver grips these specific regions, the hand position remains stable during rotation operations while the non-continuous upper section maintains forward visibility
Data Source
AI summary
A steering wheel includes: a rim part having a non-annular shape; and a spoke part. In the rim part, a region that becomes an upper section in a steering neutral state is not continuous. The rim part includes a protrusion portion protruding toward an upper side in the steering neutral state from an intersection region intersecting the spoke part. The protrusion portion includes at least one of an inclination rear surface and an inclination front surface. The inclination rear surface is inclined to a vehicle rearward side toward an upper side in the steering neutral state from a surface facing the vehicle rearward side of the intersection region. The inclination front surface is inclined to a vehicle forward side toward an upper side in the steering neutral state from a surface facing the vehicle forward side of the intersection region.