Steering Wheel Covering Member with Dividing Portion for Groove Integration
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Solution Overview
Problem
The demand for steering wheels with a grain-patterned external treatment, featuring a groove portion on the rim section, poses challenges in integrating functional components like heaters or sensors around the groove area, as they cannot be continuously set at these positions, necessitating an extension of the operating range.
Innovation Solution
A steering wheel covering member with a sheet-shaped design that includes a dividing portion, allowing the held body to be accommodated within the recessed portion of the grip section main body, enabling easy attachment and alignment of functional components like heaters or sensors along the opening edge of the groove.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Shape
If a grain-patterned external treatment with a groove portion is applied to the rim section, then the design appearance is improved, but the continuous setting of functional components (heaters or sensors) around the groove portion becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The covering member is segmented by introducing a dividing portion (cut-out portion) that corresponds to the groove portion. This segmentation allows the covering member to be divided into multiple sections that can be independently positioned and attached, enabling functional components to be continuously arranged around the groove area without interruption. The dividing portion creates separate attachment sections that can accommodate heaters or sensors in a continuous manner despite the presence of the groove.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the covering member is designed with a dividing portion to accommodate the groove, then the adaptability for functional components is improved, but the ease of attachment deteriorates due to the complex structure
Solution Approach 1:
The dividing portion is pre-formed in the covering member during the manufacturing process, creating a structure that is ready for attachment without requiring complex field modifications. The cut-out portion is prepared in advance to match the groove portion geometry, so that during assembly, the covering member can be directly attached to the grip section main body with the dividing portion naturally aligning with and accommodating the groove. This preliminary preparation maintains ease of manufacture while achieving the required adaptability.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the dividing portion is made large enough to accommodate the groove portion, then the adaptability for functional components is improved, but the structural integrity of the covering member deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The covering member is designed with non-setting areas of the held body positioned along the dividing portion, creating local variations in material distribution. These non-setting areas are strategically placed to maintain structural integrity in critical regions while still allowing the dividing portion to accommodate the groove. The held body (functional component) is arranged to avoid the dividing portion area, concentrating material and structural strength where needed while providing adaptability where required.
Data Source
AI summary
There is provided a steering wheel covering member which is capable of disposing a wire in an opening edge of a recessed portion of a rim section main body portion and which is easy to be attached to the rim section main body portion, a steering wheel, and a manufacturing method of a steering wheel. The steering wheel covering member includes sheet-shaped sheet member having dividing portion that is a cut-out portion. The steering wheel covering member includes wire that is held on sheet member excluding non-setting area A along dividing portion. The dividing portion is accommodated in recessed portion such that dividing portion and non-setting area A of wire are disposed inward of an opening edge of recessed portion.