Steering Wheel Grip Decorative Body Mounting
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Solution Overview
Problem
In steering wheels with decorative bodies, the arrangement of the decorative elements can lead to a decrease in the strength of the core material due to increased bending moments, as the core material is separated from the boss portion, affecting the rigidity and strength of the grip portion.
Innovation Solution
A configuration where the decorative body is exposed on the upper surface of the grip portion, with a mounting portion that includes multiple mounting fitting portions on the lower surface side, strategically positioned to reduce the separation distance between the core material and the boss portion, thereby reducing the maximum bending moment and enhancing the strength and rigidity of the core material.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the decorative body is arranged on the grip portion with the locking portion extending downward from the rear surface, then the decorative body can be securely attached to the coating layer, but the core material for the grip portion is separated from the boss portion, increasing the bending moment and decreasing the strength of the core material
Solution Approach 1:
The locking portion is configured to extend in multiple directions: downward from the rear surface to attach to the coating layer, and inward toward the core material for the grip portion. This multi-dimensional arrangement allows the locking portion to simultaneously secure the decorative body and reduce the separation distance between the core material and boss portion, thereby reducing the bending moment while maintaining attachment stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The locking portion is nested within the decorative body structure, with the inward-extending portion positioned inside the decorative body to contact or approach the core material. This nested configuration allows the locking portion to function both as an attachment mechanism and as a structural element that reduces the moment arm without adding external complexity.
2Shape
If the core material for the grip portion is arranged on the side separated from the boss portion to accommodate the decorative body, then the decorative body can be exposed on the upper surface, but the distance from the core material to the boss portion increases, resulting in larger bending moments
Solution Approach 1:
The locking portion exhibits asymmetric configuration with different extension directions: downward for coating layer attachment and inward for core material proximity. This asymmetric design allows the decorative body to be exposed on the upper surface while the inward extension of the locking portion reduces the effective separation distance between the core material and boss portion, minimizing the bending moment.
Solution Approach 2:
The locking portion has different functional zones: the downward-extending portion provides attachment function to the coating layer, while the inward-extending portion provides structural support by reducing the moment arm. This local differentiation of function within the locking portion allows simultaneous achievement of decorative body exposure and strength maintenance.
Data Source
AI summary
A steering wheel includes a boss, a grip having a substantially rod shape and arranged away from the boss, and a spoke portion connecting the boss and the grip. The grip includes a core for the grip, a coating layer which covers an outer peripheral side of the core, and the decorative body exposed on the upper surface side of the grip. The decorative body has a decorative main body exposed on the upper surface side of the grip and a mounting portion having a long shape, being arranged substantially along the grip, holding the decorative main body and being attached to the coating layer. Mounting fitting portions to be attached to the coating layer is arranged on a lower surface side of the mounting portion and on a side separated from the boss and the spoke portion with respect to the core in a cross section of the grip.