Steering Wheel Rim Skin Segmentation for Gap-Free Tapered Decorative Edges
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Solution Overview
Problem
In steering wheels with decorative components, gaps often form between the tapered leading ends of the decorative components and the surface skin, compromising the appearance of the vicinity.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates a surface skin with curved-side and non-curved-side cover sections that form a slit to house the decorative component, featuring a main body with a curving portion and an extended portion that joins with a non-curved-side cover section, along with mounting projections and positioning projections to secure the decorative component on a base, preventing gaps and enhancing mounting strength.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If the surface skin is arranged to surround the tapered leading ends of the decorative component, then the decorative component can be mounted on the rim, but a gap is likely to form between the leading end of the decorative component and the surface skin, worsening the appearance
Solution Approach 1:
The surface skin is divided into multiple sections: a first cover section, a second cover section, and a third cover section. The third cover section is specifically positioned to cover the leading end of the decorative component, while the first and second cover sections cover other portions. This segmentation allows each section to be optimally shaped to prevent gaps, particularly at the critical leading end area where the tapered shape meets the surface skin.
Solution Approach 2:
Different portions of the surface skin are given different shapes and functions. The third cover section has a specific configuration to match and cover the tapered leading end of the decorative component, while other sections have different characteristics. This local differentiation ensures that the critical gap-prone area at the leading end is properly covered without compromising the overall design.
2Shape
If the leading-end portion of the decorative component has a tapered form, then the decorative appearance is improved, but it becomes difficult to prevent gaps between the leading end and the surface skin
Solution Approach 1:
The surface skin is segmented into three cover sections, with the third cover section specifically designed to accommodate the tapered leading end of the decorative component. This segmentation allows the surface skin to precisely follow the tapered geometry without creating gaps, while maintaining the aesthetic tapered form.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of trying to make the decorative component's leading end perfectly match a uniform surface skin, the invention inverts the approach by making the surface skin adapt to the tapered shape of the decorative component through the third cover section. This reversal of the matching direction allows the tapered form to be preserved while eliminating gaps.
Data Source
AI summary
A steering wheel includes a decorative component and a surface skin on a surface of the rim. The decorative component is formed into a band and a leading-end portion of the decorative component has a tapered form in which an inner edge curves towards an outer circumference of the rim and serves as a curving edge. The surface skin includes a curved-side section adjoining the curving edge and a non-curved-side section adjoining a non-curving edge of the leading-end portion. The curved-side section includes a main body that includes a curving portion which corresponds to the curving edge of the leading-end portion in shape, and an extended portion that extends beyond an apex of the leading-end portion and extends towards the non-curving edge of the leading-end portion of the decorative component. A region of the extended portion beyond the apex is joined to a leading edge of the non-curved-side section.