Steering Wheel Decorative Body for Touch Sensing and Torsional Flexibility

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing decorative members in steering wheels are limited in their ability to sense touches by vehicle occupants, particularly at connection regions with the rim and spokes, and are prone to breakage during torsional deformation.

Innovation Solution

A decorative member is disposed at the grip portion of the steering apparatus, extending from one length direction to another, with reduced thickness and width dimensions at deforming portions to facilitate torsional deformation and sensing, and includes strong and weak fixing portions to inhibit breakage.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If the decorative member is disposed at the connection region of the rim with spokes, then the range of touch sensing is improved, but the strength and resistance to breakage deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improverange of touch sensingVSAvoidstrength of decorative member

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The decorative member is divided into multiple sections: a strong fixing portion for secure attachment, a weak fixing portion for controlled release, and a deforming portion with reduced thickness for torsional flexibility. This segmentation allows the decorative member to maintain sensing capability at connection regions while preventing breakage through strategic structural division.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different portions of the decorative member are given different structural properties: the strong fixing portion has high strength for secure mounting, the weak fixing portion has reduced strength for controlled detachment, and the deforming portion has reduced thickness for torsional deformation. This local differentiation resolves the contradiction between sensing range and breakage resistance.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Manufacturing precision

If the decorative member is made with uniform thickness, then the manufacturing precision is improved, but the ability to undergo torsional deformation deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveuniformity of decorative memberVSAvoidability to undergo torsional deformation

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The decorative member transitions from uniform thickness to non-uniform thickness with a specifically designed deforming portion that has reduced thickness. This local modification enables torsional deformation at critical regions while maintaining manufacturing precision through controlled dimensional variations rather than complete uniformity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The decorative member is designed with dynamic characteristics through the deforming portion that allows torsional deformation during steering wheel compression. This dynamic capability is achieved by creating a thickness gradient rather than maintaining static uniform thickness throughout the structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Adaptability or versatility

If the decorative member is made with reduced thickness at deforming portion, then the ability to undergo torsional deformation is improved, but the manufacturing precision deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveability to undergo torsional deformationVSAvoiddimensional accuracy of decorative member

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The thickness reduction is applied locally only at the deforming portion rather than throughout the entire decorative member. This localized modification maintains high manufacturing precision for the majority of the structure while providing the necessary torsional deformation capability at specific critical regions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The decorative member is segmented into regions of different thickness: thick sections for structural integrity and precise manufacturing, and a thin deforming portion for torsional flexibility. This segmentation allows high manufacturing precision to be maintained in critical areas while enabling deformation where needed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentUS12448024B2Decorative body

Publication Date: 2025.10.21 KK TOKAI RIKA DENKI SEISAKUSHO

AI summary

Garnishes of a steering wheel are disposed from an upper side to a lower side of a rim section with respect to spoke sections at a vehicle left side and a vehicle right side. Thus, the garnishes are disposed at connection regions of the rim section with the spoke sections. Therefore, ranges of sensing by the garnishes of hands of a vehicle occupant touching the garnishes are broadened as far as the connection regions of the rim section with the spoke sections.