JP3000861B2 - Steering wheel - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a steering wheel of a vehicle, and more particularly, to a vehicle having a plurality of horn switches disposed between a steering wheel main body and a horn pad disposed above the steering wheel main body. Related to the steering wheel.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 1 shows a conventional steering wheel in which a plurality of horn switches are arranged between a steering wheel main body and a horn pad disposed above the steering wheel main body. (See Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 5-139318).

In the steering wheel W0, a horn switch body 3 between the steering wheel main body 1 and the horn pad 2 includes a horn spring 4, insulating spacers 5, 6, rivets 7, a base plate 8, a guide spacer 9, screws 10, 9 of mounting piece 11 and screw 12
It consisted of different types of parts.

The horn spring 4 has an insulating spacer 5.
6 and the base plate 8 with rivets 7
And urges the horn pad 2 upward, and is electrically connected to the positive electrode side of the horn operation circuit via the rivet 7 described above. The base plate 8 constitutes the upper part of the sheet metal impact energy absorber E, and the steering wheel body 1
It is electrically connected to the negative electrode side of the horn operation circuit via the core metal 1a on the side.

A guide spacer 9 is attached to the lower surface of the horn pad 2 by screws 10 from below the base plate 8 to guide the horn pad 2 to move downward when the horn is operated. 8 is prevented.

The mounting piece 11 is mounted on the lower surface of the base plate 8 with a screw 12 and is inserted and locked in a locking hole 1b provided in the steering wheel body 1, and
Horn switch body 3 attached to base plate 8
The horn spring 4 is mounted on the steering wheel body 1 side together with the horn pad 2.

[0007]

However, in the conventional steering wheel W0, the number of component parts of the horn switch body 3 is as many as nine, and it takes much time and effort to manufacture and manage parts.

In the conventional steering wheel W0, the horn spring 4, the guide spacer 9 for guiding the downward movement of the horn pad 2, the mounting pieces 11, and the like are scattered over a wide area below the horn pad 2. When the horn switch body 3 is arranged, a large space is required, and the degree of freedom in arranging functional components and the like arranged in the steering wheel W0 is limited, and the space below the horn pad 2 is effectively used. I couldn't do that.

The present invention solves the above-mentioned problems, and provides a steering wheel that can reduce the number of components of a horn switch body and can arrange the horn switch body compactly. The purpose is to do.

[0010]

A steering wheel according to the present invention has a plurality of horn switch bodies disposed between a steering wheel body and a horn pad disposed above the steering wheel body. A wheel, wherein the horn switch body is
Insulating spacer, horn spring circuit electrically connected to one pole side of the horn operation circuit, and forcing the horn pad upward by bringing a contact portion into contact with the lower surface of the horn pad, and a horn operation circuit A tongue piece electrically connected to the other pole side to dispose a contact portion below the horn spring contact portion, and a stepped screw screwed into the horn pad, wherein the spacer is A cylindrical portion having a convex portion which is inserted and locked in a locking hole provided in the steering wheel body on the outer periphery of the lower end, wherein the stepped screw is penetrable through the cylindrical portion and is longer than the cylindrical portion. A shaft portion, a male screw portion disposed on an upper side of the shaft portion and screwed to the horn pad, and a head portion disposed on a lower side of the shaft portion and having a larger inner diameter than the cylindrical portion, The horn spring and the tongue are The spacer is inserted into the engaging hole of the steering wheel main body, and the spacer is inserted into the engaging hole of the steering wheel body. It is characterized by being screwed to the pad.

Further, the spacer is attached to a base plate made of sheet metal.
The base plate may be configured to be a part of the impact energy absorber, and the base plate may be configured to be a part of the horn operation circuit. Furthermore,
In that case, a shearable rivet may be used as a means for attaching the spacer to the base plate.

[0012]

In the steering wheel according to the present invention, when the horn pad is depressed, the shaft of the stepped screw is guided in the cylindrical portion of the spacer, and the horn spring corresponds to the contact portion thereof while bending. The horn is actuated to contact the tongue contact.

In the steering wheel according to the present invention, since the horn switch body can be constituted by four types of spacers, horn springs, tongue pieces, and stepped screws, the number of components can be reduced. .

Further, the horn spring and the tongue piece are assembled to one spacer, and a stepped screw for holding the horn pad and guiding the horn pad to move downward is inserted, so that the function of the horn switch body is achieved. The horn switch body can be made compact because the horn switch body is integrated.

Therefore, in the steering wheel according to the present invention, the number of components of the horn switch body can be reduced, the horn switch body can be compactly arranged, and the space below the horn pad can be reduced. It can be used effectively.

When the spacer is attached to a base plate made of sheet metal and this base plate is configured as a part of a horn operating circuit, a plurality of horn switch bodies are provided on the steering wheel. In this case, if all the spacers are configured to be attached to the base plate, stepped screws can be screwed into the horn pad with the spacer cylinder interposed, or the cylinders of each spacer can be inserted into the locking holes of the steering wheel body The locking operation can be performed smoothly because the displacement of the cylindrical portion of each spacer can be prevented by the base plate made of sheet metal and having a certain shape retaining property. Also,
Since the member for conducting the horn operation circuit of each horn switch body can be shared by the base plate, it is possible to save labor such as wiring.

Further, when the above-mentioned base plate is configured to be a part of the impact energy absorber,
There is no need to prepare an impact energy absorber and a separate base plate, and in that case, if a rivet capable of being sheared is used as a means for attaching the spacer to the base plate, the impact force acts on the horn pad. Even if the spacer is connected to the steering wheel main body via the tubular portion, the shock energy absorber on which the base plate is disposed is disconnected from the steering wheel main body with the spacer interposed by shearing of the rivet. Since it is easily deformed, the energy of the impact force can be effectively absorbed.

[0018]

An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the steering wheel W1 of the embodiment has three horn switch bodies 2 between a steering wheel body 21 and a horn pad 22.
3 are arranged and configured. The steering wheel body 21 includes a horn pad 22, a horn switch body 23,
Refers to a portion other than the impact energy absorber 32 described later,
In the case of the embodiment, a core metal 21a described later, a coating layer 21c formed of a soft synthetic resin such as urethane, which covers a part of the metal core 21a and is provided with a locking hole 21b, and a lower cover 2
1d.

Each horn switch body 23 is connected to the horn switch body 23 shown in FIG.
4, a horn spring 25 electrically connected to the positive electrode side of the horn operation circuit, and a tongue piece for grounding electrically connected to the negative electrode side of the horn operation circuit 26 and a stepped screw 27.

The spacer 24 is formed of a synthetic resin such as polyacetal and has a horizontally extending substrate 24a and a through hole 24c disposed at one end of the substrate 24a and vertically penetrating therethrough. It includes a cylindrical tubular portion 24b having a convex portion 24d, and a locking leg 24e disposed on the other end side of the substrate 24a and extending downward. Further, an assembling protrusion 24f having a step surface 24g is provided to protrude upward near the cylindrical portion 24b, and regulating protrusions 24h are provided to protrude upward at both left and right sides near the assembling protrusion 24f.
Furthermore, in the vicinity of the locking leg 24e, a square tube-shaped assembling tube 2 having an insertion hole 24j vertically penetrating therein.
4i is projected downward. A step surface 24k is formed at an intermediate portion of the insertion hole 24j. Also, the substrate 24
A through hole 24l penetrating in the up-down direction is formed at the center position of a. Note that the locking leg 24e is
Are temporarily fixed to a base plate 31 described later, and are formed to be thin so that they can be easily broken when an impact force described later acts.

The horn spring 25 includes a U-shaped main body 25a formed of spring steel and having a base 25b extending horizontally and a contact part 25c extending obliquely upward from the tip of the base 25b. An assembly piece 25e extending downward is projected from 25a. Contact part 25c
A bent contact point 25d is formed at the upper end of the claw portion 2e.
5f is formed. The protruding piece 22b provided on the lower surface of the horn pad 22 comes into contact with the vicinity of the upper surface of the contact 25d.

The horn spring 25 is provided with the spacer 2
The assembly piece 25e is inserted into the insertion hole 24j of the fourth assembly cylinder 24i, and the claw 25f is engaged with the step surface 24k, whereby the spacer 24 is assembled on the substrate 24a. Further, the horn spring 25 is attached to the mounting piece 2
Terminal 2 with lead wire 28 connected to the lower end of 5e
9 is electrically connected to the positive electrode side of the horn operation circuit.

The tongue piece 26 is made of spring steel and has a lower plate 26a extending vertically in two stages and extending horizontally, and an upper plate 26d as a contact corresponding to the contact 25c of the horn spring 25. And upper and lower plate portions 26a and 26
It is provided with a vertical plate portion 26e connecting d. In the lower plate portion 26a, a through hole 26b penetrating vertically is formed near the center, and a through hole 26c penetrating vertically near both left and right edges near the vertical plate portion 26e. A claw 26f is formed on the plate 26e.

The tongue 26 is formed in the through hole 2 in the lower plate 26a.
6c and 26c are provided with restricting protrusions 24h of the spacer substrate 24a.
By inserting 24h and locking the claw portion 26f of the vertical plate portion 26e with the step surface 24g of the assembling protrusion 24f,
The spacer 24 is assembled on the substrate 24a. And, in the case of the embodiment, the tongue piece 26 is a through hole 26b.
The rivet 30 is fixed to the base plate 31 so that the rivet 30 is aligned with the through hole 241 of the spacer 24, so that the rivet 30 and the base plate 31 are electrically connected to the negative electrode side of the horn operation circuit.

The rivet 30 is made of a metal material such as aluminum which can be sheared in the embodiment.

The base plate 31 will be described.
The base plate 31 of the embodiment constitutes an upper plate portion 33 of a sheet metal impact energy absorber 32. The impact energy absorber 32 includes an upper plate portion 33 (base plate 31), a lower plate portion 34, The upper plate portion 33 and the lower plate portion 34 are connected to each other, and are constituted by a deformation portion 36 that buckles and absorbs and absorbs impact energy.

The rivet 3 is provided on the base plate 31 at each of three places where the horn switch bodies 23 are arranged.
The spacer 24 is fixed to the base plate 31 by locking the through hole 31a through which the
Locking hole 31b for temporarily fixing the cylindrical portion 24 of the spacer 24
b through which an opening 31c is inserted, and an assembling cylinder 2 of the spacer 24
And an insertion hole 31d through which the hole 4i is inserted.

A mounting piece 35 made of sheet metal to which a female screw 35a is fixed is attached to the lower plate 34 of the impact energy absorber 32, and the female screw 35a is attached to the core 21a of the steering wheel body 21. By screwing the bolt 37 from the back side, the mounting piece 35 is
And the impact energy absorber 32 is electrically connected to the core metal 21a on the negative electrode side (earth side) of the horn operation circuit. The bolt 37 stops the impact energy absorber 32 from coming off the steering wheel body 21.

The stepped screw 27 is connected to the cylindrical portion 24 of the spacer 24.
b and a shaft portion 27a longer than the cylindrical portion 24b and a boss 2 of the horn pad 22 disposed on the upper side of the shaft portion 27a.
2a, and a head 27c disposed below the shaft 27a and larger than the inner diameter of the insertion hole 24c of the cylindrical portion 24b and smaller than the outer diameter of the projection 24d. ing. Note that the distance (difference between the shaft portion 27a and the tube portion 24b) of the shaft portion 27a that is longer than the tube portion 24b is
The horn pad 22 at the time of horn operation is depressed, and the contact portion 25 c (contact 25 d) of the horn spring 25 is
Is set to be longer than the horn stroke, that is, the horn stroke.

The steering wheel W of the embodiment
In FIG. 1, the horn spring 25 and the tongue piece 26 are assembled to the spacers 24 using the claw portions 25f and 26f, respectively, as described above, and then the mounting cylinder 24i of each spacer 24 is inserted into the insertion hole 31d. The spacers 24 are temporarily fixed to the base plate 31 of the impact energy absorber 32 by engaging the locking legs 24e with the locking holes 31b. Then, the spacers 24 are attached to the base plate 31 using the rivets 30, and the lead wires 28 are connected to the mounting pieces 25e of the horn springs 25 with the terminals 29 interposed therebetween.

Thereafter, the male screw portion 27b of the stepped screw 27 is screwed into the predetermined boss 22a of the horn pad 22 from below the cylindrical portion 24b of each spacer 24 through the insertion hole 24c, so that three horn switches are provided. The body 23 and one impact energy absorber 32 can be attached to the horn pad 22. When each horn switch body 23 is fixed to the horn pad 22 with a screw 27, the horn pad 22
Each horn switch body 2
In this case, the horn spring 25 comes into contact with the upper surface of the horn spring 25 near the contact 25d.

Thereafter, the lead wire 28 is connected to a slip ring (not shown) of the steering wheel main body 21, and the cylindrical portions 24b of the spacers 24 are inserted and locked in the locking holes 21b of the steering wheel main body 21 to absorb impact energy. If the bolt 37 is screwed into the female screw portion 35a of the attachment piece 35 of the body 32, the horn pad 22, the horn switch body 23, and the impact energy absorber 32 are attached to the steering wheel body 21, and the assembly of the steering wheel W1 is completed. Complete. The steering wheel body 21 is attached to a steering shaft (not shown) in advance, and is attached to the vehicle.

After the horn pad 22 is mounted on the vehicle, if the horn pad 22 is pressed down, the shaft 27a of the stepped screw 27 is guided in the insertion hole 24c of the spacer cylinder 24b, and the head 27c of the steering wheel main body 21 is moved. The contact 25d of the contact portion 25c of the horn spring 25 of the horn switch body 23 is pushed down by the projection 22b of the horn pad 22, and the main body 2 of the horn spring 25 is lowered.
While bending 5a, it contacts the corresponding contact portion 26d of the tongue piece 23 to activate the horn.

Thereafter, if the user releases his / her hand from the horn pad 22 to stop the pressing operation, the main body 25 of the horn spring 25
The horn pad 22 is raised by the elastic force of (a), and the head 27c of the stepped screw 27 is
Since the horn pad 22 comes into contact with the periphery, the horn pad 22 is prevented from rising, and the horn pad 22 returns.

In the steering wheel W1 of this embodiment, one spacer 24 assembles and holds the horn spring 25 and the tongue piece 26 in an insulated manner, and utilizes the cylindrical portion 24b to control the steering wheel body 21 side. Further, a stepped screw 27 is inserted through the cylindrical portion 24b of the spacer 24 to hold the horn pad 22 and guide the horn pad 22 to move downward. That is,
The spacer 24 performs the function of the mounting piece 11 in addition to the function of the conventional insulating spacers 5 and 6.
But, the conventional horn pad holding function (function of screw 10)
And the function of the guide spacer 9, the number of components can be reduced.

Incidentally, the conventional steering wheel W
0, steering wheel body 1 and horn pad 2
There are nine types of horn switch bodies 3 including the base plate 8, whereas in the case of the embodiment, the spacers 24, the horn springs 25, and the tongue pieces 2 are provided.
6, a stepped screw 27, a rivet 30, and a base plate 31.

Further, when the base plate 31 is not used, the rivet 30 is not required, so that the spacer 2
4, the horn spring 25, the tongue piece 26, and the stepped screw 27 can be significantly reduced to four types. In addition,
Even when the base plate 31 is not used, each horn switch body 23 has a structure in which the substrate 24a of the spacer 24 is
4b, the tongue piece 2 is locked to the periphery of the locking hole 21b of the steering wheel body 21.
If a predetermined lead wire is connected to 6, a function as the horn switch body 23 can be achieved without any trouble.

In the steering wheel W1 of the embodiment, the horn spring 25 and the tongue piece 26 are assembled to one spacer 24, and the horn pad 22 is held and the horn pad 22 is guided to descend. Since the function of the horn switch body 23 is concentrated by inserting the stepped screw 27, the horn switch body 2
3 can be made compact.

Therefore, in the steering wheel W1 of the embodiment, the number of types of components of the horn switch body 23 can be reduced, and the horn switch body 23 can be arranged compactly, and the horn pad 22
The space below can be used effectively. In the case of the embodiment, the main body 25a of the horn spring 25 for urging the horn pad 22 upward is formed in a horizontal U-shape. The visual shape can be reduced, and the planar shape of the spacer 24 for assembling and holding the horn spring 25 can be reduced, so that the horn switch body 23 can be made more compact.

Further, as in the embodiment, the spacer 24 is
If the base plate 31 is to be attached to a large base plate 31 made of sheet metal and this base plate 31 is configured to be a part of the circuit to the negative electrode side in the horn operation circuit, a plurality of horn switch bodies 23 are arranged on the steering wheel W1. In this case, all of the spacers 24 can be attached to the base plate 31.
The step of screwing the stepped screw 27 with the interposition b and the operation of inserting and locking the cylindrical portion 24b of each spacer 24 into the locking hole 21b of the steering wheel main body 21 have a certain shape retention property as a sheet metal. Since the displacement of the cylindrical portion 24b of each spacer 24 can be prevented by the base plate 31 described above, it can be performed smoothly. In addition, since a member that conducts to the negative electrode side of the horn operation circuit of each horn switch body 23 can be shared by the base plate 31, it is possible to save labor such as wiring.

Further, when the base plate 31 is configured to be a part of the impact energy absorber 32 as in the embodiment, there is no need to prepare a separate base plate 31 from the impact energy absorber 32.

Further, when the base plate 31 is configured to be a part of the impact energy absorber 32, as in the embodiment, as a means for attaching each spacer 24 to the base plate 31, a shearable rivet 30 is used. When the impact force acts on the horn pad 22, the base plate 31 (the upper plate portion 33) is arranged even when the spacer 24 is connected to the steering wheel body 21 via the tubular portion 24. The impact energy absorber 32 is disconnected from the upper plate portion 33 and the steering wheel body 21 by the shearing of the rivet 30 (at this time, the easily breakable locking leg 24e is also broken). Since the deformable portion 36 is easily buckled and deformed, the energy of the impact force can be effectively absorbed.

When the compact horn switch body 23 is arranged on the periphery of the horn pad 22 as in the embodiment, a large space can be secured below the center of the horn pad 22. Even if an impact force acts near the center of each horn switch body 2
3 hardly interfere with each other, and the deformed portion 36 of the impact energy absorber 32 can absorb substantially all of the energy of the impact force, so that the energy absorption efficiency of the impact energy absorber 32 can be improved.

In the embodiment, the mode in which the horn spring 25 and the tongue piece 26 are assembled to the spacer 24 by using the claw portions 25f and 26f is described.
In addition, mounting protrusions are provided on the substrate 24a of the spacer 24, and these protrusions are inserted into mounting holes separately provided on the horn spring 25 and the tongue piece 26 to protrude. It may be assembled by using a so-called heat caulking, which is spread and connected. Further, when the spacer 24 is formed, the horn spring 25 and the tongue 2
6 may be formed as an insert, and the horn springs 25 and the like may be assembled to the spacer 24.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing a conventional steering wheel.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of a steering wheel showing one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the same embodiment.

FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the horn switch body of the embodiment.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged sectional view of the horn switch body of the embodiment.

[Description of Signs] 1.21 Steering wheel main body 1b 21b Lock hole 2.22 Horn pad 3.23 Horn switch body 24 Spacer 24b Cylindrical section 24d Projecting section Reference numeral 25: Horn spring, 25c: contact portion, 26: tongue piece, 26d: contact portion, 27: stepped screw, 27a: shaft portion, 27b: male screw portion, 27c: head portion, 30: rivet, 31: base plate, 32 … Impact energy absorber, W0 ・ W1… Steering wheel.

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuation of the front page (56) References JP-A-4-59472 (JP, A) Japanese Utility Model Application Sho 62-149461 (JP, U) Japanese Utility Model Application Utility Model Sho 61-182369 (JP, U) (58) Field (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) B62D 1/00-1/14 H01H 1/26 H01H 21/00

Claims (4)

(57) [Claims] 1. A steering wheel having a plurality of horn switch bodies disposed between a steering wheel main body and a horn pad disposed above the steering wheel main body, wherein the horn switch bodies are insulated. A horn spring, which is electrically connected to one pole side of the horn operating circuit, and contacts the contact portion to the lower surface of the horn pad to urge the horn pad upward. A tongue piece electrically connected to the other pole side to arrange the contact portion below the horn spring contact portion, and a stepped screw screwed into the horn pad; and A cylindrical portion having a convex portion which is inserted and locked in a locking hole provided in the steering wheel body on the outer periphery of a lower end, wherein the stepped screw can be inserted through the cylindrical portion; A shaft portion longer than the cylinder portion, a male screw portion arranged on the upper side of the shaft portion and screwed to the horn pad, and a head arranged on a lower side of the shaft portion and having a larger inner diameter than the cylinder portion. A horn spring and the tongue piece are insulated and assembled to the spacer, and the spacer inserts and locks the cylindrical portion into a locking hole of the steering wheel body, and A steering wheel, wherein an attached screw is inserted from below the cylindrical portion of the spacer and screwed to the horn pad. 2. The steering wheel according to claim 1, wherein the spacer is attached to a base plate made of sheet metal, and the base plate forms a part of the horn operation circuit. 3. The impact energy absorber according to claim 2, wherein the base plate forms a part of the impact energy absorber.
The described steering wheel. 4. The steering wheel according to claim 3, wherein the means for attaching the spacer to the base plate comprises a shearable rivet.