JP7753996B2 - handle - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a steering wheel that rotates around a steering center axis to steer a vehicle, and in particular to a steering wheel that is easy to reuse.

Conventional steering wheels are configured to rotate around a steering axis when steering a vehicle, and include a central section near the steering axis, and a steering section connected to the central section and having left and right grips to be gripped when steering (see, for example, Patent Document 1). The steering section is configured with three connecting sections extending left, right, and rearward from the central section, and a circular ring-shaped section connected to the tip of each connecting section and arranged to surround the central section. Some steering wheels also have a curved rod-shaped decorative body on the front edge of the ring-shaped section to enhance the decorative effect (see, for example, Patent Document 2).

Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2019-177749 Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2018-69791

With the conventional steering wheel described in Patent Document 1, when a vehicle is reused, for example, and the new owner changes ownership, if the new owner tries to replace the gripping portion of the steering wheel, the central portion and steering portion are integrally connected, so it is necessary to remove the entire steering wheel from the steering shaft, which forms the vehicle's central steering axis, and replace it with a new steering wheel. This is a time-consuming process, so there was a need for a simple way to replace the gripping portion.

In the steering wheel described in Patent Document 2, only the leading edge portion of the annular portion of the steering section is separate from the other portions of the annular portion, and it appears that this annular portion is partly replaceable. However, this portion is not the part that the driver grips with both hands when steering; it is only one part of the leading edge portion of the annular portion of the steering section, and it is not possible to replace the left and right gripping portions.

The present invention aims to solve the above-mentioned problems by providing a handle that allows at least the left and right gripping portions to be interchangeable, making it easy to reuse.

The steering wheel according to the present invention is configured to rotate around a steering center axis in order to steer a vehicle, and includes:
a central portion on the steering center axis side;
a steering unit connected to the central unit and having left and right gripping portions to be gripped during steering;
A handle comprising:
The steering unit is characterized in that at least two portions including the left and right grip portions are configured to be detachable.

In the steering wheel of the present invention, at least two sections of the steering section, including the left and right grips, are configured to be detachable. By removing the two sections including the left and right grips and replacing them with new ones, the new driver (owner) can grip the new grips rather than the ones gripped by the previous owner, allowing for comfortable steering. Of course, because the steering wheel of the present invention has two interchangeable sections including the left and right grips, it is also possible to replace the grips with the driver's preferred grips. Furthermore, this grip replacement is easy because it is not the center section, but the grip section of the steering section, and can be performed while the center section remains connected to the vehicle's rotational axis.

The handle of the present invention therefore has interchangeable grips on at least the left and right sides, making it easy to reuse and allowing users to change the grip to their preferred grip.

In the handle according to the present invention, the steering unit is
a connecting portion extending from the central portion and connecting the central portion and the grip portion;
an annular portion detachably connected to a tip end side of the connecting portion and disposed so as to surround the periphery of the central portion;
Equipped with
The annular portion is composed of a plurality of detachable divided bodies around the central portion, and
The left and right gripping portions may be separately disposed on either of the divided bodies.

With this configuration, the entire annular section, including the gripping parts in the steering section, is replaceable. Therefore, not only can the left and right gripping parts that are gripped when the vehicle is traveling straight, but also the gripping parts that are temporarily switched when steering in a turn can be replaced, making it even more comfortable to use the entire annular section as if it were new.

In this case, it is desirable that the two adjacent segments at their detachable portions be configured to be interlockable with each other, with a cylindrical mating hole provided approximately along the circumferential direction of the annular portion and a mating shaft inserted into the mating hole.

In this configuration, even if the annular portion is formed from multiple segments, the attachment/detachment structure between the segments is a fitting structure in which the fitting shaft fits into a cylindrical fitting hole that is approximately aligned with the circumferential direction of the annular portion. Even if the attachment/detachment portion is pressed toward the inner or outer periphery of the annular portion, the fitting hole encloses the entire periphery of the fitting shaft, effectively suppressing movement of the fitting shaft in a direction perpendicular to the axis. This ensures rigidity along the circumferential direction of the annular portion, and therefore ensures optimal strength of the annular portion.

In this case, it is desirable that one end of the annular portion and the other end of the detachable portion of the connecting portion be configured to be interlockable with each other, with a cylindrical mating recess provided approximately along the radial direction from the central portion and a mating protrusion inserted into the mating recess and mated therewith.

With this configuration, when connecting the annular portion to the connecting portion, simply pushing the detachable portion of the annular portion toward the center portion allows the mating protrusion to fit into the mating recess, thereby connecting them. Furthermore, even if the detachable portion is pushed circumferentially around the annular portion, the mating recess wraps around the entire periphery of the mating protrusion, effectively suppressing movement of the mating protrusion in the direction perpendicular to the axis, allowing steering of the annular portion during steering to be accurately transmitted to the center portion.

The annular portion may be composed of two divided bodies, one on the left and one on the right, each connected to a connecting portion extending left and right from the central portion, or, if three connecting portions are arranged extending from the central portion to both the left and right sides and the rear, the annular portion may be composed of three divided bodies that are detachably coupled to each connecting portion.

In addition, when the annular portion is composed of three segments, the detachable structure between the rear segment, which is connected to the rear connecting portion of the three segments, and the adjacent left and right segments is preferably configured so that it can be slid toward the center segment and fitted together, and the ends are provided with concave and convex shapes that fit together to prevent movement in the circumferential direction of the annular portion.

With this configuration, after the left and right segments are joined at their front ends, the rear segment can be joined to the rear ends of the left and right segments simply by sliding it toward the center, making it easy to form the annular portion without bending the segments.

In addition, in the handle of the present invention, the steering section may be configured to include left and right gripping sections arranged in a generally rod-like shape along the fore-and-aft direction, and four connecting sections extending forward and backward from the central section and detachably connected to both front and rear ends of the left and right gripping sections.

With this configuration, only the left and right grips can be replaced using the detachable parts at both the front and rear ends.

FIG. 2 is a plan view showing the handle of the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a plan view of the handle of the first embodiment in an exploded state. 5A and 5B are diagrams illustrating a structure for attaching and detaching the divided bodies to each other in the first embodiment. 10A and 10B are diagrams illustrating a state in which the split bodies of the first embodiment are released from each other; 5A to 5C are diagrams illustrating a detachable structure between the annular portion and the connecting portion in the first embodiment. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line VI-VI in FIG. FIG. 10 is a plan view showing the handle of the second embodiment. FIG. 10 is a plan view of the handle of the second embodiment in an exploded state. 9 is a diagram illustrating the attachment and detachment state of part IX in FIG. 8. FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the attachment and detachment state of part IX in FIG. 8. FIG. FIG. 10 is a plan view showing the handle of the third embodiment. FIG. 11 is a plan view of the handle of the third embodiment in an exploded state. FIG. 13 is an enlarged view of the area XIII in FIG. 12. 10A and 10B are diagrams illustrating coupling of gripping portions according to a third embodiment.

One embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to the drawings. As shown in FIG. 1, the steering wheel 10 of the first embodiment is configured to rotate around a steering center axis C in order to steer a vehicle. The steering wheel 10 comprises a central portion 11 on the side of the steering center axis C, and a steering portion 12 connected to the central portion 11 and having left and right grip portions 15 (L, R) to be gripped when steering. The steering center axis C is formed by a steering shaft (not shown) connected to the central portion 11, and is disposed near the center of the central portion 11 so as to pass through the plane of the paper in FIG. 1.

In the handle 10 of the first embodiment, as shown in Figures 1 and 2, at least two sections (segments 16L, 16R) including the left and right grip sections 15 (L, R) in the steering section 12 are configured to be detachable.

More specifically, in the first embodiment, the steering section 12 is configured to include connecting sections 13 (L, R) that extend to both the left and right sides from the central section 11 and connect the central section 11 to the grip sections 15 (L, R), and an annular section 14 that is detachably connected to the tip ends of the left and right connecting sections 13L, 13R and is disposed to surround the periphery of the central section 11. The annular section 14 is configured from multiple segments 16 (L, R) that are detachably divided around the central section 11. The left and right grip sections 15L, 15R are configured to be separately disposed on either segment 16L, 16R.

In other words, in this handle 10, the annular portion 14 is composed of a semicircular arc-shaped left section 16L and a right section 16R, and each end 16a, 16b is provided with a mating hole 21 and mating shaft 26 as a detachable structure 20 that connects them to each other.

In this embodiment, the left and right grip portions 15L, 15R are located in areas that correspond to approximately the 3 o'clock and 9 o'clock positions on the annular portion 14, when described clockwise from the center portion 11 of the steering wheel 10 when the vehicle is steered straight ahead, and are near the connection points with the left and right connecting portions 13L, 13R.

The mating hole portion 21 in the detachable structure 20 is configured by a mating hole 21b disposed on the inner periphery of a substantially cylindrical tubular portion 21a extending approximately circumferentially around the annular portion 14, and the mating shaft portion 26 is rod-shaped and fits into the mating hole 21b. Specifically, in the detachable portion 20a of the detachable structure 20, the axial directions of the mating hole 21b and the mating shaft portion 26 are aligned parallel to the tangential direction along the circumferential direction of the annular portion 14, forming the mating hole 21b and the mating shaft portion 26. Furthermore, to prevent disengagement after mating in the detachable portion 20a, a snap ring 23 made of a spring-like metal material or the like is housed in the housing groove 26a of the mating shaft portion 26, and a locking groove 21d for locking the snap ring 23 is formed on the inner periphery of the mating hole 21b of the mating hole portion 21.

In this detachable structure 20, as shown in Figures 3 and 4, when the fitting shaft 26, with the snap ring 23 housed in the housing groove 26a, is inserted into the fitting hole 21b of the fitting hole portion 21 so that the tip surface 21c of the tubular portion 21a abuts the positioning seat 27 on the periphery of the fitting shaft 26, the snap ring 23 slides along the inner surface of the fitting hole 21b while shrinking in diameter. When it reaches the position of the locking groove 21d, it expands in diameter so that it straddles the locking groove 21d and the housing groove 26a and locks into the locking groove 21d. This prevents the fitting shaft 26 from slipping out of the fitting hole 21, and connects the fitting hole 21 of the detachable part 20a to the fitting shaft 26.

The fitting hole 21 is formed with a release hole 21e through which a diameter-reducing release pin 24 can be inserted to release the engagement of the snap ring 23, which serves as a disconnection prevention device. After coupling, inserting the release pin 24 into the release hole 21e and reducing the diameter of the snap ring 23 releases the snap ring 23 from engagement with the engagement groove 21d, allowing the fitting shaft 26 to be pulled out of the fitting hole 21. In the first embodiment, the fitting hole 21 and fitting shaft 26 are disposed at the ends 16a and 16b of the left and right segments 16L and 16R, respectively.

As shown in Figures 5 and 6, the detachable structure 30 for the annular portion 14 and the connecting portions 13 (L, R) is configured with a mating recess 31 and a mating protrusion 35 that can fit together. The mating recess 31 is configured by providing a mating hole 31b within a cylindrical portion 31a extending generally radially from the central portion 11, and the mating protrusion 35 has a rod-like cross-sectional shape that can be inserted into and fitted into the mating hole 31b. Specifically, in the detachable portion 30a of the detachable structure 30, the axial direction of the mating hole 31b and the mating protrusion 35 is aligned generally along the left-right direction that joins the two halves 16 (L, R) of the annular portion 14 (approximately along the direction in which the connecting portions 13 (L, R) protrude from the central portion 11 at approximately 3 o'clock and approximately 9 o'clock).

In the first embodiment, the mating protrusion 35 does not have a circular cross section, but rather has an irregular, approximately H-shaped cross section that allows it to be regulated in the axial direction, and the mating hole 31b also has a corresponding opening shape (see Figure 6).

In addition, to prevent disengagement after mating, the mating recess 31 and mating protrusion 35 have an insertion hole 31d through which a setscrew 33 acting as a disengagement prevention device is inserted, and a screw hole 35a into which the setscrew 33 is screwed is provided in the mating protrusion 35.

In this detachable structure 30, the mating protrusion 35 is inserted into the mating hole 31b of the mating recess 31 so that the tip surface 31c of the tubular portion 31a of the mating recess 31 abuts against the positioning seat 36 on the periphery of the mating protrusion 35, and a set screw 33 serving as a removal prevention device is fastened through the insertion hole 31d and into the screw hole 35a, preventing it from coming loose and allowing the mating recess 31 and mating protrusion 35 to fit together.

In the first embodiment, a mating recess 31 is provided at the tip 13a of the connecting portions 13L, 13R extending from the central portion 11, and a mating protrusion 35 is provided near the intermediate portion 16c between the ends 16a, 16b of the corresponding segments 16L, 16R, protruding toward the central portion 11. However, the configuration may be reversed, with the mating protrusion 35 provided on the connecting portion 13 (L, R) side and the mating recess 31 provided on the segment 16 (L, R) side.

When assembling the handle 10 of the first embodiment, the mating protrusions 35 of the left and right segments 16L, 16R are inserted and fitted into the mating recesses 31 on the connecting portions 13L, 13R, and the mating shafts 26 with attached snap rings 23 are inserted and fitted into the mating holes 21 on the ends 16a, 16b of the left and right segments 16L, 16R, locking the snap rings 23 into the locking grooves 21d. The handle 10 can then be assembled by fastening the set screws 33 through the insertion holes 31d of the left and right mating recesses 31 and into the screw holes 35a.

To subsequently replace the gripping portions 15 (L, R) for reuse of the handle 10, the process is reversed from assembly: remove the set screw 33 and insert the release pin 24 into each release hole 21e of the segments 16L, 16R to reduce the diameter of the snap ring 23 (see Figure 4). This releases the engagement of the locking groove 21d in the snap ring 23, and the fitting shafts 26 can be pulled out of the fitting holes 21 to separate the left and right segments 16L, 16R from the connecting portions 13L, 13R. The segments 16L, 16R, made of the desired material and color, can then be connected to the left and right connecting portions 13L, 13R and joined together using the same procedures as during assembly, resulting in a handle 10 with replaced gripping portions 15 (L, R).

As described above, in the steering wheel 10 of the first embodiment, the two sections (segments) 16L, 16R, including at least the left and right gripping sections 15 (L, R) in the steering section 12, are configured to be detachable. By removing the two sections 16L, 16R, including the left and right gripping sections, and replacing and attaching new ones, the new driver (owner) can grip the new gripping sections 15 (L, R) instead of the sections gripped by the previous owner when steering, allowing for comfortable steering. Of course, because the two sections 16 (L, R), including the left and right gripping sections 15 (L, R), are interchangeable in this steering wheel 10, the driver can also replace the gripping sections to their preference. Furthermore, this gripping part replacement is not performed on the central part 11, but on the gripping parts 15 (L, R) of the steering unit 12, and can be performed while the central part 11 remains connected to the steering shaft (not shown) on the vehicle's steering center axis C side, making it easy to do.

Therefore, in the handle 10 of this embodiment, at least the left and right gripping portions 15 (L, R) are interchangeable, allowing for easy reuse and allowing the user to replace the gripping portion 15 (L, R) with their preferred gripping portion.

In addition, in the handle 10 of the first embodiment, the steering section 12 includes a connecting section 13 (L, R) extending from the central section 11 and connecting the central section 11 to the grip section 15 (L, R), and an annular section 14 that is detachably connected to the tip end 13a of the connecting section 13 and arranged to surround the periphery of the central section 11. The annular section 14 is composed of multiple segments 16 (L, R) that are detachably divided around the central section 11, and the left and right grip sections 15 (L, R) are separately arranged on one of the segments 16 (L, R).

For this reason, in the first embodiment, the entire annular portion 14, including the grip portions 15 (L, R) of the steering unit 12, is replaceable. In other words, not only the left and right grip portions 15L, 15R that are gripped when the vehicle is traveling straight, but also the parts that are temporarily gripped when steering in a turn can be replaced, making it even more comfortable to use the entire annular portion 14 as if it were new.

Furthermore, in the first embodiment, the detachable structure 20 of the end portions 16a, 16b of the adjacent segments 16L, 16R at the detachable portions 20a is configured to be interlockable with each other, and is configured by arranging a cylindrical mating hole 21 extending approximately along the circumferential direction of the annular portion 14, and a mating shaft 26 that is inserted into and fitted into the mating hole 21.

Therefore, in the first embodiment, even though the annular portion 14 is formed from multiple (two in this embodiment) segments 16L, 16R, the detachable structure 20 between the segments 16L, 16R is a fitting structure in which the fitting shaft 26 fits into a cylindrical fitting hole 21 that is approximately aligned with the circumferential direction of the annular portion 14. Even if the detachable portions 20a, 20a are pressed toward the inner or outer periphery of the annular portion 14, the fitting hole 21 wraps around the entire periphery of the fitting shaft 26, effectively suppressing movement of the fitting shaft 26 in the direction perpendicular to the axis. This ensures the rigidity of the annular portion 14 along the circumferential direction, and therefore the strength of the annular portion 14.

In addition, in the first embodiment, the detachable structure 30 between one of the annular portion 14 and the connecting portion 13 (L, R) at the detachable portion 30a is configured to be mutually engageable, and is configured by arranging a cylindrical engaging recess 31 provided approximately along the radial direction from the central portion 11, and an engaging protrusion 35 that is inserted into and engages with the engaging recess 31.

Therefore, in the first embodiment, when connecting the annular portion 14 to the connecting portions 13L, 13R, simply pressing the detachable portion 30a of the annular portion 14 toward the central portion 11 allows the mating protrusion 35 to fit into the mating recess 31, thereby connecting them. Furthermore, even if the detachable portion 30a is pressed in the circumferential direction of the annular portion 14, the mating recess 31 wraps around the entire periphery of the mating protrusion 35, effectively suppressing movement of the mating protrusion 35 in the direction perpendicular to the axis, allowing steering of the annular portion 14 to be accurately transmitted to the central portion 11 during steering.

In the first embodiment, the example was given of a case in which a snap ring 23 was used as a disengagement prevention device to prevent disengagement after the mating hole 21 and mating shaft 26 are engaged in the detachable structure 20 for connecting the segments 16L and 16R to each other. However, as in the detachable structure 30, a set screw 33, which is a threaded means that passes through and screws into the mating hole 21 and mating shaft 26, may also be used as a disengagement prevention device.

Similarly, in the first embodiment, in the detachable structure 30 between the annular portion 14 and the connecting portion 13 (L, R), a set screw 33 of the screw means was used as a slippage prevention device to prevent disengagement after the mating recess 31 and the mating protrusion 35 are engaged. However, as in the detachable structure 20, a snap ring 23 may also be used as a disengagement prevention device.

In the first embodiment, snap rings 23 and set screws 33 were used as detachment prevention devices at each of the detachable structures 20, 30. However, detachment prevention devices do not necessarily have to be provided at each location. For example, in the first embodiment, in a case where the annular portion 14 is formed from left and right segments 16 (L, R), if set screws 33 are used as detachment prevention devices at the attachment/detachment locations 30 between the left and right connecting portions 13 (L, R) and the segments 16 (L, R), the annular portion 14 will not detach from the center portion 11 and will maintain its annular shape, even without the use of detachment prevention devices at the attachment/detachment locations 20 between the segments 16 (L, R). However, using detachment prevention devices at each of the attachment/detachment locations 20, 30 stabilizes the connection strength and allows the attachment/detachment locations 20a, 30a to be connected to each other.

In addition, while the handle 10 of the first embodiment exemplifies an annular portion 14 composed of two segments 16 (L, R), one on the left and one on the right, it may also be composed of three segments 17 (L, R, B), as in the annular portion 14A of the handle 10A shown in Figures 7 to 10. In this handle 10A, the connecting portion 13A is composed of three connecting portions 13A (L, R, B) extending from the central portion 11A on the steering axis C side to both the left and right sides and the rearward side, and the annular portion 14A is composed of three segments 17L, 17R, 17B that are detachably coupled to the respective connecting portions 13AL, 13AR, 13AB.

In this handle 10A, the front ends 17a of the left and right segments 17L, 17R are detachably connected to each other by a detachable structure 20 using snap rings 23. Similarly, the segments 17L, 17R, 17B and the connecting portions 13AL, 13AR, 13AB are also detachably connected to each other by a detachable structure 20 using snap rings 23.

In this second embodiment, the detachable structure 40 between the rear segment 17B, which is connected to the rear connecting portion 13AB of the three segments 17 (L, R, B), and the adjacent left and right segments 17L, 17R is configured so that the rear segment 17B can be slid toward the center portion 11 to engage with it, and the ends 17b, 17c are provided with a concave-convex shape that engages with it so that it cannot move circumferentially around the annular portion 14A.

Specifically, the rear end portions 17b of the segments 17L and 17R adjacent to the rear segment 17B are formed with convex portions 41 that are T-shaped in cross section, parallel to each other, and extend toward the central portion 11A (extending in the front-to-rear direction), and the left and right end portions 17c of the corresponding rear segment 17B are formed with concave portions 42 having recessed grooves 42a that can be fitted by sliding the convex portions 41 in the front-to-rear direction.

In this steering wheel 10A, the left and right segments 17L, 17R have gripping portions 15A (L, R) near the joints with the connecting portions 13AL, 13AR, which are gripped when steering straight ahead.

In the second embodiment of the handle 10A, during assembly, the mating shaft 26 is fitted into the mating hole 21 at the attachment/detachment portion 20a between the left and right segments 17L, 17R and the connecting portion 13AL, 13AR, and the mating shaft 26 is also fitted into the mating hole 21 at the attachment/detachment portion 20a on the front end 17a side of the left and right segments 17L, 17R, thereby connecting the left and right segments 17AL, 17AR to the connecting portion 13AL, 13AR extending from the central portion 11A and connecting the front end portions 17a of the segments 17AL, 17AR to each other. Next, the rear section 17B is moved from the rear outward toward the front of the central section 11A, and the convex sections 41 of the left and right sections 17L, 17R are fitted into the concave grooves 42a of each concave section 42 at the left and right end sections 17c of the rear section 17B. At the detachable section 20a between the rear section 17B and the connecting section 13AB, the fitting shaft 26 is fitted into the fitting hole 21, completing the assembly of the handle 10A.

As mentioned above, the detachable structure 20 of each detachable portion 20a is equipped with a snap ring 23 to prevent disconnection. After connection, the snap ring 23 locks the detachable portion 20a, preventing disconnection after connection.

Thereafter, when replacing the gripping portion 15 (L, R), the opposite procedure to assembly is performed: insert the unlatching pin 24 (not shown) into the release hole 21e of the mating hole 21 of the connecting portion 13AB, and reduce the diameter of the snap ring 23 to release the locking groove 21d in the snap ring 23 (see Figure 4). Then, by pulling the partition 17B rearward from the central portion 11A side, the left and right concave portions 42 of the partition 17B can be removed from the convex portions 41 of the left and right partitions 17L, 17R. Thereafter, a release pin 24 (not shown) is inserted into the release hole 21e of the fitting hole 21 in the detachable portion 20a on the front end 17a of the left and right segments 17L, 17R to reduce the diameter of the snap ring 23, and a release pin 24 (not shown) is inserted into the release hole 21e of the fitting hole 21 in the left and right connecting portions 13AL, 13AR to reduce the diameter of the snap ring 23, thereby releasing the connection between the left and right segments 17L, 17R and removing the left and right segments 17L, 17R from the connecting portions 13AL, 13AR. Thereafter, segments 17L, 17R of a desired material, color, etc. are coupled to the left and right connecting portions 13AL, 13AR using the same procedures as in assembly, and the segments 17B are then assembled to obtain a handle 10A with the interchangeable grip portions 15A (L, R), providing the same functions and effects as those of the first embodiment. When replacing segments 17L and 17R, segment 17B may also be replaced with a new one of the desired material or color, if desired.

Furthermore, in this second embodiment, after the left and right segments 17L, 17B are joined together at their front end portions 17a, the rear segment 17B can be joined to the rear end portions 17b of the left and right segments 17L, 17R simply by sliding it toward the center portion 11A. This makes it possible to easily form the annular portion 14A without bending each segment 17 (L, R, B).

While the second embodiment also uses snap rings 23 and set screws 33 as anti-detachment devices at each of the detachable structures 20, 30, it is not necessary to provide anti-detachment devices at each location. For example, if a snap ring 23 is used as an anti-detachment device at the detachable location 20 between the rear connecting portion 13AB and the segment 17B, the annular portion 14A will not detach from the center portion 11 and will maintain its annular shape, even without using anti-detachment devices at the detachable locations 20 between the left and right segments 17 (L, R) and each other, or between the left and right segments 17 (L, R) and the connecting portion 13AB. However, using anti-detachment devices at each detachable location 20 stabilizes the connection strength and allows the detachable locations 20a to be connected to each other.

In addition, in the handles 10, 10A of the first and second embodiments, the steering section 12, 12A is illustrated as being composed of a connecting section 13, 13A extending from the central section 11, 11A and an annular section 14, 14A connected to the connecting section 13, 13A. However, as in the handle 50 shown in Figures 11 to 14, the steering section 52 may be composed of left and right grip sections 54 (L, R) arranged in a generally rod-like shape along the fore-and-aft direction, and four connecting sections 53 (LF, LB, RF, RB) detachably connected to the front and rear end sections 54a, 54b of the left and right grip sections 54 (L, R). Each connecting section 53 (LF, LB, RF, RB) extends in four directions (left, right, front, and rear) from the central section 51 located on the steering center axis C side.

The detachable portion 56a of the detachable structure 56 between the ends 54a, 54b of the gripping portion 54 (L, R) and the tip 53a of each connecting portion 53 is configured so that, on one side, it forms a convex portion 57 with an insertion hole 58 for inserting a setscrew 64, and, on the other side, it forms a recess 60 with a groove 61 into which the convex portion 57 can fit and a screw hole 62 into which the setscrew 64, which serves as a removal prevention device inserted through the insertion hole 58, can be threaded.

In the third embodiment, the convex portions 57 protrude from the edge of the central portion 51 on the end surface 53b of the tip portion 53a of each connecting portion 53, and the concave portions 60 are configured by providing concave grooves 61 on the edges of the front and rear ends 54a, 54b of the left and right gripping portions 54 (L, R) on the edges of the central portion 51.

When assembling the handle 50 of the third embodiment, the convex portion 57 on the tip end 53a of the corresponding connecting portion 53 (LF, LB, RF, RB) is fitted into the groove 61 of the recess 60 provided on the front and rear ends 53a, 53b of the left and right gripping portions 54 (L, R), and the set screw 63 serving as a removal prevention device is threaded into the threaded hole 62 on the recessed portion 60 side through the insertion hole 58 on the convex portion 57 side, allowing the handle 50 to be assembled.

To replace the gripping portions 54 (L, R), simply remove the left and right set screws 63, in the reverse order of assembly, to remove the left and right gripping portions 54 (L, R) from the corresponding connecting portions 53 (LF, LB, RF, RB). Then, by connecting the gripping portions 54 (L, R) of the desired material, color, etc. to the connecting portions 53 (LF, LB, RF, RB) using the same procedure as during assembly, you can obtain a handle 50 with replaced gripping portions 54 (L, R).

Therefore, even in the handle 50 of the third embodiment, at least the left and right grip portions 54 (L, R) are replaceable, allowing for easy reuse and the ability to replace the grip portions 54 (L, R) of your choice. Of course, even in this handle 50, replacing the grip portions 54 (L, R) is easy because it involves replacing the grip portions 54 (L, R) themselves and can be done while the center portion 51 remains connected to the steering shaft (not shown) on the vehicle's steering center axis C.

In the detachable portion 56a of the detachable structure 56 of this third embodiment, the convex portion 57 is provided on the connecting portion 53 side and the concave portion 60 is provided on the grip portion 54 side, but the concave portion 60 may be provided on the connecting portion 53 side and the convex portion 57 on the grip portion 54 side.

10, 10A, 50...handle, 11, 11A, 51...center portion, 12, 12A, 52...steering portion, 13(L, R), 13A(L, R, B), 53(LF, LB, RF, RB)...connecting portion, 13a, 53a...tip portion, 14, 14A...annular portion, 15(L, R), 15A(L, R), 54(L, R)...gripping portion, 16(L, R), 17(L, R, B)...divided body, 20, 30, 40, 56...detachable structure, 20a, 30a, 56a...detachable portion, 21...fitting hole portion, 26...fitting shaft portion, 31...fitting recess, 35...fitting protrusion portion, 41...convex portion, 42...concave portion, 57...convex portion, 60...concave portion, C...steering center axis

Claims (6)

In order to steer the vehicle, the vehicle is rotated around a steering center axis.
a central portion on the steering center axis side;
a steering unit connected to the central unit and having left and right gripping portions to be gripped during steering;
A handle comprising:
Two portions of the steering unit including at least the left and right grip portions are configured to be detachable ,
The steering unit,
a connecting portion extending from the central portion and connecting the central portion and the grip portion;
an annular portion detachably connected to a tip end side of the connecting portion and disposed so as to surround the periphery of the central portion;
Equipped with
The annular portion is composed of a plurality of detachable divided bodies around the central portion, and
The left and right gripping portions are configured to be separately disposed on either of the divided bodies,
A handle characterized in that one and the other at the detachable portions of adjacent divided bodies are capable of fitting together, and are configured by arranging a cylindrical fitting hole portion provided approximately along the circumferential direction of the annular portion, and a fitting shaft portion that is inserted into and fitted into the fitting hole portion . In order to steer the vehicle, the vehicle is rotated around a steering center axis.
a central portion on the steering center axis side;
a steering unit connected to the central unit and having left and right gripping portions to be gripped during steering;
A handle comprising:
Two portions of the steering unit including at least the left and right grip portions are configured to be detachable ,
The steering unit,
a connecting portion extending from the central portion and connecting the central portion and the grip portion;
an annular portion detachably connected to a tip end side of the connecting portion and disposed so as to surround the periphery of the central portion;
Equipped with
The annular portion is composed of a plurality of detachable divided bodies around the central portion, and
The left and right gripping portions are configured to be separately disposed on either of the divided bodies,
A handle characterized in that one and the other of the detachable portions of the annular portion and the connecting portion are mutually engageable, and are configured by arranging a cylindrical engaging recess provided approximately along the radial direction from the central portion, and an engaging protrusion that is inserted into and engaged with the engaging recess . In order to steer the vehicle, the vehicle is rotated around a steering center axis.
a central portion on the steering center axis side;
a steering unit connected to the central unit and having left and right gripping portions to be gripped during steering;
A handle comprising:
Two portions of the steering unit including at least the left and right grip portions are configured to be detachable ,
The steering unit,
a connecting portion extending from the central portion and connecting the central portion and the grip portion;
an annular portion detachably connected to a tip end side of the connecting portion and disposed so as to surround the periphery of the central portion;
Equipped with
The annular portion is composed of a plurality of detachable divided bodies around the central portion, and
The left and right gripping portions are configured to be separately disposed on either of the divided bodies,
A handle characterized in that the annular portion is composed of two divided bodies, left and right, which are respectively connected to the connecting portions extending left and right from the central portion . In order to steer the vehicle, the vehicle is rotated around a steering center axis.
a central portion on the steering center axis side;
a steering unit connected to the central unit and having left and right gripping portions to be gripped during steering;
A handle comprising:
Two portions of the steering unit including at least the left and right grip portions are configured to be detachable ,
The steering unit,
a connecting portion extending from the central portion and connecting the central portion and the grip portion;
an annular portion detachably connected to a tip end side of the connecting portion and disposed so as to surround the periphery of the central portion;
Equipped with
The annular portion is composed of a plurality of detachable divided bodies around the central portion, and
The left and right gripping portions are configured to be separately disposed on either of the divided bodies,
The connecting portions are arranged as three portions extending from the central portion to both the left and right sides and the rear side,
A handle characterized in that the annular portion is composed of three divided bodies each detachably coupled to one of the connecting portions . A handle as described in claim 4, characterized in that the attachment/detachment structure of the rear split body, which is connected to the rear connecting portion of the three split bodies, and the adjacent left and right split bodies is configured so that it can be slid toward the center portion and engaged, and that the ends are provided with uneven shapes that engage with each other so that they cannot move circumferentially in the annular portion . In order to steer the vehicle, the vehicle is rotated around a steering center axis.
a central portion on the steering center axis side;
a steering unit connected to the central unit and having left and right gripping portions to be gripped during steering;
A handle comprising:
Two portions of the steering unit including at least the left and right grip portions are configured to be detachable ,
The steering unit,
The left and right gripping portions are arranged in a generally rod-like shape along the front-rear direction;
Four connecting portions extending from the central portion to the front and rear of the left and right grip portions are detachably connected to both front and rear ends of the left and right grip portions;
A handle characterized by comprising :