JPH0235580Y2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] (Industrial Application Field) The present invention relates to a steering wheel device used in an automobile steering device, and particularly to a horn pad mounting structure.

(Prior Art) A horn switch is provided on the steering wheel of an automobile, and the horn switch is turned on by pressing a horn pad. Therefore, the horn pad must be movable with respect to the main body of the steering wheel with a stroke necessary to open and close the horn switch, and must be attached so that it cannot be easily removed.

In the past, several structures for attaching horn pads have been proposed. For example, as shown in Japanese Utility Model Application No. 60-823, a mounting leg is provided on the back side of the horn pad, and the tip of this mounting leg is permanently inserted into a mounting hole formed in the lower cover to fix the horn pad. There is a method to do this.

In this prior art, a pad reinforcing body 1a is provided on the back side of the horn pad 1, as shown in FIG.
Attachment legs 2 are integrally provided on this pad reinforcement body 1a. The horn pad 1 is fixed to the lower cover 3 by inserting and fitting the retaining portion 2a at the tip of the mounting leg 2 into the mounting hole 5 formed in the lower cover 3 made of synthetic resin. The mounting leg 2 is movable in the vertical direction in the figure within a predetermined stroke range with respect to the mounting hole 5, and therefore, by pushing the horn pad 1, the contacts 7 and 8 of the horn switch can be opened and closed. The horn pad 1 is biased by a return spring 9 in a direction to open the contacts 7 and 8.

According to this structure, in order to attach the horn pad 1, it is only necessary to insert the tip of the mounting leg 2 into the mounting hole 5, and the assembly work can be easily performed.

(Problem to be Solved by the Invention) In the above prior art, it is necessary to open the mounting hole 5 on the back side of the lower cover 3, but depending on the dimensions and shape of the lower cover 3, the mounting hole 5 may be It may be difficult to open the back side of the Further, depending on the shape of the lower cover 3, the opening 5a of the mounting hole 5 may be visible from the side of the lower cover 3, and in this case, the appearance may be significantly impaired.

In order to make the opening 5a of the mounting hole invisible from the outside, it is possible to mold it into a shape that closes the opening 5a, but in this case, the mounting hole 5 becomes a closed bag-like space, so it is not possible to make the opening 5a of the mounting hole visible from the outside. In some cases, demolding becomes impossible.

[Means for solving problems]

The steering wheel device of the present invention includes a wheel core metal having a center boss portion in the center that serves as the center of rotation, a synthetic resin lower cover attached to the back side of the wheel core metal, and a top surface of the wheel core metal. an intermediate bracket provided on the side and movable within a certain range in directions toward and away from the core metal by means of a guide member; and a horn pad body disposed on the upper surface side of the intermediate bracket. Further, the intermediate bracket is provided with a mounting hole that penetrates in the thickness direction of the intermediate bracket at a position different from the hole through which the guide member is inserted, and the back side of the horn pad body is provided with a mounting hole that penetrates the intermediate bracket in the thickness direction. A mounting leg with a retaining portion protruding toward the hole is provided, and the mounting leg is fitted and fixed into the mounting hole.

[Effect]

According to the steering wheel device having the above configuration, in order to attach the horn pad body, the mounting leg is simply inserted into the mounting hole formed in the intermediate bracket and fixedly fitted, and the assembly work can be easily performed. can. Since the mounting holes are formed in the intermediate bracket that cannot be seen from the outside, the appearance will not be impaired even if the mounting holes are provided, and since there is no need to provide mounting holes in the lower cover, the dimensions of the lower cover will be reduced. The position and shape of the mounting hole can be set without being influenced by the size or shape of the mounting hole.

〔Example〕

In one embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the wheel core 10 is made of metal such as steel,
A center boss portion 11 is provided at the center of the wheel, which is the center of rotation of the wheel. This center boss portion 11 is fixed to a steering shaft (not shown). Further, the wheel core metal 10 is formed in a shape with depth in the axial direction of the steering shaft near the center boss portion 11.

The spoke portions 10a and the ring portion 10b of the wheel core metal 10 are both covered with a covering material 13 made of a suitable synthetic resin such as urethane foam. Further, the wheel core metal 10 is provided with one contact 16 constituting a horn switch 15.

Further, a collar-shaped guide member 18 is fixed to the wheel core metal 10 with a screw 19. A large diameter portion 18a is formed at the end of this color guide member 18.

A lower cover 21 is provided on the back side of the wheel core metal 10. The lower cover 21 is formed to have a depth in the axial direction of the steering shaft so as to wrap around the outside of the wheel core metal 10. This lower cover 21 is an integrally molded product made of synthetic resin, and is fixed to the wheel core metal 10 using a plurality of screws 23. A conductive slip ring 25 is attached to the lower cover 21 concentrically with the center boss portion 11, and this slip ring 25 slides into electrical contact (not shown).

On the other hand, an intermediate bracket 27 is provided on the upper surface side of the wheel core metal 10. middle bracket 27
is formed in a concave shape along the inside of the wheel core metal 10 in the axial direction of the steering shaft. Further, it is also possible to provide a slit groove, a hole, etc. in this recessed portion, or to provide a shock absorbing member inside the recessed portion.

The intermediate bracket 27 is also an integrally molded product made of synthetic resin, and a conductive contact plate 29 is fixed to the surface on the wheel core 10 side with screws 30. The contact plate 29 has the other contact 3 at a position facing the contact 16.
2 are provided, and these contacts 16 and 32 constitute a horn switch 15. The contact plate 29 is electrically connected to a known circuit for sounding the horn.

Further, a through hole 35 is formed at the end of the intermediate bracket 27, and this through hole 35 is connected to the collar 1.
8 so as to be freely movable in the axial direction. The inner diameter of this through hole 35 is smaller than the outer diameter of the large diameter portion 18a of the collar 18, and therefore the large diameter portion 18a
This prevents the intermediate bracket 27 from coming off. Further, a return spring 37 is provided in a compressed state between the intermediate bracket 27 and the wheel core 10, and the intermediate bracket 2 always moves in the direction in which the horn switch 15 is opened.
7 is energized.

In this way, the intermediate bracket 27 is attached to the wheel core 1.
The horn switch 15 can be moved in the direction toward and away from zero within a certain range depending on the length of the collar 18, and the horn switch 15 can be opened and closed.

A horn pad body 40 is provided on the upper surface side of the intermediate bracket 27. This horn pad body 40 consists of a pad body 41 made of synthetic resin and a pad base 42 provided on the back side of this pad body 41. Although this pad base 42 is made of synthetic resin, it is made of a material with higher rigidity than the pad body 41, and can be bonded or bonded to the pad body 41.
It is integrated with the pad main body 41 by molding with.

The horn pad body 40 is attached to the wheel core 10 by the structure described below. That is, a mounting hole 45 is formed in a portion of the intermediate bracket 27, which in this embodiment corresponds to the spoke portion 10a or the rising portion of the peripheral wall of the lower cover 21, and extends through the intermediate bracket 27 in its thickness direction. The pad base 42 also has mounting legs 4 that protrude toward the mounting hole 45 at a position facing the mounting hole 45.
7 is formed.

At the tip of the mounting leg 47, there is a mounting hole 4.
The retaining part 4 has an outer diameter larger than the inner diameter of the part 5.
7a is formed. Further, a slit 49 is formed in the distal end portion of the mounting leg 47 along the axial direction, so that the retaining portion 47a can elastically contract in the radial direction. Further, a dovetail-shaped tapered surface 50 is formed at the end of the mounting hole 45 so that the mounting leg 47 can be easily inserted.

In the steering wheel device having the above structure, the intermediate bracket 27 is assembled to the wheel core 10 in advance before the horn pad body 40 is attached. In order to attach the horn pad body 40, the attachment leg 47 is opposed to the attachment hole 45 and the horn pad body 40 is pushed into the retaining portion 47.
a can be inserted into the mounting hole 45 and fitted.
When inserting the mounting leg 47, the diameter of the retaining portion 47a is somewhat reduced by the slit 49, so that insertion can be easily performed. After insertion, the retaining part 47a
The mounting hole 45 elastically returns to its original shape.
It gets caught on the edge and cannot be removed easily.

As described above, according to this embodiment, the horn pad body 40 can be easily assembled. Moreover, since there is no need to provide the attachment hole 45 in the lower cover 21, the attachment hole 45 is not visible from the outside and the appearance is good. The position, shape, etc. of the attachment hole 45 can be set without depending on the dimensions, shape, etc. of the lower cover 21.

Note that FIG. 3 shows another embodiment of the present invention, in which case an intermediate bracket 2 made of synthetic resin is used.
The contact plate 29 is fixed to the intermediate bracket 27 by integrally providing a protrusion 51 on a part of the contact plate 7, and by heating and softening the protrusion 51 and crushing it. According to this structure, parts such as screws for attaching the contact plate 29 are not required, and costs can be reduced accordingly. Other basic configurations and effects are the same as those in FIG. 1, so common parts are given the same reference numerals and explanations will be omitted.

Note that the contact plate 29 may be attached integrally with the intermediate bracket 27 by setting the contact plate 29 in a mold when the intermediate bracket 27 is injection molded.

In each of the above embodiments, the mounting leg 47 has a slit 49.
However, as shown in FIGS. 4 to 6, for example, a slit 53 may be provided on the mounting hole 45 side. In this case, when the mounting leg 47 is inserted into the mounting hole 45 and a force is applied in the direction of pulling it out, the retaining portion 47a remains stuck in the mounting hole as shown by the two-dot chain line in FIG. 45
Since it deforms in the direction of shrinkage, it becomes even more difficult to come off. Therefore, the horn pad body 40 can be fixed more reliably. It goes without saying that the shape, dimensions, etc. of the mounting hole 45 and the mounting leg 47 can be modified in various ways.

[Effect of idea]

According to the present invention, the horn pad body can be easily assembled, there is no need to provide a mounting hole in the lower cover to attach the horn pad body, the appearance is improved, and the size and shape of the lower cover can be adjusted. It becomes easier.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a part of a steering wheel device showing one embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a rear view of the steering wheel device shown in FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 is another embodiment of the present invention. 4 is a perspective view showing a modified example of the mounting hole and the mounting leg; FIG. 5 is a plan view of the mounting hole shown in FIG. 4;
This figure is a cross-sectional view of the mounting leg shown in FIG. 4 fitted into the mounting hole, and FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view showing a conventional example. DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10... Wheel core metal, 11... Center boss part, 15... Horn switch, 16... One contact, 21... Lower cover, 27... Intermediate bracket, 32... Other contact, 40... Horn pad body , 45... mounting hole, 47... mounting leg.

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] A wheel core metal 10 having a center boss portion 11 serving as a center of rotation in the center, and this wheel core metal 1
A lower cover 21 made of synthetic resin attached to the back side of the wheel core 10 and a guide member 18 provided on the upper side of the wheel core 10 move toward and away from the core 10 with a constant stroke. Synthetic resin intermediate bracket 27 held so as to be movable back and forth
and a horn pad body 40 disposed on the upper surface side of the intermediate bracket 27, and the intermediate bracket 27 is further provided with a horn pad body 40 disposed on the upper surface side of the intermediate bracket 27.
A mounting hole 45 penetrating through the horn pad body 40 in the thickness direction is provided, and a mounting hole 45 is provided on the back side of the horn pad body 40 at a position corresponding to the mounting hole 45.
A mounting leg 47 is provided with a retaining portion 47a having a shape that allows insertion into the 5 and prevents extraction.
A steering wheel device characterized in that the horn pad body 40 is attached to the intermediate bracket 27 by fitting and fixing the attachment leg 47 into the attachment hole 45.