# US 10,308,272 B2 · Steering wheel and method of manufacturing such steering wheel

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- Number: US 10,308,272 B2
- Document ID: US10308272B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 15/296,113
- Filed: 2016-10-18
- Published: 2017-05-11
- Granted: 2019-06-04
- Earliest claimed: 2015-11-05
- Assignees: Dalphi Metal Espana S.A.
- Applicants: Dalphi Metal Espana S.A.
- Inventors: Alejandro Del Rio Garcia
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10308272B2

## CPC

- B62D 1/06: Rims, e.g. with heating means; Rim covers (B62D1/11 takes precedence)
- B29C 44/1266: {the preformed part being completely encapsulated, e.g. for packaging purposes or as reinforcement}
- B29C 44/582: {for making undercut articles}
- B29C 45/14819: {the inserts being completely encapsulated}
- B29C 45/4407: {by flexible movement of undercut portions of the articles}
- B60R 21/05: associated with the steering wheel, {steering} hand lever or {steering} column (yieldable steering columns B62D1/18)
- B62D 1/04: Hand wheels
- B29C 44/14: the preformed part being a lining {(B29C44/1209 takes precedence)}
- B29C 44/5681: {Covering the foamed object with, e.g. a lining}
- B29K 2023/12: {PP, i.e. polypropylene}
- B29K 2025/06: {PS, i.e. polystyrene}
- B29K 2075/00: Use of {PU, i.e.} polyureas or polyurethanes {or derivatives thereof}, as moulding material
- B29K 2105/04: cellular or porous
- B29K 2705/00: Use of metals, their alloys or their compounds, for preformed parts, e.g. for inserts
- B29K 2705/02: Aluminium
- B29L 2031/3047: {Steering wheels}
- B62D: MOTOR VEHICLES; TRAILERS (steering, or guiding on a desired track, of agricultural machines or implements A01B69/00; wheels, castors, axles, increasing wheel adhesion B60B; vehicle tyres, tyre inflation or tyre changing B60C; connections between vehicles of a train or the like B60D; vehicles for use on rail and road, amphibious or convertible vehicles B60F; suspension arrangements B60G; heating, cooling, ventilating or other air treating devices B60H; windows, windscreens, non-fixed roofs, doors or similar devices, protective coverings for vehicles not in use B60J; propulsion plant arrangements, auxiliary drives, transmissions, controls, instrumentation or dashboards B60K; electric equipment or propulsion of electrically-propelled vehicles B60L; power supply for electrically-propelled vehicles B60M; passenger accommodation not otherwise provided for B60N; adaptations for load transportation or to carry special loads or objects B60P; arrangement of signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor, for vehicles in general B60Q; vehicles, vehicle fittings or vehicle parts not otherwise provided for B60R; servicing, cleaning, repairing, supporting, lifting, or manoeuvring, not otherwise provided for, B60S; brake arrangements, brake control systems or parts thereof B60T; air-cushion vehicles B60V; motor-cycles, accessories therefor B62J, B62K; testing of vehicles G01M)
- B29C: SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING (making preforms B29B11/00; making laminated products by combining previously unconnected layers which become one product whose layers will remain together B32B37/00 - B32B41/00)
- B60R: VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- B29K: INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASSES B29B, B29C OR B29D, RELATING TO MOULDING MATERIALS OR TO MATERIALS FOR {MOULDS, } REINFORCEMENTS, FILLERS OR PREFORMED PARTS, e.g. INSERTS
- B29L: INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASS B29C, RELATING TO PARTICULAR ARTICLES

## Abstract

A steering wheel (1) includes a steering wheel skeleton (10), a foam padding (11) surrounding the steering wheel skeleton (10) at least partially, and a wrapping (12) which encompasses the foam padding (11) at least in portions. Adjacent longitudinal edges (13) of the wrapping (12) are covered by a profile bead (20), in particular a decorative bead (24). The profile bead (20) includes at least one anchoring element (21) which is fixed directly in the foam padding (11) for fastening the wrapping (12).

## Claims

### Claim 1

A steering wheel (1), comprising a steering wheel skeleton (10), a foam padding (11) at least partly surrounding the steering wheel skeleton (10) and a wrapping (12) which encompasses the foam padding (11) at least in portions, wherein adjacent longitudinal edges (13) of the wrapping (12) are covered by a profile bead (20) comprising a decorative bead (24), wherein the profile bead (20) includes at least one anchoring element (21) which is directly fixed in the foam padding (11) for fastening the wrapping (12), the anchoring element (21) including a shank (22) and a head (23) with the foam padding (11) directly contacting both the entire length and the entire perimeter of the shank (22).

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The steering wheel (1) according to claim 1, wherein the anchoring element (21) engages in an undercut (14) which is formed in the foam padding (11), wherein the head (23) has a retaining surface (25) aligned substantially perpendicularly to or at an acute angle with the shank (22) and being adjacent at least partially flush to a mating surface (15) of the undercut (14) of the foam padding (11).

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The steering wheel (1) according to claim 1, wherein the longitudinal edges (13) of the wrapping (12) are fixed to the foam padding (11) at least in portions exclusively by the profile bead (20) and/or wherein the profile bead (20) interconnects the longitudinal edges (13) of the wrapping (12), and wherein the profile bead (20) is arranged on an inner circumferential surface (16) of a steering wheel rim (18) and/or on an inner surface (17) of a steering wheel spoke.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The steering wheel (1) according to claim 1, wherein the wrapping (12) is formed by leather and/or imitation leather.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The steering wheel (1) according to claim 1, wherein the profile bead (20) includes plural anchoring elements (21) arranged to be spaced apart from each other, wherein the foam padding (11) has a corresponding number of undercuts (14).