Steering wheel

#The invention relates to a steering wheel.

#To increase the comfort, various attempts have been made recently to keep vibrations away from the steering wheel of a vehicle, which occur whilst the vehicle is in operation. It is known, for example, to use inertial masses to compensate vibrations, by which the resonance frequency of the steering wheel is shifted into a non-critical range. These inertial masses can either be additional masses or suitably arranged components of, for example, gas bag restraint systems, in particular the gas generator. If additional masses are used, this leads to additional costs and to an increased weight. If components of the gas bag restraint system are used, various problems arise, such as the gas tightness of the gas generators or the transmission of reaction forces on activation of the gas bag.

#The object of the invention consists in achieving a neutralizing of vibrations of the steering wheel with a small expenditure.

#FIG. 1 shows a steering wheel in a diagrammatic view;

#FIG. 2 shows in a sectional view a steering wheel according to a first embodiment of the invention; and

#FIG. 3 shows in a sectional view a steering wheel according to a second embodiment of the invention.

#In FIG. 1 a steering wheel is illustrated diagrammatically. It contains a steering wheel hub 10, several spokes 12 and a rim skeleton 14. On the rim skeleton 14 a rim casing 16 is arranged, which is grasped by the driver of a vehicle equipped with the steering wheel.

#In FIG. 2 a cross-section is shown through the rim skeleton and the rim casing of a steering wheel according to a first embodiment. The rim skeleton 14 is constructed here with a U-shaped cross-section which is completely surrounded by a vibration-damping element 20, 22. The vibration-damping element consists of a vibration-damping material, preferably of polyurethane foam, and is constructed in two parts, namely with an upper part 20 and a lower part 22. The upper part 20 and the lower part 22 together produce a circular cross-section.

#On the vibration-damping element 20, 22 the rim casing 16 is arranged, which consists of a shell having an annular cross-section and is foamed onto the vibration-damping element. Owing to the elastic characteristics of the vibration-damping element 20, 22, the rim casing 16 is mounted on the rim skeleton 14 in a vibration-free manner or at least in a damped manner with respect to vibrations.