Preimpregnated carbon fiber steering wheel
AssigneeTK Holdings Inc.
InventorMakato Kawaguchi
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Various implementations include an improved steering wheel and methods of making the same. The improved steering wheel includes a carbon fiber mat that is preimpregnated with an epoxy resin that is wrapped adjacent at least a portion of a steering wheel frame. The edges of the mat that overlap are coupled together directly via the epoxy resin by heat curing the mat. The preimpregnated mat does not crack when subjected to thermal cycle tests, which is an improvement over prior art steering wheels that include raw carbon fiber mats that are coupled to the frame using a separate adhesive.
Claims16
A steering wheel for a vehicle comprising:
- a frame;
- and
- a preimpregnated carbon fiber mat comprising an epoxy resin, the preimpregnated carbon fiber mat having a first edge and a second edge that are opposite and spaced apart from each other and an inner surface and an outer surface, the inner surface comprises an overlap portion adjacent the first edge,
- wherein:
- the preimpregnated carbon fiber mat is disposed around the frame such that the inner surface faces the frame, and
- the overlap portion overlaps a portion of the outer surface adjacent the second edge and adheres directly to the outer surface via the epoxy resin in the preimpregnated carbon fiber mat during heat curing without a separate adhesive.
A method of wrapping a steering wheel for a vehicle comprising:
- wrapping a preimpregnated carbon fiber mat comprising an epoxy resin around a frame of a steering wheel, the preimpregnated carbon fiber mat having a first edge and a second edge that are opposite and spaced apart from each other, the mat having an inner surface that faces the frame and an outer surface, and the inner surface comprising an overlap portion adjacent the first edge;
- disposing the overlap portion over a portion of the outer surface adjacent the second edge in direct contact with the portion of the outer surface;
- and
- heat curing the preimpregnated carbon fiber mat, wherein during curing, the epoxy resin directly couples the overlap portion to the portion of the outer surface adjacent the second edge.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.