Steering wheel and method of manufacturing same
AssigneeToyoda Gosei Co., Ltd.
InventorBunpei MORITA
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A steering wheel is provided with a heater element on the rim. The heater element is mounted at least on a part of a core of the rim, and a cladding layer formed from synthetic resin foam covers an outer circumference of the heater element. The heater element includes a cord-shaped heater and a base material. The base material includes an insulation sheet that is formed from synthetic resin foam and disposed to face towards the core and a permeable sheet that is formed from non-metal which allows permeation of the cladding layer. The insulation sheet and permeable sheet are bonded together and sandwich and support the cord-shaped heater there between.
Claims6
A steering wheel comprising:
- a rim to be handheld for steering;
- a heater element that is mounted at least on a part of a core of the rim and includes a cord-shaped heater and a base material which is composed of a sheet-shaped member having flexibility for supporting the cord-shaped heater;
- and
- a cladding layer that is formed from synthetic resin foam for covering an outer circumference of the heater element,
- wherein the base material of the heater element includes an insulation sheet that is formed from synthetic resin foam and disposed to face towards the core and a permeable sheet that is formed from non-metal which allows permeation of the cladding layer;
- and
- wherein the insulation sheet and permeable sheet are bonded together and sandwich and support the cord-shaped heater there between.
A method of manufacturing a steering wheel comprising a rim to be handheld for steering;
- a heater element that is mounted at least on a part of a core of the rim and includes a cord-shaped heater and a base material that is composed of a sheet-shaped member having flexibility for supporting the cord-shaped heater;
- and a cladding layer that is formed from synthetic resin foam for covering an outer circumference of the heater element,
- the method comprising:
- providing an insulation sheet formed from synthetic resin foam;
- providing a permeable sheet that is formed from non-metal which allows permeation of the cladding layer;
- forming the heater element by bonding the insulation sheet and permeable sheet together with the cord-shaped heater disposed there between such that the base material composed of the insulation sheet and the permeable sheet sandwich and support the cord-shaped heater;
- arranging the heater element around the core of the rim by adhering the insulation sheet to the core;
- and
- forming the cladding layer around the heater element by injection molding.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.