# US 2017/0282955 A1 · Steering wheel and method of manufacturing same

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- Number: US 2017/0282955 A1
- Document ID: US20170282955A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 15/442,757
- Filed: 2017-02-27
- Published: 2017-10-05
- Earliest claimed: 2016-03-31
- Assignees: Toyoda Gosei Co., Ltd.
- Applicants: Toyoda Gosei Co., Ltd.
- Inventors: Bunpei MORITA
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20170282955A1

## CPC

- B62D 1/065: {Steering wheels with heating and ventilating means (heating and ventilation of steering wheel when connected to vehicle HVAC B60H1/00292)}
- B29C 45/1459: {Coating annular articles}
- B29C 45/14819: {the inserts being completely encapsulated}
- B29C 45/1657: {using means for adhering or bonding the layers or parts to each other (mechanical anchoring B29C37/0082)}
- B29C 45/1671: {with an insert}
- B29C 65/4855: {characterised by their physical properties, e.g. being electrically-conductive}
- H05B 3/18: the conductor being embedded in an insulating material
- H05B 3/34: flexible, e.g. heating nets or webs
- B29C 2045/1668: {Penetration bonds}
- B29C 2045/169: {injecting electrical circuits, e.g. one layer being made of conductive material}
- B29K 2675/00: Use of {PU, i.e.} polyureas or polyurethanes {or derivatives thereof,} for preformed parts, e.g. for inserts
- B29K 2715/003: Cellular or porous
- B29K 2995/0015: Insulating
- B29L 2009/005: {coated}
- B29L 2031/3047: {Steering wheels}
- H05B 2203/014: Heaters using resistive wires or cables not provided for in H05B3/54
- 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)
- H05B: ELECTRIC HEATING; ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS FOR ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES, IN GENERAL
- 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 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.

## Claims

### Claim 1

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.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The steering wheel according to claim 1, wherein the permeable sheet is composed of an open-cell foam which has a smaller density than the insulation sheet and than the cladding layer.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The steering wheel according to claim 1, wherein the permeable sheet is composed of a net-like sheet having flexibility.

### Claim 4

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.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The method of manufacturing a steering wheel according to claim 4, further comprising preparing the permeable sheet from an open-cell foam which has a smaller density than the insulation sheet and than the cladding layer.

### Claim 6 (depends on 4)

The method of manufacturing a steering wheel according to claim 4, further comprising composing the permeable sheet out of a net-like sheet having flexibility.