Steering wheel
AssigneeToyoda Gosei Co., Ltd.
InventorsNorinari Nagata, Atsushi Nagata, Katsunobu Sakane, Masafumi Kurokawa
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A steering wheel having a metal framework is disclosed. The framework includes an annular grip core, spoke cores extending inward from the grip core, a boss plate fixed on a steering shaft, and a frame located inside the grip core to connect the spoke cores. The steering wheel further includes a pad located in the grip core, an air bag device, and inserts embedded in the pad. The inserts include portions that are attached to the frame. The inserts prevent the pad from scattering when the air bag device is activated.
Claims12
A steering wheel having an air bag device, said steering wheel comprising:
- a metal grip core;
- metal spoke cores extending inwardly from the metal grip core;
- a boss plate for engaging a steering shaft;
- a frame located interiorly of the metal grip core and interconnecting the metal spoke cores and the boss plate, wherein the frame has a plurality of parallel projections extending substantially parallel to a plane in which the metal grip core lies, at least one parallel projection being disposed on both sides of one of said metal spoke cores;
- an integrally formed steering wheel covering having a pad portion located centrally of the metal grip core;
- a scatter preventing insert embedded in the pad portion, said insert being attached to the frame by an attachment portion which is sufficiently long so that when wrapped around said frame an overlapping portion is formed that lies adjacent an overlapped part of the scatter preventing insert,
- said overlapping portion comprising two halves, each half of the overlapping portion being wrapped around said frame on both sides of said one of said metal spoke cores,
- wherein each of said at least one parallel projection engages with the attachment portion.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.