Steering wheel with metallic skeleton
AssigneeTRW Automotive Safety Systems GmbH
InventorMartin Kreuzer
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A steering wheel has a metallic skeleton that comprises a hub, a rim and spokes interconnecting said hub and said rim, said skeleton being produced by casting in one piece with a U- or V-shaped cross-section. To achieve an optimum distribution of mechanical strength in a circumferential direction, with reference to a normal position of the steering wheel in a vehicle corresponding to a straightforward vehicle travel, the rim has upper and lower portions with a cross-section that is open towards the driver side of the steering wheel, and lateral portions with a cross-section that is open towards the rear face of the steering wheel.
Claims10
A steering wheel with a metallic skeleton that comprises a hub, a rim and spokes interconnecting said hub and said rim, said skeleton being one piece and wherein with reference to a normal position of the steering wheel in a vehicle corresponding to a straightforward vehicle travel, the steering wheel has a driver side and a rear face opposite the driver side, and the rim has upper and lower portions with a cross-section that is one of a U-shaped and a V-shaped cross sections open towards the driver side of the steering wheel, and the rim has lateral portions with a cross-section that is one of a U-shaped and a V-shaped cross sections open away from the driver side of the steering wheel.
A steering wheel with a metallic skeleton that comprises a hub, a rim and spokes interconnecting the hub and the rim, the skeleton being one piece and wherein with reference to a normal position of the steering wheel mounted in a vehicle having a forward direction of vehicle travel, the steering wheel has a forward side facing in the forward direction of vehicle travel and a rearward side facing in a rearward direction of vehicle travel opposite the forward direction, and the rim has upper and lower portions with a cross-section that is one of a U-shaped cross-section and a V-shaped cross section having an opening facing toward the rearward direction of vehicle travel, and the rim has lateral portions with a cross-section that is one of a U-shaped cross section and a V-shaped cross-section having an opening facing toward the forward direction of vehicle travel.
A steering wheel with a metallic skeleton that comprises a hub, a rim and spokes interconnecting said hub and said rim, said skeleton being one piece and wherein with reference to a normal position of the steering wheel in a vehicle corresponding to a straightforward vehicle travel, the steering wheel has a driver side and a rear face opposite the driver side, and the rim has upper and lower portions with a cross-section that is one of a U-shaped and a V-shaped cross sections open towards the driver side of the steering wheel, and the rim has lateral portions with a cross-section that is one of a U-shaped and a V-shaped cross sections open away from the driver side of the steering wheel,
- the rim having an H-shaped cross-section in transition portions between portions where the cross-section is open towards the driver side of the steering wheel and portions where the cross-section is open towards the rear face of the steering wheel.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.