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US 8,127,446 B2Granted
Method of manufacturing a steering wheel
AssigneeAutoliv Development AB
InventorsChristopher P. LaBoskey, Barry C. Worrell, Kurt F. O'Connor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method of manufacturing a steering wheel, comprising: forming a rim portion separately with a decorative outer coating via a first forming process; forming a hub separately from the rim portion via a second forming process, the hub having at least a pair of spoke portions; and securing the rim portion to the pair of spoke portions, wherein the decorative outer coating is applied to the rim portion prior to the rim portion being secured to the pair of spoke portions.
Claims15
A method of manufacturing a steering wheel, comprising:
- forming a rim portion separately with a decorative outer coating via a first forming process, the rim portion including a circumferential opening;
- applying a decorative outer coating to at least a substantially portion of a circumference of the rim portion, the decorative outer coating being a sock, the opening configured to allow the sock to be slid over the rim by passing the sock through the opening;
- subsequent to the passing of the sock through the opening, attaching a removable insert to the rim portion to close the circumferential opening;
- forming a hub separately from the rim portion via a second forming process, the hub having at least a pair of hub spoke portions;
- and securing the rim portion to the pair of hub spoke portions, wherein the decorative outer coating is applied to the rim portion prior to the rim portion being secured to the pair of hub spoke portions.
2 more elements
A method of manufacturing a steering wheel, comprising:
- forming a rim portion defining a circumferential opening;
- applying a generally tubular, decorative outer coating to at least a substantial portion of a circumference of the rim portion by passing the decorative outer coating through an opening in the rim portion;
- subsequent to the passing of the decorative outer coating through the opening, attaching a removable insert to the rim portion to close the circumferential opening;
- forming a hub separately from the rim portion via a second forming process, the hub having at least a pair of radially extending hub spoke portions;
- and
- securing the rim portion to the pair of hub spoke portions, wherein the decorative outer coating is applied to the rim portion prior to the rim portion being secured to the pair of hub spoke portions.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.