Machine element or mechanism – Control lever and linkage systems – Elements
Reexamination Certificate
2001-07-09
2003-06-17
Luong, Vinh T. (Department: 3682)
Machine element or mechanism
Control lever and linkage systems
Elements
C023S30200R
Reexamination Certificate
active
06578448
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a steering wheel in which a wooden member is mounted on a metal core.
2. Description of the Related Art
Vehicular steering wheels are disposed with, for example, an annular core made of metal, and the core connects with the vehicle. Part of the core is disposed with a wooden member for decoration and such. The wooden member is formed in an arc with respect to the metal core and has a passing hole formed in an interior thereof. The wooden member is mounted to the metal core by the metal core being substantially fitted into the passing hole. A rigid adhesive having no elasticity is disposed between the metal core and an inner wall of the passing hole formed in the wooden member. The metal core and the inner wall of the wooden member are thus adhered together by the rigid adhesive, whereby the wooden member is fixed to the metal core.
However, in such a steering wheel, the metal core and the wooden member expand and contract in response to changes in external temperature and external humidity. More precisely, the coefficients of expansion and contraction of the metal core due to changes in temperature are large, while the coefficients of expansion and contraction of the metal core due changes in humidity are quite small. In comparison, the coefficients of expansion and contraction of the wooden member due to humidity is large, while the coefficients of expansion and contraction of the wooden member due to changes in temperature are quite small. For this reason, when there are changes in external temperature and humidity, the metal core and the wooden member move relative to one another as a result of differences in respective coefficients of expansion and contraction. Moreover, because the rigid adhesive is inelastic, it becomes easy for the adhesive to the metal core and to the wooden member to exfoliate and for the gap between the metal core and the wooden member to become non-uniform, whereby the metal core and the wooden member separate from one another and chattering of the wooden member with respect to the metal core is generated.
In particular, because the amount of relative movement with respect to the metal core is large at inner sides and outer sides of the inner wall (i.e., inner and outer sides of the inner wall with respect to the boss) of the wooden member (in relation to these portions of the inner wall of the wooden member, for example, the amount of deformation of the metal core is large when the metal core expands or contracts due to changes in external temperature), there is a large amount of chattering.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In consideration of the aforementioned facts, it is an object of the present invention to obtain a steering wheel that can prevent chattering of a wooden member with respect to a metal core.
In order to achieve this object, a first aspect of the present invention is a steering wheel comprising: an annular metal core, the metal core connecting to a vehicle; and a wooden member, the wooden member curving in a substantial arc with respect to the metal core and having a passing hole formed therein, with the metal core passing through the passing hole; wherein radial direction spaces in the radial direction of the metal core are disposed between the metal core and an inner wall of the wooden member including the passing hole.
In the steering wheel of the first aspect, the metal core is passed through a passing hole in the interior of the wooden member, whereby the wooden member is mounted to the metal core.
Radial direction spaces in the radial direction of the metal core are disposed between the metal core and the inner wall of the wooden member including the passing hole. Therefore, the radial direction spaces absorb relative movement of the metal core and the wooden member when the metal core and the wooden member relatively move as a result of changes in external temperature or humidity. Accordingly, it is possible to prevent the wooden member from chattering with respect to the metal core. (It is possible to prevent backlash between the wooden member
20
and the metal core
16
.)
A steering wheel according to a second aspect of the present invention comprises the steering wheel of the first aspect, wherein axial direction spaces in a steering shaft longitudinal direction are disposed between the metal core and the inner wall of the wooden member, and elastic members are disposed at areas where the radial direction spaces and the axial direction spaces border.
In the steering wheel according to the second aspect, not only are radial direction spaces disposed between the metal core and the inner wall of the wooden member, but axial direction spaces in the steering shaft longitudinal direction are also disposed between the metal core and the inner wall of the wooden member, and elastic members are disposed at areas where the radial direction spaces and the axial direction spaces border. For this reason, the radial direction spaces and the axial direction spaces absorb relative movement of the metal core and the wooden member when there are changes in external temperature or humidity. Moreover, because the elastic member expands and contracts in response to relative movement of the metal core and the wooden member, absorption of the relative movement of the metal core and the wooden member by the radial direction spaces and the axial direction spaces is not hindered. Accordingly, it is further possible to prevent the wooden member from chattering with respect to the metal core.
A steering wheel according to a third aspect of the present invention comprises the steering wheel of the second aspect, wherein the elastic member adheres the inner wall of the wooden member and the metal core.
In the steering wheel of the third aspect, because the elastic member adheres the inner wall of the wooden member and the metal core, the wooden member can be reliably adhered to the metal core.
Further, because the elastic member has elasticity, exfoliation of the elastic member to the inner wall of the wooden member and to the metal core when the metal core and the wooden member relatively move can be prevented. Accordingly, it is possible to reliably prevent the wooden member from chattering with respect to the metal core without the metal core and the wooden member separating from one another.
A steering wheel of a fourth aspect of the present invention comprises an annular metal core, the metal core connecting to a vehicle (body); and a wooden member, the wooden member curving in a substantial arc corresponding to the metal core and having a passing hole formed therein, with the metal core passing through the passing hole; wherein a space is formed at, at least a portion of boundary between the metal core and an inner wall, forming the passing hole, of the wooden member, the space being for absorbing relative movement of the metal core and the wooden member.
A steering wheel according to a fifth aspect of the present invention comprises the steering wheel of the fourth aspect, wherein an elastic member having elasticity is disposed in at least a portion of the space.
A steering wheel according to a sixth aspect of the present invention comprises the steering wheel of the fourth aspect, wherein the elastic members are disposed in positions which face each other with respect to the metal core.
A steering wheel according to a seventh aspect of the present invention comprises the steering wheel of the fourth aspect, wherein the passing hole has a substantially rectangular cross sectional configuration, and the elastic members are disposed in corner portions of the passing hole.
A steering wheel according to an eighth aspect of the present invention comprises the steering wheel of the fourth aspect, wherein the elastic member is disposed around the entire periphery of the metal core.
In the steering wheel of the fourth aspect, the metal core is passed through a passing hole in the interior of the wooden member, whereby the wooden member is mounted to the metal core.
The s
Mori Hiroki
Suzuki Keizo
Uka Toshio
Yamada Hisao
Cole Thomas W.
Kabushiki Kaisha Tokai-Rika-Denki-Seishakusho
Luong Vinh T.
Nixon & Peabody LLP
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