Land vehicles – Wheeled – Attachment
Reexamination Certificate
1998-08-25
2001-05-01
Dickson, Paul N. (Department: 3618)
Land vehicles
Wheeled
Attachment
C074S552000, C180S446000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06224093
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an improvement in a vehicle steering handle and more particularly to a steering handle suitable for a vehicle with a steering angle ratio variable steering apparatus.
2. Description of the Related Art
A steering handle for a steering angle ratio variable steering apparatus is known from, for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. SHO-62-55263.
The known steering handle comprises a boss portion disposed centrally thereof, right and left spoke portions extending rightwardly and leftwardly from a lower part of the boss portion, and right and left grip portions rising from respective ends of the right and left spoke portions.
With the boss portion being positioned between lower halves of the grip portions and upper halves of the grip portions defining a space therebetween, the known steering handle thus has a generally U-shaped configuration.
However, since there exists an open space between the upper halves of the grip portions and above the boss portion, the conventional steering handle encounters a problem when disposing and housing an air bag in the boss portion as in a steering wheel of ordinary construction.
Namely, the steering handle does not have a support member for supporting a front surface of an upper half of an air bag as the air bag is operated and inflated. Thus, when a driver is hit against the inflated air bag, the upper half of the air bag moves forwardly through the space between the upper halves of the grip portions and thus fails to restrict or mitigate the forward movement of an upper half of the driver.
Generally, spatial layout and construction around the steering handle do not allow provision of the driver's air bag at other places than the handle. Due to the capacity of the air bag, the boss portion would be the best position for the air bag to be disposed.
As explained above, the right and left grip portions of the steering handle take the form of a rod rising upwardly. This arrangement requires the driver to firmly hold the handle for making a maximum steering angle. This imposes a heavy burden on the driver. Further, since the right and left grip portions have free ends, there is a fear that the hands of the driver will slip off the grip portions. Since a return operation of the steering handle is done with the driver's hand loosely holding the grip portions, there arises another fear that the fingers of the driver will come off the grip portions during such a return operation.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a vehicle steering handle which provides improved view of meters and like instruments, allows for the provision of an air bag on a boss portion disposed centrally of the handle so that the air bag can function fully, and prevents slipping off of driver's fingers therefrom.
According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a vehicle steering handle comprising: a boss portion disposed centrally of said handle for housing an air bag therein; right and left grip portions disposed vertically on right and left sides of the boss portion for allowing gripping by a driver and positioned on vehicle widthwise sides when said steering handle is placed at a neutral position; and upper and lower horizontal connector portions connecting respective upper and lower ends of the right and left grip portions so that the handle becomes generally rectangular in shape, at least the upper connector portion extending substantially linearly.
By virtue of the linearly extending upper connector portion, upon inflation of the air bag, the upper and lower connector portions are brought to be held against a front surface of an upper part of the air bag. As a result, it become possible for the air bag to suitably deform to sufficiently support the collision load of a driver. Further, since the upper connector portion is linear, it does not block view of vehicle instruments such as a speed meter positioned forwardly of the handle.
According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a vehicle steering handle comprising: a boss portion disposed centrally of said handle; right and left grip portions disposed vertically on right and left sides of the boss portion for allowing gripping by a driver and positioned on vehicle widthwise sides when the steering handle is placed at a neutral position; and upper and lower horizontal connector portions connecting respective upper and lower ends of the right and left grip portions so that the steering handle becomes generally rectangular in shape, at least the upper connector portion extending substantially linearly, the right and left grip portions being ring-shaped and rotatable about a rotational center of the steering handle.
With the upper connector portion extending linearly, the handle has no projection that presents a bar to view of the speed meter and like instruments. Further, since the right and left grip portions are ring- or arc-shaped with the upper and lower connector portions connected thereto to form a loop, the driver's fingers will not easily come out of the handle.
In a preferred form, the lower connector portion extends substantially linearly.
Preferably, the right and left grip portions are provided with projections protruding inwardly thereof.
REFERENCES:
patent: D. 249499 (1978-09-01), LeRose
patent: T875019 (1970-06-01), Haddad et al.
patent: 2909941 (1959-10-01), Guest
patent: 3714844 (1973-02-01), Tsuda
patent: 4658927 (1987-04-01), Kanazawa
patent: 5004035 (1991-04-01), Burke et al.
patent: 5005860 (1991-04-01), Mori et al.
patent: 62-55263 (1987-03-01), None
patent: 3-151115 (1991-06-01), None
patent: 6-227423 (1994-08-01), None
Ochiai Fumiharu
Sato Kouichi
Tanida Koji
Dickson Paul N.
Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
Merchant & Gould P.C.
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