A tiller knob has a top section having a lower periphery with a first plurality of indented segments and a bottom section having an upper periphery with a second plurality of indented segments. When the lower periphery and the upper periphery are mated with one another, the first plurality of indented segments cooperates with the second plurality of indented segments to form separate openings around an outer circumference of the tiller knob. A center section is located between the top section and the bottom section so that outer surfaces of extending segments are exposed through the separate openings. A multi-sectional tiller knob having top and bottom sections formed of a first material and a center section formed of a second material is also disclosed.

A steering wheel is provided with a heater element on the rim. The heater element is mounted at least on a part of a core of the rim, and a cladding layer formed from synthetic resin foam covers an outer circumference of the heater element. The heater element includes a cord-shaped heater and a base material. The base material includes an insulation sheet that is formed from synthetic resin foam and disposed to face towards the core and a permeable sheet that is formed from non-metal which allows permeation of the cladding layer. The insulation sheet and permeable sheet are bonded together and sandwich and support the cord-shaped heater there between.

Various implementations include an improved steering wheel and methods of making the same. The improved steering wheel includes a carbon fiber mat that is preimpregnated with an epoxy resin that is wrapped adjacent at least a portion of a steering wheel frame. The edges of the mat that overlap are coupled together directly via the epoxy resin by heat curing the mat. The preimpregnated mat does not crack when subjected to thermal cycle tests, which is an improvement over prior art steering wheels that include raw carbon fiber mats that are coupled to the frame using a separate adhesive.

Various implementations include an improved steering wheel and methods of making the same. The improved steering wheel includes a carbon fiber mat that is preimpregnated with an epoxy resin that is wrapped adjacent at least a portion of a steering wheel frame. The edges of the mat that overlap are coupled together directly via the epoxy resin by heat curing the mat. The preimpregnated mat does not crack when subjected to thermal cycle tests, which is an improvement over prior art steering wheels that include raw carbon fiber mats that are coupled to the frame using a separate adhesive.

A steering device 10 mounted on a vehicle includes: a steering body 12 having left and right sensors 22L and 22R installed in a rim 16 gripped by a driver to detect a driver's condition; and a detection circuit 14 configured to detect a driver's condition on the basis of a detection signal from at least the left and right sensors 22L and 22R, wherein a wire length Ll of a left harness 30L from the detection circuit 14 to the left sensor 22L is substantially equal to a wire length Lr of a right harness 30R from the detection circuit 14 to the right sensor 22R.

A vehicle steering wheel is provided that includes a rotatable rim comprising a core structure, a steering angle sensor sensing an angle of rotation of the rim, and a plurality of proximity sensors located on the rim and spaced apart from one another along an arc length. The vehicle steering wheel also includes a controller processing sensed outputs generated by each of the plurality of proximity sensors and determining operator input commands based on the sensed outputs. The controller assigns a function to each of the proximity sensors that changes as the rim is rotated at an angle such that a given function associated with a proximity sensor remains at the same position in space.

A vehicle steering wheel is provided that includes a rotatable rim comprising a core structure, a steering angle sensor sensing an angle of rotation of the rim, and a plurality of proximity sensors located on the rim and spaced apart from one another along an arc length. The vehicle steering wheel also includes a controller processing sensed outputs generated by each of the plurality of proximity sensors and determining operator input commands based on the sensed outputs. The controller assigns a function to each of the proximity sensors that changes as the rim is rotated at an angle such that a given function associated with a proximity sensor remains at the same position in space.

A stitchless steering wheel fitted with leather, which is formed by covering a grip body with leather may include a first rim bezel mounted in a wheel groove of the grip body, and including a bezel groove to receive end portions of the leather, and a second rim bezel fastened in the bezel groove of the first rim bezel and fixing the end portions of the leather received in the bezel groove.

A stitchless steering wheel fitted with leather, which is formed by covering a grip body with leather may include a first rim bezel mounted in a wheel groove of the grip body, and including a bezel groove to receive end portions of the leather, and a second rim bezel fastened in the bezel groove of the first rim bezel and fixing the end portions of the leather received in the bezel groove.

A steering wheel includes: a hub; a rim connected to the hub through a plurality of spokes; and a first steering wheel remote control and a second steering wheel remote control arranged on sides of the hub, respectively, in a symmetric manner. A biological parameter measuring apparatus includes: a first conductive bezel arranged around the first steering wheel remote control; a second conductive bezel arranged around the second steering wheel remote control; and a signal processor, which is electrically connected to the first and second conductive bezels, configured to process and calculate a biological parameter based on a signal detected by at least one of the first conductive bezel or the second conductive bezels. The first conductive bezel is spaced apart from the second conductive bezel.