STEERING WHEEL FOR A MOTOR VEHICLE

Abstract

A steering wheel for a motor vehicle, includes a rim skeleton and at least one rim casing surrounding the rim skeleton, wherein the rim skeleton and the at least one rim casing rest upon each other with respective border surfaces, and wherein the border surfaces are displaceable relative to each other in at least one section.

Claims

1. A steering wheel for a motor vehicle, comprising: a rim skeleton; and at least one rim casing surrounding the rim skeleton, wherein the rim skeleton and the at least one rim casing rest upon each other with respective border surfaces, said border surfaces being displaceable relative to each other in at least one section.

2. The steering wheel of claim 1, wherein the border surfaces outside of the at least one section are adhesively connected with each other.

3. The steering wheel of claim 1, wherein a displacability of the border surfaces relative to each other is accomplished by a material pairing and/or surface property of the border surfaces.

4. The steering wheel of claim 1, further comprising a glide element provided between the border surfaces in the at least one section.

5. The steering wheel of claim 4, wherein the glide element is a silicone.

6. The steering wheel of claim 4, wherein the glide element is a braid.

7. The steering wheel of claim 4, wherein the glide element is a granulate.

8. The steering wheel of claim 1, wherein the rim casing is constructed multilayered.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

[0015] Other features and advantages of the present invention will be more readily apparent upon reading the following description of currently preferred exemplified embodiments of the invention with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which:

[0016] FIG. 1 shows a steering wheel for a vehicle; and

[0017] FIG. 2 shows a cross section through a part of a steering wheel.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0018] Throughout all the Figures, same or corresponding elements may generally be indicated by same reference numerals. These depicted embodiments are to be understood as illustrative of the invention and not as limiting in any way. It should also be understood that the figures are not necessarily to scale and that the embodiments are sometimes illustrated by graphic symbols, phantom lines, diagrammatic representations and fragmentary views. In certain instances, details which are not necessary for an understanding of the present invention or which render other details difficult to perceive may have been omitted.

[0019] FIG. 1 shows a steering wheel 1 which has a steering wheel hub 5, which is connected with a steering wheel rim 7 by means of multiple steering wheel spokes 6. The steering wheel rim 7 is the part of the steering wheel 1 which the driver usually grips for inputting the steering request. The steering wheel hub 5 is connected with a not shown steering column via which the vibrations from the road or the aggregates of the vehicle are transmitted into the steering wheel 1.

[0020] FIG. 2 shows a view through the steering wheel rim 7 of FIG. 1 taken along line A-A. Accordingly the steering wheel rim 7 has in its center a rim skeleton 2 made of magnesium, which ensures the stability of the steering wheel rim 7. The rim skeleton 2 is encased by a rim casing 3 which in the present case has a multilayered construction with a base body 3b made of polyurethane and a leather cover 3a that covers the base body, and which the driver can grip. The border surfaces of the base body 3b of the rim casing 3 and the rim skeleton 2 lie on top of each other. In at least one section along the circumference of the steering wheel rim 7 a glide element 4 is introduced between these border surfaces, which permits a friction subjected relative movement of the rim casing 3 relative to the rim skeleton 2 in this at least one section. Otherwise the base body 3b rim casing 3 is adhesively connected with the rim skeleton.

[0021] What is claimed as new and desired to be protected by Letters Patent is set forth in the appended claims and includes equivalents of the elements recited therein: