Patent ID: 6125716
Filing Date: 2000-10-03
Classification: B60R,B62D,Y10T

Abstract:
A steering wheel mounted on a steering shaft with a boss plate, the steering wheel having an air bag and a gripping ring for manually turning the steering shaft, wherein said steering wheel comprises:a metal ring core embedded in said gripping ring;a pair of connecting pieces made of aluminum alloy, wherein the pair of connecting pieces are located opposite to each other, and each connecting piece extends obliquely from the boss plate toward the gripping ring,a spoke core made of aluminum alloy and extending between said ring core and said connecting piece, wherein the spoke core has first parts and second parts, each first part being positioned parallel to a plane formed by the gripping ring and being connected to the metal ring core, each second part extending obliquely from a distal end of a corresponding one of the first parts toward and overlapping with a corresponding one of the connecting pieces;a cover for covering the metal ring core and the first parts of the spoke core;a pad integrally formed with the cover to be located at a substantially central location with respect to the gripping ring; anda holder for supporting the air bag, the holder having a pair of support arms, each support arm extending obliquely and overlapping with a corresponding one of the second parts of the spoke core;wherein each support arm of the holder is located at an inner side of each second part of the spoke core, and wherein each connecting piece is located at an outer side of each second part of the spoke core; anda fastener for fastening each support arm, each second part of the spoke core and each connecting piece together, wherein said fastener includes a bolt and a nut engaged with the bolt, wherein said support arm, said second part of the spoke core and said connection piece each has a through hole for receiving the bolt, wherein the fastener further includes a reinforcing bolt insert made of an iron-based metal and embedded in the through hole of at least one of the second part of the spoke core and the associated connection piece, wherein the bolt passes through the associated bolt insert and the associated through hole to engage the nut.