Patent ID: 6626062
Filing Date: 2003-09-30
Classification: B60K,B60Q,B62D,Y10T

Abstract:
A steering wheel, comprising:a wheel rim; a pad and spokes; a window portion defined by said pad, wheel rim and spokes; a supporting body disposed projectedly within said window portion and substantially concentrically with said wheel rim, said supporting body being at least partially formed in an arc shape in cross-section, said supporting body being arranged in a front side of a vehicle with respect to said wheel rim; and at least one operation switch operating a control apparatus installed in an automotive vehicle, said operation switch being disposed on said supporting body and being movable in a circumferential direction of said arc shape of said supporting body, wherein said circumferential direction of said arc shape is a curve having a component in a radial direction of said wheel rim with respect to a center axis of said wheel rim, wherein said at least one operation switch includes a front end and a rear end separated from each other by a predetermined distance, said front and rear ends serving as operation segments capable of engaging, respectively, with a thumb and index finger of an operator.