Patent Publication Number: US-2010107806-A1

Title: Vehicle Steering-Wheel Cover

Description:
The present invention relates to a vehicle steering-wheel cover, particularly, but without limitation, to a cover for an airbag device of a vehicle steering-wheel, according to the preamble of claim  1 . 
     Airbag devices are widely used in the automotive industry, as passive safety systems that can be installed in steering-wheels, dashboards, seats and/or roof panels of automotive vehicles. 
     In its most common application, the airbag is a fabric bag, e.g. made of Kevlar, which is located in a housing in the central part of the steering-wheel. 
     In the event of a violent crash of the vehicle, the central part of the front wall of this housing is designed to violently break open upon airbag triggering, to prevent the driver from striking the steering column. 
     While such airbag device provides unquestionable advantages for the passive safety of drivers, it still prevents visually convenient installation of devices designed to warn the driver about the vehicle operating status. 
     Automotive warning devices are usually located in the instrument panel, dashboard and/or central dashboard column. 
     Nevertheless, it is a fact that the driver has to look away from the road to read the indications on such warning devices, and focus attention on the device to read the proposed information. 
     This action can cause the driver to be distracted as he/she drives, and lead to crashes, with easily imaginable consequences. 
     Particularly, the presence of an airbag device prevents the central part of the steering-wheel, i.e. the part that is designed to violently break open as the airbag is triggered, from being used to hold the above mentioned devices for warning about the vehicle operating status. 
     Thus, a need is strongly felt in the automotive industry to utilize the central part of the front wall of the airbag housing. 
     The invention is based on the issue of conceiving a steering-wheel cover, and more particularly a cover for an airbag device of a vehicle steering-wheel, that has such structural and functional features as to fulfill the above need. 
     This issue is addressed by a vehicle steering-wheel cover as defined in claim  1 . 
     The present invention provides a steering-wheel cover, more particularly a cover for an airbag device, that can promptly warn the driver about the vehicle operating status. 
    
    
     
       Further features and advantages of the vehicle steering-wheel cover of this invention will be apparent upon reading the following description of one preferred embodiment thereof, which is given by way of illustration and without limitation with reference to the accompanying figures, in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a sectional exploded view of a steering-wheel cover, more particularly of a cover for an airbag device of a vehicle steering-wheel, according to the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a sectional view of the cover of  FIG. 1 , with the elements held in the vehicle steering-wheel cover, more particularly in the cover for an airbag device of a vehicle steering-wheel, according to the present invention; 
         FIG. 3  is a sectional view of an alternative embodiment of the cover of  FIG. 1 , with the elements held in the vehicle steering-wheel cover, more particularly in the cover for an airbag device of a vehicle steering-wheel, according to the present invention; 
         FIG. 4  is a sectional view of another embodiment of the cover of  FIG. 1 , with the elements held in the vehicle steering-wheel cover, more particularly cover for an airbag device of a vehicle steering-wheel, according to the present invention; 
         FIG. 5  shows a basic wiring diagram for the control of one of the elements that form the vehicle steering-wheel cover, more particularly the cover for an airbag device of a vehicle steering-wheel, according to the present invention; 
     
    
    
     Referring to the annexed figures, numeral  1  generally designates a cover for a vehicle steering-wheel (not shown), more particularly a cover for an airbag device, which is usually held in a vehicle steering-wheel. 
     In accordance with the present invention, the cover  1  comprises:
         a body  2 ,   a support element  3  having a predetermined profile, e.g. a circular, rhomboidal egg-, shield-shaped profile and/or the like,   at least one light source  4 ,   diffuser means  5  for diffusing light emitted from the light source  4 ,   electronic control means  6  for controlling the light source  4 , and   a plate  7 .       

     Particularly referring to  FIGS. 2 to 4 , which shows the above elements held in the vehicle steering-wheel cover, it can be appreciated that the support element  3  is associated to the body  2  and that the diffuser means  5  and the electronic control means  6  are interposed between said body  2  and said support element  3 . 
     Advantageously, the electronic control means  6  can control the light source  4  to obtain a visual effect in response to specific data “D” concerning the status of a vehicle  8 , to promptly warn the driver about the operating status of the vehicle. 
     For this purpose, with further reference to  FIG. 5 , which shows a possible wiring diagram, the electronic control means  6  comprise a data acquisition interface  6 A, a microprocessor  6 B and a control device  6 C, wherein said data acquisition interface  6 A can receive data “D” concerning the status of the vehicle  8 , said microprocessor  6 B can process said data “D” to generate a processed signal “S 1 ” according to predetermined control criteria “C i ” and said control device  6 C can receive said processed signal “S 1 ” to generate a control signal “S 2 ” for controlling said light source  4  according to said control criteria “C i ”. 
     It shall be noted that such  FIG. 5  only shows the elements required to understand the operation and implementation of the present invention. Those skilled in the art will understand which additional elements are required, and how they have to be designed, implemented and connected with the illustrated elements to form a complete wiring diagram of the electronic control means  6 . 
     For instance, a person of ordinary skill in the art will be able to supply the electronic control means  6  with appropriate voltages and currents. 
     Advantageously, the control signal “S 2 ” is an electric signal appropriately modulated to control said light source  4  to obtain a visual effect in response to said data “D” concerning the status of the vehicle  8 . 
     In one embodiment of the present invention, the data acquisition interface  6 A is envisaged as a digital data acquisition interface, that can interface with the data channel (not shown) for the data “D” of the vehicle  8 , for acquiring said data “D” concerning the vehicle status. 
     In this case, the data “D” is digital data and interfacing with the data transmission channel requires knowledge of the transmission protocol used by the manufacturer of the vehicle  8 . 
     Alternatively, the data acquisition interface  6 A is an analogue data acquisition interface, that can directly acquire the value of predetermined electric quantities, such as voltage and/or current, at specific points of the electric circuit of the vehicle, such as the ignition switch, courtesy lights and/or the like, said electric quantities being representative of said data “D” concerning the status of the vehicle  8 . 
     In another embodiment (not shown), the data acquisition interface  6 A is a radio-based data acquisition interface that can remotely acquire said data “D” concerning the status of the vehicle  8 . 
     For this purpose, suitable transponders may be used for remote acquisition of the data “D”. This solution is particularly suitable for use when assembly of dedicated cables is difficult. 
     For example, if the data “D” include instantaneous speed, average speed, instantaneous fuel consumption, average fuel consumption, abnormal condition warning and/or the like and the control criterion C provides the generation of a “fade-in” visual effect, then the microprocessor  6 B shall process the data “D” in such a manner as to generate a specific processed signal “S 1 ” so that the control device  6 C can in turn generate a suitable control signal “S 2 ” which is an electric signal modulated to fade the light source  4  from off to on with a preset speed. 
     In other words, the control signal “S 2 ” is an electric signal modulated to gradually increase the intensity of the light source  4  with appropriate frequency. 
     Still considering that the data “D” include the data listed above, if the control criterion C provides the generation of a “fade-out” visual effect, then the control signal “S 2 ” will be an electric signal modulated to fade the light source  4  from on to off with a preset speed, to gradually decrease its intensity. 
     It shall be noted that in the above “C” control cases, the microprocessor  6 B can control the light source  4  to vary among a plurality of colors, for instance in sixteen-million-color palette. 
     However, if the control criterion “C” provides the generation of a blinking visual effect, then the control signal “S 2 ” will be an electric signal modulated to cause the light source  4  to blink with a preset frequency, such as 0.5 sec. 
     For example, in the latter control condition “C”, the light source  4  may blink between two states, off-color or color-color, with the color possibly varying among a plurality of colors. 
     Those skilled in the art may obviously envisage other types of functionally equivalent control criteria “C” instead of the above control criteria “C”. 
     For example, other control criteria “C” may include:
         adjusting the intensity of the light source  4  among a plurality of intensity levels, e.g. among 256 values;   providing a psychedelic effect of the light source  4 , in which the light source  4  blinks and changes color to the rhythm of music transmitted from the vehicle radio.       

     Referring now to  FIG. 1 , the body  2  comprises a receptacle  9 , with a bottom  9 A, which is conformed to receive the support element  3  and the diffuser means  5 . 
     It can be appreciated, particularly from  FIGS. 2 ,  3  and  4 , that the support element  3  and the diffuser means  5  are packed together to safely prevent them from coming out of the body  2 . 
     It should be noted that the support element  3  has a front wall  3 A, i.e. the wall exposed to the driver&#39;s view, with a receptacle  3 B in which an emblem  3 C is firmly associated and a rear wall  3 D, i.e. the wall hidden from the driver&#39;s view, with engagement means  10  for connecting said support element to said body  2 . 
     Particularly, as shown in such  FIGS. 2 to 4 , the diffuser means  5  may be packed against the rear wall  3 B, e.g. using a glue, and are in surface contact with the bottom  9 A of the receptacle  9 . 
     Those skilled in the art may obviously envisage other types of functionally equivalent materials instead of the glue. 
     Particularly, the engagement means  10  include a stem  11  projecting from said rear wall  3 D of said support element  3  and the plate  7  in which a hole  7 A is made. 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , the bottom  9 A of the receptacle  9  has a front wall  9 B and a rear wall  9 C and a first aperture  12  extending from said front wall  9 B and said rear wall  9 C of the bottom  9 A of the receptacle  9  of said body  2 . 
     It shall be particularly noted that the stem  11  extends through said aperture  12  of said body  2  and through said hole  7 A of said plate  7 , as well as through a hole  5 B formed in the diffuser means  5  and, optionally, through a hole formed in the electronic control means  6 . 
     In other words, the holes  5 A,  6 A and  7 A and the first aperture  12  are formed in their respective elements in aligned positions. 
     To prevent removal of the support element  3  and the diffuser means  5 , the stem  11  has an end portion  11 A riveted over the plate  7 . 
     In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, in the proximity of the front wall  9 B of the bottom  9 A of the receptacle  9 , the bottom  9 A has a second aperture  13  for receiving the light source  4  so that the light emitted by said at least one light source  4  may come out through said second aperture  13 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 2 ,  3  and  4 , the light source  4  is wholly contained within the thickness of the receptacle  9 . 
     It shall be further noted that the body  2  has a housing  14  in which the electronic control means  6  are located, within the thickness of said body  2 , at the bottom wall  9 C of the bottom  9 A of the receptacle  9 . 
     As shown in the embodiment of such  FIG. 2 , the profile of the diffuser means  5  is contained in the profile of the support element  3 . 
     It shall be noted that the electronic control means  6  consist of a flexible Printed Circuit Board (PCB) whose thickness allows it to be located in the housing  14 , e.g. is less than 0.5 mm, preferably 0.2 mm. 
     Alternatively, the engagement means  10  include a plurality of crimping means (not shown) which, according to a preferred embodiment, are peripheral tabs projecting out of the rear wall  3 D of the support element  3 . 
     Particularly, the plurality of peripheral tabs may extend through the diffuser means  5  and are folded back against the rear wall  5 A of the diffuser means  5  during assembly. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 3 , which shows a different embodiment of the present invention, the profile of the diffuser means  5  extends beyond the profile of the support element  3 . 
     Thus, the peripheral profile of the diffuser means  5  projects out of the peripheral profile of the support element  3 . 
     For example, in the embodiment of this figure, if the profile of the support element  3  is substantially circular, then the diffuser means  5  will also have a substantially circular (or disk) profile, and the part of the peripheral profile of the diffuser means  5  beyond the peripheral profile of the support element  3  forms a ring (or toroid) surrounding the support element  3 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 4 , which shows a further different embodiment of the present invention, at least one portion of the support element  3  and the corresponding portion of the emblem  3 C have a plurality of microholes  15  for transmitting the light emitted from the light source  4  also through said support element and said emblem. 
     It should be noted that the support element  3  and the emblem  3 C are formed of sheet metal, such as aluminum. 
     It should be further noted that the diffuser means  5  include a monolithic element which is made of a material selected from the group consisting of transparent polycarbonate and opaline. 
     For example, the monolithic element may have a thickness in a range from 0.3 to 10 mm, preferably from 0.5 to 1.5 mm. 
     The monolithic element may be processed to obtain polished and/or satin-finished surfaces, e.g. at the outer surface or at the surface of the hole  5 B, which are designed to selectively enhance or reduce light transmission through the plastic element. 
     In this respect, it shall be noted that a film diffuser may be also applied to said monolithic plastic element, to obtain a composite plastic element that can provide selective light transmission through the plastic element. 
     In a preferred embodiment, the light source  4  may be a LED, or a group of LEDs, of single-color and/or RGB, i.e. multicolor type. 
     The group of LEDs comprises multiple LED sources, such as a number of 2 to 16 LEDs. 
     In the embodiments described above and shown in  FIGS. 2 to 4 , the elements have been disposed in the receptacle  9  of the body  2  in such an arrangement that the surface of the emblem  3 C, i.e. the surface exposed to the driver&#39;s view, seamlessly continued the surface of the body  2  over said receptacle  9 . As an alternative, the diffuser means  5  and the support element  3  with the emblem  3 C attached thereto may extend below or above the imaginary line that continues the surface of the body  2  over said receptacle  9 . 
     As clearly shown in the above description, the vehicle steering-wheel cover, more particularly the cover for an airbag device of a vehicle steering-wheel according to the present invention fulfills the above mentioned need and also obviates prior art drawbacks as set out in the introduction of this disclosure. 
     Those skilled in the art will obviously appreciate that a number of changes and variants may be made to the vehicle steering-wheel cover as described hereinbefore, in response to specific requirements, without departure from the scope of the invention, as defined in the following claims.