Abstract:
The present invention teaches a steering wheel for a vehicle comprising a grip frame; one or more spoke frames; a supporting shaft; and at least one force-cushioning element; wherein the spokes connect the grip frame to the supporting shaft; the grip frame and/or the spoke frames comprise two or more parts; the force-cushioning element is disposed between the parts; and the force-cushioning element is capable of being deformed by a force exerted by a driver colliding with the steering wheel whereby deforming the grip frame and/or the spoke frames.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims priority to Chinese Patent Application No. 20061006310.5 filed on Oct., 07, 2006. The contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    This invention relates to a steering control apparatus for a vehicle, and more particularly, to a steering wheel having force-cushioning elements. 
         [0004]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0005]    In vehicle collisions, a major threat to the driver&#39;s life and safety comes from impacting the steering wheel. This is because conventional steering wheels are made of rigid materials, which while allowing for an easy rotation of the steering wheel about a supporting shaft, often impact with the driver&#39;s body at a great force when the driver collides with the steering wheel in a direction normal or substantially normal to the plane of the wheel. In such collisions, the wheel generally damages the driver&#39;s internal organs, which often carries fatal consequences. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    In view of the above-described problems, it is one objective of the present invention to provide a steering wheel having force-cushioning elements so as to cushion a force impacting from a direction normal or substantially-normal to the plane of the steering wheel. 
         [0007]    To achieve the above objective, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, provided is a steering wheel for a vehicle comprising a grip frame; one or more spoke frames; a supporting shaft; and at least one force-cushioning element; wherein the spokes connect the grip frame to the supporting shaft; the grip frame and/or the spoke frames comprise two or more frame parts; the force-cushioning element is disposed between the frame parts; and the force-cushioning element is capable of being deformed by a force exerted by a driver colliding with the steering wheel whereby deforming the grip frame and/or the spoke frames. 
         [0008]    In certain classes of this embodiment, the cushioning element is capable of absorbing kinetic energy while being deformed by the force, the force being normal to a plane defined by the grip frame. 
         [0009]    In certain classes of this embodiment, the grip frame comprises an upper grip frame portion and a lower grip frame portion, wherein at least one force-cushioning elements is disposed between the upper grip frame portion and the lower grip frame portion. 
         [0010]    In certain classes of this embodiment, the spoke frame comprises an upper spoke frame portion and a lower spoke frame portion, wherein at least one force-cushioning elements is disposed between the upper spoke frame portion and the lower spoke frame portion. 
         [0011]    In certain classes of this embodiment, the force-cushioning element is disposed between the spoke frame and the supporting shaft. 
         [0012]    In certain classes of this embodiment, the force-cushioning element is selected from a group consisting of a flat plate, an L-shaped plate, and a plate having a tooth-shaped surface. 
         [0013]    In accordance with another embodiments of the invention provided is a steering wheel for a vehicle comprising a grip frame; one or more spoke frames; a supporting shaft; and at least one force-cushioning element; wherein the spoke frames connect the grip frame to the supporting shaft; the grip frame is annularly-shaped and elastic, the spoke frames are elastic; and the grip frame and the spoke frames are rigid in a direction parallel to a plane defined by the grip frame, yet are also capable of being elastically-deformed by a force exerted by a driver colliding with the steering wheel whereby deforming the grip frame and/or the spoke frames. 
         [0014]    In certain classes of this embodiment, the cushioning element is capable of absorbing kinetic energy while being deformed by the force, the force being normal to a plane defined by the grip frame. 
         [0015]    In certain classes of this embodiment, the grip frame is an annularly-shaped flat plate and the spoke frame is an elastic plate. 
         [0016]    The steering wheel of the present invention provides the following general advantages: (1) in the working direction such as the rotating direction of the steering wheel, the steering wheel is rigid so that the steering control to the vehicle is not influenced; and (2) in the event of a collision, e.g., a frontal collision, the steering wheel is impacted by the body of a driver, and correspondingly, is deformed forward by means of the force-cushioning element, thereby reducing or avoiding an injury to the driver. 
     
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0017]      FIG. 1  is a top plan structural view of a steering wheel in accordance with one embodiment of the invention; 
           [0018]      FIG. 2   a  is a perspective view of a force-cushioning element in accordance with one embodiment of the invention; 
           [0019]      FIG. 2   b  is a side view of a force-cushioning element of a steering wheel in accordance with one embodiment of the invention; 
           [0020]      FIG. 3  is a side structural view of a deformed forward steering wheel in accordance with one embodiment of the invention; 
           [0021]      FIG. 4  is a top plan structural view of a steering wheel in accordance with another embodiment of the invention; 
           [0022]      FIGS. 5   a - b  are each a side structural view of a steering wheel in accordance with another embodiment of the invention; 
           [0023]      FIGS. 6   a - b  are each a side structural view of a steering wheel in accordance with yet another embodiment of the invention; and 
           [0024]      FIG. 7  is a top plan structural view of a steering wheel in accordance with yet another embodiment of the invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0025]    The configuration of a steering wheel according to the embodiments of the present invention is explained hereinafter with reference to the drawings. 
         [0026]      FIG. 1  is a top plane structural view of a steering wheel  100  in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. The steering wheel  100  comprises: a grip frame  10 ; one or more spoke frames  20 ; a supporting shaft  30 ; and at least one force-cushioning element  50 , wherein the grip frame  10  is connected and integrated by means of the spoke frames  20  and the supporting shaft  30 ; the grip frame  10  consists of an upper portion  12  and a lower portion  14 ; the force-cushioning element  50  is disposed between the upper portion  12  and the lower portion  14 ; the spoke frame  20  for connecting the lower portion  14  of the grip frame  10  and the supporting shaft  30  consists of an upper portion  22  and a lower portion  24 , wherein the force-cushioning element  50  is installed between the upper portion  22  and the lower portion  24 . The two ends of the force-cushioning element  50  are fixed respectively at the connection position between the upper portion  12  and the lower portion  14  by means of bolting or mechanical pressing. Similarly, the two ends of the force-cushioning element  50  are fixed respectively at the connection position between the upper portion  22  and the lower portion  24 . The force-cushioning element  50  is made of an elastic steel plate or elastic memory material. 
         [0027]      FIGS. 2   a - 2   b  illustrate a perspective view and a side view of the force-cushioning element  50 , respectively, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. In the present embodiment, the force-cushioning element  50  is an elastic plate, and is installed inside the grip frame and the spoke frames wherein the grip frame and the spoke frames are of a circular pipe design. In other embodiments, the force-cushioning element  50  is disposed outside, topside or underside of the grip frame and/or the spoke frames. In certain embodiments, the grip frame and the spoke frames are made of, e.g., circular metal pipe (hollow or filled), having one or multiple layers. 
         [0028]    In this embodiment, the force-cushioning element is an elastic plate which is coplanar with the steering wheel. The elastic plate is rigid in the direction of rotation allowing the steering wheel to be rotated, yet elastic in the direction normal or substantially-normal to the plane of the gripping frame (i.e., the plane of the drawing in  FIG. 1 ) allowing the steering wheel to be elastically deformed when the steering wheel is being impacted by the driver&#39;s body during collision so as to absorb the force of impact of the driver&#39;s body. 
         [0029]      FIG. 3  is a side view showing a deformed steering wheel in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. When the front portion of the steering wheel  100  is being impacted, at least one force-cushioning element  50  of the grip frame  10  and the spoke frames  20  will be elastically deformed so as to cushion the force and thereby to protect the driver. When the steering wheel  100  is under normal operation, the force-cushioning element  50  is rigid so that the steering performance of the steering wheel  100  is not influenced. 
         [0030]    As shown in  FIG. 4 , in another embodiment of the present invention, the grip frame  10  consists of an upper portion  12  and a lower portion  14 , wherein the lower portion  14  of the grip frame  10  and the supporting shaft  30  are connected by means of one or more spoke frames  20 ; at least one spoke frame  20  consists of an upper portion  22  and a lower portion  24 , wherein a force-cushioning element  50  is installed at the juncture between the upper portion  22  and the lower portion  24 . 
         [0031]      FIG. 5   a - b  illustrate a side structural view of a steering wheel in accordance with other embodiment of the present invention. As shown in  FIG. 5   a , the steering wheel  100  includes a grip frame  10 ; one or more spoke frames (not shown); a supporting shaft  30 ; and a force-cushioning element  50 . The grip frame  10  is connected and integrated by means of the spoke frame and the supporting shaft  30 . As differentiated from conventional steering wheels, the grip frame  10  and spoke frame of the steering wheel  100  are movably-affixed to the supporting shaft  30  and have a certain play relative to the supporting shaft  30 . The force-cushioning element  50  is disposed at a position between the spoke frame and the supporting shaft  30 . In the present embodiment, the force-cushioning element  50  is a corner shaped elastic plate. 
         [0032]    As shown in  FIG. 5   b , the elastic corner plate is rigid in the direction of rotation (in any direction within the plane of the gripping frame) allowing the steering wheel to be rotated, yet elastic in a direction normal or substantially-normal to the plane of the gripping frame allowing the steering wheel to be elastically deformed when the steering wheel is being impacted by the driver&#39;s body during collision so as to absorb the force of the impact with the driver&#39;s body. 
         [0033]      FIGS. 6   a - b  illustrate a side structural view of a steering wheel in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention. As shown in  FIG. 6   a , the steering wheel  100  includes a grip frame  10 ; a spoke frame (not shown); a supporting shaft  30 ; and a force-cushioning element  50 . As differentiated from conventional steering wheels, the grip frame  10  and spoke frame of the steering wheel  100  are movably-affixed to the supporting shaft  30 , and have a certain play relative to the supporting shaft  30 . The force-cushioning element  50  is disposed at a position between the spoke frame and the supporting shaft  30 . In the present embodiment, the force-cushioning element  50  is a rack  50  with a plurality of teeth. A positioning device  32  is installed on the supporting shaft  30  to interact with the rack  50 . Under normal operating conditions, the rack  50  is aligned with the positioning device  32  at a first position of the rack  50 , as shown in  FIG. 6   a.    
         [0034]    When the steering wheel  100  is being rotated, i.e., under a normal rotating force, the rack  50  is rigid with respect to the steering wheel  100 , and is geared with the positioning column  32 . However, when the steering wheel  100  is being impacted by the driver&#39;s body in a collision, the plane of the steering wheel  100  changes orientation (from that shown in  FIG. 6   a  to that shown in  FIG. 6   b ). Thus, the rack  50  will be moved and re-aligned with the positioning device  32  at a second position of the rack  50  as shown in  FIG. 6   b , and in doing so will cushion the impacting force. The impacting forced is cushioned during the process of deformation. 
         [0035]      FIG. 7  is a structural view of a steering wheel in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention. In the present embodiment, a steering wheel  200  includes a grip frame  210 , one or more spoke frames  220 , and a supporting shaft  230 , wherein the grip frame  210  is an annular-shaped elastic plate or column. The entire spoke frame  220  is an elastic plate. The grip frame  210  and the spoke frames  220  are rigid in the direction of rotation (in any direction parallel to the plane of the gripping frame) allowing the steering wheel  200  to be rotated, yet can be elastically force-deformed in a direction normal or substantially-normal to the plane of the gripping frame allowing the steering wheel  200  to be elastically deformed when the steering wheel is impacted by the driver&#39;s body during a collision so as to absorb the force of the impact with the driver&#39;s body. 
         [0036]    The outer surfaces of the grip frame  210  and the spoke frames  220  are covered by sponge or leather material so as to improve the comfort of gripping. 
         [0037]    In accordance with other embodiments of the present invention, the force-cushioning element of the steering wheel also can be installed at the top portion of the supporting shaft so as to cushion the impacting force, e.g., of the driver&#39;s head, to the steering wheel. 
         [0038]    In accordance with the present invention, the steering wheel comprises at least one force-cushioning element, or at least one part of the steering wheel is made from an elastic material. The steering wheel is rigid with respect to a normal force applied to the wheel to turn it and to steer the vehicle, so that the steering performance of the vehicle is not influenced. However, in the event of a frontal collision, the steering wheel will be impacted by the body of the driver, and correspondingly, it will be deformed as a result of it incorporating one or more force-cushioning elements. Thus, an injury to the driver can be avoided or greatly reduced. 
         [0039]    The force-cushioning element is made of materials capable of being deformed in one direction but not in another direction. This is accomplished by providing specially-engineered materials and/or by providing conventional materials shaped so as to achieve the desired properties. 
         [0040]    Energy absorption in a force-cushioning element occurs without limitation via a plastic deformation, an elastic deformation, or by the fluid dynamics of gases or liquids within the material. 
         [0041]    The force-cushioning materials are selected without limitation from the group consisting of, e.g., soft steel, various metal alloys, polymers, such as, expanded polystyrene, polyurethanes, polyethers, or polyethylene, silica aerogels, and natural or synthetic fibers having uniform or random orientations. 
         [0042]    While particular embodiments of the invention have been shown and described, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that changes and modifications may be made without departing from the invention in its broader aspects, and therefore, the aim in the appended claims is to cover all such changes and modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.