STEERING WHEEL RING FOR A MOTOR VEHICLE

The invention concerns a steering wheel ring for a motor vehicle according to requirement 1.

Steering wheels for motor vehicles become no longer only under often moving in opposite directions - safety and aspects of Design regarded, but are included increasingly also in views of comfort. From the state of the art already steering wheels are well-known, with which by vertical swivelling and axial pulling and/or tossing of the steering wheel column an adjustment can be achieved to the driver. Admits is also to make shrouds of the steering wheel ring with different materials (leather, plastics uÄ) for improving the grip traction and for the adaptation of the diameter. Further steering wheels are well-known from the state of the art, whose steering wheel diameter is differently adjustable.

The two latter possibilities require however regularly structural alteration measures at the vehicle and are not simply adjustable before departure of the driver. Such adjustableness of the steering wheel wreath/ring diameter “on push of a button” is not well-known as it were. -->

The German disclosure writing DE shows 199 19 278 a steering wheel for a motor vehicle, with which for the switching of a dynamic driving experience the steering wheel ring is at least partly in its thickness and/or in its diameter changeable. In addition radially adjustable first wreath/ring parts and second wreath/ring parts are intended, which are adjustably stored at the first wreath/ring parts in circumferential direction. In addition, such a mechanics do not permit comfortable adaptation of the wreath/ring diameter in the above-mentioned sense, which is accepted by a user.

It is task of the available invention to train the steering wheel ring further initially specified in such a manner that this comfortably adjustably, at the same time stably and surely, and besides simple and economically producible is.

This task is solved by a steering wheel ring, that at least a fluid bag put around its firm, basic inner ring exhibits, whose volume is changeable and which is enclosed by a flexible outer casing.

A substantial point of the invention is with the fact in the fact that alone the volume of the fluid bag forms a correcting variable for the guidance wreath/ring diameter, which represents a clear simplification in relation to the state of the art. There so far - often at the same time several different - mechanical adjustment mechanisms were intended, from whose interaction a desired attitude of the steering wheel ring resulted, and which accordingly only laboriously to be served were. The available solution is substantially more simply developed as well as economical against it and creates besides the basis for a large automation of the attitude. -->

A further substantial point consists of it that the steering wheel ring according to invention is particularly accurately on the user adaptable, both regarding its diameter and its cross section, whereby besides the hand size of the user is considered. Thus on the one hand a substantially increased comfort results, on the other hand in addition, a clearly increased security from improved grip traction of the steering wheel ring.

Preferential further educations of the steering wheel ring are indicated in the following Unteransprüchen 2 to 11.

Afterwards it is intended in a preferential execution form of the steering wheel ring that this exhibits a groove at the outer circumference of the inner ring for leading a respective fluid bag. Thus the stable guidance of the bag at the inner ring is supported, which ensures also a safe storage with most different volume sizes - and thus diameters of the wreath/ring -.

Such a guidance of the fluid bag is particularly effective if the groove exhibits one in circumferential direction seen arc-shaped cross section. This can e.g. correspond (part) to a cross section of the bag in its middle expansion, with which this is kept safe with each smaller or larger Volumenfüllung also at the inner ring, without the inner ring must accept a too large or small cross section.

The stability of the steering wheel ring can besides thereby is increased if between the inner ring and the outer casing a springy, open ring is led. This adapts to the respective Volumenfüllung of the fluid bag and stabilizes this at its extent. --> simultaneous is produced a uniform and smooth grasp surface, which arrange a haptisch experiencable firm appearance of the steering wheel ring for the user, which is important with several fluid bags stored at the extent of the inner ring in particular.

Also this open ring can exhibit one in circumferential direction seen arc-shaped cross section, in order to ensure a stable storage to or the several, fluid bags. Here the same is valid in a general manner as for the cross section of the groove, which can be trained at the inner ring.

A particularly comfortable adjustment of the steering wheel ring results, if are connected to that or the fluid bags with a fluid by inlets with a compressor for filling. By manipulation of the compressor over a switch at the instrument panel or at the steering wheel thereby the volume is extremely simply changeable e.g. in the bags, whereby such a adaptable steering wheel ring finds large acceptance.

The inlets can be as or the several fluid bags einstückig or tubularly with the steering wheel ring trained. A simple and economical alternative to the fact plans however that the inlets are hoses. These can be e.g. led in the cross section of the wreath/ring and with (at the steering wheel) integrated compressor to connect, or over a hub of the Lenkrads with continues to remove arranged compressor to connect.

One repeats good adaptability of the steering wheel ring for different users reached, as the compressor is connected with a switch, over whom a defined quantity of the fluid will be introduced can. --> in the simplest case this can e.g. e.g. be a scaled rotary switch, in a somewhat more comfortable execution a rocker switch with digital announcement, which in each case one repeats accurate attitude of the wreath/ring on the respective driver permits, who noted its diameter attitude.

In a clearly more comfortable development it is intended that the adjusted diameter of the steering wheel ring for different driver in a memory can be deposited and called up again. Such a personalisierter diameter can be stopped for the appropriate user automatically, if this gives to e.g. recognize each other by input of a code by the vehicle.

This is not possible in particularly simple way with it that the memory can be responded via a radio key, a further activity of the user more required. It operation of the steering wheel ring becomes still more comfortable thereby.

In principle the fluid can consist in or the several fluid bags of a liquid. For safety reasons it is of advantage however, if the fluid is air. Thus the steering wheel ring at least in parts compressable and is arranged for the case of an impact softer.

The invention is more near described in the following on the basis a remark example with reference to the associated designs. Equivalent or equivalent parts are provided with equivalent reference numbers. Show: --> figure 1aeine cut plan view on a steering wheel ring according to invention for a motor vehicle, and figure 1beinen cross section of the steering wheel ring on average A A of the figure 1a.

Figure 1a shows a cut plan view to a steering wheel ring according to invention 10 for a motor vehicle, with a firm, basic inner ring of 20, over its extent away two fluid bags 30, 30 ' is put. Depending upon Füllvolumen of the bags these expand in radial and in axial direction, with which a diameter D and (grasp) a cross section of the wreath/ring can be adapted to the specific user desire. A springy, open ring 50 and a flexible shroud 40 expand likewise, whereby the springy ring 50 develops on the one hand a counter acting force and thus for a firm stop on the fluid bags 30, 30 ' provides, and on the other hand guarantees a stable Haptik of the Lenkrads. The bags 30, 30 ' can be connected with a compressor by hoses, which pumps a definable quantity of air 60 (designated in figure 1b) over a switch in the vehicle to the hoses and thereby expands these (not represented).

Figure 1b shows a cross section of the steering wheel ring 10 on average A A of the figure 1a. The flexible shroud 40 shown in figure 1a was omitted for the sake of clarity in this opinion. The guidance of the fluid bag 30 between inner ring 20 and springy ring 50, which are stably in the arc-shaped cross section of the ring 50 and arc-shaped groove 21 in the ring 20 held with each Füllvolumen, is recognizable. Their type of arch is in such a way selected that both fluid bags 30, 30 ' during even still stronger expansion by a fluid 60 at the inner ring --> 20 are held surely. The fluid 60 is in this remark example air, in order to arrange the steering wheel ring 10 at its extent for an impact compressable.

Altogether the steering wheel ring according to invention permits an optimal adjustment to the user desires. The simple adjusting possibility of the wreath/ring diameter over a fluid opens electrical operating possibilities over a compressor, with which besides personalisierte attitudes are memory and callable. The simple constructional structure makes further a economical realization possible. -->

10Lenkradkranz 20Fester, basic inner ring of the steering wheel ring 10 21Nut of the inside ring 30, 30 ' volume-variable fluid bag 40Elastischer outer casing 50Federnder, open ring 60Fluid DDurchmesser of the steering wheel ring 10