Steering wheel having flexible rim

Claim 2

A steering wheel for a motor vehicle having a hub, a spoke connected to said hub and rim means connected to said spoke; said rim means comprising a circular leaf spring core member; at last one arcuate leaf spring member positioned with its midportion adjacent the end of said spoke; securing means securing said core member and said arcuate member to the end of said spoke; said rim means being resiliently deflectable under an impact load imposed upon said rim means in a direction parallel to the axis of rotation of said wheel and said rim means being substantially rigid against deflection with respect to a force imposed upon said rim means in a plane perpendicular to the axis of said wheel.

Claim 3

A steering wheel for a motor vehicle comprising a hub; a spoke having its inner end secured to said hub; a rim core assembly secured to the outer end of said spoke; said rim core assembly comprising a circular leaf spring member having a circular shape in the plan view with a major flat upper surface in a plane perpendicular to the axis of rotation of said steering wheel; upper and lower arcuate leaf springs positioned on either side of said core member adjacent the outer end of said spoke; means securing said upper and lower arcuate leaf spring members and said circular leaf spring member to said spoke; said rim core assembly being resiliently deflectable under an impact load imposed upon said assembly in a direction parallel to the axis of rotation of said steering wheel and said rim core assembly being substantially rigid against deflection with respect to a force imposed upon said assembly in a plane parallel to said flat surface.

Claim 4

A steering wheel for a motor vehicle comprising a hub; a spoke having its inner end secured to said hub; a rim core assembly secured to the outer end of said spoke; said rim core assembly comprising a circular leaf spring member having a circular shape in the plan view with a major flat upper surface in a plane perpendicular to the axis of rotation of said steering wheel; upper and lower arcuate leaf springs positioned on either side of said core member adjacent the outer end of said spoke; means securing said upper and lower arcuate leaf spring members and said circular leaf spring member to said spoke; said rim core assembly being resiliently deflectable under an impact load imposed upon said assembly in a direction parallel to the axis of rotation of said steering wheel and said rim core assembly being substantially rigid against deflection with respect to a force imposed upon said assembly in a plane parallel to said flat surface.

Claim 5

A steering wheel according to claim 2 and including: a rigid support shoe secured to the outer end of said spoke; means securing said upper and lower arcuate leaf spring members and said circular member to said shoe.

Claim 6

A steering wheel according to claim 2 and including: a rigid support shoe secured to the outer end of said spoke; means securing said upper and lower arcuate leaf spring members and said circular member to said shoe; band means encircling said arcuate springs, said circular member and said shoe.

Claim 7

A steering wheel according to claim 4 and including: hole and projection means constructed to provide interlocking engagement between one of said arcuate members and one of said bands.

Claim 8

A steering wheel for a motor vehicle comprising a hub; at least two spokes having their inner ends secured to said hub; a rim core assembly secured to the outer ends of said spokes; said rim core assembly comprising a circular leaf spring member having a circular shape in the plan view with a major flat upper surface in a plane perpendicular to the axis of said steering wheel; upper and lower arcuate leaf springs positioned on either side of said circular spring member adjacent the outer end of each of said spokes; a rigid support shoe secured to the outer end of each of said spokes; means securing said upper and lower arcuate leaf spring members and said circular member to said shoes; plastic covering means enclosing said rim core assembly; said rim core assembly being resiliently deflectable under an impact load imposed upon said assembly in a direction parallel to the axis of said wheel and said rim core assembly being substantially rigid against deflection with respect to a force imposed upon said assembly in a plane parallel to said flat surface.

Claim 9

A steering wheel for a motor vehicle comprising a hub; at least two spokes having their inner ends secured to said hub; a rim core assembly secured to the outer ends of said spokes; said rim core assembly comprising a circular leaf spring member having a circular shape in the plan view with a major flat upper surface in a plane perpendicular to the axis of said steering wheel; upper and lower arcuate leaf springs positioned on either side of said circular spring member adjacent the outer end of each of said spokes; a rigid support shoe secured to the outer end of each of said spokes; means securing said upper and lower arcuate leaf spring members and said circular member to said shoes; plastic covering means enclosing said rim core assembly; said rim core assembly being resiliently deflectable under an impact load imposed upon said assembly in a direction parallel to the axis of said wheel and said rim core assembly being substantially rigid against deflection with respect to a force imposed upon said assembly in a plane parallel to said flat surface.

Claim 10

A steering wheel for a motor vehicle comprising a hub; left and right spokes having their inner ends secured to said hub; a rim core assembly and attachment means securing said assembly to the outer ends of said left and right spokes; said rim core assembly comprising a leaf spring member having a circular shape in the plan view with a major flat upper surface in a plane perpendicular to the axis of said steering wheel; said rim core assembly having upper and lower arcuate portions defined between the centers of said attachment means; one of said portions being an arc greater than 180° and the other of said portions being an arc less than 180° said rim core assembly being resiliently deflectable under an impact load imposed upon said assembly in a direction parallel to the axis of rotation of said wheel; said rim core assembly having greater resiliency with respect to such a load imposed upon the center of said one portion than upon the center of said other portion.

Claim 11

A steering wheel for a motor vehicle comprising a hub; left and right spokes having their inner ends secured to said hub; a rim core assembly and attachment means securing said assembly to the outer ends of said left and right spokes; said rim core assembly comprising a leaf spring member having a circular shape in the plan view with a major flat upper surface in a plane perpendicular to the axis of said steering wheel; said rim core assembly having upper and lower arcuate portions defined between the centers of said attachment means; one of said portions being an arc greater than 180° and the other of said portions being an arc less than 180° said rim core assembly being resiliently deflectable under an impact load imposed upon said assembly in a direction parallel to the axis of rotation of said wheel; said rim core assembly having greater resiliency with respect to such a load imposed upon the center of said one portion than upon the center of said other portion.

Claim 12

A steering wheel for a motor vehicle comprising a hub; a spoke having its inner end secured to said hub; an annular rim core assembly secured to the outer end of said spoke; said rim core assembly comprising a plurality of leaf spring members in flush engagement with each other; each of said leaf spring members having a shape in cross section that includes two long parallel sides that are perpendicular to the axis of rotation of said steering wheel; said rim core assembly being resiliently deflectable under an impact load imposed upon said assembly in a direction parallel to the axis of rotation of said steering wheel and said rim core assembly being substantially rigid against deflection with respect to a generally tangential force imposed upon said assembly by a vehicle operator while turning said steering wheel.

Claim 13

A steering wheel for a motor vehicle comprising a hub; a spoke having its inner end secured to said hub; an annular rim core assembly secured to the outer end of said spoke; said rim core assembly comprising a plurality of leaf spring members in flush engagement with each other; each of said leaf spring members having a shape in cross section that includes two long parallel sides that are perpendicular to the axis of rotation of said steering wheel; said rim core assembly being resiliently deflectable under an impact load imposed upon said assembly in a direction parallel to the axis of rotation of said steering wheel and said rim core assembly being substantially rigid against deflection with respect to a generally tangential force imposed upon said assembly by a vehicle operator while turning said steering wheel.