IP Library Granted Patent US 12698034
Granted Patent B2
US 12698034 · App. 18/574,606 · Granted Aug 4, 2026

Steering wheel device for vehicle

Inventors: Jinkeun Kim (Kanagawa, JP); Yousuke Kato (Kanagawa, JP); Ryohei Yoshihara (Kanagawa, JP); Yutaka Hirota (Kanagawa, JP); Takanori Ikeda (Kanagawa, JP)
Assignee: Autoliv Development AB
B62D7/222B60Q5/003B60R21/2037
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12698034
App. No.
18/574,606
Granted
Aug 4, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

A steering wheel deice comprising: a horn spring provided between a steering wheel and an airbag module which serves as a damper mass; a damper unit provided on the airbag module; and a pin, one end of which is held by the steering wheel, and at another end of which the damper unit is disposed in a slidable manner. A conduction circuit of a horn includes: the pin which is formed from an electrically conductive material; a horn contact that is provided on the airbag module and that contacts and separates from the pin due to elastic deformation of the horn spring; and a U-shaped spring that is provided to the steering wheel and that conducts by clipping the pin.

Claims (18)

1 . A vehicle steering wheel device, comprising:

an elastically deformable horn spring provided between the steering wheel and an airbag module supporting the airbag module on a steering wheel; and

a mounting pin member having a first end retained in the steering wheel and a second end retained in the airbag module, relatively movably connecting the airbag module to the steering wheel, wherein

a conductive circuit that energizes a horn device for sounding the horn includes:

the mounting pin member being formed of a conductive material;

a horn contact provided on the airbag module that contacts with and separates from the mounting pin member due to elastic deformation of the horn spring; and

an electrode member provided on a steering wheel side that clips to the mounting pin member and conducts with the mounting pin member, wherein the electrode member is configured to electrically contact the mounting pin member to provide an electrical conduction path with the mounting pin member.

2 . The vehicle steering wheel device according to claim 1 , wherein

the airbag module is a damper mass,

a damper unit is provided on the airbag module for damping vibration of the steering wheel,

the damper unit is slidably provided on the second end of the mounting pin member, and

the mounting pin member transmits steering wheel vibration to the damper unit.

3 . The vehicle steering wheel device according to claim 1 , wherein the electrode member is a U-shaped spring that sandwiches and retains the mounting pin member.

4 . The vehicle steering wheel device according to claim 1 , wherein a collar member for retaining the mounting pin member is provided on the steering wheel, a spring seat that is pushed toward the steering wheel by the elasticity of the horn spring is provided on the collar member, and the electrode member is retained between the spring seat and the steering wheel.

5 . The vehicle steering wheel device according to claim 4 , wherein the collar member is provided in a press-fit state on the steering wheel so that the spring seat pushes the electrode member toward the steering wheel.

6 . The vehicle steering wheel device according to claim 4 , wherein the collar member is provided with an engaging part that engages the electrode member.

7 . The vehicle steering wheel device according to claim 1 , wherein the electrode member conducts with a terminal provided on the steering wheel.

8 . The vehicle steering wheel device according to claim 1 , wherein a power supply side and grounding side of the conductive circuit are provided by a clock spring.