Steering wheel cover
A steering wheel cover has an inner core and an outer casing. The inner core has a series of alternating ribs and openings that together form a spring-like structure that more easily fits over a steering wheel while retaining its initial shape once installed. The inner core requires significantly less material than conventional steering wheel cover cores.
1. A steering wheel cover comprising:
an inner core comprising a plurality of ribs separated by openings;
an outer casing that at least partially encloses the inner core;
front and rear spines, the ribs extending in arcs between the front and rear spines;
each of the ribs includes:
a stem connected to the front spine and a stem connected to the rear spine; and
a plurality of branches connected to each stem and separated by a slot.
2. A steering wheel cover comprising:
an inner core comprising a plurality of ribs separated by openings;
an outer casing that at least partially encloses the inner core; and
wherein the inner core has a thickness of approximately 0.55 inches, which is also approximately 13.97 mm.
3. A steering wheel cover comprising:
an inner core comprising:
front and rear spines;
a plurality of arc-shaped ribs extending between the front and rear spines, each of the ribs includes:
a stem connected to the front spine and a stem connected to the rear spine; and
a plurality of branches connected to each stem and separated by a slot;
conjoined areas between the branches of adjacent ribs; and
an outer casing that at least partially encloses the inner core.
4. The steering wheel cover as set forth in claim 3 , wherein the inner core is made of thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) material.
5. The steering wheel cover as set forth in claim 3 , wherein the inner core is made of molded ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA) foam.
6. The steering wheel cover as set forth in claim 3 , wherein the inner core has a thickness of approximately 0.55 inches, which is also approximately 13.97 mm.
7. The steering wheel cover as set forth in claim 3 , each of the front and rear spines having a lip.
8. A steering wheel cover comprising:
an inner core having a plurality of relief cuts; wherein the relief cuts include linear cuts and inverted T-shaped cuts; and
an outer casing that at least partially encloses the inner core.