Breed Automotive Technology, Inc.

United Technologies Automotive Inc.

Fritz Sanders

Gregory F Exner

A composite steering wheel assembly comprises a molded armature frame including a central hub, a plurality of spokes radiating from the hub, and an annular rim encircling the spokes. An elastomeric material is molded around the spokes and the rim to provide a comfortable grip and aesthetically appealing appearance. The two bottom spokes each include a first stabilizer and a second stabilizer encased within the elastomeric material. The first stabilizer includes left and right fin surfaces extending from opposite lateral sides of the spokes and disposed in a plane generally perpendicular to the steering axis. The second stabilizer also includes left and right fin surfaces extending from opposite lateral sides of the spokes, but disposed in a plane generally parallel to the steering axis. The first and second stabilizers prevent sagging and dimples in the elastomeric material resulting from material shrinkage during the elastomeric material solidification process. The first and second stabilizers are molded integrally with the armature frame so that they will not slip out of position or become lost prior to the elastomeric material over molding procedure. Furthermore, the first and second stabilizers provide a consistent feel, i.e., compressibility, in the exaggeratedly wide sections of the elastomeric material covered sections of the steering wheel assembly.

Steering wheel armature with stabilizers

A steering wheel has a hub sleeve with an inside surface defining a longitudinal bore with at least a portion of the inside surface having a longitudinally oriented substantially tapered configuration disposed within a section of the bore closest to a vehicle driver. The steering wheel further includes a hub having an inside face and an outside face wherein the sleeve is formed as a single piece with the hub. The sleeve and hub have an inside surface with a longitudinal bore such that at least a portion of the inside surface of the sleeve further has a longitudinally oriented tapered configuration. The tapered portion is longitudinally disposed within a section of the bore closest to the inside face and a flat first locking sleeve formation is positioned along the tapered portion longitudinally adjacent an end of the bore.

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Livonia, MI, United States of America

Fritz Sanders