PURPOSE: To avoid and lighten a shock that a car driver gets at the time of collision by a constitution wherein the rim of a steering wheel core bar is divided vertically, and both ends of a spoke are made branching to an plastic deformation easier than a body.
CONSTITUTION: The rim of a steering wheel core bar is divided to 1a and 1b, and both ends 11a, 12a, 11b, 12b of them are bent inside. Then, notches 25, 26 are provided on both horizontal ends of a sheet spoke 2, opposite branch parts 21a, 21b, 22a, 22b are formed across the notches 25, 26, and the ends 11a, 12a, 11b, 12b are fitted and welded in a groove thus formed. When the driver comes in collision with the lower half part 1a of said rim, the branch parts 21a, 22a with low rigidity are subjected to a plastic deformation to absorb kinetic energy.
OZAWA ISAO
HORI TADAYOSHI
SUDOU YOUICHI
TOYOTA MOTOR CO LTD