US4640150A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Steering wheel with integrally-skinned foamed thermoplastic resin-covered handwheel core having flow mark-obscuring abrasion-resistant coating
Assignee: Toyoda Gosei Co Ltd
•
Filing: 1984-12-14
•
Granted: 1987-02-03
•
Expires: 2004-12-14
Abstract
Abstract A steering wheel having the hand wheel part thereof formed of an injection molded foam of thermoplastic synthetic resin, which injection molded foam has a substantially solid outer surface and is covered with a coating. This steering wheel is produced in attractive appearance without requiring use of any specially formulated resin material or exercise of rigid control of molding conditions.
Inventors
- 👤 Teruo Kobayashi
- 👤 Sadao Uchida
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 12:37
CPC Classifications
B; B62; B62D; B62D1/00; B62D1/02; B62D1/04; B62D1/06; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S264/00; Y10S264/83; Y10T; Y10T29/00; Y10T29/49; Y10T29/49481; Y10T29/49488; Y10T74/00; Y10T74/20; Y10T74/20576; Y10T74/20732; Y10T74/20834; Y10T74/2087
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 6
Claim 1
Independent Claim
136 words
A steering wheel, comprising: a core, including a rim portion; a handwheel portion made of injection-molded foamed thermoplastic synthetic resin having an integral inner non-foamed, solid skin adhered to and enclosing said rim portion of said core, and having an integral outer non-foamed, solid skin; said foamed thermoplastic synthetic resin of said handwheel portion, between said integral inner and outer solid skins thereof, possessing an expansion ratio in the range of 1.1-1.8 compared with said thermoplastic synthetic resin when nonfoamed; and an abrasion-resistant coating adhered to and enclosing said outer skin of said handwheel portion, said coating being formed of a coating material containing a powdery lubricant in a coating material vehicle and being sufficiently thick as to substantially obscure from being seen or felt by hand any flow marks present on said outer solid skin.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
136 words
A steering wheel, comprising: a core, including a rim portion; a handwheel portion made of injection-molded foamed thermoplastic synthetic resin having an integral inner non-foamed, solid skin adhered to and enclosing said rim portion of said core, and having an integral outer non-foamed, solid skin; said foamed thermoplastic synthetic resin of said handwheel portion, between said integral inner and outer solid skins thereof, possessing an expansion ratio in the range of 1.1-1.8 compared with said thermoplastic synthetic resin when nonfoamed; and an abrasion-resistant coating adhered to and enclosing said outer skin of said handwheel portion, said coating being formed of a coating material containing a powdery lubricant in a coating material vehicle and being sufficiently thick as to substantially obscure from being seen or felt by hand any flow marks present on said outer solid skin.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
29 words
A steering wheel according to claim 1, wherein said thermoplastic synthetic resin is flexible PVC and said coating has a thickness in the range of 10 to 40 μm.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
18 words
A steering wheel according to claim 1, wherein said coating is formed of a urethane-type coating material vehicle.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
57 words
A steering wheel according to claim 1, wherein said powdery lubricant has a particle diameter in the range of 5 to 50 μm and the amount of said powdery lubricant added to the coating material is in the range of 10 to 100 parts by weight based on 100 parts by weight of the coating material vehicle.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
19 words
A steering wheel according to claim 1, wherein said powdery lubricant is fluorine resin powder or silicone resin powder.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
GB1186027A
Cited
US3802291A
Cited
US4118455A
Cited
US4353266A
Cited
US4201830A
Cited
US4454088A
Cited
US4522084A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1990-02-02 | 1990-08-04 | 1991-02-03 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1994-02-02 | 1994-08-04 | 1995-02-03 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1998-02-02 | 1998-08-04 | 1999-02-03 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |