US 11,718,339 B2
Method for manufacturing a vehicle steering wheel
Olivier Bertrand, Courcome (FR); Jonathan Pinaud, Montamise (FR); Hugues Doursoux, Latille (FR); and Agnes Quintard, Lezay (FR)
Assigned to Autoliv Development AB, Vargarda (SE)
Appl. No. 16/645,157
Filed by Autoliv Development AB, Vargarda (SE)
PCT Filed Sep. 6, 2018, PCT No. PCT/EP2018/073986
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Mar. 6, 2020,
PCT Pub. No. WO2019/048538, PCT Pub. Date Mar. 14, 2019.
Claims priority of application No. 1758210 (FR), filed on Sep. 6, 2017.
Prior Publication US 2021/0354743 A1, Nov. 18, 2021
Int. Cl. B62D 1/06 (2006.01); B21H 1/02 (2006.01); B21K 1/28 (2006.01); B29C 65/00 (2006.01); B29C 65/48 (2006.01); B29C 53/04 (2006.01); B21H 1/06 (2006.01); B21K 1/34 (2006.01); B29C 45/17 (2006.01); B29L 31/30 (2006.01)
CPC B62D 1/06 (2013.01) [B21H 1/02 (2013.01); B21K 1/28 (2013.01); B29C 53/04 (2013.01); B29C 65/00 (2013.01); B29C 65/48 (2013.01); B21H 1/06 (2013.01); B21K 1/34 (2013.01); B29C 65/002 (2013.01); B29C 2045/1721 (2013.01); B29L 2031/3047 (2013.01); B60Y 2410/114 (2013.01); B60Y 2410/123 (2013.01); Y10T 29/49488 (2015.01)] 13 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method for manufacturing a vehicle steering wheel,
the steering wheel comprising:
a rim,
an outer sheath (20; 20′) formed by at least one strip attached around at least part of the rim,
the method comprising at least the steps of:
positioning the strip around the rim,
attaching the strip to the rim to form the outer sheath (20; 20′),
forming an opening in the outer sheath (20; 20′) facing to an internal part of a device (30; 30′) within the outer sheath, wherein forming the opening comprises opening a slit previously formed in the strip and kept closed by temporary closure means fitted prior to positioning and attaching the strip around the rim,
folding portions of the outer sheath (20; 20′) surrounding the opening towards the inside of the rim to form flaps (21; 21′) and provide access to the inner part of the device (30; 30′).