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US-20260125100-A1 - COMPONENT FOR VEHICLE INTERIOR

US20260125100A1US 20260125100 A1US20260125100 A1US 20260125100A1US-20260125100-A1

Abstract

A component/steering wheel for a vehicle may comprise a composite structure assembled to a frame comprising a cover, a functional insert and an interface for each functional insert. The interface may comprise an electrical interface/connection and a mechanical interface/connection; the interface may comprise a combined/integrated interface/connector comprising the electrical interface/connector and the mechanical interface/connector. The cover may comprise a set of cover/shell segments; the functional insert may comprise a set of functional insert segments; the composite structure may comprise a set of composite structure segments comprising the cover segments and functional insert segments. The interface may provide mechanical alignment of the shell segments and electrical connection of the functional insert segments. The functional insert may comprise a heating element, sensor and/or electrified functional insert. The functional insert may comprise a set of functional insert segments mechanically and electrically connected.

Inventors

  • Manfred Pohl
  • Lucas Steffens
  • Holger Maul

Assignees

  • Yanfeng International Automotive Technology Co., Ltd.

Dates

Publication Date
20260507
Application Date
20251229

Claims (20)

  1. 1 . A component for a vehicle interior comprising a steering wheel assembly comprising: a frame; and a composite structure configured to be assembled to the frame; wherein the composite structure comprises a cover and an insert; wherein the insert comprises a functional insert; wherein the composite structure comprises an interface for each functional insert; wherein the interface comprises an electrical interface and a mechanical interface for the functional insert; wherein the composite structure comprises a set of composite structure segments; wherein the interface is configured to provide mechanical alignment of the set of shell segments and electrical connection of the functional insert segments.
  2. 2 . The component of claim 1 wherein the composite structure comprises a set of composite structure segments comprising the set of cover segments and the set of functional insert segments.
  3. 3 . The component of claim 1 wherein the composite structure comprises a set of composite structure segments comprising the set of shell segments and the set of functional insert segments.
  4. 4 . The component of claim 1 wherein the interface comprises a combined interface for mechanical alignment and electrical connection.
  5. 5 . The component of claim 1 wherein the functional insert comprises a set of functional insert segments configured to be mechanically connected and electrically connected at a metal-to-metal press-fit connector provided at the interface.
  6. 6 . The component of claim 1 wherein the interface comprises at least one of (a) a connector; (b) a metal connector; (c) a terminal; (d) a plug; (e) a socket for a plug; (f) a plug for a socket; (g) a plug and a socket; (h) a conductor; (i) a conductor plate; (j) a metal plate; (k) a plastic connector.
  7. 7 . The component of claim 1 wherein the interface comprises (a) a bridge and a base; (b) an electrical connection at the bridge and a base; and (c) a mechanical connection at the bridge and a base; (d) a mechanical connector; (e) an electrical connector; (f) a conductor.
  8. 8 . The component of claim 1 wherein the interface comprises a mechanical connector; wherein the mechanical connector comprises an electrical interface; wherein the electrical connector comprises a mechanical interface.
  9. 9 . The component of claim 1 wherein the interface comprises a self-aligning mechanical connection comprising a plastic member at a bridge and a base and/or a self-aligning mechanical connection comprising a plug and a socket.
  10. 10 . The component of claim 1 wherein the interface comprises a connector; wherein the connector comprises a bridge; wherein the bridge comprises a conductor.
  11. 11 . The component of claim 1 wherein the interface comprises a connector; wherein the connector comprises a flexible element; wherein the flexible element comprises at least one of (a) a wire; (b) a rigid flexible wire; (c) a cable; (d) a semi-rigid wire; (e) a generally S-shaped element; (f) a generally S-shaped wire.
  12. 12 . The component of claim 1 wherein the functional insert comprises at least one of (a) a heating element; (b) a sensor; (c) a switch; (d) a functional circuit.
  13. 13 . The component of claim 1 wherein the interface comprises a connector; wherein the connector comprises at least one of (a) a wire; (b) a bridge; (c) an S-shaped wire element; (d) a flexible S-shaped wire element; (e) a bendable S-shaped wire element; (f) a twistable S-shaped wire element.
  14. 14 . The component of claim 1 wherein the composite structure comprises a set of cover segments of the cover and a set of functional insert segments of the functional insert; wherein a functional insert segment of the functional insert is provided within a cover segment of the cover; wherein the interface comprises a connector configured to retain an electrical connection between adjacent functional insert segments during misalignment of adjacent cover segments.
  15. 15 . The component of claim 14 wherein a cover segment comprises at least one of (a) a recess for a connector for the interface; (b) a projection for a connector for the interface; (c) a surface for a connector for the interface; (d) a mount for a connector for the interface.
  16. 16 . The component of claim 1 wherein the composite structure comprises a carrier; wherein the carrier comprises at least one of (a) a set of carrier segments; (b) a plastic material; (c) a rigid material; (d) a rigid plastic material.
  17. 17 . The component of claim 1 wherein the composite structure comprises a base configured to provide alignment for the functional insert.
  18. 18 . A method of producing a component for a vehicle comprising the steps of: providing a frame; providing a composite structure comprising a cover and a functional insert to be assembled onto the frame; assembling the composite structure with the cover and the functional insert for the frame; and mechanically connecting and electrically connecting the functional insert at an interface; wherein the interface comprises at least one of a mechanical interface or an electrical interface for the functional insert.
  19. 19 . The method of claim 18 wherein the interface is configured to provide mechanical alignment of the set of shell segments and electrical connection of the functional insert segments; wherein the interface comprises a combined interface for mechanical alignment and electrical connection.
  20. 20 . A component for a vehicle interior comprising: a base; a composite structure configured to be assembled to the base; wherein the composite structure comprises a cover and a functional insert; wherein the composite structure comprises an interface for the functional insert; wherein the interface comprises a mechanical interface and an electrical interface for the functional insert.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS The present application is a continuation of PCT/International Patent Application No. PCT/US2024/036271 titled “COMPONENT FOR VEHICLE INTERIOR” filed Jun. 28, 2024 which claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63/524,288 titled “COMPONENT FOR VEHICLE INTERIOR” filed Jun. 30, 2023. The present application claims priority to and incorporates by reference in full the following patent applications: (1) U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63/524,288 titled “COMPONENT FOR VEHICLE INTERIOR” filed Jun. 30, 2023; and (2) PCT/International Patent Application No. PCT/US2024/036271 titled “COMPONENT FOR VEHICLE INTERIOR” filed Jun. 28, 2024. The present application relates to and incorporates by reference in full the following patent applications: (1) U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63/252,513 titled “VEHICLE INTERIOR COMPONENT” filed Oct. 14, 2021; (2) PCT/International Patent Application No. PCT/US2022/046625 titled “COMPONENT FOR VEHICLE INTERIOR” filed Oct. 13, 2022; (3) PCT/International Patent Application No. PCT/US2022/046626 titled “COMPONENT FOR VEHICLE INTERIOR” filed Oct. 13, 2022; (4) U.S. patent application Ser. No. 18/632,567 titled “COMPONENT FOR VEHICLE INTERIOR” filed Apr. 11, 2024; (5) U.S. patent application Ser. No. 18/632,618 titled “COMPONENT FOR VEHICLE INTERIOR” filed Apr. 11, 2024; (6) European Patent Application No. 22881804.3 titled “COMPONENT FOR VEHICLE INTERIOR” filed Apr. 9, 2024; (7) European Patent Application No. 22881805.0 titled “COMPONENT FOR VEHICLE INTERIOR” filed Apr. 12, 2024; (8) Chinese Patent Application No. 202280068107.2 titled “COMPONENT FOR VEHICLE INTERIOR” filed Apr. 9, 2024; and (9) Chinese Patent Application No. 202280068106.8 titled “COMPONENT FOR VEHICLE INTERIOR” filed Apr. 9, 2024. FIELD The present invention relates to a component for a vehicle interior. The present invention also relates to a component such as a steering wheel assembly for a vehicle interior comprising a set of segments. BACKGROUND It is known to provide a component for a vehicle interior with a heating function and/or detection of contact. It would be advantageous to provide an improved component for a vehicle interior comprising a composite structure that is configured for efficient assembly including mechanical/electrical connection of a functional element. It would be advantageous to provide an improved component for a vehicle interior comprising a composite structure that is configured for efficient assembly including mechanical/electrical connection of a functional element with a combined/integrated connector arrangement. It would be advantageous to provide a component for a vehicle interior that is configured with a composite structure comprising at least one segment that is configured for efficient assembly. It would be advantageous to provide a component for a vehicle interior such as a steering wheel that is configured with a rim comprising a composite structure comprising at least one segment that is configured for efficient assembly. It would be advantageous to provide a component for a vehicle interior such as a steering wheel that is configured with a rim comprising a composite structure comprising at least one segment comprising a functional insert/layer in the form of a heating element or hand-off detection sensor. SUMMARY The present invention relates to a component for a vehicle interior comprising a steering wheel assembly comprising a frame and a composite structure configured to be assembled to the frame; the composite structure may comprise a cover and an insert; the insert may comprise a functional insert; the composite structure may comprise an interface for each functional insert; the interface may comprise an electrical interface and a mechanical interface for the functional insert; the composite structure may comprise a set of composite structure segments; the interface may be configured to provide mechanical alignment of the set of shell segments and electrical connection of the functional insert segments. The composite structure may comprise a set of composite structure segments comprising the set of cover segments and the set of functional insert segments; the composite structure may comprise a set of composite structure segments comprising the set of shell segments and the set of functional insert segments; the interface may comprise a combined interface for mechanical alignment and electrical connection. A functional insert may comprise a set of functional insert segments configured to be mechanically connected and electrically connected at a metal-to-metal press-fit connector provided at the interface. The interface may comprise at least one of (a) a connector; (b) a metal connector; (c) a terminal; (d) a plug; (e) a socket for a plug; (f) a plug for a socket; (g) a plug and a socket; (h) a conductor; (i) a conductor plate; (j) a metal plate; (k) a plastic connector. The interface may comprise