Abstract: A steering wheel for motor vehicles which is composed of a steering wheel base covered with a skin material of: (I) 10-50 parts by weight of a polyethylene resin (A); and (II) 90-50 parts by weight of a block copolymer (B) including a polymer block (a) of styrene or a derivative thereof and an isoprene polymer block or an isoprene-butadiene copolymer block (b), the polymer or copolymer block containing 40% or higher of isoprene units bonded at 3,4- position relative to the total isoprene units and 97% or more of the double bonds having been hydrogenated, (the total amount of the components (A) and (B) is 100 parts by weight). The skin material for the steering wheel is a soft, injection-moldable thermoplastic olefin elastomer composition having a low specific gravity and good wear resistance, which is capable of recycling and gives excellent feel of touch.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an integral-skin foam molded article which includes: a main body of the molded article comprising a flexible urethane foam molding material; and a coating layer comprising a polyurethane coating material formed on the surface of the main body of the molded article, either or both of said urethane foam molding material and coating layer containing one or more of an inorganic or organic antibacterial agent. This integral-skin foam molded article can maintain an anti-fungal and anti-bacterial action for a significantly long period of time and therefore does not undergo discoloration.

Abstract: An impact energy absorber includes: an interaction member and a plurality of energy absorbing members disposed radially around the interaction member, each of the energy absorbing members having a contact portion disposed on the interaction member side for being contactable with the interaction member, a ceiling portion disposed in the radially outside of the interaction member for receiving an impact force, and a shrinkable portion disposed between the contact portion and the ceiling portion so that the shrinkable portion is plastically deformable so as to shrink in the radial direction of the interaction member. The impact energy absorber can make the quantity of absorbed energy constant even if the acting angle of an impact force varies, so that it is possible to improve the degrees of freedom of the installation for the impact energy absorber.

Abstract: An impact energy absorbing structure for attachment to the boss of a steering wheel in an automobile is disclosed. It comprises an energy absorbing member made of brittle plastic material and a cover member. It has empty spaces formed between the central part and the outer peripheral part of the energy absorbing member to give rise to an external wall part breakable under an impactive load in the outer peripheral part of the energy absorption member. Owing to this arrangement, the impactive energy absorbing structure of this invention is enabled to maximize the amount of energy absorption and enhance the energy absorption efficiency to a great extent.

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.

Abstract: A shock absorbing material suited for use in automobile steering wheel comprises a core portion and a skin layer integrally formed on the core portion by foaming. The core portion and the skin layer are formed of isocyanurate ring-containing foam obtained by reacting polyhydroxy compounds having a hydroxyl value of 200 to 700, triethanolamine and polymethylene having a mean functional group number of 2.3 to 3.5 in an equivalent ratio of NCO/OH=2.5 to 5 in the presence of foaming agents and trimerization catalysts followed by foaming. It is important that the density of the skin layer is higher than that of the core portion. When the driver beats against the steering wheel in car accidents, the shock absorbing materials are deformed by absorbing impact force, thereby protecting the driver.

Abstract: A covering assembly for the ring portion of a steering wheel which comprises a cover layer, a hooking member and a hooked member. The hooking and hooked members are fixed along opposing longitudinal sides of the cover layer and will fit together in a locking relationship with the cover stretched about the ring portion. The steering wheel is provided with a circumferential groove in which the hooked member is inserted and the hooking member is received by the hooking member after the cover material is wrapped and stretched around the steering wheel so that the cover fits tightly thereabout.

Abstract: A striking energy absorbing structure for a steering wheel is composed of a cover member, an energy absorbing member of a brittle plastic filling the inside of the cover member, and a horn switch member buried therebetween. Also disclosed is a method of manufacturing the above-described striking energy absorbing structure. The energy absorbing member is molded by casting a brittle plastic material into the inside of the cover member. In this cast molding, the horn switch member is previously set inside the cover member, so that the three members, that is, the cover member, the horn switch member and the energy absorbing member are simultaneously integrated with each other.