Heating element for steering wheel

Abstract

A heating element comprises a base material and a heater disposed on the base material, which can be deformed to accommodate a part of the heater. A steering wheel equipped with the heating element is free from surface protrusions caused by the heater. Employment of a linear heater reduces connections between the heater and power supply lines, and a high connecting reliability is obtained. A steering wheel of the present invention comprises the heating element and the power lines, and connections between the heating element and the power lines are disposed in the boss portion of the steering wheel. The steering wheel is further provided with a temperature detector, a temperature detector heater and a temperature controller, and the detector and the detector heater are disposed in the boss portion. Thus a steering wheel with good grip feeling and a good appearance can be provided at a low cost.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A heating element comprising: 
 a base material comprising a deformable material; and    a heater disposed on said base material;    wherein said heater is at least partially buried in said deformable material of said base material.    
     
     
         2 . The heating element of  claim 1 , further comprising 
 a steering wheel core supporting said base material.    
     
     
         3 . The heating element of  claim 1 , further comprising a protection layer for protecting said heater.  
     
     
         4 . The heating element of  claim 2 , wherein 
 said protection layer covers said heater, such that said heater is interposed between said base material and said protection layer.    
     
     
         5 . The heating element of  claim 1 , wherein 
 said heater comprises one of a linear heater and a planar heater.    
     
     
         6 . The heating element of  claim 1 , further comprising 
 sewing thread securing said heater in an at least partially buried position in said deformable material of said base material.    
     
     
         7 . The heating element of  claim 1 , wherein 
 said heater comprises a linear heater constituted by one of stranded wires and braided wires, each of said wires being formed of a plurality of conductors.    
     
     
         8 . The heating element of  claim 6 , wherein 
 said conductors comprise metal fiber reinforced alloy wires.    
     
     
         9 . The heating element of  claim 1 , wherein 
 said heater comprises a conductor provided with a plating layer.    
     
     
         10 . The heating element of  claim 1 , wherein 
 said heater comprises a conductor provided with an insulating layer.    
     
     
         11 . A steering wheel comprising: 
 a heating element including a base material comprising a deformable material, and a heater disposed on said base material, wherein said heater is at least partially buried in said deformable material of said base material; and    a power supply line connected to said heating element to supply electric power to said heating element.    
     
     
         12 . The steering wheel of  claim 11 , further comprising 
 a steering wheel core, said steering wheel core being disposed closer to said heater than to said base material.    
     
     
         13 . The steering wheel of  claim 11 , wherein 
 said heater comprises one of a linear heater and a planar heater.    
     
     
         14 . The steering wheel of  claim 11 , further comprising 
 sewing thread securing said heater in an at least partially buried position in said deformable material of said base material.    
     
     
         15 . The steering wheel of  claim 11 , wherein 
 said heater comprises a linear heater constituted by one of stranded wires and braided wires, each of said wires being formed of a plurality of conductors.    
     
     
         16 . The steering wheel of  claim 15 , wherein 
 said conductors comprise metal fiber reinforced alloy wires.    
     
     
         17 . The steering wheel of  claim 11 , wherein 
 said heater comprises a conductor provided with a plating layer.    
     
     
         18 . The steering wheel of  claim 11 , wherein 
 said heater comprises a conductor provided with an insulating layer.    
     
     
         19 . The steering wheel of  claim 11 , further comprising 
 a boss portion;    wherein said heating element and said power supply line are connected together at a connection; and    wherein said connection is disposed in said boss portion.    
     
     
         20 . The steering wheel of  claim 11 , further comprising 
 at least one steering wheel spoke;    wherein said boss portion is disposed in a central area of said steering wheel and supported by said at least one spoke.    
     
     
         21 . The steering wheel of  claim 11 , further comprising: 
 a boss portion;    a temperature detection element disposed in said boss portion and being arranged to detect a temperature of said heating element;    a temperature detection element heater disposed in said boss and being arranged to heat said temperature detection element; and    a temperature controller for controlling a temperature of said heater based on information from said temperature detection element.    
     
     
         22 . The steering wheel of  claim 21 , wherein said temperature detection element is one of a thermistor, a thermostat and a thermal sensitive resistor sensor.  
     
     
         23 . The steering wheel of  claim 21 , wherein 
 said temperature detection element comprises a thermostat; and    said thermostat and said temperature detection element heater are connected together at a connection; and    said connection heater is disposed in said boss portion.    
     
     
         24 . The steering wheel of  claim 21 , wherein 
 said temperature detection element comprises a thermostat; and    said thermostat, temperature detection element heater and said heater are connected in series.    
     
     
         25 . A steering wheel comprising: 
 a steering wheel core; and    a heating element mounted to said steering wheel core, said heating element including a base material comprising a deformable material, and a heater at least partially buried in said deformable material of said base material.    
     
     
         26 . The steering wheel of  claim 25 , wherein 
 said heating element further includes a protection layer provided on said linear heater and said base material such that said linear heater is interposed between said base material and said protection layer.    
     
     
         27 . The steering wheel of  claim 25 , wherein 
 said base material of said heating element has a first surface facing said steering wheel core and a second surface facing away from said steering wheel core; and    said heater is at least partially buried in said first surface of said base material.    
     
     
         28 . The steering wheel of  claim 27 , wherein 
 said heating element is disposed about said steering wheel core.    
     
     
         29 . The steering wheel of  claim 28 , further comprising 
 a steering wheel cover provided about said heating element.    
     
     
         30 . The steering wheel of  claim 25 , further comprising 
 a steering wheel cover provided about said heating element.    
     
     
         31 . The steering wheel of  claim 25 , further comprising 
 a power supply line connected to said heating element to supply electric power to said heating element.    
     
     
         32 . The steering wheel of  claim 25 , wherein 
 said deformable material of said base material comprises one of a non-woven fabric and a foamed resin.