JP2000094986A - Instrument panel structure for automobile - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To maintain the good appearance of an instrument panel when the resin-made instrument panel has a supporting piece for supporting vehicle constituting components. SOLUTION: An instrument panel 9 is provided with a resin-made upper panel 11 extended back and forth, an extended panel 12 integrally extended from the rear end edge of the upper panel 11 in a front lower direction, and a supporting piece 17 integrally protruded from the lower surface side of the upper panel 11 for supporting a vehicle constituting component 18 on its protruded end part. The upper panel 11 is provided with a panel main body formed integrally with the extended panel 12 and having an opening penetrating up and down, a cover panel 31 provided separately from the panel main body and attached to the same so as to close the opening. The supporting piece 17 is protruded downward from the cover panel 31 through the opening in a direction nearly orthogonal to the cover panel 31.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an instrument panel structure for a motor vehicle, in which a resin instrument panel is provided with a support piece capable of supporting vehicle components.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art An automobile is generally provided with an instrument panel made of resin, which is disposed at a front portion of a passenger compartment and extends in a vehicle width direction. It has an upper panel that constitutes the upper part and extends in the front-rear direction, and an extension panel that integrally extends forward and downward from the rear end of the upper panel.

[0003] The instrument panel is usually injection-molded. In this case, in order to simplify the structure of the mold, the mold is connected in a direction along the extending direction of the extension panel. It has a pair of mold members that can be separated.

[0004] Conventionally, in addition to the instrument panel having the above-described structure, a support piece integrally protruding downward from the lower surface of the upper panel and having a protruding end capable of supporting a vehicle component is provided. In this case, so that this instrument panel can be molded with the mold,
The support piece is almost in the extension direction of the extension panel, that is,
There is one in which the two mold members are protruded in the direction of contact and separation (Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 5-46626).

[0005]

By the way, at the time of molding the instrument panel, the joint portion between the upper panel and the support piece has a larger volume of the resin material than the other portion of the upper panel. Shrinkage due to the curing of the resin material after release tends to cause shrinkage cavities on the upper surface of the upper panel corresponding to the joints.

[0006] Here, in particular, in the above-mentioned conventional technique, the support pieces are joined to the upper panel at a small intersection angle, and the area of these joints in a plan view increases accordingly. The area of the above-mentioned shrink nest also becomes large, which causes the appearance of the instrument panel to deteriorate, which is not preferable.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned circumstances, and when a resin instrument panel is provided with a support piece capable of supporting a vehicle component,
It is an object to keep the appearance of the instrument panel good.

[0008]

An instrument panel structure for a vehicle according to the present invention for solving the above-mentioned problems is provided at a front portion of a vehicle cabin 7 and extends in a vehicle width direction. A resin upper panel 11 which constitutes an upper part and extends in the front-rear direction, an extension panel 12 which extends integrally from a rear edge of the upper panel 11 toward the front and lower, and a lower surface side of the upper panel 11 Piece 1 integrally protruding downward from the upper end and allowing the vehicle component 18 to be supported at the protruding end thereof.
7. The instrument panel structure of a vehicle comprising:

The upper panel 11 is provided with the extension panel 1
2, a panel body 28 having an opening 27 integrally formed therewith and penetrating vertically, and a cover panel 31 which is separate from the panel body 28 and is attached to the panel body 28 so as to close the opening 27, The support piece 17
Is projected downward from the cover panel 31 through the opening 27 in a direction substantially orthogonal to the cover panel 31.

[0010]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

In the figure, reference numeral 1 denotes an automobile, and an arrow Fr indicates the front of the automobile 1.

The vehicle body 2 of the automobile 1 has a front cowl 3 made of sheet metal extending long in the vehicle width direction, a dash panel 4 extending downward from the front cowl 3, and a lower edge of the front cowl 3. A windshield 6 of a front window 5 which is supported and extends rearward and upward from the front cowl 3 side; and the interior of the vehicle body 2 behind the front cowl 3, the dash panel 4 and the wind glass 6 is a cabin. 7 is set.

In the vicinity of the rear of the front cowl 3 and at the front of the cabin 7, there is provided a resin instrument panel 9 extending over substantially the entire width of the cabin 7 in the vehicle width direction. The ment panel 9 is detachably fixed to the vehicle body 2 by a fixing tool 10.

The instrument panel 9 has an upper panel 11 which constitutes an upper portion thereof and extends in the front-rear direction, as viewed in a side sectional view (FIGS. 1 and 2), and extends downward and forward from a rear edge of the upper panel 11. And an extension panel 12 having a short dimension extending integrally therewith. The extension panel 12 is provided with a thickness at a rear end edge of the upper panel 11 so as to improve the appearance from the rear, and at the same time improve the appearance from the rear. It works as a reinforcement for the panel 11.

The fixing device 10 is provided with the front cowl 3.
A locking tool 14 attached to the upper panel 11, and a locked tool 15 protruding forward from the front edge of the upper panel 11 and locked to be detachable from the locking tool 14. Although not shown, a fastener for detachably fastening the upper panel 11 to the front cowl 3 is also provided, and a plurality of the fasteners 14 and the fasteners 15 and a plurality of fasteners are provided in the vehicle width direction. .

The instrument panel 9 includes:
A support boss 17 having a cylindrical boss shape is integrally provided to protrude downward from the lower surface of the upper panel 11. A vehicle component 18 located inside the instrument panel 9 is detachably fastened to the protruding end of the support piece 17 by a fastener 19.
, The vehicle component 18 can be supported.

More specifically, the vehicle component 18
Is an air-conditioning duct 21 extending in the vertical direction. The air-conditioning duct 21 has its upper end pressed against the lower surface of the upper panel 11 while being supported by the support pieces 17. A discharge portion of an air conditioning fan (not shown) is connected to a lower portion of the air conditioning duct 21, and the air conditioning duct 2 is passed through an air blowing nozzle 22 formed in the upper panel 11.
The inside of 1 is communicated above the upper panel 11. Then, by the operation of the fan, the air 23 for the defroster sequentially flows through the air conditioning duct 21 and the air blowing nozzle 22 and flows along the inner surface of the window glass 6, whereby the defroster is performed. It is supposed to be.

The instrument panel 9 includes a lower panel 25 that extends rearward from the rear edge of the upper panel 11 and then extends forward and downward. Is attached. The lower panel 25 may be formed integrally with the upper panel 11.

In the above configuration, the upper panel 11 is formed integrally with the extension panel 12 and has a panel body 28 having the air blowing nozzle 22 and an opening 27 vertically penetrating therethrough. The cover 27 has a substantially flat shape and is attached to the panel main body 28 by locking means 30 so that the opening 27 can be freely opened and closed from above.
The support piece 17 is integrally protruded downward from the lower surface of the cover panel 31 through the opening 27 in a direction substantially orthogonal to the cover panel 31. More specifically, the intersection angle θ2 in the projecting direction of the support piece 17 with respect to the panel body 28 is closer to 90 ° than the intersection angle θ1 of the extending direction of the extension panel 12 with the panel body 28. That is, θ1 <θ2 <90
°.

The upper panel 11 has a bulging portion 33 bulging downward, and a concave portion 34 formed inside the bulging portion 33 is formed on the upper surface side of the upper panel 11.
Further, a through hole 3 penetrating vertically through the bottom plate of the bulging portion 33
5 are formed, and the opening 27 is formed by the recesses 34 and the through holes 35. The locking means 30 includes:
A locking portion 37, which is a locking hole formed in a side wall of the bulging portion 33, and is integrally protruded from the lower surface of the cover panel 31 so as to be detachably locked to the locking portion 37. And a locked portion 38 which is a locking hook.

When the cover panel 31 is fixed to the panel body 28 by the locking means 30, the locking means 30 is fitted into the upper end opening of the recess 34 to close the opening 27. It is supposed to be. At this time, the upper surface of the panel main body 28 near the opening 27 in plan view of the instrument panel 9 and the upper surface of the cover panel 31 are substantially flush with each other.

According to the above configuration, the upper panel 11 is formed integrally with the extension panel 12 and has a panel main body 28 having an opening 27 vertically penetrating therethrough. And a cover panel 31 attached to the panel main body 28 so as to close the cover 27. The support piece 17 is integrated downward from the cover panel 31 through the opening 27 in a direction substantially orthogonal to the cover panel 31. It is made to protrude.

For this reason, the instrument panel 9
In this case, the panel body 28 integrally formed with the extension panel 12 and the cover panel 31 integrally formed with the support piece 17 can be individually molded. Is integrally formed with at least one pair of mold members which can be freely moved in and out of a direction A along the extending direction of the extension panel 12 as described above. 17 and cover panel 3
The one-piece member 1 may be formed by at least one pair of mold members that can freely contact and separate in a direction B along the projecting direction of the support piece 17.

In the above case, since the support piece 17 is substantially perpendicular to the cover panel 31,
The area in plan view of the connecting portion is smaller than that in the conventional case where the connecting portion is connected at a small intersection angle θ1.

Accordingly, since the area of the cavities C formed on the upper surface of the cover panel 31 corresponding to the connecting portions is also reduced, the panel main body 28 and the cover panel 31 attached thereto are viewed as a whole. The appearance of the instrument panel 9 at the time of the maintenance is kept good.

In addition, the upper surface of the panel body 28 near the opening 27 in the plan view of the instrument panel 9 and the upper surface of the cover panel 31 attached to the panel body 28 are substantially flush. Therefore, the appearance of the instrument panel 9 is more reliably and well maintained.

[0027]

According to the present invention, a resin upper panel is disposed at the front of the vehicle compartment, extends in the vehicle width direction, and constitutes an upper portion in a side sectional view and extends in the front-rear direction. An extending panel integrally extending forward and downward from a rear edge of the panel, and integrally projecting downward from a lower surface of the upper panel so as to support a vehicle component at the projecting end. In the instrument panel structure of a vehicle having a support piece and

A panel main body having the upper panel integrally formed with the extension panel and having an opening vertically penetrating therethrough;
A cover panel that is separate from the panel body and is attached to the panel body so as to close the opening, and the support piece is moved downward from the cover panel through the opening in a direction substantially orthogonal to the cover panel. It is projected toward.

For this reason, when the instrument panel is injection-molded, the panel body integrally formed with the extension panel and the cover panel integrally formed with the support piece can be formed separately. That is, the integral body of the extension panel and the panel body is formed with at least one pair of mold members that can be freely moved in and out of the extending direction of the extension panel as usual. The integral part of the support piece and the cover panel may be formed by at least one pair of mold members that can freely contact and separate in a direction along the projecting direction of the support piece.

In the above case, since the supporting piece is substantially perpendicular to the cover panel, the area of these connecting portions in plan view is such that they are connected at a small intersection angle as in the related art. In comparison, it becomes smaller.

Therefore, since the area of the shrink cavities formed on the upper surface of the cover panel corresponding to the above-mentioned joint portion is also reduced,
The overall appearance of the instrument panel when the panel main body and the cover panel attached to the panel main body are viewed as a whole is kept good.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a partially enlarged sectional view of FIG.

FIG. 2 is an overall side sectional view of the instrument panel.

FIG. 3 is a view taken in the direction of arrows 3-3 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a view taken in the direction of arrows 4-4 in FIG. 1;

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Automobile 2 Body 7 Car cabin 9 Instrument panel 11 Upper panel 12 Extension panel 17 Supporting piece 18 Vehicle component 27 Opening 28 Panel body 30 Locking means 31 Cover panel θ1, θ2 Crossing angles A, B direction C

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A resin upper panel which is disposed at a front portion of a vehicle compartment, extends in a vehicle width direction, forms an upper portion in a side sectional view and extends in a front-rear direction, and a rear end edge of the upper panel. An extension panel integrally extending forward and downward, and a support piece integrally projecting downward from a lower surface side of the upper panel and projecting at an end thereof to support a vehicle component. In the instrument panel structure of an automobile, the upper panel is formed integrally with the extension panel and has a panel main body having an opening vertically penetrating therethrough, and the panel main body is separated from the panel main body to close the opening. A cover panel attached to the panel body, wherein the support piece projects downward from the cover panel through the opening in a direction substantially orthogonal to the cover panel and downward. Channel structure.