JP2000095114A - Structure for preventing column cover dislocation - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a low cost structure for preventing column cover dislocation by preventing dislocation during column cover installation and keeping equipment workability, installation strength, and appropriate space among the respective members so as to improve appearance. SOLUTION: In a column cover installation system where a column cover 2 is installed to a combination switch 6 installed to a steering column shaft 1 via a bracket 5, a stepped portion 11 is formed either in the bracket 5 or the combination switch 6. Furthermore, a positioning and locking rib 9 that appropriately fits with the stepped portion 11 is formed in the column cover 2. In the state where the stepped portion 11 is aligned with the positioning and locking rib 9, they are tightened with tapping screws 4, 4 such that the column cover 2 is installed to the steering column shaft 1.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a column cover for vertically sandwiching a steering column of a vehicle such as an automobile, wherein a boss portion of the column cover is attached to a bracket or a combination switch attached to a steering column shaft. The present invention relates to a column cover mounting structure for mounting with a tapping screw or the like.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B, a steering column cover of a vehicle such as an automobile has a plurality of switches mounted on a steering column shaft 11 using a tapping screw 14 or the like. And the combination switch 16 housed in one casing, or the bracket 15 to which the combination switch 16 is attached, and the boss 13 on the column cover 12 side are fixed. Reference numeral 17 denotes a steering wheel, and reference numeral 20 denotes a hazard switch.

[0003]

However, in the conventional column cover mounting structure configured as described above, the combination switch 16 or the bracket 15 to which the combination switch 16 is mounted, the tapping screw 14 and the like are used. When the boss portion 13 of the column cover 12 is attached to the boss portion 13 of the column cover 12, the boss portion 13 of the column cover 12 is twisted with the fastening rotation operation of one of the pair of tapping screws 14, 14 and the like. Finally, the boss 13 of the column cover 12 is
Alternatively, the fastening may be completed while being twisted with respect to the bracket 15 to which the combination switch 16 is attached. For this reason, the entire column cover is easily rotated and displaced from its original position and is easily mounted, resulting in poor outfitting workability, a variation in mounting, resulting in a poor appearance, and a displaced mounting position of the other tapping screw. In addition to lowering the strength, there is a possibility that the gap between the instrument panel and the column cover and the gap between the handle wheel and the column cover may become inappropriate.

Therefore, the present invention solves the above-mentioned problems in the conventional column cover mounting device structure, prevents displacement during mounting of the column cover, secures outfitting workability and mounting strength, and ensures proper fitting between components. It is an object of the present invention to provide a low-cost column cover position shift prevention structure which can improve the appearance by securing a proper gap.

[0005]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, the present invention provides a column cover mounting apparatus which is configured to mount a column cover on a combination switch mounted on a steering column shaft via a bracket. In addition to forming step portions on the column cover, positioning and detent ribs are provided on the column cover which engage with the step portions in an appropriate amount and are aligned with the step portions and the positioning and detent ribs. A column cover is attached to the steering column shaft by fastening with a tapping screw or the like. Further, the present invention is characterized in that the positioning and detent rib in the column cover is formed by connecting a pair of mounting bosses into which a tapping screw or the like is screwed,
These are the means for solving the problem.

[0006]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. 1 and 2 show a first embodiment of a column cover misalignment preventing structure according to the present invention.
(A) is an overall side view of the column cover displacement prevention structure,
FIG. 1B is an enlarged perspective view of a mounting portion between the mounting boss of the column cover and the combination switch, and FIG. 2 is an enlarged bottom view of a mounting portion between the mounting boss of the column cover and the combination switch. As shown in FIG. 1A, the column cover 2 includes an upper column cover and a lower column cover fixed to the upper column cover with an appropriate screw or the like.
A combination switch 6 attached to the mounting boss 3 of the column cover 2 on the steering column shaft 1 via the bracket 5 is attached by a tapping screw 4 or the like screwed into the mounting boss 3 of the column cover 2. . Mounting boss 3 of the column cover 2
May be configured to be attached to the bracket 5. In this case, a step portion for engagement to be described later is appropriately formed on the bracket 5.

The characteristic feature of the present invention is that the combination switch 6 and the mounting boss 3 of the column cover 2 described above are clearly shown in the enlarged perspective view from obliquely above shown in FIG. The mounting portion has a stepped portion 11 which engages with each other without excess and deficiency, and a positioning and rotation preventing rib 9 which engages with each other without any excess and deficiency corresponding to the stepped portion 11. The tapping screw 4 inserted into a screw hole formed in the mounting boss portion 3 of the column cover 2 after aligning the step portion 11 with the positioning and rotation preventing rib 9 provided in the portion 3,
4, the column cover 2 is attached to the steering column shaft 1.
FIG. 1B shows an example in which the positioning and rotation preventing rib 9 is provided on the mounting boss 3 side of the column cover 2 and the step portion 11 is provided on the combination switch 6 side. Needless to say, 9 may be provided on the combination switch 6 side and the step 11 may be provided on the column cover 2 side.

In the illustrated example, as shown in the bottom view of FIG.
The cross-sectional shape of the mounting portion formed by the above is linear in a plan view. However, as long as the relative rotation between the mounting boss portion 3 of the column cover 2 and the combination switch 6 can be prevented, these columns can be used. Step 1 of positioning and rotation preventing rib 9 and combination switch 6 on cover 2
An appropriate shape can be adopted as the planar shape of the mounting portion formed between the mounting portion 1 and the mounting portion 1. As shown in FIG. 1B, the positioning and rotation preventing rib 9 in the mounting boss portion 3 of the column cover 2 is provided between the pair of mounting bosses 3 into which the tapping screws 4, 4 and the like are screwed. The positioning and detent ribs 9 connect and reinforce the pair of mounting bosses 3, 3 and, at the same time, exert an effective positioning function of the column cover 2 with respect to the combination switch 6.

With such a configuration, the mounting boss 3 of the column cover 2 is connected to the combination switch 6,
Alternatively, when attaching the combination switch 6 to the bracket 5 for attaching the combination switch 6, the positioning and rotation for connecting and reinforcing the mounting bosses 3, 3 of the pair of column covers 2 provided with screw holes for inserting the tapping screws 4, 4, etc. The stop ribs 9 are quickly and easily aligned with the combination switch 6 or the step portion 11 provided on the bracket 5 to which the combination switch 6 is attached, without any excess or shortage.
The column cover 2 can be attached to the steering column shaft 1 with high attachment rigidity. Therefore, there is no wobble even when the combination switches 6 are operated.

The relative rotation between the mounting boss 3 of the column cover 2 and the combination switch 6, which occurs when one of the tapping screws 4 is screwed in at the time of mounting, is controlled by the positioning and rotation preventing rib. 9 and the stepped portion 11 engaged with it without any excess or shortage, thereby causing a rotational displacement between the mounting boss 3 of the column cover 2 and the combination switch 6 side. No tapping screw 4
The gap between the instrument panel and the column cover and the gap between the handle wheel and the column cover can be appropriately assembled without causing any deviation even in the fastening portion such as the above, and the appearance is good. Therefore, the mounting position of the tapping screw 4 is not shifted to reduce the strength, and the column cover and the steering wheel are not rubbed with the handle operation.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged perspective view of a column cover mounting boss and a mounting portion of a combination switch, showing a second embodiment of the column cover displacement prevention structure of the present invention. According to the second embodiment, similarly to the first embodiment, a step portion 11 that engages with the combination switch 6 and the mounting boss portion 3 of the column cover 2 without excess or deficiency in an attachment portion between the combination switch 6 and the attachment boss portion 3 of the column cover 2. Positioning and detent ribs 9 which engage with the steps 11 in an appropriate amount are provided on the combination switch 6 and the mounting boss 3 of the column cover 2, respectively. The column cover 2 is attached to the steering column shaft 1 by fastening with the tapping screws 4, 4, etc. inserted into the screw holes formed in the mounting boss 3 of the column cover 2. In the present embodiment, the step portion 11 formed in the combination switch 6 has a positioning function in the width direction of the vehicle body. Is obtained by forming a width direction positioning recess 12.

Thus, the alignment between the step portion 11 on the combination switch 6 side and the positioning and rotation preventing rib 9 on the column cover 2 side facilitates the vertical alignment and attachment of the column cover 2 to the steering column shaft 1. At the same time, the alignment and mounting of the column cover 2 in the width direction with respect to the steering column shaft 1 can be facilitated by the alignment of the positioning and rotation preventing rib 9 on the column cover 2 side with the widthwise positioning recess 12 on the combination switch 6 side. Becomes The width-direction positioning recess 12 may have a divergent shape in plan view to facilitate alignment.

The embodiment of the present invention has been described above. However, within the scope of the present invention, the shape, material, and upper and lower columns of the mounting boss portion of the column cover and the combination switch or the bracket for mounting the combination switch are included. Form of connection of cover, shape of positioning / rotation stop rib and stepped portion, type of fastener such as tapping screw, fastening position (positioning / stopping rib may be displaced from center of stepped portion, fastening by tapping screw, etc. The position may be at a position distant from the positioning and detent rib and the center of the step portion), and the connection and reinforcement of the positioning and detent rib at the mounting boss portion of the column cover can be appropriately adopted.

[0014]

As described above in detail, according to the present invention, there is provided a column cover mounting device configured to mount a column cover on a combination switch mounted on a steering column shaft via a bracket. Steps are formed on the bracket or the combination switch, and positioning and locking ribs are provided on the column cover corresponding to the steps so as to engage without excess or deficiency. Since the column cover is attached to the steering column shaft by fastening with a tapping screw etc. after aligning, prior to fastening with the tapping screw etc., a positioning and detent rib on the mounting boss part of the column cover, Combination switch or Nbi Nation and switches are aligned with the stepped portion of the bracket for attaching the easily and quickly becomes possible to temporarily fixed both to the normal position, to ensure engagement by the subsequent tapping screws or the like. Therefore, after the column cover is fastened to the combination switch side, the gap between the instrument panel and the column cover and the gap between the handle wheel and the column cover can be properly assembled, and the appearance is good. The mounting position of the screw is not deviated to cause a decrease in strength, and the steering wheel is not rubbed between the column cover and the steering wheel by operating the steering wheel.

The relative rotation between the mounting boss of the column cover and the combination switch, which occurs when a tapping screw or the like is screwed in when the mounting boss of the column cover is fastened to the combination switch, is as described above. It can be sufficiently prevented between the positioning and rotation preventing ribs engaged with the step portion without excess or shortage, and a rotational displacement between the mounting boss portion of the column cover and the combination switch side can be prevented. Since it does not occur, there is no deviation at the other fastening portion such as the tapping screw and the appearance is good. Therefore,
There is no danger that the mounting position of the tapping screw is shifted and the strength is reduced.

Further, if the positioning and detent ribs in the column cover are formed by connecting a pair of mounting bosses into which tapping screws or the like are screwed, the mounting boss portion of the column cover and the combination switch side can be accurately positioned. Then, the column cover can be attached to the steering column shaft with high attachment rigidity by fastening with a tapping screw or the like, and there is no fluctuation even when operating the combination switches. As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to prevent positional displacement at the time of mounting the column cover, to secure the outfitting workability and the mounting strength, and to improve the appearance by securing an appropriate gap between each member, thereby improving the appearance. A cover misalignment prevention structure is provided.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a first view of a column cover displacement prevention structure of the present invention.
FIG. 1 (A) is an overall side view of a column cover misalignment prevention structure, and FIG. 1 (B) is an enlarged perspective view of a mounting portion between a mounting boss of a column cover and a combination switch. .

FIG. 2 is a first view of a column cover displacement prevention structure according to the present invention;
FIG. 6 shows the embodiment, and is an enlarged bottom view of a mounting portion between a mounting boss of a column cover and a combination switch.

FIG. 3 is a second view of the column cover misalignment preventing structure according to the present invention;
FIG. 4 shows the embodiment, and is an enlarged perspective view of a mounting portion between a mounting boss of a column cover and a combination switch.

FIG. 4 is a side view and a perspective view showing a conventional column cover mounting structure.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Steering column shaft 2 Column cover 3 Mounting boss part 4 Tapping screw 5 Bracket 6 Combination switch 7 Steering wheel 8 Ignition key 9 Positioning and detent rib 10 Hazard switch 11 Step section 12 Width positioning recess

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A column cover mounting device configured to mount a column cover on a combination switch mounted on a steering column shaft via a bracket, wherein a step portion is formed on the bracket or the combination switch. The column cover is provided with positioning / rotating ribs that engage with the steps in a sufficient amount, and after aligning the step and the positioning / rotating ribs, tightening with a tapping screw or the like, the steering column is rotated. A column cover misalignment preventing structure, wherein a column cover is attached to a shaft. 2. The position of the column cover according to claim 1, wherein the positioning and detent rib in the column cover is formed by connecting a pair of mounting bosses into which a tapping screw or the like is screwed. Slip prevention structure.