JP2005162068A - Steering column cover fitting structure - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To smoothly fit an upper cover and a lower cover from upper and lower positions in relation to a steering column, and to reduce the working man-hours. <P>SOLUTION: An upper bracket 14 is extended downward from the inner surface of the upper cover 12 at a central part in the right and left direction, and a lower end of the upper bracket 14 is formed with a rear end abutting plate part 14a, and an upper part thereof is formed with a top surface abutting plate part 14b projecting forward. When installing the upper cover 12 from upper in relation to the steering column 2, each of the abutting plates 14a and 14b is made to abut on a rear end and the top surface of a flange part 3a formed by folding an upper end of a switch bracket 3 fixed to a tip of the steering column 2 to perform positioning of the upper cover 12 in the vertical direction and the back and forth direction and to restrict inclination of the upper cover in the right and left direction. Since positioning is performed by only making the abutting plates 14a and 14b abut on the flange part 3a, workability is improved. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a mounting structure for a steering column cover in which a steering column is sandwiched between an upper cover and a lower cover.

  In general, a steering column cover of a vehicle such as an automobile is often divided into an upper cover and a lower cover as disclosed in, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 11-115768. The bosses that are covered from the top and bottom and are provided on both column covers are screwed to brackets that are fixed to the steering column and to which the combination switch is fixed, and both column covers are engaged with each other via the engaging portions. It is integrated by combining.

  However, in this prior art, since the upper cover and the lower cover are individually fastened to the bracket, there is a problem that the number of screws increases and the number of work steps required for fastening increases.

Therefore, recently, the upper cover is first attached to the steering column from above and temporarily held, and in this state, the lower cover is attached to the steering column from below, and the bosses provided on both column covers are coaxial. Some bosses are fastened together with the brackets in the state of being arranged, or are fastened with the brackets sandwiched between the bosses.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-115768

  By the way, when the lower cover is attached after temporarily holding the upper cover on the steering column, the two covers are engaged with each other via the engaging portion, but the upper cover is not restricted with respect to the steering column. And the lower cover become unstable with respect to the steering column.

  For this reason, the operator presses the column cover on the fastening side with one hand when screwing, and inserts a screw into the boss provided on the column cover on the fastening side while pressing the column cover against the steering column. The column cover is fixed with screws.

  However, because the column cover on the fastened side is held in an unstable posture with respect to the steering column, it is easy to move forward and backward, left and right, and in the rotational direction when screwing. There is a problem that requires.

  As a countermeasure, the bracket is extended downward from the upper part of the inner surface of the upper cover, a hook claw is formed at the lower part of the bracket, and a hook hole that engages with the hook claw is formed on the upper surface of the bracket fixed to the steering column. When the upper cover is attached to the steering column, the upper cover is temporarily fixed by engaging the hook claw with the hook hole when the upper cover is attached to the steering column, facilitating the subsequent assembly work. It is also possible to do.

  However, when attaching the upper cover to the steering column, the hook claw and the hook hole are covered with the upper cover, so it is difficult to check from the outside whether the two are correctly engaged. It is also conceivable that they are attached in an unengaged state. Therefore, it is necessary to confirm the engagement state between the hook claw and the hook hole after the mounting, and there is a problem that the operation becomes complicated.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a steering column cover mounting structure capable of smoothly assembling an upper cover and a lower cover, having good work efficiency, and greatly reducing work man-hours. And

  In order to achieve the above object, the present invention has an upper cover and a lower cover which are divided into two parts, and both the covers are attached to the steering column from a direction facing the steering column and the bracket is provided on the steering column. In the mounting structure of the steering column cover to be mounted on the bracket, the bracket is provided with a flange portion facing the mounting direction of the upper cover and extending along the axial direction of the steering column, and the flange portion is formed on the inner surface of the upper cover. A first abutting portion that abuts on the axial end surface and a second abutting portion that abuts on the outer surface of the flange portion are provided.

  According to the present invention, the upper cover and the lower cover can be assembled smoothly, the working efficiency is good, and the working man-hour can be greatly reduced.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. 1 is a front view of the steering column cover, FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line II-II in FIG. 1, FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line III-III in FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the VV main part of FIG. 2, FIG. 6B is a left side view of FIG. 6A, FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of VI-VI of FIG. FIG. 8B is a left side view of FIG. 8A, FIG. 8A is an enlarged front view around the fastening portion of the lower cover, and FIG. 8B is a left side view of FIG. .

  Reference numeral 1 in FIG. 2 denotes a steering shaft, and the steering shaft 1 is rotatably held in a steering column 2. A steering wheel (not shown) is fixed to the tip of the steering shaft 1 protruding from the steering column 2. The base of the steering column 2 passes under the instrument panel, extends through the column hole (not shown) formed in the toe board that partitions the vehicle compartment and the engine room, and extends to the engine room side. Is issued.

  Further, a switch bracket 3 is fixed to the tip of the steering column 2. The switch bracket 3 extends in the direction perpendicular to the axis with respect to the steering column 2, and a combination switch 4 is fixed on the back thereof. On both sides of the combination switch 4, switch levers 8a and 8b protrude. The turn signal lamp switch, head lamp switch, wiper switch, etc. can be turned ON / OFF by swinging the switch levers 8a, 8b in the vertical direction, the front-rear direction, or rotating in the circumferential direction. it can.

  At the center of the upper end of the switch bracket 3, a flange portion 3a is bent rearward at a right angle. Also, bosses 4a are projected forward from both ends of the combination switch 4 or switch bracket 3, and screwing holes 4b are formed in the bosses 4a.

  The combination switch 4 is covered with a steering column cover 11. The steering column cover 11 is made of resin and is disposed so as to close the space between the steering wheel and the instrument panel.

  The steering column cover 11 includes an upper cover 12 that covers the upper surface of the steering column 2 and a lower cover 13 that covers the lower surface. In the following description, the side facing the steering wheel of the steering column cover 11 will be described as a front part, and the instrument panel side will be described as a rear part.

  On the front surface of the steering column cover 11, a wheel hole portion 11 a that is inserted through the rear side of the steering wheel is opened. In addition, through holes 11b and 11c for projecting switch levers 8a and 8b extending from the combination switch 4 and through holes 11d for projecting a key cylinder (not shown) are opened on the side surfaces. Further, a notch portion 12 a that is engaged with the instrument panel is formed at the rear portion of the upper cover 12.

  Further, the upper bracket 14 extends downward from the inner surface of the upper cover 12 in the center in the left-right direction. A rear end abutting plate portion 14a as a first abutting portion that is bifurcated at the lower end of the upper bracket 14 is formed, and the second end is moved forward from the upper portion of the rear end abutting plate portion 14a. An upper surface abutting plate portion 14b is provided as a projecting portion. Reference numerals 14c and 14d are reinforcing ribs.

  Further, as shown in FIGS. 1, 6, and 7, front brackets 15 that are in contact with the front surface of the boss portion 4 a protruding from the combination switch 4 or the switch bracket 3 are provided on both sides of the front surface of the upper cover 12. The front bracket 15 is provided with a screw insertion hole 15a disposed coaxially with the screwing hole 4b formed in the boss 4a. Further, a ridge 15b that abuts the outer periphery of the boss 4a is provided on the rear surface of the front bracket 15 from the outer peripheral upper surface to the inner surface of the boss 4a.

  The upper cover plate 14 b formed on the lower part of the upper bracket 14 is bent at the upper end of the switch bracket 3 in the vertical direction, the horizontal direction, the front-rear direction inclination, and the horizontal direction inclination of the upper cover 12 with respect to the steering column 2. The protrusion 15b protruding from the rear surface of the front bracket 15 contacts the outer periphery of the combination switch 4 or the boss 4a protruding forward from the switch bracket 3 while contacting the upper surface of the flange portion 3a. It is regulated by.

  Further, in the front-rear direction of the upper cover 12 with respect to the steering column 2, the rear end contact plate portion 14 a formed at the lower portion of the upper bracket 14 contacts the rear end of the flange portion 3 a formed by bending the switch bracket 3, and The rear surface of the bracket 15 is regulated by contacting the front surface of the boss 4 a protruding from the combination switch 4 or the switch bracket 3.

  Therefore, only by attaching the upper cover 12 to the steering column 2 from above, the vertical positioning, the left and right, the front and rear, and the inclination in those directions are regulated and temporarily positioned. Further, when the upper cover 12 is mounted on the steering column 2, the notch 12a at the rear end is engaged with an instrument panel (not shown), so that the upper cover 12 is held in a temporarily positioned state.

  Further, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 7, a lever portion 15c is formed on the inner surface of the front bracket 15 of the upper cover 12 so that the upper end is fixed and the free end extends downward, and the lower end portion of the lever portion 15c. A hook claw 15d that protrudes inward is formed, and a taper guide portion 15e protrudes above the hook claw 15d. Further, as shown in FIG. 7B, the front end surface of the lever portion 15c is formed in a taper shape expanding from the lower side to the upper side. When the lower cover 13 is mounted on the front end surface, Guide the inner surface of the part. Reference numeral 17a denotes a reinforcing rib.

  The hook claws 15 d are engaged with hook holes 18 formed on both sides of the inner front portion of the lower cover 13. As shown in FIGS. 1, 5, 6, and 8, the inner surface of both sides of the front portion of the lower cover 13 is in front of the front surface of the boss portion 4 a that protrudes forward from the combination switch 4 or the switch bracket 3. A boss 19 that abuts through the bracket 15 is projected. A concave portion 19 a is formed on the boss 19 from the front side, and a projection 19 b that abuts against the lower end of the front bracket 15 is provided on the bottom of the rear surface of the boss 19. Further, a screw insertion hole 19c is provided in the axial center of the recess 19a so as to be coaxial with the screwing hole 4b formed in the boss 4a.

  Furthermore, a guide plate 20 extends upward from the opposing surface of the recess 19 a disposed on both sides of the lower cover 13. A hook hole 18 is formed in the middle of the guide plate 20. The upper portion of the guide plate 20 is inclined inward, and the end surface of the tapered guide portion 15e formed on the upper cover 12 is slidably contacted with the inner surface. Reference numeral 20a denotes a reinforcing rib.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a holder 21 is provided upright from the inner surface at the center in the left-right direction of the rear portion of the lower cover 13. The holder 21 has an engaging portion 21 a that holds the outer periphery of the steering column 2. The engaging portion 21a is substantially U-shaped that can be elastically deformed in the expanding direction, and its tip end is positioned above a horizontal line passing through the central axis of the steering column 2 and is narrow so as to embrace the outer periphery of the steering column 2 Has been.

  Therefore, the lower cover 13 is temporarily held by the steering column 2 by attaching the engaging portion 21 a formed on the holder 21 to the steering column 2 from below.

  Further, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 7, stepped portions 12b are formed on both end surfaces of the front portion of the upper cover 12, and the end surfaces of the lower cover 13 are engaged with the stepped portions 12b for positioning.

  Next, an assembly procedure of the steering column cover 11 having such a configuration will be described.

  First, the upper cover 12 is attached to the steering column 2 from above, and the rear end abutting plate portion 14a formed at the lower portion of the upper bracket 14 extending downward from the inside of the steering column 2 is used for steering. It abuts on the rear end of the flange portion 3a formed by bending backward from the upper edge of the switch bracket 3 fixed in advance to the front end portion of the column 2. Further, the upper surface contact plate portion 14b formed on the upper portion of the rear end contact plate portion 14a is contacted with the upper surface of the flange portion 3a.

  As a result, both the abutting plate portions 14a and 14b can be easily brought into contact with the flange portion 3a by simply pressing the upper cover 12 from above and pulling it forward. It is not necessary to confirm the engagement state of 14b and the flange part 3a from the outside one by one, and temporary positioning can be easily performed.

  At this time, since the notch 12a formed at the rear end of the upper cover 12 is engaged with the instrument panel, the temporarily positioned posture can be continuously maintained.

  Next, the combination switch 4 is attached to the back surface of the switch bracket 3, and harnesses extending from the combination switch 4 are bound and fixed. The combination switch 4 may be attached before the upper cover 12 is attached.

  Then, the front surface of the boss portion 4a protruding forward from both sides of the combination switch 4 or the switch bracket 3 faces the back surface of the front bracket 15 formed on the front inner surface of the upper cover 12, and this back surface. The ridge 15b protruding rearward from the butt contacts the outer periphery of the boss 4a and supports the upper cover 12 via the ridge 15b. As a result, the front portion of the upper cover 12 is supported at three points, that is, the boss portions 4 a on both sides and the flange portion 3 a formed by bending the switch bracket 3.

  Thereafter, the lower cover 13 is attached to the steering column 2 from below. At this time, the front inner surface of the lower cover 13 is guided with respect to the end surface of the lever portion 15c formed at the front portion of the upper cover 12 to perform positioning in the front-rear direction.

  When the lower cover 13 is raised in this state, the guide plates 20 formed on both sides of the lower cover 13 are guided by the lever portions 15c formed on both sides of the upper cover 12, and formed on the lower ends of the lever portions 15c. When the hook claw 15d is engaged with the hook hole 18 formed in the guide plate 20, the taper guide portion 15e protruding from the upper portion of the lever portion 15c is in contact with or close to the inner surface of the guide plate 20, and The direction and the front-rear direction are provisionally positioned.

  Further, the rear portion side is temporarily positioned by engaging the engaging portion 21a formed on the holder 21 protruding from the rear portion of the lower cover 13 with the steering column 2.

  As a result, by engaging the upper cover 12 and the lower cover 13 from above and below via the steering column 2, the front and rear, top and bottom, left and right directions of both covers 12, 13 are temporarily positioned.

  By the way, when the operator intends to mount the lower cover 12 from below, the operator tries to engage each part in a stable state by pressing the upper surface of the upper cover 12 with one hand. At this time, the upper cover 12 is supported at three points, that is, a boss portion 4a on both sides and a flange portion 3a formed by bending on the switch bracket 3, and a notch portion 12a at the rear end is an instrument panel (not shown). A stable posture can be maintained.

  In a state where both covers 12 and 13 are temporarily fixed, screw insertion holes 15a and 19c formed on both sides of both covers 12 and 13 are boss portions 4a projecting from the combination switch 4 or the switch bracket 3. Since the screw fixing hole 4b is substantially coaxial with the screw hole 4b, a screw (tapping screw) is inserted into the screw insertion holes 15a and 19c from the recess 19a formed on the front surface of the lower cover 13, and the boss portion The two covers 12 and 13 are fixed by screwing them into the screw holes 4b formed in 4a.

  As described above, in this embodiment, the rear end contact plate portion 14a and the upper surface contact plate portion 14b formed on the upper cover 12 are brought into contact with the flange portion 3a formed on the switch bracket 3 so as to be Since the provisional positioning in the front-rear direction and the rotation in the left-right direction are restricted, the operator does not need to confirm the engagement state between the abutting plate portions 14a, 14b and the flange portion 3a from the outside, Temporary positioning can be performed easily and reliably.

  As a result, it is possible to smoothly assemble the upper cover 12 and the lower cover 13 with respect to the steering column 2, so that the work efficiency is good and the work man-hours can be greatly reduced.

  Further, since it is not necessary to form a hook hole for engaging a hook claw extending from the upper cover side with respect to the switch bracket 3 as in the prior art, the switch bracket 3 can be easily formed and the hook hole Therefore, the yield of materials can be improved and material costs can be reduced.

  The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment. For example, the bracket may be provided separately from the switch bracket 3. Further, the flange portion 3a formed on the switch bracket 3 may be bent forward, and the contact plate portion 14a provided on the upper cover 12 may be positioned by contacting the flange portion 3a from the front. .

Front view of steering column cover II-II sectional view of FIG. III-III sectional view of Fig. 2 Enlarged view of the main part of the upper cover (A) is a VV principal part sectional view of FIG. 2, (b) is a left side view of (a). VI-VI cross section of Fig. 5 (A) is an enlarged front view around the fastening portion of the upper cover, and (b) is a left side view of (a). (A) is an enlarged front view around the fastening portion of the lower cover, and (b) is a left side view of (a).

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Steering shaft 2 Steering column 3 Switch bracket 3a Flange part 4 Combination switch 4a Boss part 4b Screw hole 8a, 8b Switch lever 11 Steering column cover 12 Upper cover 12a Notch part 13 Lower cover 14 Upper bracket 14a Rear end contact Plate part 14b Upper surface contact plate part 15 Front bracket 15b Projection part 15c Lever part 15d Hook claw 15e Taper guide part 18 Hook hole 19 Boss 19a Recessed part 19b Projection part 20 Guide plate 21 Holder

Agent Patent Attorney Susumu Ito

Claims (3)

It has an upper cover and a lower cover that are divided into two parts,
In the steering column cover mounting structure in which both covers are mounted to the steering column from a direction facing the steering column and mounted on a bracket provided on the steering column,
The bracket is provided with a flange portion facing the mounting direction of the upper cover and extending along the axial direction of the steering column,
A steering column characterized in that a first contact portion that contacts the axial end surface of the flange portion and a second contact portion that contacts the outer surface of the flange portion are provided on the inner surface of the upper cover. Cover mounting structure.   2. The steering column cover mounting structure according to claim 1, wherein the bracket is a switch bracket for mounting a combination switch. Provide ridges on both sides of the front of the upper cover,
3. The steering column cover mounting structure according to claim 1, wherein a boss portion for hooking the protruding portion is provided on the bracket.

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