JP2005313727A - Clearance shielding structure between interior trim member of vehicle and steering column - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a shielding structure capable of shielding a space between an interior trim member and a steering column in a good appearance, and capable of preventing from obstructing contraction movement of the steering column moving a steering wheel forward at collision of a vehicle. <P>SOLUTION: In the clearance shielding structure of the interior trim member of the vehicle and the steering column, a shielding plate 3a comprising a peripheral wall part 31 extending from a peripheral end of an aperture 11 of the interior trim member 1 to the inner side direction of the aperture 11 and a shielding part 32 bent from the tip end and extending to the direction shielding a front part of a column cover 21 covering the steering column 2 is integrally formed with the interior trim member so that the clearance between the aperture 11 formed on the interior trim member 1 of the vehicle and the steering column 2 can be shielded. On the shielding plate 3a, an easily deformable part 33 is provided on a boundary between the bent peripheral wall part 31 and the shielding part 32, and the shielding part 3a is pushed by the column cover 21 moved forward at the time of contraction of the steering column 2 moving the steering wheel 20 forward, and is easily opened to the front side and is deformed. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention shields a gap between an interior member of a vehicle and a steering column, and in particular, shields a gap between the steering column having an impact absorbing mechanism that causes the steering column to contract and move the steering forward due to an impact at the time of a vehicle collision. It relates to a shielding structure.

  Conventionally, as a shielding structure that improves the appearance by shielding the gap between the interior member and the steering column, a shield plate is attached to the column cover of the steering column so that it can be tilted up and down. The upper end of the shielding plate is pressed against the opening edge of the opening of the instrument panel (interior member) through which the steering column is inserted by the biasing means to shield the gap, or as described in Patent Document 2 below A curtain made of a flexible member such as a rubber sheet is attached to the opening edge of the opening of the instrument panel, and the end of the curtain is in contact with the column cover or inserted into the column cover to shield the gap. Proposed. These shielding structures can be shielded according to a change in the size of the gap that changes due to the vertical movement of the steering column having a tilt mechanism capable of adjusting the height position of the steering wheel.

By the way, all of these conventional shielding structures are expensive because the number of parts increases because the instrument panel or column cover and a separate shielding plate and curtain are attached, and it takes time and labor to install them. Not good. In order to improve productivity, it has been proposed to form a shielding portion integrally with the instrument panel and the column cover as described in Patent Document 3 below. As shown in FIG. 5, a shielding rib 29 that stands upward is integrally formed on the column cover 21 a of the steering column 2 </ b> A. The lower end of the instrument panel 1 </ b> A overlaps with the shielding rib 29 corresponding to the shielding rib 29. An overlap portion 18 that shields a gap between the instrument panel 1A and the steering column 2A is integrally formed. The overlap portion 18 includes a wall portion 181 that faces the column cover 21a in the vertical direction, and a shielding portion that protrudes downward from the edge of the wall portion 181 and faces the shielding rib 29 in the front-rear direction at the back side position of the instrument panel 1A. 182, and an opening 183 through which the shielding rib 29 is inserted when the steering column 2A is raised is formed in the wall 181. An allowable space 19 for receiving the shielding rib 29 penetrating the opening 183 is provided above the wall 181. Yes.
JP 2000-177600 A JP 2003-54419 A Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2003-104211

  However, in the shielding structure in which the shielding portion 182 and the shielding rib 29 formed integrally with the instrument panel 1A and the column cover 21a are overlapped as in Patent Document 3, the shielding rib 29 is received on the instrument panel 1A side. The space 19 must be formed, and accordingly, the vertical width is required. For example, in a vehicle with a low vehicle height such as a sports car, the height position and vertical dimension of the instrument panel are restricted, and the tilt range of the steering column Is unsuitable because it is small. In the vehicle assembly line, after the steering column 2A and the instrument panel 1A are assembled to the vehicle body, the column cover 21a is assembled to the steering column 2A. When the column cover 21a is assembled, The shielding ribs 29 become an obstacle when being inserted into the gap between the instrument panel 1A and the steering column 2A from the room side.

  The steering column also absorbs shock when the driver hits the steering wheel due to the reaction when the vehicle collides, and the steering column contracts forward in the axial direction to move the steering wheel forward to alleviate the driver's impact. In the conventional structure, when the column cover 21a moves forward following the contraction of the steering column 2A, the shielding rib 29 on the steering column side hits the shielding portion 182 on the instrument panel side, and the shielding rib In the state where 29 protrudes into the opening 183, the steering column 182 may be caught by the shielding portion 182 and the steering column contraction operation may be hindered, and the steering column cannot be contracted reliably.

  Therefore, in view of the above circumstances, the present invention has a simple structure and good productivity, does not hinder the shrinking operation of the steering column by the shock absorbing mechanism at the time of a vehicle collision, and provides a clearance between the interior member and the steering column. It is an object to realize a shielding structure that shields it nicely.

  The present invention relates to an opening formed in an interior member of a vehicle, and a shielding structure that covers a gap between a steering column that is inserted through the opening and contracts in an axial direction when a vehicle collides to hold a steering movably forward. , Projecting from the periphery toward the inner side of the opening of the interior member toward the inner side of the opening, and bent from the peripheral wall portion surrounding the outer periphery of the column cover covering the steering column, and the front edge of the peripheral wall portion A shielding plate comprising a shielding portion extending in a direction to shield the front of the front end of the column cover is integrally formed with the interior member. The boundary line between the bent peripheral wall portion and the shielding portion is provided with an easily deformable portion that easily deforms the shielding portion pushed at the front end of the column cover that moves forward when the steering column contracts. Item 1). Since the shielding plate is integrally formed with the interior member, the productivity is good, and the shielding portion is formed so as to shield the front of the front end of the column cover, so that the gap can be reliably shielded. In addition, the steering column shrinks forward in the axial direction so that the impact is absorbed when the driver hits the steering wheel due to the reaction in the event of a vehicle collision, and accordingly the column cover moves forward and the front end is shielded. If you hit this against the shielding part of the plate and push it, the shielding part opens forward and deforms to follow the movement of the column cover from the easily deformable part of the boundary between the shielding part and the peripheral wall part so as to open the bending angle with respect to the peripheral wall part. , Does not inhibit the shrinkage of the steering column.

  The shielding portion extends forward from the front end edge of the peripheral wall portion and toward the center of the opening, and obliquely intersects the front end of the column cover. When the column cover is moved forward, the opening of the shielding part is easily deformed.

  A slit is provided along the boundary line to form the easily deformable portion. It is suitable as an easily deformable part.

  The interior member includes an instrument panel and a meter cluster assembled thereto, and the opening is configured by a lower edge of the meter cluster and a side edge of a lower panel of the instrument panel, and the peripheral wall portion. A shielding part is integrally formed on the lower edge of the meter cluster and on the side edge of the lower panel, respectively.

  According to the present invention, since the gap between the interior member and the steering column is shielded by the shielding part integrally formed with the interior member, the structure can be simplified and the productivity can be improved, and the easily deformable part is provided in the shielding part. , Steering column at the time of vehicle collision The steering column is easily opened and deformed following the forward movement of the column cover accompanying this contraction, so that the shrinkage of the steering column is not hindered and the impact on the driver Can be reliably absorbed and relaxed.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, an instrument panel 1 as an interior member of a vehicle is composed of an instrument panel upper 1a and an instrument panel lower 1b that are divided into upper and lower parts. A meter cluster 10 incorporating 4 is assembled. The meter cluster 10 is installed such that its lower edge is along the boundary line between the instrument panel upper 1a and the instrument panel lower 1b.

  In the instrument panel 1, an opening 11 through which the steering column 2 is inserted through the instrument panel 1 b is formed at the center position in the width direction below the lower edge of the meter cluster 10. The opening 11 is provided in a substantially inverted U shape, the upper edge of the opening is formed by the lower edge of the meter cluster 10, and both the left and right opening side edges of the opening 11 are divided into the left and right by the opening 11. It consists of the edge of. One opening side edge (the right side in FIGS. 1 and 3) of the opening 11 is expanded in a semicircular arc shape in the width direction so as to match the side surface shape of the column cover 21 of the steering column 2.

  The steering column 2 is installed in a slanting posture with a gentle slanting front-down, and a steering wheel 20 is attached to the rear end. A column cover 21 that surrounds the outer periphery of the steering column 2 is attached to the intermediate portion. The column cover 21 is configured by removing components installed on the outer periphery of the steering column 2 such as a key cylinder 22 and other brackets for holding the base end of a not-illustrated direction indicator operation lever and wiper operation lever. 2 is formed in a large size so as to be integrally enclosed with 2. The column cover 21 has a hollow structure with a substantially rectangular cross section in which an upper cover 211 and a lower cover 212 which are divided in the vertical direction are joined in the vertical direction, and bulges in the width direction on one side surface to cover the key cylinder 22. A bulging portion 213 is provided.

  The front end of the upper cover 211 is set shorter than the front end of the lower cover 212. The front end of the upper cover 211 is shallow and is inserted into the instrument panel 1 from the opening 11. The lower cover 212 covers the lower part of the steering column 2 over a long range.

  The steering column 2 is configured such that the vertical position of the steering wheel 20 can be varied by changing the tilt angle by a tilt mechanism (not shown). In addition, the steering column 2 has a shock absorbing mechanism (not shown), and when the driver hits the steering wheel due to the reaction in the event of a vehicle collision, the steering column contracts axially forward and moves the steering wheel forward. To reduce the impact.

  On the upper edge of the opening 11 of the opening 11 of the instrument panel 1 and the one opening side edge, shielding plates 3a and 3b for shielding the gap with the column cover 21 of the steering column 2 are respectively provided on the lower edge of the meter cluster 10 and It is formed integrally with the edge of one lower panel 1b. Since the side surface of the column cover 21 facing the one opening side edge is provided with the bulging portion 213, a gap is formed between the opening side edge and the shielding plate 3b is necessary. At the side edge, the side surface of the column cover 21 facing this is a substantially vertical surface, so that the other opening side edge can be brought close to and opposed to the column cover 21, and the gap is so small that no shielding plate is required. .

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the shielding plate 3 a on the upper edge side of the opening is provided over the entire width of the upper edge of the opening, and the steering column 2 extends from the lower edge of the meter cluster 10 toward the inner side of the opening 11. And a vertical wall-shaped shielding portion 32 bent downward from the leading edge of the peripheral wall portion 31 so as to have a substantially inverted cross section. .

  The peripheral wall portion 31 has the same thickness as the general portion of the meter cluster 10 and is formed so as to face the upper surface of the upper cover 211 of the column cover 21. The front end edge of the peripheral wall portion 31 is extended to a front and rear position substantially equal to the front end edge of the upper cover 211 or to a position protruding slightly forward from the front end edge of the upper cover 211.

  The shielding portion 32 has a thickness that is about one-half the thickness of the peripheral wall portion 31, is bent downward at an obtuse angle from the front edge of the peripheral wall portion 31, extends to a position in front of the front end edge of the upper cover 211, and It is formed so that the front side of the front end edge may be obliquely shielded from above. Even when the steering column 2 is set to the lowest tilt position by the tilt mechanism, the shielding portion 32 protrudes to a position where the leading edge of the shielding portion 32 is lower than the front edge of the upper cover 211, and the shielding portion 32 opens the opening portion. 11 to block the gap between the upper edge of the upper cover 211 and the upper cover 211.

  A slit 33, which is an easily deformable portion, is provided at a predetermined interval so that the bending angle of the shielding portion 32 with respect to the peripheral wall portion 31 is easily deformed at the bending portion that forms the boundary line between the peripheral wall portion 31 and the shielding portion 32. Are formed. The slit 33 has a groove shape in which the peripheral wall portion 31 and the shielding portion 32 are separated with a predetermined gap. As a result, the bent portion between the peripheral wall portion 31 and the shielding portion 32 has a perforated shape in which the portion where the peripheral wall portion 31 and the shielding portion 32 are connected and the portion separated by the slit 33 are alternately continued.

  As shown in FIGS. 1, 3, and 4, the shielding plate 3b on the opening side edge side is provided over the entire length in the vertical direction of the opening side edge. The shielding plate 3b has the same configuration as the shielding plate 3a on the upper edge side of the opening, and has a peripheral wall portion 31 that bends forward from the end edge of the lower panel 1b substantially at a right angle, and a slant from the tip edge toward the steering column 2 side. The shielding part 32 that bends forward forms a substantially square cross section.

  The thickness of the peripheral wall portion 31 of the shielding plate 3b is the same as that of the general portion of the lower panel 1b, and the front end edge of the peripheral wall portion 31 is at the front and rear position substantially equal to the side front end edge of the column cover 21 or the side front end of the column cover 21 The position protrudes slightly forward from the edge.

  The shielding portion 32 of the shielding plate 3 b has a larger plate surface because the gap between the side edge of the opening 11 and the column cover 21 is increased by the bulging portion 213 of the column cover 21, and the plate thickness is the peripheral wall portion 31. About one-half of. The shielding portion 32 bends obliquely forward from the front end edge of the peripheral wall portion 31 at an obtuse angle, extends to a front position of the side front end edge of the column cover 21, and obliquely blocks the front side of the side front end edge of the column cover 21 from the side. The gap between the side edge of the opening 11 and the column cover 21 is shielded.

  Further, a plurality of slits 33 similar to the shielding plate 3a are formed at a predetermined interval in the bent portion between the circumferential wall portion 31 and the shielding portion 32 of the shielding plate 3b, and the shielding portion with respect to the circumferential wall portion 31 is formed. The bending angle of 32 is easily deformed.

  According to this embodiment, since each shielding board 3a, 3b was integrally molded by the meter cluster 10 and the lower panel 1b which are the structural members of the instrument panel 1, structure is simple and productivity is good. Since the shielding portion 32 of each shielding plate 3a, 3b is formed so as to shield the front edge of the column cover 21 and the front of the side surface front edge, the opening 11 of the instrument panel 1 and the column cover 21 are securely shielded. The appearance of the passenger compartment is good.

  Further, when the column cover 21 is assembled to the steering column 2, the shielding plates 3 a and 3 b do not get in the way, and the upper cover 211 can be easily inserted into the gap between the instrument panel 1 and the steering column 2. Good workability.

  When the driver hits the steering wheel 20 due to the collision of the vehicle, the shock absorbing mechanism is activated, and the steering column 2 starts to contract forward in the axial direction so as to move the steering wheel 20 forward. Accordingly, the column cover 21 moves forward, and the front end edge and the side front end edge of the upper cover 211 abut against the shielding portion 32 of the shielding plates 3a and 3b and push it. In this case, both the shielding plates 3a and 3b follow the above movement of the column cover 21, and each shielding portion 32 is surrounded by a bent portion between the surrounding wall portion 31 and the shielding portion 32 whose strength is lowered by the slit 33. It opens and deforms forward so as to open a bending angle with respect to the portion 31 (imaginary line in FIGS. 2 and 3). Accordingly, since resistance to movement of the column cover 21 when the column cover 21 hits the respective shielding plates 3a and 3b is reduced, the shrinkage of the steering column is not hindered and the steering wheel 20 is reliably moved forward. Can reduce the impact of the person.

  In the present embodiment, the thickness of the shielding portion 32 of each shielding plate 3a, 3b is reduced, and the bending angle between the peripheral wall portion 31 and the shielding portion 32 is obtuse, so that the shielding by moving the column cover 21 is performed. The opening deformation of the portion 32 toward the front is further reduced without resistance.

It is a front view which shows the shielding structure which shields the clearance gap between the interior member of this invention, and a steering column. It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view in the position which follows the II-II line of FIG. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along a line III-III in FIG. 1. It is a perspective view which shows the shielding board to which this invention is applied. It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view corresponding to FIG. 1 of the conventional shielding structure.

Explanation of symbols

1 Instrument panel (interior material)
1a Upper panel (interior member)
1b Lower panel (interior material)
10 Meter cluster (interior material)
2 Steering column 21 Column cover 3a, 3b Shield plate 31 Peripheral wall portion 32 Shield portion 33 Slit (easy deformation portion)

Claims (4)

In a shielding structure that covers a gap between an opening formed in an interior member of a vehicle and a steering column that is inserted through the opening and contracts in an axial direction at the time of a vehicle collision to hold the steering movably forward.
It projects from the periphery of the opening of the interior member toward the back side of the opening, and is bent from the peripheral wall part surrounding the outer periphery of the column cover that covers the steering column, and the front edge of the peripheral wall part. A shielding plate comprising a shielding portion extending in a direction to shield the front of the front end of the column cover is integrally formed with the interior member,
The shield plate is easily deformed to easily deform the shield part pushed at the front end of the column cover that moves forward when the steering column contracts at the boundary line between the bent peripheral wall part and the shield part. A gap shielding structure between a vehicle interior member provided with a portion and a steering column.   2. The vehicle interior member and the steering column according to claim 1, wherein the shielding portion extends forward from the front end edge of the peripheral wall portion and in the center direction of the opening portion, and obliquely intersects the front end of the column cover. Gap shielding structure.   The gap shielding structure between the interior member of the vehicle and the steering column according to claim 1 or 2, wherein a slit is provided along the boundary line to form the easy deformation.   The interior member includes an instrument panel and a meter cluster assembled thereto, and the opening is configured by a lower edge of the meter cluster and a side edge of a lower panel of the instrument panel, and the peripheral wall portion. The gap shielding structure between the vehicle interior member and the steering column according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein a shielding part is integrally formed on a lower edge of the meter cluster and a side edge of the lower panel.

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