JP2007083893A - Front defroster nozzle - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To avoid interference with a door frame in installation, in a front defroster nozzle assembled to an instrument panel lower module. <P>SOLUTION: An upper cylindrical element is structured so as to rock to a lower cylindrical element. Engaging portions 14, 17 for holding the upper cylindrical element while rocking and tilting the upper cylindrical element at a predetermined angle in regard to the lower cylindrical element, and releasing the holding are formed. The upper cylindrical element is assembled to a vehicle body while being tilted at a predetermined angle to the lower cylindrical element, thereby avoiding interference with the door frame, and then, engagement of the engaging portions is released to form a front defroster nozzle shape. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a front defroster nozzle of an automobile, and more particularly to a front defroster nozzle excellent in assembly workability.

  A front defroster nozzle having a blow-off opening between an instrument panel and a windshield is widely used as a part of an automobile air conditioner. The front defroster nozzle has a blowout opening that extends in the vehicle width direction along the lower end portion of the windshield, and the lower end portion extends into the instrument panel and is connected to the blower outlet of the blower. Accordingly, the front defroster nozzle has a substantially fan-shaped and bulky shape.

  For this reason, in the front defroster nozzle assembling process in the automobile production line, the burden on the operator is large, and a reduction in the number of assembling steps is required.

  For example, Japanese Utility Model Registration No. 2508387 or Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 05-046626 describes a front defroster nozzle having an upper cylinder (defroster grill) and a lower cylinder. In these front defroster nozzles, the upper cylinder is assembled from the upper part of the instrument panel, and is superposed on the lower cylinder protruding inside the instrument panel. In the technique described in Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 05-046626, in the front defroster nozzle in which a mounting flange is formed on the defroster grille in order to conceal the gap with the mounting opening of the instrument panel, the mounting flange is bent inward of the mounting opening. A possible thin-walled hinge is formed to facilitate the insertion of the mounting flange into the mounting opening.

  However, in recent years, modularization of interior parts has progressed, and a method of assembling an instrument panel, in which a front defroster nozzle is pre-assembled, to a vehicle has been adopted. In the case of this method, the instrument panel is composed of two modules, an instrument panel lower module and an instrument panel upper module. First, an instrument panel lower module assembled with a compressor and a blower is assembled, and then an instrument panel upper module is assembled. In this case, it is possible to reduce the number of assembling steps if the front defroster nozzle has an integral structure rather than a two-divided shape of the upper cylinder and the lower cylinder.

However, since the front defroster nozzle is assembled to the instrument panel lower module, the bulky upper cylindrical portion projects from the upper portion of the instrument panel lower module. When assembling such an instrument panel lower module to the vehicle body, it is inserted and assembled from the door frame of the front door, but the front side of the door frame of the front door is inclined rearward, so The blowout opening of the front defroster nozzle that protrudes into the door interferes with the door frame, resulting in poor assembly workability.
Utility model registration No. 2508387 Actual Kaihei 05-046626

  The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and in the front defroster nozzle assembled to the instrument panel lower module, the overall shape is substantially the same as that of the conventional one, and it interferes with the door frame during assembly. Avoidance is a problem to be solved.

The front defroster nozzle of the present invention that solves the above problems is characterized by the following: an upper cylinder having a blow-off opening disposed along the lower end of the windshield of the automobile, and a lower cylinder connected to the blower outlet of the blower And a front defroster nozzle in which the lower cylinder is integrally connected to the lower side of the upper cylinder,
The upper cylinder is swingably held by the lower cylinder, and the upper cylinder can be held in a state where the upper cylinder is swung and inclined at a predetermined angle with respect to the lower cylinder, and the holding can be released. The temporary holding means is provided.

  It is desirable that the upper cylinder is held swingably on the lower cylinder via an integral hinge.

  Further, the upper cylinder and the lower cylinder are formed with an engaging portion that engages with each other when the upper cylinder is inclined to the vehicle interior side by a predetermined angle with respect to the lower cylinder, and the engaging portion serves as a temporary holding means. It is desirable to configure.

  Furthermore, the engaging part is formed on the other of the upper cylinder and the lower cylinder, and the first engaging part having a T-shaped cross section formed on one of the outer surface of the upper cylinder and the outer surface of the lower cylinder. It is desirable that the second engagement portion has a U-shaped cross section, and the first engagement portion is detachably engaged with the second engagement portion.

  In the front defroster nozzle of the present invention, the upper cylinder can be held at a predetermined angle with respect to the lower cylinder by the temporary holding means, and the instrument panel lower module can be assembled in that state. Therefore, when inserting into the door frame, a gap is formed between the inclined upper cylinder and the door frame of the front door whose front side is inclined rearward. And the door frame can be prevented from interfering with each other. Therefore, the instrument panel module can be easily assembled to the vehicle body.

  When the upper instrument panel module is assembled, it is possible to assemble the upper cylinder body to the upper instrument panel module by releasing the holding of the temporary holding means and returning the upper cylinder body to the standard position.

  The front defroster nozzle of the present invention includes an upper cylinder having a blowout opening and a lower cylinder connected to the blower outlet of the blower. The upper cylinder and the lower cylinder may be formed separately and integrated by temporary holding means. However, the integrated state may become unstable, and when the upper instrument panel module is assembled, it is temporarily held. It becomes difficult to maintain the shape when the holding of the means is released. Therefore, it is desirable that the upper cylinder body and the lower cylinder body are formed integrally with each other through the integral hinge, and are inclined at a predetermined angle by being bent by the integral hinge.

  The state in which the upper cylindrical body is inclined at a predetermined angle with respect to the lower cylindrical body is a state in which interference between the upper cylindrical body and the door frame can be avoided when the instrument panel lower module is assembled, and depends on the shape of the door frame. . In the case of a typical ordinary passenger car, the instrument panel lower module is inserted from the door frame of the front door. Therefore, it is necessary to prevent interference with the front side portion of the door frame inclined rearward, and the vehicle is inclined at a predetermined angle toward the vehicle interior side.

  The temporary holding means may be any means as long as it can hold the upper cylinder in a state inclined at a predetermined angle with respect to the lower cylinder, but it is necessary to release the holding when the upper instrument panel module is assembled. It is desirable that it is easy to attach and detach. For example, an adhesive tape can be used as a temporary holding means, and the upper cylinder can be held in a state inclined at a predetermined angle with respect to the lower cylinder. Or you may use a latching metal fitting. However, another part such as an adhesive tape or a metal fitting is required, and there is a problem that the number of production steps increases due to an increase in the number of parts.

  Therefore, the upper cylinder and the lower cylinder are formed with an engaging portion that engages with each other when the upper cylinder is inclined at a predetermined angle with respect to the lower cylinder, and this engaging portion constitutes a temporary holding means. desirable. For example, as shown in the embodiment, it is desirable that the engaging portion is composed of a first engaging portion having a T-shaped cross section and a second engaging portion having a U-shaped cross section. According to this engagement portion, the first engagement portion is detachably engaged with the second engagement portion. In this case, the first engagement portion may be formed in the upper cylinder and the second engagement portion may be formed in the lower cylinder. Conversely, the first engagement portion may be formed in the lower cylinder and the upper cylinder. A 2nd engaging part can also be formed in a cylinder.

  Further, it is desirable that the engaging portion has a structure that can be easily engaged when the upper cylindrical body swings by a predetermined angle with respect to the lower cylindrical body and can be easily released in this state. If the above-mentioned integral hinge is provided and the first engagement portion and the second engagement portion are engaged, this condition can be easily satisfied by the elasticity of the integral hinge as described in the embodiment. Can do.

  The predetermined angle referred to in the present invention is normally determined according to the inclination angle of the front side portion of the door frame of the front door, and increases as the inclination angle of the front side portion (angle relative to the horizontal plane) decreases. Note that “inclination at a predetermined angle with respect to the lower cylindrical body” is a concept that includes not only rotation around one point but also some parallel movement in the integral hinge portion.

  The upper cylinder and the lower cylinder connected by the integral hinge can be manufactured by injection molding or the like. In addition, it is desirable that one of the contact portions of the upper cylinder body and the lower cylinder body other than the integral hinge overlap with the other surface. Moreover, it is desirable to interpose a sealing material made of a soft material such as urethane foam or thermoplastic elastomer in the superposed portion. As a result, air leakage can be reliably prevented.

  Hereinafter, the present invention will be described specifically by way of examples.

  FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the front defroster nozzle of this embodiment, and FIGS. 2 and 3 are sectional views of the front defroster nozzle assembled to the instrument panel 100. FIG. This front defroster nozzle is composed of three parts: a rear member 1 arranged with the bottom facing the vehicle interior side, and a front upper member 2 and a front lower member 3 arranged with the bottom facing the engine room side. Yes.

  The rear member 1 is integrally formed from an upper part 10 and a lower part 11 that are divided into upper and lower parts, and the upper part 10 and the lower part 11 are connected by a partially formed integral hinge 12. Therefore, the upper part 10 can swing with respect to the lower part 11 around the integral hinge 12. A sealing material 4 made of urethane foam is sandwiched between the integral hinge 12 and the dividing portion 13 in a state compressed in the vertical direction.

  The front upper member 2 constitutes an upper wall portion on the vehicle front side of the front defroster nozzle, and is joined to the upper portion 10 of the rear member 1 and integrated with the upper portion 10 of the rear member 1. An upper cylinder is formed. At the upper end of the front upper member 2, a grid-like grill 20 that forms a blow-out opening is formed so as to project into the vehicle interior side in a L-shaped cross section. It is joined to.

  The front lower member 3 constitutes a lower wall portion on the vehicle front side of the front defroster nozzle, is joined to the lower portion 11 of the rear member 1 and is integrated with the lower portion 11, and the lower lower body 3 and the lower portion 11 are connected to the lower cylinder body. Is configured. A sealing material 5 made of foamed urethane is joined to the upper end portion of the front lower member 3.

  The lower end portion of the front upper member 2 is in contact with the front lower member 3 through the sealing material 5 so that the front upper member 2 and the front lower member 3 can be separated. That is, the front upper member 2 and the upper portion 10 of the rear member 1 are configured to be swingable integrally with the integral hinge 12 as a center.

  A first engagement portion 14 is formed on the upper portion 10 of the rear member 1 so as to protrude toward the vehicle interior side. As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the first engaging portion 14 includes a leg portion 15 and a head portion 16 and has a substantially T shape. In addition, a second engaging portion 17 is formed on the lower portion 11 of the rear member 1 so as to protrude toward the vehicle interior side. A cutout portion 18 into which the leg portion 15 can enter is formed at the tip of the second engagement portion 17.

  Then, the front upper member 2 and the upper portion 10 of the rear member 1 are swung to the vehicle interior side integrally with the integral hinge 12 as the center. Then, the leg portion 15 enters the notch portion 18, and the head portion 16 engages with both sides of the notch portion 18. At this time, the elastic reaction force of the integral hinge 12 acts to prevent the first engagement portion 14 and the second engagement portion 17 from being disengaged. Therefore, the front upper member 2 and the upper portion 10 of the rear member 1 are held in a state inclined about 60 ° toward the vehicle interior as shown in FIG.

  From the above engagement state, the first engagement portion 14 and the second engagement portion 17 are disengaged while the front upper member 2 and the upper portion 10 of the rear member 1 are inclined to the vehicle interior side by about 60 ° or more. For example, the front upper member 2 and the upper portion 10 of the rear member 1 swing toward the engine room with the integral hinge 12 as the center, and the front upper member 2 and the front lower member 3 compress the sealing material 5 in the front-rear direction. The The sealing material 4 is compressed in the vertical direction between the upper part 10 and the lower part 11. As a result, a sealing property is exhibited on the entire circumference, and a cylindrical front defroster nozzle is completed.

  In order to assemble the front defroster nozzle of this embodiment to the instrument panel, first, the lower part 11 and the front lower member 3 of the rear member 1 are connected to the blower outlet of the blower pre-assembled in the instrument panel lower module. Assembled the nozzle in the instrument panel module. In this state, the upper cylindrical body composed of the front upper member 2 and the upper portion 10 of the rear member 1 protrudes upward from the instrument panel lower module.

  When this instrument panel lower module is put into the vehicle interior from the door frame on the front side of the vehicle, the front side portion of the door frame is inclined rearward, so that a part of the upper cylinder (in this case, as shown by the dotted line in FIG. 6) The front upper member 2) interferes with the door frame (DD), making assembly difficult.

  Therefore, the upper cylindrical body (the front upper member 2 and the upper portion 10 of the rear member 1) is swung toward the vehicle interior side around the integral hinge 12, and the first engagement portion 14 and the second engagement portion 17 are engaged. Combine. Thus, the upper cylinder (the upper upper member 2 and the upper part 10 of the rear member 1) is held by the lower cylinder (the lower front member 3 and the lower part 11 of the rear member 1) in a state where it is inclined at a predetermined angle toward the vehicle interior side. The Then, as shown by the solid line in FIG. 6, interference with the door frame (DD) can be avoided, and the instrument panel module can be easily assembled to the vehicle body.

  After the assembly of the instrument panel lower module, the first engagement portion 14 and the second engagement portion 17 are disengaged, and the upper cylinder (the upper upper member 2 and the upper portion 10 of the rear member 1) is integrated with the integral hinge. The lower end portion of the front upper member 2 is brought into contact with the seal material 5 by swinging toward the engine room with 12 as the center. Then, by engaging an engagement protrusion (not shown) protruding from the front upper member 2 with the cowl top of the vehicle body, the sealing material 5 and the sealing material 4 are compressed, and the front upper member 2 and the front lower member 3 are Hermetically sealed. Thereafter, the instrument panel upper module is assembled.

  Therefore, according to the front defroster nozzle of the present embodiment, it is possible to avoid the interference between the upper cylinder and the door frame during assembly, and the instrument panel lower module can be easily assembled to the vehicle body.

  In the present embodiment, the engagement between the first engagement portion 14 and the second engagement portion 17 is the engagement between the T-shape and the notch, but the present invention is not limited to this. Any engagement means that can be held by the lower cylinder while tilting can be used without particular limitation. Moreover, it is not limited to the front defroster nozzle comprised from three members, It can also comprise from two members or one member.

It is a perspective view which shows the front defroster nozzle of one Example of this invention. It is sectional drawing which shows the front defroster nozzle of one Example of this invention. It is sectional drawing which shows the front defroster nozzle of one Example of this invention. It is sectional drawing of the front defroster nozzle of one Example of this invention, and the perspective view which expands and shows the principal part. It is sectional drawing shown in the state which hold | maintained the front defroster nozzle of one Example of this invention with the temporary holding means, and the perspective view which expands and shows the principal part. It is explanatory sectional drawing which shows the effect | action of the front defroster nozzle of one Example of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

1: Rear member 2: Front upper member 3: Front lower member 4: Sealing material 5: Sealing material 10: Upper part
11: Lower part 12: Integral hinge 13: Dividing part
14: 1st engaging part 17: 2nd engaging part 20: Grill

Claims (4)

The upper cylindrical body having a blowout opening disposed along the lower end portion of the windshield of the automobile and the lower cylindrical body connected to the blower outlet of the blower are integrated with the lower cylindrical body below the upper cylindrical body. Connected front defroster nozzles,
The upper cylinder is swingably held by the lower cylinder,
Temporary holding means is provided which can hold the upper cylinder while swinging the upper cylinder and tilting the upper cylinder at a predetermined angle with respect to the lower cylinder and releasing the holding of the upper cylinder. Front defroster nozzle.   The front defroster nozzle according to claim 1, wherein the upper cylinder is swingably held on the lower cylinder via an integral hinge.   The upper cylindrical body and the lower cylindrical body are formed with engaging portions that engage with each other when the upper cylindrical body is inclined with respect to the lower cylindrical body toward the vehicle interior side by a predetermined angle. The front defroster nozzle of Claim 1 or Claim 2 which comprises the said temporary holding means.   The engaging portion includes a first engaging portion having a T-shaped cross section formed on one of an outer surface of the upper cylindrical body and an outer surface of the lower cylindrical body, and the other of the upper cylindrical body and the lower cylindrical body. The front defroster nozzle according to claim 3, further comprising a second engagement portion formed in a U-shaped cross section, wherein the first engagement portion is detachably engaged with the second engagement portion.

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