JP2018118642A - Steering device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To allow accessory parts to be easily removed from a body of a steering wheel.SOLUTION: An air bag module 5 is attached to a bracket 3 to which a steering wheel 1 is attached. Two fixing pins 17 are provided at the air bag module 5, and through holes 3ah for inserting the fixing pins 17 are provided in the bracket 3. Two fixing springs 19 are attached to one surface of the bracket 3 which faces the steering wheel 1. Ends of the fixing pins 17 inserted into the through holes 3ah include engaging grooves 17a, and engaged portions 19d of the fixing springs 19 are fitted into the engaging grooves 17a. Each of the fixing springs 19 is configured to form a bent portion 19f at an end of an arm portion 19e, thereby forming a hooking portion 19g. To disengage the engaged portion 19d from the engaging groove 17a, an end 23a of a tool 23 is pressed while being positioned to be hooked on the hooking portion 19g.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

  The present invention relates to a steering apparatus in which accessory parts are attached to a steering wheel body.

  Patent Document 1 discloses a configuration in which an airbag device is attached to a steering wheel body as an accessory. The airbag device is attached to the mandrel of the steering wheel body using a fixing pin provided in the horn switch mechanism. With the fixing pin inserted into the through hole of the cored bar, the clip attached to the cored bar is locked in the locking groove of the fixed pin, so that the airbag device is mounted on the steering wheel body (core bar). .

JP 2011-46352 A

  In the steering device of Patent Document 1, when removing the airbag device from the steering wheel body (core metal), the clip is removed from the locking groove of the fixing pin by elastically deforming the clip by pressing it with a tool. Yes. However, since the portion pressed by the tool of the clip is linear, it is slippery when pressed and the removal work becomes difficult.

  Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to make it possible to easily remove an accessory from a steering wheel body.

  The present invention includes a steering wheel body, an accessory attached to the steering wheel body, a locking piece provided on one of the steering wheel body and the accessory, the steering wheel body, and the accessory. And an elastic locking member that is provided on the other side and that is locked to the locking piece. The elastic locking member includes a locking portion that elastically presses and locks the locking piece, and a hook portion that positions a tool that removes the locking portion from the locking piece.

  According to the present invention, when the accessory part is removed from the steering wheel body, the elastic locking member is pressed in the direction away from the locking piece at the tip of the tool. At this time, the tool is positioned so that the tip of the tool is caught by the catch portion. Thereby, the latching state of the elastic latching member with respect to the latching piece can be easily released, and the accessory part can be easily detached from the steering wheel body.

1 is an exploded perspective view of a steering device according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is the disassembled perspective view which looked at the steering apparatus which abbreviate | omitted the steering hole of FIG. 1 from the opposite side to FIG. It is the front view seen from the air bag module and the other side which shows the state which attached the fixing spring to the bracket of FIG. FIG. 4 is a work process diagram when the left fixed spring is removed with a tool in FIG. 3, (a) shows a state in which the tool is brought into contact with the hook portion, and (b) shows a state from the state of (a) to the hook portion. A state in which the tool is pressed against the fixing spring and elastically deformed is shown. FIG. 5 is a work process diagram corresponding to FIG. 4, showing another embodiment of the present invention.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  As shown in FIG. 1, an automobile steering apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention has an airbag module 5 attached to a steering wheel 1 via a metal bracket 3. The steering wheel 1 and the bracket 3 constitute a steering wheel body, and the airbag module 5 constitutes an accessory part. The airbag module 5 may include a horn switch mechanism.

  The steering wheel 1 includes a boss portion 7 supported by an upper end portion of a steering post (not shown), a wheel-shaped rim portion 9, and a plurality of spoke portions 11 that connect the boss portion 7 and the rim portion 9. The boss part 7 and the spoke part 11 are made of metal, and the rim part 9 covers a metal cored bar with a resin, and the end part of the spoke part 11 is connected to the cored bar. The bracket 3 is attached to the boss portion 7 and the spoke portion 11 using screws or the like (not shown). The airbag module 5 is attached to the bracket 3 by a method described later.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the airbag module 5 includes a resin airbag cover 13 and a metal inflator housing 15, and accommodates an airbag and an inflator (not shown) inside. The inflator housing 15 includes two fixing pins 17 as locking pieces protruding toward the bracket 3 at positions facing the bracket 3 at both left and right positions. The two fixing pins 17 include a locking groove 17a cut out in a direction perpendicular to the axial direction of the fixing pin 17 at a slightly lower portion on the side facing each other, and a tapered taper portion 17b at the tip. Yes. The locking groove 17a is formed along a straight line connecting the upper right and lower left in FIG. 3 for the left fixing pin 17 in FIG. 3, and the right fixing pin 17 in FIG. It is formed along a straight line connecting the upper left and the lower right. A protrusion 17a1 is provided at the bottom of each locking groove 17a.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the bracket 3 includes a fixed spring mounting surface 3 a having a substantially square shape when viewed from the front, and the fixed spring mounting surface 3 a includes two through holes 3 ah corresponding to the two fixing pins 17. ing. When the fixing pin 17 is inserted into the through hole 3ah of the bracket 3, the locking groove 17a is positioned on the opposite side of the bracket 3 from the airbag module 5. That is, in FIG. 3, the locking groove 17a of the fixing pin 17 is located on the front side of the paper surface with respect to the fixing spring mounting surface 3a. In this state, the airbag module 5 is fixed to the bracket 3 by inserting and locking a linear fixing spring 19 as an elastic locking member into the locking groove 17a.

  The fixing spring 19 is provided corresponding to each of the two fixing pins 17. Since the two fixed springs 19 have a bilaterally symmetric shape as shown in FIG. 3, the following description will mainly focus on the left fixed spring 19 in FIG. In FIG. 3, the right fixed spring 19 is denoted by the same reference numeral as the left fixed spring 19. The fixed spring 19 includes an annular portion 19a, and a pin portion 19b (FIGS. 1 and 2) that bends toward the fixed spring mounting surface 3a is provided at an end portion extending from the annular portion 19a to one side. The pin portion 19b is located in the vicinity of the lower portion of the annular portion 19a and on the opposite sides of the two fixing springs 19.

  A screw hole 3 as and a pin insertion hole 3 ap are formed in the fixed spring mounting surface 3 a corresponding to the fixed spring 19. With the pin portion 19b of the fixed spring 19 inserted into the pin insertion hole 3ap, the screw 21 is inserted into the annular portion 19a and fastened to the screw hole 3as. Thereby, the fixed spring 19 is attached to the bracket 3. The screw 21 includes a shaft portion 21c between the screw portion 21a and the flat head portion 21b. The shaft portion 21 c is inserted into the annular portion 19 a of the fixing spring 19 in a state where the screw portion 21 a is fastened and fixed to the screw hole 3 as. Regarding the outer diameter, the shaft portion 21c is larger than the screw portion 21a and smaller than the head portion 21b.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the left fixed spring 19 has a horizontal portion 19c whose end extending from the annular portion 19a to the other is substantially horizontal. The horizontal portion 19c extends substantially horizontally toward the left through-hole 3ah in FIG. 3, and a locking portion 19d that bends obliquely downward to the left from the end of the horizontal portion 19c opposite to the annular portion 19a. Is formed. The locking portion 19d is located on an oblique straight line connecting the upper right and the lower left in FIG. Accordingly, the locking portion 19d of the right fixing spring 19 is located on an oblique straight line connecting the upper left and the lower right in FIG. The locking part 19d enters the locking groove 17a of the fixing pin 17 and presses the protrusion 17a1. That is, the locking part 19d locks the fixing pin 17 by elastically pressing it.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the left fixed spring 19 includes an arm portion 19e that is bent and extends downward from an end portion of the locking portion 19d opposite to the horizontal portion 19c, and has a distal end (lower end) of the arm portion 19e. A bent portion 19f that is bent toward the left side in FIG. 3 is formed on the side. The bent portion 19f is located on an oblique straight line connecting the upper right and the lower left in FIG. Accordingly, the bent portion 19f of the right fixing spring 19 is located on an oblique straight line connecting the upper left and the lower right in FIG. The base end portion of the bent portion 19f serves as a hook portion 19g on which a tool 23 (FIG. 4) for removing the locking portion 19d from the fixing pin 17 is positioned.

  Note that the fixed spring 19 in the state shown in FIG. 3 is in an elastically deformed state in which the locking portion 19d presses the fixed pin 17 and is elastically deformed. The locking portion 19d of the left fixed spring 19 in the elastically deformed state faces the through hole 3ah at a position biased obliquely downward to the right with respect to the center of the through hole 3ah. Accordingly, the fixing spring 19 in a state where the left fixing pin 17 is not inserted into the through hole 3ah in FIG. 3 is clockwise from the state of FIG. 3 around the annular portion 19a held by the screw 21. A slightly rotationally displaced state (natural state) is obtained.

  In the fixed spring 19 in the natural state, the side edge of the locking portion 19d on the side of the locking groove 17a is biased with respect to the center of the through hole 3ah as in the elastically deformed state. The side edge of the locking portion 19d on the locking groove 17a side in the natural state is a position corresponding to the tapered portion 17b of the fixing pin 17 in a front view of FIG. The natural state of the fixing spring 19 on the right side in FIG. 3 is slightly rotated and displaced counterclockwise in FIG. 3 around the annular portion 19a held by the screw 21 with respect to the elastic deformation state shown in FIG. It becomes a state. The fixing spring 19 can be handled as an assembly integrated with the bracket 3 by being held by the bracket 3 as shown in FIG.

  When the airbag module 5 shown in FIG. 2 is attached to the bracket 3 with the fixing spring 19 attached, the two fixing pins 17 are inserted into the two through holes 3ah of the bracket 3, respectively. At this time, the fixing spring 19 is elastically deformed while pressing the locking portion 19d facing the through hole 3ah by the tapered portion 17b formed at the tip of the fixing pin 17. When the left fixed spring 19 in FIG. 3 is elastically deformed, it is rotationally displaced in the counterclockwise direction in FIG. 3 around the annular portion 19 a held by the screw 21. When the right fixed spring 19 is elastically deformed in FIG. 3, it is rotationally displaced in the clockwise direction in FIG. 3 around the annular portion 19 a held by the screw 21.

  When the fixing pin 17 is further inserted into the through hole 3ah, the locking portion 19d enters the locking groove 17a and comes into contact with the projection 17a1 so as to be in the state shown in FIG. Thereby, the fixing pin 17 is fixed to the bracket 3 via the fixing spring 19, and the airbag module 5 can be attached to the bracket 3.

  In a state where the airbag module 5 is attached to the steering wheel 1 via the bracket 3, the two fixing pins 17 are displaced from the boss portion 7 and the spoke portion 11 when viewed from the steering central axis direction and do not overlap. In position. In a state where the airbag module 5 is attached to the steering wheel 1 via the bracket 3, at least the hook part 19g and the periphery of the fixed spring 19 are in relation to the steering wheel 1 (the boss part 7, the rim part 9, and the spoke part 11). It is in a position that does not overlap as seen from the side of the vehicle.

  Next, an operation for removing the airbag module 5 from the bracket 3 will be described.

  As shown in FIG. 4A, the tool 23 is inserted from the left side of the bracket 3 in FIG. 3 into the left fixed spring 19 in FIG. 3, and the tip 23a is brought into contact with the catching portion 19g. Press. When the tip 23a is brought into contact with the catching portion 19g, the tip 23a is caught by the catching portion 19g, so that the tool 23 is not easily slipped with respect to the fixed spring 19 and is not easily detached. At this time, when a side cover or the like that covers the side portion of the bracket 3 is provided, an insertion hole for inserting the tool 23 is provided in the side cover or the like.

  When the hook portion 19g is pressed by the tool 23, the fixing spring 19 is elastically deformed as shown in FIG. 4B, and the locking portion 19d is disengaged from the locking groove 17a of the fixing pin 17. The fixing pin 17 can be pulled out from the through hole 3ah by the locking portion 19d being detached from the locking groove 17a and being separated from the outer peripheral surface of the fixing pin 17. At this time, the tip 23a of the tool 23 is formed sufficiently longer than the wire diameter of the fixed spring 19, for example, in the direction orthogonal to the paper surface in FIG. By making it enter, it becomes more difficult to come off.

  When removing the right fixing spring 19 from the fixing pin 17 in FIG. 3, the tool 23 is inserted from the right side in FIG. After removing the two fixing springs 19 from the fixing pins 17, the airbag module 5 can be removed from the bracket 3 by pulling out the two fixing pins 17 from the through holes 3ah. When the locking portion 19d of the fixing spring 19 is removed from the locking groove 17a of the fixing pin 17, the tip 23a of the tool 23 is positioned and hooked on the hooking portion 19g.

  In the present embodiment, a fixing spring 19 for fixing the airbag module 5 to the bracket 3 includes a locking portion 19 d that elastically presses and locks the fixing pin 17, and the locking portion 19 d from the fixing pin 17. And a catch portion 19g on which a tool 23 for removal is positioned. For this reason, it can position so that the front-end | tip 23a of the tool 23 may be hooked on the hook part 19g. In the positioned state, the hook portion 19g is pressed and elastically deformed by the tool 23, whereby the locking state of the fixing spring 19 with respect to the fixing pin 17 can be easily released with a smaller stroke and a lower load.

  In the present embodiment, the hook portion 19g of the fixed spring 19 is formed by forming a bent portion 19f. In this case, the hook portion 19g can be easily formed by simply bending the distal end side of the arm portion 19e.

  FIG. 5 is a work process diagram corresponding to FIG. 4 of the fixing spring 19A according to another embodiment. The fixed spring 19A forms a recessed portion 19Ag as a hook portion in the arm portion 19Ae without forming the bent portion 19f as shown in FIG. Other parts and other components of the fixed spring 19A are the same as those in the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, and the same components are denoted by the same reference numerals.

  In the embodiment shown in FIG. 5, when the airbag module 5 is removed from the bracket 3, the tip 23 a of the tool 23 is pressed into the recessed portion 19 </ b> Ag of the fixed spring 19 </ b> A and positioned as shown in FIG. . Thereby, as shown in FIG. 5B, the locking portion 19 d can be removed from the locking groove 17 a of the fixing pin 17. At that time, since the tip 23a of the tool 23 can be positioned so as to be caught in the recess 19Ag, the locking state of the fixing spring 19 with respect to the fixing pin 17 can be easily released with a smaller stroke and a lower load.

  In the fixed spring 19A shown in FIG. 5, the catching portion is constituted by a recess 19Ag. For this reason, it is possible to easily form the catch portion on the side edge near the tip of the arm portion 19Ae, for example, by machining.

  The fixed spring 19A shown in FIG. 5 may be formed with a bent portion like the fixed spring 19 shown in FIG. Conversely, a recess as shown in FIG. 5 may be formed in the catching part 19g of FIG.

  As mentioned above, although embodiment of this invention was described, these embodiment is only the illustration described in order to make an understanding of this invention easy, and this invention is not limited to the said embodiment. The technical scope of the present invention is not limited to the specific technical matters disclosed in the above embodiment, but includes various modifications, changes, alternative techniques, and the like that can be easily derived therefrom.

  For example, in the above-described embodiment, the example in which the two fixing springs 19 or 19A are used for the two fixing pins 17 has been described. However, one fixing spring is used for the two fixing pins 17. May be. The fixed spring in this case is, for example, the horizontal portion 19c of each of the left and right fixed springs 19 shown in FIG. 3 as one continuous horizontal portion, and the one continuous horizontal portion is attached to the fixed spring mounting surface 3a of the bracket 3. It only has to be attached. As a method of attaching the horizontal portion to the fixed spring attachment surface 3a, for example, a fitting claw is protruded from the fixed spring attachment surface 3a, and the horizontal portion is fitted and fixed between the fitting claw and the fixed spring attachment surface 3a. To do. When only one fixing spring is used as described above, the number of fixing pins is not limited to two, and there may be three or more. In this case, the bracket 3 is provided with a number of through holes 3ah corresponding to the fixing pins 17.

  In the embodiment described above, one fixing pin 17 is provided for one fixing spring 19, but two or more fixing pins 17 may be provided for one fixing spring 19. In this case, the bracket 3 is provided with a number of through holes 3ah corresponding to the fixing pins 17.

  In the embodiment described above, the airbag module 5 is attached to the steering wheel 1 via the bracket 3, but it may be attached directly to the steering wheel 1 without using the bracket 3. In this case, a through hole into which the fixing pin 17 is inserted is formed in the boss portion 7 or the spoke portion 11 of the steering wheel 1.

  In the above-described embodiment, the fixing pin 17 is provided in the airbag module 5 and the through hole 3ah is provided in the bracket 3. On the contrary, the fixing pin is provided in the bracket 3 or the steering hole 1 and the through hole is provided. You may provide in the airbag module 5. FIG. In this case, the fixing springs 19 and 19A are attached to the airbag module 5 side.

  In the above-described embodiment, the airbag module 5 is attached to the bracket 3 as an accessory. However, instead of the airbag module 5, another configuration, for example, a horn mechanism may be attached to the bracket 3 as an accessory.

1 Steering wheel (steering wheel body)
3 Bracket (steering wheel body)
5 Airbag module (accessory)
17 Fixing pin (locking piece)
19, 19A Fixed spring (elastic locking member)
19d Locking part of fixed spring 19g Locking part of fixing spring 19Ag Recessed part of fixing spring (hooking part)
23 tools

Claims (3)

The steering wheel body,
An accessory attached to the steering wheel body;
A locking piece provided on one of the steering wheel body and the accessory part;
An elastic locking member provided on the other of the steering wheel body and the accessory part and locked to the locking piece,
The elastic locking member is
A locking portion that elastically presses and locks the locking piece;
A steering device comprising: a hook portion for positioning a tool for removing the locking portion from the locking piece.   The steering device according to claim 1, wherein the hooking portion is formed by a bent portion. The steering device according to claim 1, wherein the catching portion is formed by a concave portion.

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