JP2551776Y2 - Steering column cover - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a steering column cover composed of a pair of divided single covers.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, a steering column cover of this type comprises a pair of divided single covers as disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Application Laid-Open No. 58-135367, for example.
The two cover units are integrally connected via screws, and a key cylinder insertion hole is formed in a side wall of each of the two cover units so as to open at a mating surface of each cover unit. A bracket is attached to a steering column tube installed inside the key cylinder, the key cylinder is fixed to the bracket, and one end of the key cylinder is inserted into the insertion hole.

[0003]

In the steering column cover having the above-described structure, the key cylinder may be radially moved relative to the insertion hole due to an error in mounting the bracket to the steering column cover. The annular gap generated between the inner peripheral surface of the insertion hole and the outer peripheral surface of the key cylinder protruding from the insertion hole is not fixed, and the appearance is deteriorated.

[0004] The present invention has been developed in view of the above circumstances, and the purpose is to always set the key cylinder at an appropriate position with respect to the insertion hole by assembling both covers alone. It is another object of the present invention to provide a steering column cover in which a gap between the inner peripheral surface of the insertion hole and the outer peripheral surface of the key cylinder can be set at regular intervals over the entire circumference of the key cylinder.

[0005]

According to the present invention, a pair of divided cover units 2, 3 are provided, and a side wall of each of the two cover units 2, 3 is provided with a mating surface 2 of the cover units 2, 3.
Key cylinder 4 insertion holes 5a and 5b opening at 0.30
In the steering column cover formed with the above, when the two cover units 2, 3 are joined to the cover units 2, 3, the key cylinder 4 is brought into contact with the outer peripheral surface of the key cylinder 4 so that the key with respect to the insertion holes 5a, 5b is formed. A positioning rib 6a for regulating the insertion position of the cylinder 4 and setting a uniform gap between the inner peripheral surfaces of the insertion holes 5a and 5b and the outer peripheral surface of the key cylinder 4 over the entire circumference of the key cylinder 4.・ 6
b is provided in the vicinity of the insertion holes 5a and 5b , and is engaged with the other cover 2 in one of the covers 3 and in the vicinity of the insertion hole 5b, so that the positioning in the two covers 2 and 3 is performed. Replace the ribs 6a and 6b with the key cylinder
4 is provided with a locking claw 8 which is brought into close contact with the outer peripheral surface of the base 4 .

[0006]

According to the present invention, the insertion holes in each of the cover units are combined with the connection of the two cover units.
The positioning ribs 6a and 5a formed near 5a and 5b
6b is brought into contact with the outer peripheral surface of the key cylinder 4 so that the key cylinder 4 is inserted into the insertion holes 5a and 5b.
To prevent the insertion position of the insertion hole 5 from shifting in the radial direction.
The gap between the inner peripheral surface of the key cylinder 4 and the outer peripheral surface of the key cylinder 4 can be set at equal intervals over the entire circumference of the key cylinder 4. When the two cover units 2 and 3 are combined,
Even when the positioning ribs 6a and 6b do not contact the outer periphery of the key cylinder 4, the engagement of the locking claws 8 formed on one cover unit 3 with the other cover unit 2 allows the positioning ribs to be formed. 6a and 6b immediately contact the outer peripheral surface of the key cylinder 4 so that the insertion position of the key cylinder 4 with respect to the insertion holes 5a and 5b does not shift in the radial direction. Over the outer peripheral surface of the key cylinder 4 and the insertion hole 5
The gaps between the inner peripheral surfaces a and 5b are equally spaced, and the appearance is improved.

[0007]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A steering column cover shown in the drawing covers an upper end portion of a steering column tube 1 for rotatably supporting a steering shaft (not shown). The cover 2 is made of a synthetic resin material.

[0008] The side walls 21 · 3 of the two covers 2 · 3 alone
1 is formed with insertion holes 5a and 5b of the key cylinder 4 which are opened on the mating surfaces 20 and 30 of the covers 2 and 3, respectively, while the inner surface of the bottom wall 32 of the lower cover 3 is formed with the mating surfaces 30 An outwardly projecting cylindrical connecting cylinder 33 is protruded, and the connecting cylinder 33 is provided with a through hole 3 penetrating through the bottom wall 32.
4 and a small-diameter hole 35 smaller in diameter than the through-hole 34 and opened at the free end of the connecting cylinder 33.

On the inner surface of the upper wall 22 of the upper cover 2, a connecting pin 23 facing the connecting cylinder 33 is projected, and a blind hole 24 is formed in the connecting pin 23.

When the two cover members 2 and 3 are connected to each other, the two ends of the cover bracket 11 fixed to the outer peripheral surface of the steering column tube 1 are connected to the connecting cylinder 33 and the connecting pins 2.
3, the free end of the screw body 12 inserted into the through-hole 34 of the connecting cylinder 33 is screwed into the blind hole 24 of the connecting pin 23, so that the two cover 2 and 3 are attached to the steering column tube 1 via the cover bracket 11 and, at the same time, the two cover units 2 and 3 are connected to communicate the insertion holes 5a and 5b.

On the other hand, the key cylinder 4 inserted into the insertion holes 5a and 5b is fixed to the free end of a support bracket 50 fixed to the steering column tube 1. 50
As shown in FIG. 1, the bracket comprises a bracket body 51 for fixing the key cylinder 4 and a mounting piece 53 for mounting the bracket body 51 to the outer periphery of the steering column tube 1 via bolts 52.

However, in the above configuration, the inner surface of the upper wall 22 of the upper cover unit 2 and the vicinity of the insertion hole 5a,
When the two cover units 2 and 3 are connected to each other on the inner surface of the bottom wall 32 of the lower cover unit 3 and near the insertion hole 5b, the contact holes 5a and 5b are brought into contact with the outer peripheral surface of the key cylinder 4. The key cylinder 4 is inserted at an equal interval over the entire circumference of the key cylinder 4 between the inner peripheral surfaces of the insertion holes 5 a and 5 b and the outer peripheral surface of the key cylinder 4. Positioning ribs 6a and 6
b is provided.

In the embodiment shown in FIG.
a and 6b are formed with curved contact surfaces 61a and 61b having the same radius of curvature of the outer peripheral surface of the key cylinder 4, and when the two cover units 2 and 3 are combined, the contact surfaces 61a and 6b are formed.
1b is brought into contact with the outer peripheral surface of the key cylinder 4 so that the gap S between the inner peripheral surfaces of the insertion holes 5a and 5b and the outer peripheral surface of the key cylinder 4 is uniformly spaced over the entire circumference. ing.

In the embodiment shown in the figure, a pair of right and left engaging grooves 7 is formed on the inner surface of the side wall 21 of the upper cover unit 2 and on both sides of the insertion hole 5a, while the inner surface of the side wall 31 of the lower cover unit 3 is formed. On both sides of the insertion hole 5b, a pair of right and left locking claws 8 that can be locked in the engaging grooves 7 is provided, and when the two cover units 2 and 3 are combined, the engagement of the locking claws 8 is performed. By engaging with the mating groove 7, the contact surfaces 61a and 61b of the positioning ribs 6a and 6b are brought into close contact with the outer peripheral surface of the key cylinder 4.

In the steering column cover having the above-described structure, both ends of the cover bracket 11 are interposed between the connecting surfaces of the connecting cylinder 33 and the connecting pin 23 when the two cover units 2 and 3 are combined. The connection tube 33
The screw body 12 inserted into the through hole 34 of the
The cover 2 is attached to the steering column tube 1 via the cover bracket 11 by screwing into the blind hole 24 and engaging the locking claw 8 with the engagement groove 7. The key cylinder 4 fixed to the free end of the support bracket 5 is inserted into the insertion holes 5a and 5b.
It is inserted through.

Thus, as described above, the two covers alone 2
At the time of connection of the positioning ribs 6a and 6b, the mating surfaces 20 and 30 of the two cover units 2 and 3 are aligned.
Are brought into close contact with the outer peripheral surface of the key cylinder 4 attached to the support bracket 5. When the two cover units 2, 3 are connected as described above, the two cover units 2, 3, Due to the mounting error of the support bracket 5 and the mounting error of the support bracket 5 with respect to the steering column tube 1, the contact surfaces 6 of the positioning ribs 6a and 6b can be obtained only by combining the two cover units 2 and 3 alone.
Even when 1a and 61b do not abut against the outer periphery of the key cylinder 4, the positioning ribs 6a and 6 are brought into contact with the outer peripheral surface of the key cylinder 4 with the engagement of the locking claws 8 with the engagement grooves 7. Therefore, in any case, the insertion position of the key cylinder 4 with respect to the insertion holes 5a and 5b is determined by the positioning rib 6
The gap S between the inner peripheral surfaces of the insertion holes 5a and 5b and the outer peripheral surface of the key cylinder 4 is maintained at an equal interval over the entire circumference.

In the above embodiment, the lower cover unit 3
The engaging claw 8 is formed in the upper cover unit 2 and the engaging groove 7 capable of engaging the engaging claw 8 is formed in the upper cover unit 2. The engagement groove 7 may be formed in the lower cover 3 alone.

[0018]

[Effects of the Invention] As described above, the present invention consists of a pair of divided cover units 2 and 3, and these two cover units 2 and
In the steering column cover in which the insertion holes 5a and 5b of the key cylinder 4 opening in the mating surfaces 20 and 30 of the cover units 2 and 3 are formed on the side wall of the cover unit 2 and the cover units 2 and 3, respectively. When the key 3 is connected, the key cylinder 4 is brought into contact with the outer peripheral surface so that the insertion hole 5a is formed.
· The insertion position of the key cylinder 4 with respect to the key cylinder 4 is regulated between the inner peripheral surfaces of the insertion holes 5a and 5b and the outer peripheral surface of the key cylinder 4 by regulating the insertion position of the key cylinder 4 with respect to the key cylinder 4. Insert the positioning ribs 6a and 6b to be set
In the vicinity of the through holes 5a and 5b, the positioning ribs 6a in the two cover units 2.3 are engaged with the other cover unit 2 in one of the cover units 3 and in the vicinity of the insertion hole 5b. by providing the engagement claw 8 for adhering the 6b to the outer peripheral surface of the key cylinder 4, the with the binding of both covers single 2-3, to the each cover alone 2 · 3
Only when the positioning ribs 6a and 6b formed in the vicinity of the insertion holes 5a and 5b abut on the outer peripheral surface of the key cylinder 4, the insertion position of the key cylinder 4 with respect to the insertion holes 5a and 5b is changed in the radial direction. The gap between the inner peripheral surfaces of the insertion holes 5a and 5b and the outer peripheral surface of the key cylinder 4 can be made equal at equal intervals over the entire circumference of the key cylinder 4 without any deviation. Even if the positioning ribs 6a and 6b do not come into contact with the outer periphery of the key cylinder 4 when the two cover units 2 and 3 are combined due to an assembly error of the unit, the cover unit 3 is formed on one cover unit 3 The other cover unit 2 of the locking claw 8
, The positioning ribs 6a and 6b immediately come into close contact with the outer peripheral surface of the key cylinder 4, and the insertion holes 5
a. The insertion position of the key cylinder 4 with respect to 5b does not shift in the radial direction.
The gap between the outer peripheral surface of the key cylinder 4 and the inner peripheral surfaces of the insertion holes 5a and 5b can be maintained at equal intervals over the entire circumference, and the appearance is improved.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a partially cutaway front view showing an embodiment of a steering column cover.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged sectional view of a main part of the steering column cover.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged sectional view taken along line XX in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged sectional view of a main part of the steering column cover.

FIG. 5 is a schematic perspective view showing the steering column cover with a part thereof omitted.

[Explanation of symbols]

 2 Upper cover unit 20 Fitting surface 3 Lower cover unit 30 Fitting surface 4 Key cylinder 5a Insertion hole 5b Insertion hole 6a Positioning rib 6b Positioning rib 8 Locking claw

Claims (1)

(57) [Scope of request for utility model registration] 1. A key cylinder (4) comprising a pair of divided cover units (2, 3), and a key cylinder (4) opened on the side walls of both cover units (2, 3) and on mating surfaces (20, 30) of the cover units (2, 3).
In the steering column cover formed with the insertion holes 5a and 5b, the cover holes 2a and 2b are brought into contact with the outer peripheral surface of the key cylinder 4 when the cover members 2 and 3 are connected to each other. The insertion position of the key cylinder 4 with respect to the insertion holes 5a and 5b is regulated.
Positioning ribs 6a and 6b for setting equally spaced gaps over the entire circumference of the key cylinder 4 are provided between the inner peripheral surface of the key cylinder 4 and the outer peripheral surface of the key cylinder 4 in the vicinity of the insertion holes 5a and 5b. > provided with, in the vicinity of and the insertion hole 5b while 3 of the cover itself, engage the other cover itself 2, the positioning ribs 6a, 6b in both covers single 2-3 of the key cylinder 4 A steering column cover provided with a locking claw (8) to be in close contact with the outer peripheral surface.