JP3042279B2 - Automotive knee protector - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a knee protector for a vehicle.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As this kind of technology, for example, FIGS. 17 and 18 (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 4-27631 and Japanese Utility Model Application Laid-Open No.
No. 5955). FIG.
7 is a perspective view, and FIG. 18 is a side view of FIG. In the figure, 1
Reference numeral denotes a knee protector, and reference numeral 2 denotes a steering member which is a "vehicle component" supporting the knee protector 1. The knee protector 1 includes a first member 3 formed in a substantially V shape in a side view, and an inverted substantially V-shaped second member 4 welded to both front and rear ends of the first member 3. Flanges 3a, 4a are suspended from the respective members 3, 4. There are also those shown in FIGS. 19 to 21. 19 is a perspective view, FIG. 20 is a sectional view taken along the line SH-SH of FIG. 19, and FIG. 21 is a side view of FIG. In the figure, 5
Is a knee protector supported by the steering member 2. The knee protector 5 has a first member 6 formed in a substantially V shape in side view, and flanges extending to the left and right outer sides of the first member 6, respectively. A substantially horizontal second flange 6a is welded to both front and rear ends of the front end 6a.
Member 7 As shown in FIG. 20, the first member 6 and the second member 7 are formed in a substantially U-shaped cross section and a substantially U-shaped inverted cross section, respectively.

[0003]

However, such a knee protector for an automobile has the following problems. That is, in the conventional example as shown in FIGS. 17 and 18, when a load is applied to the knee protector 1 in the F1 direction, that is, from the occupant's knee to the front side, the respective members 3 'and 4' are crushed back and forth. When an upward load is applied in the direction, that is, from the occupant's knee, the root of the first member 3 may be broken, and the members 3 ″ and 4 ″ may jump upward, resulting in a problem of mode instability. Further, in the conventional example as shown in FIGS. 19 to 21, although the mode can be stabilized, when the load in the F1 direction or the F2 direction is applied to the knee protector 5, the first and second members 6 and 7. 20 is formed in a shell shape as shown in FIG. 20, and as shown by the arrow, the second member 7 may obstruct the crushing stroke S, not absorb the impact energy, and may have insufficient crushing ability. is there. As a countermeasure, a space for moving the knee protectors 1 and 5 is further required in a dash panel (not shown), and improvement is desired. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a knee protector for an automobile in which the mode of the knee protector at the time of a collision can be easily stabilized, and the impact energy can be well absorbed and a good crushing ability can be obtained.

[0004]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a knee protector for an automobile, comprising: a first member formed in a substantially V shape in a side view, supported by a vehicle body component;
The first member includes second members fixed to both front and rear ends, and the left and right cross sections of the first member and the second member are formed in a substantially U-shape. The two members are formed so as to be fittable in the first member. Claim 2
The vehicle knee protector according to claim 1, wherein the left and right cross sections of the first member and the left and right cross sections of the second member are formed in a substantially U-shape with an upper part opened. . According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the vehicle knee protector according to the first aspect, the left and right cross sections of the first member are formed in a substantially U-shape with an upper part opened, and the left and right cross sections of one end of the second member are formed. Are formed in a substantially U-shape opened upward, and the left and right cross sections of the other end of the second member are formed in a substantially U-shape opened downward. According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a knee protector for an automobile according to the first aspect, wherein the right and left cross sections of one end of the left and right cross sections of the first member and the second member are respectively opened upward. The left and right cross sections of one end of the left and right cross sections of the first member and the second member are each formed in a substantially U-shape opened downward.

[0005]

According to this knee protector for an automobile, if an occupant collides with the knee protector, the second member is moved to the first position.
Since the fitting stroke can be fitted in the member, the crush stroke is not hindered.

[0006]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A first embodiment of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to FIGS. The same members as those in the conventional example are denoted by the same reference numerals, and redundant description will be omitted. FIG. 1 is a perspective view,
2 is a side view of FIG. 1, and FIGS. 3 and 4 are SA-SA of FIG.
FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along line SB-SB and FIG. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 10 denotes a knee protector supported by an electric welding EW on a steering member 2, which is a "body component". The knee protector 10
It comprises a first member 11 and a second member 12. As shown in FIG. 2, the first member 11 is substantially V
It is formed in a U-shape and is formed in a substantially U-shape with an upper part opened in a cross section, and flanges 11a, 11a extend to the left and right outer sides, respectively. As shown in FIG. 2, the second member 12 is formed in a substantially horizontal shape in a side view, and is formed in a substantially U-shape in which the upper portion is uniformly opened in cross section, and flanges 12a, 12a are provided on the left and right outer sides. Are respectively extended. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, flanges 12a, 12a are spot-welded to the right and left ends of the front and rear ends of the flanges 11a, 11a of the first member 11, respectively. According to this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 5, when an occupant (not shown) collides with the knee protector 10 from the direction F1, the first member 11 and the second member 12 are bent by the load. At this time, the second member 12
Since it is fitted in the substantially U-shaped cross section of the member 11,
The crush stroke will not be disturbed.

Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.
1 will be described in detail. For the same members as the conventional example,
The same reference numerals are used, and duplicate description is omitted. 6 is a perspective view, FIG. 7 is a side view, FIGS. 8 and 9 are cross-sectional views taken along lines SD-SD and SE-SE of FIG. 7, and FIG.
FIG. 11 is an operation explanatory view of FIG. FIG.
, 15 is a knee protector supported on the steering member 2 by electric welding EW. The knee protector 15 includes a first member 16 and a second member 1.
7

As shown in FIG. 7, the first member 16 is formed in a substantially V-shape in a side view, and is formed in a substantially U-shape in which the upper part is opened in cross section.
6a and 16a are respectively extended. The second member 1
7, has a substantially horizontal shape in a side view as shown in FIG. 7, and the front end 17b side is formed in a substantially U-shape with a cross section opened upward as shown in FIG. Fig. 9 shows the 17c side
As shown in the figure, the section is formed in a substantially U-shape with the lower part opened in the cross section, and is formed by being twisted in the middle. Flanges 17a, 17a are provided on the left and right outer sides of the second member 17, respectively.
As shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the flanges 17a, 17a of the first member 16 are spot-welded to the front and rear ends of the flanges 16a, 16a. Also, the first member 16 and the second member 17
As shown in FIG. 10, the width of the rear part (right side in FIG. 10) of the vehicle is smaller than the width of the steering member 2 on the left and right sides.

According to this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 11, when an occupant (not shown) collides with the knee protector 15 from the direction F1, the first member 16 and the second member 17 are bent by the load. . At this time, the rear end portion 17c of the second member 17 is fitted in the cross section of the substantially U-shaped front end portion 17b whose upper part is opened, and the second member 17 is moved to the first position.
Since the member 16 is fitted in a substantially U-shaped cross section,
The collapsing stroke of both members 16 and 17 will not be disturbed. The boundary between the substantially U-shaped front end 17b opened above the second member 17 and the substantially U-shaped rear end 17c opened below promotes the bending of the second member 17 when collapsed. Therefore, there is also an advantage that it is not necessary to separately provide a bead or a notch for promoting the bending of the second member.

Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. The same members as those in the conventional example are denoted by the same reference numerals, and redundant description will be omitted. FIG.
13 is a perspective view, FIG. 13 is a side view, and FIGS.
16 is a sectional view taken along lines SF-SF and SG-SG of FIG.
FIG. 14 is an operation explanatory view of FIG. 13. In FIG. 13, reference numeral 20 denotes a knee protector supported on the steering member 2 by electric welding EW. The knee protector 20
It comprises a first member 21 and a second member 22. The first member 21 is formed in a substantially V-shape in side view as shown in FIG. 13, and the front end 21 b side is formed in a substantially U-shape whose cross section is open upward as shown in FIG. 14. As shown in FIG. 15, the rear end portion 21c is formed in a substantially U-shape with a cross-section opened at the lower side, and is formed by being twisted from the middle. On the left and right outer sides of the first member 21, flanges 21a, 21a respectively extend. The second member 22 has a substantially horizontal shape as viewed from the side as shown in FIG. 13, and the front side portion 22b is formed in a substantially U-shape with a cross-section opened upward as shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 15, the rear end portion 22c is formed in a substantially U-shape with a cross-section opened at the lower side, and is formed by being twisted in the middle.

Flanges 22a, 22a extend right and left outside of the second member 22, respectively, as shown in FIGS. 14 and 15, both front and rear ends of the flanges 21a, 21a of the first member 21. The flanges 22a, 2
2a is spot-welded and substantially horizontal. Also, the first member 21 and the second member 22 are different from the left and right width dimensions of the steering member 2 side in the rear part of the vehicle (see FIG. 10) like the first member 11 and the second member 12 shown in FIG. The right side is formed to have a small width dimension. According to this embodiment, when an occupant (not shown) collides with the knee protector 20 from the F1 direction as shown in FIG.
And the second member 22 bend. At this time, the rear ends 21c, 22c of the second member 22 and the first member 21
Are fitted in a substantially U-shaped cross section in which the upper portions of the first member 21 and the second member 22 are opened. That is, since the rear end 21c of the first member is also fitted into the front end 21b of the first member, the crushing stroke of both members 21 and 22 is further increased, and the impact energy can be further absorbed. A substantially U-shaped front end portion 21b opened above the first member 21 and the second member 22;
2b and the boundary between the substantially U-shaped rear ends 21c and 22c formed below the first member 21 and the second member 22 when the first member 21 and the second member 22 are collapsed.
To further promote turning. Therefore, there is also an advantage that it is not necessary to separately provide a bead or a notch for promoting the bending of the first member and the second member.

[0012]

As described above, according to the knee protector for an automobile of the present invention, if an occupant collides with the knee protector, the second member can be fitted into the first member. And has a practical effect of being able to absorb impact energy well and obtain a good crushing ability.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an automotive knee protector showing a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a side view of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line SA-SA of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line SB-SB in FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is an operation explanatory view of FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a knee protector for an automobile according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a side view of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a sectional view taken along line SD-SD in FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a sectional view taken along the line SE-SE of FIG. 7;

FIG. 10 is a plan view according to arrow C in FIG. 7;

FIG. 11 is an operation explanatory view of FIG. 7;

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of a knee protector for a vehicle, showing a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a side view of FIG.

FIG. 14 is a sectional view taken along the line SF-SF in FIG. 13;

FIG. 15 is a sectional view taken along the line SG-SG in FIG. 13;

FIG. 16 is an operation explanatory view of FIG. 13;

FIG. 17 is a perspective view of a conventional knee protector for an automobile.

FIG. 18 is a side view of FIG.

FIG. 19 is a perspective view of a conventional knee protector for an automobile.

20 is a sectional view taken along the line SH-SH of FIG.

FIG. 21 is a side view of FIG. 19;

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Knee protector 15 Knee protector 20 Knee protector 11 1st member 16 1st member 21 1st member 11a Flange of 1st member 16a Flange of 1st member 21a Flange of 1st member 12 2nd member 17 2nd member 22 2nd Member 12a Flange of second member 17a Flange of second member 22a Flange of second member 17b Front end of second member 22b Front end of second member 17c Rear end of second member 22c Rear end of second member 21b Front end of first member 21c Rear end of first member

Claims (4)

(57) [Claims] 1. A substantially V-viewed side view supported by a vehicle body component member.
A knee protector for an automobile, comprising a first member formed in a U-shape and second members fixed to both front and rear ends of the first member, wherein the left and right cross sections of the first member and the second member are substantially co-shaped. And the second member is placed in the first position in the event of a collision.
An automobile knee protector formed so as to be fittable in a member. 2. The knee protector for an automobile according to claim 1, wherein a left-right cross section of the first member and a right-left cross section of the second member are formed in a substantially U-shape with an upper part opened. . 3. A left and right cross section of the first member is formed in a substantially U-shape with an upper part opened, and a left and right cross section of one end of the second member is formed in a substantially U-shaped part with an upper part opened. 2. The knee protector for an automobile according to claim 1, wherein the left and right cross sections of the other end of the second member are formed in a substantially U-shape opened downward. 4. The right and left cross sections of one end of the left and right cross sections of the first member and the second member are formed in a substantially U-shape opened upward, respectively. 2. The knee protector for an automobile according to claim 1, wherein the left and right cross-sections of one end of the left and right cross-sections of the second member are each formed in a substantially U-shape opened downward.