JP4174947B2 - Under cover mounting structure for vehicles - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a vehicle undercover mounting structure for attaching an undercover to an instrument panel in a vehicle interior, and more particularly to an underload that is deformed and absorbs shock when subjected to an overload from an occupant's knee during a vehicle collision. The present invention relates to a vehicle undercover mounting structure for mounting a cover.
[0002]
[Prior art]
The instrument panel in the front part of the passenger compartment faces the occupant and is in a position with good operability, so that various meters, article storage units, and the like are formed here. In particular, a meter, a steering column, and the like are provided at a portion facing the driver's seat, and an under cover is often attached below them. Some of the undercovers have a function as a knee protector for protecting the occupant's knee in the event of a vehicle collision by covering the lower notch of the steering column and facing the occupant's knee.
[0003]
For example, as shown in FIG. 6, the instrument panel 100 in the front part of the passenger compartment includes a skin portion 120 having a cutout portion 110 facing the rear of the vehicle (rightward in the drawing), and the skin portion is an inner core portion 130. It is reinforced. In the inner core portion 130, a lower mounting portion 130 a of the meter 140, a lower end mounting portion 130 b of the meter bezel 150 that covers the periphery of the meter 140, and an upper end mounting portion 130 c of the under cover 160 are connected to a portion facing the notch portion 110. Is formed.
[0004]
Here, the lower end attaching portion 130b and the upper end attaching portion 130c are formed continuously in the vertical direction in the cutout portion 110 of the inner core portion 130, and the meter bezel 150 and the under cover 160 are attached to the clip C and the attachment portions 130b and 130c. The screws V are integrally connected to each other, thereby positioning the both ends of the lower end d1 of the meter bezel 150 and the upper end d2 of the under cover 160 in the front-rear direction X. An example of such a knee protector is disclosed in Utility Model Registration Publication No. 2549497.
[0005]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
By the way, the under cover 160 constituting the knee protector receives an overload P from the occupant's knee N that shifts forward in the event of a car collision, and at that time, is deformed as indicated by a two-dot chain line, and the impact force received by the occupant's knee N It works to reduce
However, the lower end attachment portion 130b and the upper end attachment portion 130c formed in the vicinity of the notch portion 110 of the inner core portion 130 are continuously formed to extend downward, and the upper end attachment portion 130c that supports the upper end of the under cover 160 is formed in the vertical direction. Tends to be relatively low. Therefore, when the occupant's knee N is displaced forward, the knee N abuts against the attachment portion 130c via the upper end d2 of the under cover 160, and the under cover 160 for absorbing the impact force received by the occupant's knee. It will be impossible to exert the impact reduction function.
[0006]
Therefore, for example, if these positions are shifted upward so that the occupant's knee N does not interfere with the attachment portion 130b or the attachment portion 130c, the shape of the meter 140 or the meter bezel 150 needs to be changed. Further, if the rigidity of the lower end mounting portion 130b and the upper end mounting portion 130c is reduced, the lower end d1 of the meter bezel 150 supported by the lower end mounting portion 130c and the upper end d2 of the under cover are likely to be displaced in the front-rear direction X, which is attractive. The problem of deteriorating arises.
An object of the present invention is to provide a vehicular undercover mounting structure that can securely mount an undercover having a knee protector function to an instrument panel and secure an impact reduction function based on the above-described problems.
[0007]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above-described object, according to the first aspect of the present invention, an inner core portion that reinforces the outer skin portion and an outer skin portion that is formed on a wall facing the occupant and that is formed with a notch portion into which a steering column of a vehicle is fitted. When the instrument panel is disposed on the instrument panel and covers the same part at least on the lower part of the notch and the main part of the substantially rectangular plate is overloaded from the occupant's knee In a vehicle undercover mounting structure in which an undercover formed so as to be deformable is mounted , a tip portion having an upward mounting surface is formed at a portion facing the notch portion of the inner core portion, and the lower mounting portion is formed below the inner core portion, the main portion to the lower mounting portion is attached to the bent flange of the upper end portion of the main portion of the under cover the mounting surface of the distal portion Coupling tightening the left and right end mounting portion formed on the bottom and, in the under cover to form a groove-shaped fragile portion continuously in the vehicle width direction to a position directly below the bent flange at the upper end vicinity of the main portion Yes.
In this way, the bent flange at the upper end of the main part of the under cover is attached to the mounting surface at the tip of the inner core part, and the left and right end attachment parts formed at the lower part of the main part are tightened at the lower attachment part of the inner core part. Combined . For this reason, it becomes easy to hold down the amount of extension of the tip part below, and to hold the part above the knee, and it is almost the surface facing the occupant of the under cover with the upper end attached to this attachment surface. The entire region can be formed to be deformable, and the function as a knee protector that absorbs overload and reduces the impact force received by the occupant's knees can be reliably exhibited. In particular, since the groove-shaped weakened part is formed continuously in the vehicle width direction in the vicinity of the upper end of the main part of the undercover in the vehicle width direction, the surface facing the occupant of the undercover is more reliable than the occupant's knee. At that time, the fragile part breaks and absorbs the overload, and the impact force received by the occupant's knee can be further reduced. And the position shift of the front-back direction X of the upper end part of an undercover can be prevented, and the fall of appearance can be prevented.
[0008]
According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the vehicle undercover mounting structure according to the first aspect,
The upper notch of the steering column is covered with a meter bezel and the lower notch is covered with an under cover, and an upper projecting piece facing the meter bezel is extended and formed at the upper end of the under cover. The lower end of the meter bezel is attached.
In this case, in particular, the upper end portion of the under cover is attached to the upward mounting surface of the inner core portion, the upper protrusion is formed to extend from the upper end portion, and the lower end portion of the meter bezel is attached to the upper protrusion. The lower end portion of the meter bezel can be attached to the upper end portion of the under cover with reference to the under cover without any positional displacement in the front-rear direction, and deterioration in appearance can be prevented. In addition, almost all of the surface of the undercover that is disposed directly below the steering column can be made to function as a knee protector.
[0009]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
FIG. 1 shows an instrument panel 2 to which an under cover 1 is attached using a vehicle under cover attachment structure as an embodiment of the present invention.
The instrument panel 2 is formed by integrating a skin portion 5 formed of a soft synthetic resin and an inner core portion 4 formed of a hard synthetic resin that reinforces the skin portion 5. The instrument panel 2 is provided long in the vehicle width direction Y (see FIG. 3) in the front part of the vehicle compartment (not shown), and is integrally coupled to the left and right inner panels on the body side (not shown) of the front part of the vehicle compartment. The main portion of the inner core portion 4 is fastened and coupled to the deck crossbar 3 so as to be integrally coupled to the vehicle body side.
[0010]
A cutout portion 9 is formed at a portion of the skin portion 5 facing the driver so as to be cut out upward from the lower end edge. The notch 9 has an upper portion covered with the combination meter 7 and a meter bezel 8 that covers the peripheral edge of the meter, and a lower portion covered with the under cover 1. The notch 9 is sandwiched between the meter bezel 8 and the under cover 1. A steering column 6 is fitted and arranged at a substantially central portion of the. Therefore, the opposing portions of the meter bezel 8 and the under cover 1 facing the steering column 6 are formed in a concave shape as shown in FIG. 3, and the lower end n1 of the meter bezel 8 and the upper end n2 of the under cover 1 are steering. The column 6 is formed so as to be in contact with each other on the left and right sides.
[0011]
The inner core portion 4 whose rigidity has been reinforced has a peripheral reinforcing portion 401 that reinforces the peripheral portion 501 of the cutout portion 5 at a portion facing the cutout portion 9, and a notch portion that opposes the portion located on the center side of the cutout portion 9. Part 12 is deployed. The upper end back portion of the notch facing portion 12 is bent vertically to form the mounting portion 121 of the combination meter 7 and extends from the lower end to the occupant side (right side in FIG. 1) via a stepped portion. A plate portion 122 is formed to extend. The extension plate portion 122 has a tip portion 123 as an attachment surface forming portion having an upward attachment surface f on the tip end side, and the core side notch portion 13 (see FIG. 2) in the center of the extension plate portion 122. Is formed. The steering column 6 fitted in the notch 9 and the core side notch 13 is fastened and coupled to the deck crossbar 3 via the bracket 11.
[0012]
The notch part peripheral part 501 reinforced from the back side by the peripheral reinforcing part 401 is formed with a step part in the thickness direction as shown in FIG. The step portion is formed so that the upper portion and the left and right side portions of the meter bezel 8 and the left and right side portions of the under cover 1 are fitted, and this step portion is formed between the notch peripheral portion 501 and the meter bezel 8 and the under cover 1. It is formed so that the gap can be eliminated. Note that the upper and left and right side portions of the meter bezel 8 and the left and right side portions of the under cover 1 are coupled with clips C and screws V to rectangular holes and screw holes (not shown) at respective opposing positions on the extension plate portion 122 side.
[0013]
The under cover 1 that covers the lower portion of the notch 9 is a synthetic resin material similar to the skin material 5 of the instrument panel, is formed into a substantially rectangular plate shape that is long in the vehicle width direction Y, and has a curved surface facing the occupant side. The main part 101 is provided. Further, the main portion 101 has a bent flange portion 102 extending from the left and right upper end portions n2, and an upper protruding piece 15 extending from the same portion. The main portion 101 is formed as a rigid plate that can be deformed when an overload is received from the knee N of the occupant. The bent flange portion 102 is formed so as to overlap the upward mounting surface f of the tip end portion 123. Speed screws 16 are respectively attached to a plurality of appropriate positions on the attachment surface f, and U-shaped holes g are formed at portions of the respective bent flange portions 102 facing the speed screws 16. For this reason, when the screw V inserted into the U-shaped hole g is fastened and coupled to the speed screw 16, the bent flange portion 102 of the under cover 1 can be fastened and fixed to the upward mounting surface f.
[0014]
Further, the upper projecting piece 15 extending upward from the upper end portion n2 of the undercover 1 has a base portion integrally coupled to the upper end portion n2 side, and includes a fastening hole 20 and a rectangular clip from the upper side to the lower side. A hole 18 and a positioning hole 19 are sequentially formed. The fastening hole 20 is formed so as to face the screw hole m1 of the laterally extending plate portion 122a. By screwing the screw V inserted into the fastening hole 20 into the screw hole m1, the upper projecting piece 15 and the under cover are formed. The upper end n2 can be reliably fixed to the side extending plate 122a side. The rectangular clip hole 18 is formed so that a fixing clip C attached to the back surface of the lower end portion n1 of the meter bezel can be pushed in and fitted. In addition, a concave portion q for preventing interference with the fixing clip C is formed in the side extending plate portion 122a at a portion facing the clip hole 18 on the upper protruding piece 15. The positioning hole 19 is formed so that a positioning pin 21 protruding from the back surface of the lower end portion n1 of the meter bezel 8 can be inserted without deviation.
[0015]
Next, the attachment procedure of the under cover 1 using the attachment structure of the under cover equipped in the instrument panel 2 will be described.
First, the instrument panel 2 is integrally attached to the front part of the passenger compartment via the deck cross member 3, and the steering column 6 is fitted into the notch 9 and the core side notch 13, and then the deck crossbar 3 is attached. Tightened together.
Then, the combination meter 7 is attached to the attachment portion 121 of the notch facing portion 12, and the bent flange portion 102 of the undercover 1 is overlapped on the attachment surface f of the tip portion 123, so that the U-shaped hole of the tip portion 123 is overlapped. The screw V inserted through g is fastened and coupled to each speed screw 16 to fasten the bent flange portion 102 of the under cover 1 to the upward mounting surface f. Next, the left and right end attachment portions 103 of the under cover 1 are fastened to the lower attachment portion 124 of the inner core portion 4 with screws V. Further, by screwing the screw V inserted into the tightening hole 20 of the upper protrusion 15 of the under cover 1 into the screw hole m1, the under cover 1 is attached to the side extending plate portion 122a via the upper protrusion 15. Can be tightened.
[0016]
Thereafter, a plurality of fixing clips C (see FIG. 3) of the meter bezel 8 are pressed into the rectangular clip holes 18 or other clip holes (not shown) on the mounting portion 121 of the notch facing portion 12 to form the notch portion. 9, the meter bezel 8 is securely fitted, and at the same time, the positioning pins 21 are fitted into the positioning holes 19, whereby the meter bezel 8 can be positioned with respect to the under cover 1. Thereafter, the mounting process of the instrument panel 2 to other portions is performed, and the mounting of the instrument panel to the front part of the passenger compartment is completed.
In this way, the upper end n2 of the under cover 1 is securely fixed to the distal end 123 on the side of the notch facing portion 12 having high rigidity, and the lower end of the meter bezel 8 via the upper protruding piece 15 on the upper end n2 side. n1 is securely fixed. For this reason, the lower end portion n1 of the meter bezel can be attached to the upper end portion n2 of the under cover 1 without misalignment in the front-rear direction X on the basis of the under cover, and it is possible to prevent the mutual displacement from occurring even while the vehicle is running. Decline can be prevented.
[0017]
Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 4, it is assumed that the vehicle collides while the vehicle is running, the occupant's knee N is displaced forward, and an overload P is applied to the main portion 101 of the under cover 1. At this time, the tip 123 that supports the upper end n2 of the undercover 1 merely forms the upward mounting surface f, and extends downward and faces the occupant direction (rightward on the paper surface). No attachment part 130c) at 6 is formed. For this reason, the height position h1 of the front-end | tip part 123 in the up-down direction is hold | maintained in a comparatively high position, and can keep the predetermined distance t with respect to the height position h0 of a passenger | crew's knee N. FIG. For this reason, almost the entire region of the main portion 101 of the undercover 1 is not obstructed by the distal end portion 123 of the notch portion facing portion 12 and can be deformed as shown by a two-dot chain line, and absorbs the impact force applied to the occupant's knee N. The function as a knee protector can be surely exhibited.
[0018]
In the above-mentioned place, the main portion 101 of the under cover 1 that functions as a knee protector is formed as a rigid plate that has a uniform rigidity enough to be deformed when subjected to an overload from the occupant's knee. However, instead of this, an under cover 1a as shown in FIG. 5 may be used. In this case, a V-groove 903 as a fragile portion is formed in the vicinity of the upper end portion n2 of the under cover 1a substantially continuously in the lateral direction (perpendicular to the paper surface). The V-groove 903 is formed at a position h2 immediately below the bent flange portion 102 coupled to the upward mounting surface f of the distal end portion 123 and higher than the height position h0 of the occupant's knee N. For this reason, when the main portion 101 receives an overload P from the occupant's knee N, stress concentration occurs in the V-groove 903 having a particularly small rigidity, and the tip portion 123 is damaged before the other portion. It is displaced r forward of the vehicle body without interfering with, and the shock absorbing deformation is surely performed. For this reason, by providing the V-groove 903 in the under cover 1a, the impact force received by the occupant's knees N can be more reliably absorbed and the occupant's safety can be enhanced.
[0019]
Although the instrument panel 2 in FIG. 1 is an integrated body part 5 made of synthetic resin and an inner core part 4 with enhanced rigidity, the inner core part 4 may be made of sheet metal. Alternatively, the skin portion 5 and the inner core portion 4 are molded from a single synthetic resin, and the under cover 1 is attached to the instrument panel (not shown) using the vehicle under cover attachment structure to which the present invention is applied. In these cases, it is possible to obtain the same operation and effect as in the case of using the vehicle undercover mounting structure of FIG.
In the instrument panel 2 of FIG. 1, a meter bezel 8 and an under cover 1 are mounted up and down so as to cover a notch portion 9 formed on a wall facing the occupant. If an intermediate panel (not shown) is further provided between the bezel 8 and the under cover 1, the vehicle under cover mounting structure of the present invention is applied also in this case, and the intermediate panel is based on the under cover. In this case, the same effect as that of the vehicle undercover mounting structure of FIG. 1 can be obtained.
[0020]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention, the bent flange at the upper end of the main portion of the undercover is attached to the mounting surface of the tip portion of the inner core portion, and the lower mounting portion of the inner core portion is formed at the lower portion of the main portion. The left and right end mounting portions were tightened and joined . For this reason, it becomes easy to hold down the amount of extension of the tip part below, and to hold the part above the knee, and it is almost the surface facing the occupant of the under cover with the upper end attached to this attachment surface. The entire region can be formed to be deformable, and the function as a knee protector that absorbs overload and reduces the impact force received by the occupant's knees can be reliably exhibited. In particular, since the groove-shaped weakened part is formed continuously in the vehicle width direction in the vicinity of the upper end of the main part of the undercover in the vehicle width direction, the surface facing the occupant of the undercover is more reliable than the occupant's knee. At that time, the fragile part breaks and absorbs the overload, and the impact force received by the occupant's knee can be further reduced. And the position shift of the front-back direction X of the upper end part of an undercover can be prevented, and the fall of appearance can be prevented.
[0021]
In the invention of claim 2, in particular, mounting an upper end portion of the under coverings upward the mounting surface of the inner core portion, the upper protrusion and extending formed from the upper end, a lower end portion of the meter bezel to the upward projecting piece since the mounted, the lower end portion of the meter bezel can be mounted without misalignment longitudinal position on the upper end portion of the under-coverings at the under coverings basis, the reduction in appearance can be prevented. Moreover, it is possible to function almost all the surface facing the occupant of the under coverings that are deployed just below the steering column as knee protector.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken along line AA in FIG. 3, showing an instrument panel with an undercover attached using a vehicle undercover attachment structure according to an embodiment of the present invention.
2 is a perspective cutaway view of a main part of the instrument panel in FIG. 1. FIG.
3 is a schematic front view of the instrument panel in FIG. 1. FIG.
4 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken along line BB in FIG. 3, showing a mounting portion between the instrument panel and the under cover in FIG.
FIG. 5 is a schematic cutaway sectional view of an instrument panel to which an under cover is attached using a vehicle under cover attachment structure as another embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 6 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a state in which an under cover is attached to an instrument panel using a conventional vehicle under cover attachment structure.
[Explanation of symbols]
1 Under cover 102 Bending flange (mounting surface forming part)
2 Instrument panel 4 Inner core part 5 Skin part 9 Notch part 15 Upper protrusion f Upward mounting surface n1 Lower end part n2 of meter bezel Upper end part of under cover

Claims (2)

An instrument panel having an inner core portion that reinforces the outer skin portion formed on the wall facing the occupant and formed with a cutout portion into which the steering column of the vehicle is inserted, and is provided on the instrument panel. The vehicle has a substantially rectangular plate-shaped main portion attached to an under cover formed so as to be deformable when an overload is received from an occupant's knee. In the under cover mounting structure,
A tip portion having an upward mounting surface is formed at a portion of the inner core portion facing the notch portion, and a lower mounting portion is formed below the inner core portion, and the under surface is formed on the mounting surface of the tip portion. A bent flange at the upper end of the main part of the cover is attached and a left and right end attaching part formed at the lower part of the main part is fastened to the lower attaching part, and the under cover is near the upper end of the main part. A vehicular undercover mounting structure in which a groove-like fragile portion is continuously formed in the vehicle width direction at a position directly below a bent flange. The undercover mounting structure for a vehicle according to claim 1,
The upper notch of the steering column is covered with a meter bezel and the lower notch is covered with an under cover, and an upper projecting piece facing the meter bezel is extended and formed at the upper end of the under cover. A vehicle under cover mounting structure, wherein a lower end portion of the meter bezel is mounted.

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