JPH0212137Y2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Industrial Application Field] The present invention relates to a steering column cover mounting structure for a vehicle such as an automobile. For more details,
The present invention relates to a steering column cover mounting structure in which a mounting bracket for mounting the steering column cover to a support member is deformed by an external force acting on the steering column cover and can absorb energy.

[Conventional technology]

The steering column is equipped with various electrical devices such as an engine key switch and a turn signal switch. Accordingly, lead wires connected to these electrical devices are wired to the steering column. Since these electrical devices and lead wires are usually visible to the driver and other passengers, they are covered with a steering column cover to improve the appearance of the steering column part (for example, Utility Model Application No. 111933/1983). ).

The steering column cover disposed on the steering column portion in this manner is usually formed in two parts to facilitate installation. Generally, the steering column cover is divided into an upper steering column cover located on the upper surface and a lower steering column cover located on the lower surface. The Atsupa steering column cover and lower steering column cover, which are divided into two parts, each have a fixing boss set upright, and both fixing bosses are tightened with fasteners such as screws, and the Atsupa steering column cover is separated into two parts. The cover and lower steering column cover are considered to be integrated.

The integrated steering column cover is directly assembled and supported by a support member such as a support bracket provided on the steering post.

[The problem that the idea aims to solve]

By the way, in the above-mentioned conventional steering column cover mounting structure, the integrated steering column cover is directly assembled and supported by a supporting member such as a support bracket, so that external force is not applied to the steering column cover. When acting, it could hardly absorb the energy of the external force.

An object of the present invention is to attach the steering column cover via a plastically deformable mounting bracket so that the mounting bracket can sufficiently absorb energy from an external force applied to the steering column cover from a predetermined direction.

[Means to solve the problem]

In order to achieve the above object, in the present invention, the steering column cover disposed on the upper part of the steering post is attached to the support member provided on the steering post via a plastically deformable mounting bracket. , and the steering column cover does not come into contact with other parts within a predetermined range in a predetermined direction in which the mounting bracket deforms and moves.

[Effect]

When the steering column cover receives an external force from a predetermined direction, the mounting bracket is plastically deformed and moves within a predetermined range, and the mounting position changes without the steering column cover coming into contact with other parts during that time.

[Effect of idea]

In the present invention, as described above, when an external force is applied to the steering column cover from a predetermined direction,
Since the mounting bracket plastically deforms within a predetermined range without any restrictions, the plastic deformation can sufficiently absorb external force energy.

〔Example〕

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described based on the drawings.

FIG. 3 shows the positional relationship in which steering column covers are arranged in an automobile. The steering column cover is shown as 10 and is disposed on top of the steering post 30. The position where this steering column cover 10 is disposed is below the steering wheel 32. Since the position where the steering column cover 10 is disposed is a position where the driver can easily operate the steering column cover 10, various operating mechanisms are disposed at this position. For example, although not shown in FIG. 3, a turn signal operating lever, a wiper operating lever, and a key cylinder for an engine key switch are arranged. As seen in FIG. 3, an external force may be applied to the steering column cover 10 from below. Furthermore, an external force may be applied when the knee pads 50 of the instrument panel 36 move in the direction of the arrow.

In FIG. 3, numeral 34 indicates a seat, and numeral 38 indicates a clutch or brake operating pedal.

FIG. 4 shows the steering device portion extracted from FIG. 3. As can be seen from this figure, the steering column cover 10 is formed by being divided into upper and lower halves from approximately the center position, with the upper side being the upper steering column cover 12 and the lower side being the lower steering column cover 14.

FIG. 5 shows the internal structure inside the steering column cover 10 with the steering column cover 10 cut away. Note that FIG. 5 is a view of FIG. 4 viewed from above. Inside the steering column cover 10 is a support bracket 4.
0 is placed. A turn signal operating lever 42 and a wiper operating lever 44 are disposed on both sides of the upper position (right side position in FIG. 6) of the upper bracket 40. Each of these operating levers 4
A turn signal switch and a wiper start switch are provided at the base portions of the windshields 2 and 44, respectively, and are activated by operating the respective operation levers 42 and 44. A key cylinder 46 for an engine key switch is also provided.

In Fig. 5, A, B, C, and D indicate:
Atsupa steering column cover 1 divided into two parts
2 and the lower steering column cover 14 are shown. in this way,
The upper steering column cover 12 and the lower steering column cover 14 are integrally fixed at a plurality of positions. In addition, in Fig. 5, 5
2 and 54 indicate the steering shaft, and the joint 5
6. The reason why the joint 56 is used is that the steering device of this embodiment is of a tilt type, and the steering wheel 32 can be tilted around the joint 56.

By the way, there are four parts A, B, C, and D that integrally fix the steering column cover 10 that is divided into two parts.
Among the joining positions of the parts, the mounting structure targeted by the present invention is performed at the joining position A.

FIG. 1 shows the detailed structure of the bonding position of A. Fixing boss 2 to Atsupa steering column cover 12
2 is provided, and correspondingly, a fixing boss 24 is also provided upright on the lower steering column cover 14. Both fixing bosses 2
2 and 24 are formed into approximately cylindrical shapes. Further, both fixing bosses 22 and 24 are integrally formed with the upper steering column cover 12 and the lower steering column cover 14 by integral molding. The material is resin. The lower part of the fixing boss 22 is open, but the opening diameter is slightly smaller than the threaded part of the screw 26, which is a fastening tool, and a thread is carved when the screw 26 is screwed in. There is. A mounting seat 24a for a screw 26 is formed at the top of the fixing boss 24, and the mounting seat 24a is formed on the top of the fixing boss 24.
A through hole for a screw 26 is bored in 4a.

The mounting bracket 16 has one end attached to the support bracket 40 with a bolt 58, and the other end attached to the above-mentioned fixing boss 22.
and 24, and are fastened with screws 26. The other end of the mounting bracket 16 is provided with an insertion hole through which a screw 26 is inserted.

The mounting bracket 16 is made of a plastically deformable pressed steel plate. Further, it is formed of a long member, and is disposed vertically as seen in FIG. 1, so that it can be sufficiently deformed upward when an external force is applied to the steering column cover 10 from below. The amount of deformation movement is approximately 30 mm to 40 mm, and within the range in which the mounting bracket 16 deforms and moves, the steering column cover 10 is configured not to come into contact with external structures or other built-in devices or parts.

In the above configuration, the Atsupa steering column cover 12 and the lower steering column cover 1
4 is integrally fixed by screwing the screw 26 from the fixing boss 24 side to the fixing boss 22 side with the mounting bracket 16 sandwiched between the fixing bosses 22 and 24. At this time, screw 26
For the fixing boss 24, insert it through the insertion hole drilled in the mounting seat 24a and attach it to the mounting bracket 16.
It is also inserted through the insertion hole provided at the other end and screwed in. Then, both fixing bosses 22 and the mounting bracket 16 are integrally fastened by screwing the screws into the fixing bosses 22 while cutting them.

By being fastened in this manner, the upper steering column cover 12 and the lower steering column cover 14 are integrated, and the integrated steering column cover 10
is supported by an upper bracket 40 via a mounting bracket 16.

In the steering column cover mounting structure as described above, when an external force is applied from below, as seen in FIG. 1, the mounting bracket 16 deforms.
The steering column cover 10 moves upward as shown in FIG. l shown in FIG. 2 indicates the amount of movement. Since the mounting bracket 16 is mounted in such a manner that it can be sufficiently deformed upwardly, it can be sufficiently deformed and moved in response to external forces. Since the deformation of the mounting bracket 16 is plastic deformation, it absorbs energy from external force during the deformation. This energy absorption is performed within the allowable amount of movement of the steering column cover 10 until it comes into contact with another part, that is, within a range of about 30 mm to 40 mm.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

1 to 5 show embodiments of the present invention,
Fig. 1 is a front cross-sectional view showing the mounting structure targeted by the present invention, Fig. 2 is a front cross-sectional view showing the same in a state deformed by external force, Fig. 3 is a view showing the arrangement relationship of the steering column cover, FIG. 4 is a front view of the steering device portion provided with the steering column cover, and FIG. 5 is a plan view showing the internal structure inside the steering column cover. Explanation of symbols, 10... Steering column cover, 12... Atsupa steering column cover,
14...Lower steering column cover, 16...
...Mounting bracket, 40...Atsupa bracket (supporting member).

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] A steering column cover disposed on the upper part of the steering post is attached to a support member provided on the steering post via a plastically deformable mounting bracket, and within a predetermined range in a predetermined direction in which the mounting bracket deforms and moves. is a steering column cover mounting structure that prevents the steering column cover from coming into contact with other parts.