JPH0425392Y2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] The present invention relates to a front step structure for an automobile.

In a cab-over type automobile as shown in FIG. 2, a front step is formed inside the door 1.

FIG. 3 illustrates an example thereof, and corresponds to a cross section taken along the line A--A in FIG. 2. In FIG. 3, the end of the substantially horizontal portion of the side sill outer 2 bent into a substantially U-shape is overlapped with the upper end of the side sill inner 3 and the lower end of the front step panel 4, and is located at a portion indicated by reference numeral 5. Connected by spot welding, etc. Also, front step panel 4
The upper end of the front floor pan 6 is connected to the front floor pan 6 at a portion indicated by the reference numeral 7, and a floor mat 8 is laid on the front floor pan 6. Reference numeral 9 indicates a front door inner, and reference numeral 10 indicates a front door weather strip.

In this example, in order to secure the step part, the part of the front floor pan 6 near the front door inner 9 is depressed, so after the occupant sits on the front seat, his or her feet will fall into this depressed part. There is no place to put it, which not only causes fatigue especially during long-distance driving, but also causes problems in appearance in high-end cars because the floor mat 8 must be cut out at the step portion during manufacturing.

The example shown in FIG. 4 has been proposed as an improvement measure for the above.

In this example, the side sill inner 3' is bent into a concave shape toward the inside of the vehicle interior, and the upper part is formed to overhang to the outside of the vehicle interior, thereby securing a step section and also securing a step area for the front floor pan 6'. The amount of notches as in the previous example is reduced.

Accordingly, since the width of the front floor pan 6' is ensured, there is no need to cut out the floor mat 8', and the problems in terms of foot placement and appearance as in the above example are solved.

However, since the upper end of the side sill inner 3' and the end of the front floor pan 6' are connected at the vertical part indicated by the reference numeral 7', the D dimension required for the connection can be reduced to a certain extent. There is a problem in that it is not possible to sufficiently meet the demand for reducing as much as possible the dimension E, which corresponds to the height from the front step inner 11 to the front floor pan 6', which is necessary and ultimately affects the ease of getting on and off the vehicle.

Furthermore, a sealer is added to the connecting part 7' to prevent rainwater from entering from the underside of the floor, but in order to prevent interference between the sealer application width and the sealer and the front door weather strip 10', the sealer part and the connecting part 7 are It is necessary to set the dimension F, which is the distance from

Note that the reference numeral 12 indicates the front step inner 11.
and the side sill inner 3', and reference numeral 13 indicates the connection between the front step panel inner 11 and the front step panel outer 14, respectively.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide an improved front step structure for an automobile that can overcome the problems of the prior art described above.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention has one end connected to the part of the front floor pan near the passenger compartment, and the other end bent outward in the width direction of the vehicle in an overhang shape and connected to the front floor pan. has a convex portion forming a horizontal surface portion, and
a front step panel having a vertical wall portion extending downward from the convex portion to form a riser; an upper end portion connected to a lower end portion of the vertical wall portion; and a front step panel protruding outward from the vehicle with a substantially U-shaped cross section; a side sill outer that faces the lower surface of the convex portion and forms a substantially horizontally extending step surface; It is characterized in that it is composed of a side sill inner that forms a side sill.

The present invention will be specifically described below based on one embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 1, in the present invention, the front step structure is composed of a front panel 20, a side sill outer 40, and a side sill inner 30 as main elements.

First, the front step panel 20 has one end located at a portion 50 of the front floor pan 60 closer to the vehicle interior.
It is connected at. The other end side forms a horizontal surface portion continuous to the front floor pan 60, and further includes:
It is bent outward in the vehicle width direction to form a convex portion 20a, and extends downward to form a riser portion 20a with a vertical wall surface.

That is, the front step panel 20 has a horizontal surface portion continuous to the front floor pan 60, a convex portion 20a including the horizontal surface portion, and a riser portion formed by the vertical wall surface portion 20b.

Here, unlike the conventional example, the connection part of the front step panel 20 with the front floor pan 60 is set at a part 50 of the front floor pan 60 that is sufficiently close to the vehicle interior, so that the connection part from the step surface to the front floor pan 60 is up to the height of
It becomes possible to reduce the E′ dimension.

Next, the upper end of the side sill outer 40 is connected to the lower end of the vertical wall portion 20b at a portion indicated by reference numeral 15 together with a side sill inner 30 portion to be described later. The side sill outer 40 is formed to protrude outward from the vehicle and have a substantially U-shaped cross section within a range that does not protrude beyond the door 1, and constitutes a step surface extending substantially horizontally opposite to the lower surface of the convex upper portion 20a. .

The G dimension corresponding to the width of the step surface can be sufficiently secured by making the front step panel 20 overhang greatly.

Therefore, unlike the conventional example shown in FIG. 4, there is no need for the extension dimension H of the front step panel inner 11 to the outside of the vehicle, which contributes to preventing danger outside the vehicle and improving the appearance.

Next, the side sill inner 30 has its upper end connected to the vehicle inner side of the side sill outer 40,
Together with the side sill outer 40, it constitutes a cylindrical side sill.

Reference numeral 100 indicates a front door weather strip.

As described above, according to the present invention, not only is a sufficient step area secured by the combination of the front step panel 20 and the side sill outer 40, but also the height from the step surface to the front floor can be reduced by changing the connection area. , Since it is overhanged, there is no depressed part of the front floor pan 60,
This is advantageous in that it is possible to secure a place for the occupant's feet and to eliminate the need for cutouts in the floor mat 80, thereby solving the problems of the prior art.

Furthermore, since the side sill outer 40 is integrally configured in a substantially U-shape, there are no weld marks, protrusions, etc. for joining on the surface, and there are no welds for attachment, risers, side sill inner 3
Since it is provided at the lower end, it is difficult to see and has a good appearance. In addition, since the surface of the step is smooth, wind noise can be prevented.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Fig. 1 is a cross-sectional view of the front step portion according to the present invention, Fig. 2 is a front view showing an example of a type of automobile suitable for implementing the present invention, and Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line A--A in the same figure.
A sectional view of the prior art corresponding to the cross section taken in the direction of arrow A, and FIG. 4 is a sectional view of another prior art. 20...Front step panel, 20a...
Convex portion, 20b... Vertical wall portion, 40... Side sill outer, 60... Front floor pan.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claim for Utility Model Registration] One end side is connected to the part of the front floor pan near the passenger compartment, and the other end side is a horizontal surface part that is bent outward in the width direction of the vehicle in an overhang shape and continues to the front floor pan. a front step panel having a convex portion forming a vertical wall portion and a vertical wall portion extending downward from the convex portion to form a riser; an upper end portion connected to a lower end portion of the vertical wall portion;
a side sill outer that protrudes outward from the vehicle to have a substantially U-shaped cross section, faces the lower surface of the convex portion, and forms a step surface that extends substantially horizontally; A front step structure for an automobile, comprising a side sill inner which is connected to the side sill outer and forms a cylindrical side sill together with the side sill outer.