JPH053419Y2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed description of the invention] [Industrial field of application] This invention relates to a knee pad structure for an automobile.

[Prior Art] Generally, in the structure of the front part of a vehicle compartment, knee pads are provided below the instrument panel to absorb the impact load from the knees of an occupant in the event of a collision, as shown in, for example, Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 56-1483.

To explain this structure with respect to a conventional example shown in FIG. 4, an instrument panel 2 is provided continuously on a vehicle body member 1, a glove box 3 having a lid 4 is formed at the bottom of the instrument panel 2, and knee pads 5 are arranged below the glove box 3. do.

However, since the knee pads 5 are formed separately from the instrument panel 2, the position of the instrument panel 2 with respect to the knee pads 5 is inevitably pushed upwards, so that the knee pads 5 are separated from the driver's front. This poses a problem in that visibility deteriorates and it also creates a sense of oppression, which has a negative impact on livability.

Furthermore, if the instrument panel 2 is lowered to avoid this, the glove box 3 provided at the bottom becomes smaller and its volume is sacrificed.
There was a problem that it was not suitable for storing small items.

[Purpose of the invention] This invention solves the above-mentioned problems and provides a knee pad structure for an automobile in which a glove box has the function of a knee pad.

[Structure of the invention] This invention provides receiving members at several main parts of the frame of the instrument panel along the upper edge of the glove box opening of the instrument panel, and the receiving members are provided on the lid of the glove box. In response to this, a knee pad structure for an automobile is characterized in that an engaging member is provided which comes into contact with the receiving member due to the collision load of the occupant's knee during a collision.

[Example] The details of this invention will be explained with reference to the example shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 as follows.

An instrument panel 2 is provided continuously to a vehicle body member 1, and a glove box 7 having a lid 8 is formed in the lower part of the instrument panel 2. That is, frames 10 and 12 made of resin are combined, the inside thereof is a space forming the glove box 7, the outer surface of the frame 10 is covered with a pad material 15 in which a metal core plate 14 is embedded, and the outer surface is further covered with a skin. 16 to form the instrument panel 2.

Also, inside the glove box 7, there is a box body 1.
8, and a pin 19 provided on a bracket at the bottom thereof is rotatably supported on the frame 12 side. Then, a lid 8 is formed by attaching a surface plate 20 to a portion of the box body 18 located on the passenger compartment side.
That is, the lid 8 covers the opening 21 of the glove box 7, and the lid 8 covers the opening 21 of the glove box 7.
9 as the center of rotation, the door can be opened freely as shown by the chain line.

Now, a receiving member 23 is provided along the upper edge of the opening 21 of the glove box 7. That is, a receiving metal fitting 24 of an appropriate length is provided, an L-shaped cross-sectional receiving member 23 is welded to this, and when the frame 10 and the core metal plate 14 are connected, the receiving metal fitting 24 is overlapped with this, and both are secured with set screws 25. conclude. As a result, the receiving members 23 are positioned along the upper edge of the opening 21 at several main parts thereof so as to protrude downward.

On the other hand, when attaching the top plate 20 to the box body 18 to form the lid 8, an engaging member 27 is provided opposite the receiving member 23. That is, at the upper edge of the lid 8, an L-shaped cross-sectional engaging member 27 is sandwiched between the edge member 28 of the box body 18 and the reinforcing reinforcement 29, and they are fixed together by heat caulking 30. As a result, the engaging members 27 are located at several main parts opposite the receiving member 23 so as to protrude inward.

This glove box 7 is provided at a low position similar to conventional knee pads. Therefore, when the knees of the occupant collide with the lid 8 located in front during a collision, the lid 8 is pushed into the glove box 7 and the engaging member 27 comes into contact with the receiving member 23. The collision load is widely distributed to the glove box 7 and the instrument panel 2 via these two abutting members, and this collision energy is absorbed.

[Effects of the invention] The glove box of this invention is constructed as described above, and the area around the lid of the glove box has the function of a knee pad, so as to receive the collision load of the occupant's knees in the event of a collision. That is, there is no need to provide knee pads separate from the instrument panel as in the conventional example, and the glove box of this invention is installed at the position of the knee pads.

Therefore, the structure around the instrument panel (including the glove box) is simplified, and weight and manufacturing costs can be reduced. Since the degree of freedom in the layout around the instrument panel is greatly improved, the driver's visibility to the front is improved, and the negative impact on comfort caused by a feeling of pressure is eliminated. Additionally, the glove box can be made larger to increase storage capacity.

In addition, the collision load caused by the knees of the occupant at the time of a collision is widely dispersed and absorbed by the glove box and the instrument panel via the engaging member 27 and the receiving member 23, which are in contact with each other, so that the absorption efficiency is extremely good. . Since the engaging member 27 is formed so as to protrude inward of the lid, there are many advantages such as being able to prevent items stored in the glove box from flying out when the lid is opened.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing the structure around the glove box according to an embodiment of this invention, FIG. 2 is an enlarged explanatory diagram of section A in FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of the receiving member of FIG.
FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the engaging member, and an explanatory view showing the structure around the glove box of the conventional example. 2... Instrument panel, 7... Glove box, 8... Lid, 21... Opening, 2
3... Receiving member, 27... Engaging member.

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] A receiving member 23 is attached to several main parts of the instrument panel frame along the upper edge of the glove box opening of the instrument panel.
An engaging member 2 is provided on the lid of the glove box, corresponding to the receiving member 23, and comes into contact with the receiving member 23 due to the collision load of the occupant's knee at the time of a collision.
A knee pad structure for an automobile characterized by providing a 7.