JPH07277204A - Assemblable shock absorbing structure body - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To easily and additionally provide a shock absorbing structure body in a spot suffered from shock for buffering impulsive force by assembling plural pieces of short elements from the structure body elements formed in a polygon- shape and interposedly att/aching them in a longitudinal state. CONSTITUTION:This is an assemblable shock absorbing structure body 21 which is interposedly attached between a collision side member 16 and an impulsive. force receiving member. The shock absorbing structure body 21 is constructed by assembling plural pieces of short elements 22a cut to a fixed assembling length from a structure body element 22 which has a hollow part made of extruded synthetic resin and can be assembled and is formed in a polygon-shape into an aggregate having the shape of an attaching spot between the collision side member 16 and the shock receiving member and interposedly attaching them in a longitudinal state. The side of the polygon-shaped structure body element 22 is equipped with a joinable irregular joined part, and in addition, the above polygon-shaped structure body element 22 is composed of foam solid body. Thus the above shock absorbing structure body can be formed into a shock absorbing structure body having a required attaching shape and can buffer the impulsive force.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a shock-absorbing structure which can be assembled and is attached to a portion of a vehicle exterior or interior component that receives an external or internal impact to absorb the impact force.

Conventionally, in this type of automobile, for example, FIG.
As shown in FIG. 6, a protection device 2 is attached to the steering column 1 in order to protect the occupant's knees N from colliding with the steering column 1 due to a sudden stop or the like. There is one disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 64-9048 (Japanese Patent Application No. 62-165709). The protection device 2 disclosed in this publication has a column cover 3 for covering the lower side of the steering column 1 as shown in FIG.
Has a bulging portion 4 which bulges downward, and a plurality of ribs 5 are vertically and horizontally projected in a grid pattern on the inner surface of the bulging portion 4 as a cushioning member. The column cover 3 is attached to the knee portion N of the occupant.
The rib 5 is provided so as to buckle when colliding.
As a protection device 7 having another structure, as shown in FIG. 18, a grid frame-shaped rib body 9 which is separate from the column cover 8 is integrally formed with the assembly portion 8a of the column cover 8 via the mounting piece 9a. The rib body 9 is mounted on the steering column 2 side through the mounting and mounting portion 10, and the rib body 9 buckles when the knee portion N of the occupant collides with the column cover 8 in the same manner as described above.

However, since the protection device 2 has a structure in which the plurality of ribs 5 are integrally formed in the column cover 3 in a lattice shape, the molding die becomes complicated, the die cost increases, and it is difficult to repair. In addition, in order to provide a sufficient cushioning effect, depending on the shape of the column cover 3, there is a restriction on the molding of the ribs 5 so that the ribs 5 may have different heights, or the bosses 11 must be arranged side by side, resulting in high cost. In addition, since the rib 5 may buckle because it is an integrally molded product, the column cover 3 must not be destroyed, which makes the design difficult,
Moreover, it is difficult to select a molding material. In addition, since the plurality of ribs 5 and the boss 11 are integrally molded, it is necessary to take measures against appearance defects such as sink marks and uneven gloss on the surface side (design surface) of the column cover 3 during molding. Depending on the height and wall thickness, it is difficult to fill the molten resin, it is difficult to take measures against gas (gas removal) caused by molding, and the releasability is deteriorated. Further, since the protection device 7 has the column cover 8 and the rib body 9 separately molded,
Although it is easy to select a molding material for the rib body 9, each of the protection devices 2 and 7 needs to be molded into a unique structure for each product.

The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and can be easily attached to a portion of an exterior or interior component of an automobile which is externally or internally impacted, so that an impact force is exerted. It is an object of the present invention to provide a shock-absorbable and shock-absorbing structure that can be assembled.

[0005]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to solve the above technical problems, the present invention provides a shock absorbing structure which can be assembled between a collision side member and a shock force receiving member. The absorption structure is a structure element formed in a polygonal shape having a hollow portion formed by extruding a synthetic resin material, a plurality of short elements cut into a predetermined assembly length,
The structure is such that the collision side member and the impact force receiving member are assembled into an assembly having a shape of a mounting location and interposed in a vertical manner. It is configured to include a joint portion, and further,
The polygonal structure element is a shock-absorbable structure that is composed of a solid foam and can be assembled.

[0006]

With the above structure, the shock absorbing structure can be molded into a desired mounting shape, and the shock force can be buffered.

[0007]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Next, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows a protection device 15 mounted on a steering column 1 of a vehicle. The protection device 15 includes a column cover 16 and a shock absorbing structure. The column cover 16 is made of a synthetic resin material such as polypropylene (PP), ABS resin, polycarbonate (PC), PC / ABS alloy, etc., and is injection-molded. The column cover 16 is formed, for example, in a substantially box shape that is opened upward by a substantially curved bottom portion 17, left and right side portions 18 and a handle side cover plate 19, and the left and right side portions 18 extend toward the steering column 1 side. Mounting part 20
Are formed.

The shock absorbing structure 21 is formed by combining a large number of structural elements 22. The structural elements 22 are made of thermoplastic resin such as ABS resin, polycarbonate (PC), PC / ABS. Alloy, modified PPO (PP
E), polyamide (PA), polyester resin (PB
T, PET), polyacetal (POM), polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), etc. are extruded and molded, and this structural element 22 has one side as shown in FIGS. 2 (a) and 2 (b). The structural element 22 is formed into a long member having a substantially rectangular parallelepiped cross section with a predetermined length and a hollow portion 23. The structural element 22 has a predetermined length, that is, from the bottom portion 17 of the column cover 16 to the mounting side of the steering column 1. Installation length l1, l
2 and the like are cut into a plurality of short elements 22a, 22b, etc., their sides are brought into contact with each other, and a predetermined shape of the shock absorbing structure 21 is formed by an adhesive or heat welding means, for example, a substantially rectangular element assembly. It is assembled and formed on the body. The structure 21 thus assembled and formed is assembled to the column cover 16.

The column cover 1 to which the structure 21 is assembled
At a predetermined position on the inner side surface of the bottom portion 17 of 6, a substantially rectangular assembly frame 24 into which the mounting base 21a of the structure 21 can be fitted is formed, and a structure is formed in the assembly frame 24. The mounting base 21a of the body 21 is fitted and assembled. By assembling the structure 21 in this manner, the protection device 15
The protective device 15 is attached to the steering column 1 side via the attaching portion 20, and in this attached state, the upper ends of the short elements 22a, 22b ... Are on the steering column 1 side which is the impact force receiving member side. It is attached in a state of abutting or close to a predetermined position. The structure 21 may be attached to the attachment frame 24 by an adhesive or the like for fitting and adhesion.

As described above, the protective device 15 of this embodiment is constructed by the column cover 16 and the shock absorbing structure 21, and the shock absorbing structure 21 is assembled to the bottom portion 17 of the column cover 16 and is connected to the steering column 1 side. Shock absorbing structure 2 between
1 is installed vertically, and this shock absorbing structure 21
Is, for example, a structural element 22 having a substantially rectangular cross section is extruded from a synthetic resin material, and the structural element 22 is formed into a plurality of short elements 22a, 2 having predetermined lengths l1, l2 ...
2b, ... Cut and formed into a plurality of short elements 22.
, 22b, ... Are assembled into, for example, a substantially rectangular element assembly to form a predetermined shape of the shock absorbing structure 21. Therefore, this column cover 16
Since the shape of is an extremely simple shape,
The shape of the molding die is also simple, the die cost can be reduced, repair is easy, and the appearance of the column cover 16 at the time of molding is simple because the die shape is simple. It is possible to satisfactorily perform molding by ordinary molding means without requiring any special countermeasures against defects and degassing.

In particular, the shock absorbing structure 21 is formed by extruding a synthetic resin material, for example, a structural element 2 having a substantially rectangular cross section.
2 are cut into the lengths of attachment of the bottom 17 of the column cover 16 and the steering column 1 having a predetermined length l1, l2, etc., and the short elements 22a, 22b, ... Since it is assembled and formed into a predetermined shape of the shock absorbing structure 21 by the heat welding means, the assembling and molding is easy, and the short elements 22a, 22b having the mounting length corresponding to the shock absorbing portion are formed. In addition, the short element 22a corresponding to the structure of the steering column 1 side,
The shock absorbing structure 21 having a high degree of freedom can be formed by forming the shock absorbing structures 21b, ... The synthetic resin material of the column cover 16 and the synthetic resin material of the structural element 22 of the shock absorbing structure 21 are selected in view of the required quality of the protection device 15, such as assembling property, rigidity, heat resistance, and oil resistance. Particularly, the column cover 16 is made of a material having a high impact value (Izod strength, etc.), for example, polycarbonate (PC), PC / ABS alloy, or the like, or a polypropylene resin having a high impact value and resistant to cracking, which is hard to crack. To be

The structure element 22 described above has a hollow portion 2
3 has a substantially rectangular cross-section with a cross section of, for example, FIG.
Alternatively, the shape shown in FIG. 7 may be used. That is, FIG.
Structure element 2 constituting the shock absorbing structure 25 shown in (a)
6 is a synthetic resin material extruded into a substantially equilateral triangular tubular shape having a hollow portion 27, and this structural element 26 is cut into short elements 26a, 26b having a predetermined length l1, l2, etc. The sides are brought into contact with each other and joined together by an adhesive or a heat-welding means to collectively form into a predetermined shape of the shock absorbing structure 25. In this case, as shown in FIG. By combining the short elements 26a and 26b, etc., a predetermined buckling ability can be imparted to the short element 26a having the length l1 and a predetermined shock absorption can be performed. Further, the structural element 29 of the shock absorbing structure 28 shown in FIG. 4 is formed in a substantially right-angled isosceles triangular tubular shape having a hollow portion 30, and short elements 29a, 29b having a predetermined length l1, l2 or the like.
It is cut into a plurality of pieces, and the sides thereof are brought into contact with each other and joined together by an adhesive or a heat-welding means to collectively form a predetermined shape of the shock absorbing structure 28. In this case as well, FIG.
As shown in (b), short elements 29a, 2 having lengths l1, l2, etc.
By combining 9b, it is possible to impart a predetermined buckling ability to the short element 26a having a length of l1 and perform a predetermined impact absorption.

Further, the structural element 32 of the shock absorbing structure 31 shown in FIG. 5 is formed in a substantially H-shaped cross section having a hollow portion 33, and the groove portion 32a of the structural element 32 having the substantially H-shaped shape.
Is formed to have a groove width into which the two leg portions 32b can be fitted, and the leg portions 32b are fitted into the upper, lower, left and right groove portions 32a in the figure to collectively form a predetermined shape of the shock absorbing structure 31. It Even in this case, the short element having a predetermined attachment length is cut and assembled. A structural element 33 shown in FIG. 6 is a composite element in which a cylindrical structural element 34 inscribed in the hollow portion 23 of the structural element 22 having a substantially rectangular cross section is internally fitted. The structural element 35 shown in FIG. 7 is a composite element in which a cylindrical structural element 36 inscribed in a hollow portion 27 of a structural element 26 formed in a substantially equilateral triangular cross-section is fitted in an internal shape. Since both structural elements 33 and 35 are combined, the assembly is facilitated, and by extending the cylindrical structural elements 34 and 36 to the mounting length, a predetermined buckling ability can be imparted. Further, the shock absorbing structures 25, 28, 31 assembled and formed by the structure elements 26, 29, 32, 33, 35 described above are provided on the bottom portion 17 of the column cover 16, for example, as shown in FIGS. As shown, the engaging edges 37a or the engaging edges 3 having a substantially hook shape so that the outer corners of the shock absorbing structures 25, 28, 31 can be fitted.
Assembling frames 37 and 38 are formed by 8a and assembled, and, for example, as shown in FIGS. 8B and 8C, the structural elements 26, 29, 32, 33, and Three
It is assembled by fitting convex edges 39a, 39b and the like which are fitted in the hollow portion of No. 5. Note that a combination of these may be used.

Next, the protection device 40 shown in FIG. 9 is similar to the protection device 15 in that the column cover 16 and the shock absorbing structure 4 are provided.
The structural element 42 constituting the shock absorbing structure 41 is configured to be assembled by mutually fitting or slidingly engaging with each other.
As shown in FIG. 4, one side has a predetermined length and has a hollow portion 43, and is formed into a long member having a substantially rectangular parallelepiped cross section, and the sides 44a, 44b sandwiching one right angle R1 of the substantially rectangular parallelepiped cylinder. Has an opening 45a on the outer side in the longitudinal direction of the substantially central portion thereof, and a fitting recess 45 having a fitting groove 45b bulging in a substantially C-shaped cross section is formed in the hollow portion 43. R
A fitting projection 46 having an opening 46a on the inside and a groove 46b bulging in a substantially C-shaped cross section on the outside is formed in the substantially central part longitudinal direction of the sides 44c and 44d sandwiching 2. The convex portion 46 is formed so that it can be fitted into the fitting concave portion 45. The structural element 42 formed in this way is cut into short elements 42a and 42b having a predetermined attachment length, and as shown in FIG. 10, the fitting concave portion 45 and the fitting convex portion 46 are sequentially slid into male and female coupling. Then, for example, the shock absorbing structure 41 having a predetermined shape shown in FIG. 9 is assembled.

The column cover 16 for assembling the shock absorbing structure 41 thus formed into an assembly having a predetermined shape.
As shown in FIG. 11, an assembling frame 47 is formed on the inner surface of the bottom portion 17 of the shock absorber structure 41. The assembling frame 47 is formed of a substantially hook-shaped engaging edge 47a into which the outer corner of the shock absorbing structure 41 can be fitted. A plurality of support bosses 48a of a predetermined length that fit into the fitting groove 45b of the fitting recess 45 are erected on the left and right of the assembly frame 47, and are fitted in correspondence with the support boss 48a. The support boss 48b that fits into the groove 46b of the recessed protrusion 46 is erected, the shock absorbing structure 41 is fitted into the assembly frame 47, and the fit recess 45 and the fit groove of the fit protrusion are formed. The support bosses 48a and 48b are fitted and inserted into the groove 45b and the groove 46b, respectively, and assembled to form a protection device 40. The protection device 40 is attached to the steering column 1 side. Therefore, the protection device 40 also has substantially the same operational effects as the protection device 15. Although the mounting frame 47 and the support bosses 48a and 48b are provided side by side on the column cover 16 side in the assembly of the shock absorbing structure 41, only the support bosses 48a and 48b may be used.

Although the structural element 42 is illustrated as having the male concave portion 45 and the male convex portion 46 having a substantially C-shaped cross section, the invention is not limited to this, and for example, FIG. ) (b) (c) may be used. That is, FIG. 12 (a) shows a dovetail groove joint,
0a and the fitting convex portion 50b are provided so as to be coupled to each other, and FIG. 12 (b) shows the open groove portion 51a and the fitting convex portion 5b.
1b, and is provided so as to be coupled with FIG.
(c) is provided so as to be connected by the arcuate groove portion 52a and the arcuate convex portion 52b.

Next, FIG. 13 and FIG. 15 show another mode in which the structural element is assembled in a fitting manner. The shock absorbing structure 55 shown in FIG. 13 is of two types shown in FIG. The structural band element 56 shown in FIG. 14 (a) is formed by the structural elements 56 and 57.
It is formed into an equilateral triangular tube shape having a and each side 56b.
An arcuate groove 56c is provided in the longitudinal direction of the substantially central portion of the. The structure element 57 shown in FIG. 14 (b) is formed in an equilateral triangular cylinder shape having a hollow portion 57a having the same shape as the structure element 56, and the structure body 57 is formed in the longitudinal direction at the substantially central portion of each side 57b. An arcuate convex portion 57c that can fit into the arcuate groove portion 56c of the element 56 is provided in a protruding manner. The structure elements 56 and 57 formed in this way are cut into short elements having a predetermined attachment length, and as shown in the drawing, mutual groove portions 56c are formed.
And the convex portion 57c are coupled to each other to form a predetermined shock absorbing structure 55.
It is assembled in the shape of.

The shock absorbing structure 58 shown in FIG. 15 comprises a structural element 59. The structural element 59 is formed in a substantially regular hexagonal tube shape having a hollow portion 60. A circular arc-shaped groove 59b is provided in the longitudinal direction of the substantially central portion of one side 59a facing each other, and the groove 5 is provided in the longitudinal direction of the substantially central portion of the other side 59c.
An arcuate convex portion 59d that can be fitted into 9b is convexly provided. The structural element 59 thus formed is cut into short elements having a predetermined attachment length, and the groove 59b and the convex portion 59d are joined to each other as shown in the figure to form the predetermined shock absorbing structure 58. Assembled.

As described above, in each of the above-described embodiments, each shock absorbing structure vertically disposed between the steering cover 16 which serves as a collision side member and the steering column 1 which serves as an impact force receiving member has a hollow portion. A structure element formed by extruding a synthetic resin material into a polygonal cylindrical body having a is cut into short elements having a predetermined assembly length, and the assembly contact side is assembled by an adhesive material or a welding means, or As the concave and convex joints are formed on both sides of the assembling abutment, it can be easily assembled into the prescribed shape of the shock absorbing structure. By forming the short length element according to the structure of the force opening member side, a shock absorbing structure having a high degree of freedom can be formed, and it is possible to cope with the shock force absorption.

In each of the above embodiments, the shock absorbing structure is illustrated as being interposed between the steering column 1 and the column cover, but the invention is not limited to this, and for example, grab doors, side doors, and side doors. It can be applied to a wide range of bodies such as body lower panels and bumpers. In addition, although the synthetic resin material described above is selectively extruded and molded to form the structure element, the structure element is not limited to this, and the structure element may be, for example, a foam solid body having various polygonal cross-sections. Even when the shock absorbing structure is assembled by forming the above, the same operational effects as those of the above-described embodiment can be obtained. Further, the mounting of the shock absorbing structure to the shock side member has been exemplified as the structure in which the mounting frame and the support boss are formed on the shock side member, but the present invention is not limited to this, and for example, the structure of the shock side member At the time of molding, a screw member may be insert-molded at a desired position of the structure element, and a screw receiver having a substantially C-shaped cross section may be formed at a desired position of the structural element and assembled with a screw.

[0021]

As described above, according to the present invention, each impact absorbing structure vertically disposed between the collision side member and the impact force receiving member has a polygonal shape having a hollow portion. The structure element made by extruding a synthetic resin material into the cylindrical body of is cut into short elements of a predetermined assembly length, and the assembly contact side is assembled with adhesive material or welding means, or assembly contact Since the sides are formed with concavo-convex joints, they can be easily assembled into the shape of a predetermined shock absorbing structure, and at the same time a short element with a mounting length corresponding to the shock absorbing location can be used. It is possible to form a shock absorbing structure having a high degree of freedom by forming the short element according to the structure of (1) to cope with shock force absorption and obtain a versatile shock absorbing body. .

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a protection device attached to a steering column of a vehicle.

FIG. 2 (a) is a perspective view of a structural element. (b) It is explanatory drawing which assembles a structure element and makes it a shock absorption structure.

FIG. 3 (a) is an explanatory view of assembling another structural element to form a shock absorbing structure. (b) An explanatory perspective view in which the buckling ability is given by a combination of cut short elements of the structure element.

FIG. 4 (a) is an explanatory view of assembling another structure element to form a shock absorbing structure. (b) An explanatory perspective view in which the buckling ability is given by a combination of cut short elements of the structure element.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram similarly showing how another structure element is assembled to form a shock absorbing structure.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a composite structural element.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of another composite structural element.

8A, 8B, and 8C are plan views showing a mounting frame for mounting the shock absorbing structure.

FIG. 9 is an exploded perspective view of another protection device.

FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram of assembling of the structure element having the assembling coupling portion.

FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram of the assembling of the shock absorbing structure to the assembling portion.

12 (a), (b) and (c) are cross-sectional views of another coupling portion of the structure element having the assembling coupling portion.

FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view of another aspect of the shock absorbing structure having an assembly connection portion.

14 (a) and (b) are cross-sectional views of a structural element that constitutes the shock absorbing structural body of FIG.

FIG. 15 is a cross-sectional view of another aspect of the shock absorbing structure having an assembled joint.

FIG. 16 is an explanatory diagram showing a state in which a conventional protection device is attached to a steering column.

FIG. 17 is a perspective view of a conventional protection device.

FIG. 18 is a perspective view of another conventional protection device.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Steering column (impact force receiving member) 16 Column cover (collision side member) 21,25,28,31,41,55,58 Impact absorbing structure 22,26,29,32,33,34,35,36, 42,56,57,59 Structural element 45,46,50a, 50b, 51a, 51b, 52a, 52b, 56c, 57c, 59b, 59d Bonding irregularities

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A shock absorbing structure which can be assembled between a collision side member and a shock force receiving member, and which has a hollow portion formed by extruding a synthetic resin material. From the possible structural element formed in a polygonal shape, a plurality of short elements cut into a predetermined assembly length,
An assemblable impact absorbing structure, which is constructed by assembling into a collective body having a shape of a mounting location of the collision side member and the impact force receiving member and vertically interposing. 2. The shock-absorbable structure according to claim 1, wherein the polygonal structure element has a concavo-convex coupling portion that can be coupled to a side thereof. 3. The shock-absorbable structure according to claim 1, wherein the polygonal structural element is made of a foamed solid material.