JPH1178910A - Cockpit device of automobile - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To form a broad rest space in a cabin, which is not obstructed by a handle column and a steering handle during resting in the stopping automobile. SOLUTION: On the lower part of an instrument panel 3, a handle column 18, which supports a steering axle 17 to which a steering handle 4 is fixed, is rotatably jounalled between a used position A which projects on the driver's seat side, and a stock position B which is stocked in a driver's footrest space 21 under the instrument panel 3, and the handle column 18 can be locked at least at its used position A with a lock device 22.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a cockpit device for a motor vehicle having an instrument panel, a steering wheel and a driver seat.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in a cockpit device of an automobile, a handle column for supporting a steering shaft to which a steering handle is fixed is attached to a lower portion of an instrument panel so as to be rotatable in a vertical direction.

[0003]

In the above-described conventional apparatus, the handle column is vertically rotated to adjust the steering handle to a use position suitable for the physique and preference of the operator. Therefore, since the steering wheel always occupies the use position behind the instrument panel, when the occupant rests in the parked vehicle, the steering column and the steering wheel reduce the rest space in the vehicle, The rest position of the occupant will be limited.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and when resting in a parked vehicle, a large resting space can be formed in the vehicle which is not hindered by the handle column and the steering wheel. It is another object of the present invention to provide a cockpit device for an automobile.

[0005]

According to the present invention, a steering column supporting a steering shaft to which a steering handle is fixed is provided at a lower portion of an instrument panel toward a driver seat. To be rotatable between a use position to be used and a storage position stored below the instrument panel and in front of the driver's seat, and the handle column can be locked at least in the use position. Is a first feature.

According to the first feature, when resting in a parked vehicle, the steering column can be rotated together with the steering handle to the storage position, so that they can be stored in the footrest space of the driver. The rest space in the car is expanded. Further, when the vehicle is driven, the steering column can be steered by the steering wheel by rotating the handle column to the use position and locking it.

The present invention has a second feature in that, in addition to the above features, the backrest of the driver's seat is configured to be able to fall down substantially horizontally.

According to the second feature, at the time of rest in the parked vehicle, the rest space in the vehicle is further expanded by laying down the backrest of the driver's seat.

[0009]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Embodiments of the present invention will be described below based on one embodiment of the present invention shown in the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is an oblique rear perspective view of the interior of the vehicle including the cockpit of the automobile, FIG. 2 is a side view of the cockpit showing a handle column and a driver seat in use, and FIG. FIG. 4 shows a state in which the storage compartment of the instrument panel is closed with a lid, 4-4 in FIG.
5 is a cross-sectional view corresponding to FIG. 4, showing a state where the storage case is opened, FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a lid of the storage case, FIG. 7 is a stored state of a handle column, a driver seat and a rear seat. 8 is a side view of the inside of the vehicle showing the folded state and the downward movement state of the lid, and FIG. 8 is an oblique rear perspective view corresponding to FIG.

In FIG. 1, an cockpit 1 in the vehicle has an instrument panel 3 projecting rearward from a lower edge of a front windshield 2, a steering handle 4 disposed behind the instrument panel 3, a driver seat 5, and Assistant seats 6 are arranged on one side. Further, a rear seat 7 arranged behind the driver's seat 5 and the assistant's seat 6 is provided in the vehicle, and a luggage space 8 is provided at a rear portion thereof.

On the rear side of the instrument panel 3, a display panel 9 of a vehicle speedometer and other various instruments is provided on the driver seat 5 side.
In addition, a television 10 also serving as a navigation system display panel, and a radio and other audio equipment 11 are installed at an intermediate portion in the left-right direction. Further, a pair of left and right storage bins 12 (see FIG. 3) are formed on the upper surface of the instrument panel 3, and a pair of movable lids 13 are provided so as to cover them.
Is installed.

In the passenger compartment, at the front end of the roof,
The overhead type air conditioner 14 is attached.

2 and 3, the steering handle 4 of the cockpit 1 is fixed to a rear end of a steering shaft 17 connected to a steering gear mechanism (not shown). The front end of a hollow handle column 18 that rotatably supports the steering shaft 17 is attached to a bracket 19 fixed to the frame 3a of the instrument panel 3 by a horizontal pivot 20. The handle column 18 is A use position A which projects upward from the rear surface of the instrument panel 3 rearward around 20
And a storage position B, which is stored in the footrest space 21 of the driver, below the instrument panel 3 and in front of the driver's seat 5.

A lock device 22 for locking the handle column 18 at the use position A is provided between the handle column 18 and the frame 3a. This lock device 22
Is fixed to the frame 3a and the handle column 18
A stopper plate 23 which abuts on the upper surface of the handle plate and defines its use position A, and a locking claw 24 which is slidably supported by the handle column 18 in its longitudinal direction and which can be engaged with the stopper plate 23 at the front end. A lock member 26 having an operation knob 25 at a rear end thereof, and a lock spring 27 for urging the lock member 26 in a locking direction, that is, a direction in which the locking claw 24 is engaged with the stopper plate 23. When the locking claw 24 is engaged with the stopper plate 23, the handle column 18 can be locked at the use position A.

The steering shaft 17 is provided with a universal joint 29 at a portion where the axis of the pivot 20 passes, whereby the steering shaft 17 bends as the handle column 18 rotates around the pivot 20. It is possible to do.

A return assisting spring 30, which urges the handle column 18 toward the use position A, is mounted on the pivot 20, and the set load of the spring 30 is increased by the handle column 1.
8 and a steering shaft 17 which rotates about a pivot 20 therewith
And smaller than the total weight of the steering handle 4.

The rear end of the handle column 18 is provided with a slit 31 which crosses the rear end of the steering column 18 except for an upper part 18a.
a is fixed to the rear end of the steering shaft 17. In the steering handle 4, the ring-shaped grip 4b and the boss 4a
It is connected by one spoke 4c, and when the spoke 4c approaches both ends of the slit 31,
The rotation limit of the steering handle 4 is defined. In this way, it is possible to set various switches on the rear end face of the handle column 18 in a stationary state regardless of the rotation of the steering handle 4 while setting the rotation angle of the steering handle 4 as large as possible. .

As shown in FIGS. 3 to 6, the front ends of the pair of lids 13 are connected by a connecting member 33. The connecting member 33 is formed in a U-shape from an arm portion 33a fixed to each of the lids 13 and a rod portion 33b connecting the tips of the arm portions 33a to each other. The pair of arm portions 33a are rotatably connected via a small shaft 37 to a pair of rotation links 36 extending from both ends of a pivot shaft 35 pivotally supported by the instrument panel 3 at the portions. Thus, both lids 1
Reference numeral 3 denotes a closed position C that covers the open surface of the storage case 12 by a combination of the rotation around the small axis 37 and the rotation around the pivot shaft 35, and an open position that opens the storage case 12 and overlaps the rear surface of the instrument panel 3. It can move to position O.

The cover 13 is provided with the television 1
0 and a speaker 38 for the audio device 11 are built-in.

As shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 7, the seats 5 and 6 for the driver and the assistant are provided on the floor plate 4 in the vehicle.
A backrest 44 is pivotally supported by the seat support 41 on the upper part 0 and is rotatable between a standing position and a forwardly lying position. Seat part 4
6 and the front end of the seat 46 is provided with a swing link 4
7, and is supported by a sheet support portion 48 on the floor plate 40. Thus, if the backrest 44 is raised to the normal use position, the seat 46 rises to the normal use position while raising the swing link 47 in conjunction with this. Backrest 4
When the seat 4 is tilted substantially horizontally forward, the seat 46 is lowered while tilting the swing link 47 in conjunction therewith, and the entire seats 5 and 6 can be folded.

The rear seat 7 has the same structure as described above, and can be folded.

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the handle column 18 is raised to the use position A and locked by the lock device 22.
If the driver's seat 5, the assistant's seat 6, and the rear seat 7 are raised, it is possible to ride and drive the car.

When the occupant rests in the parked vehicle, the operating knob 25 of the lock member 26 is first pulled against the urging force of the lock spring 27 to release the locking claw 24 from the stopper plate 23. . Then, the handle column 18
Rotates together with the steering handle 4 to the storage position B under its own weight and is stored in the footrest space of the driver.
At this time, the handle column 18 can buffer the rotation to the storage position by increasing the repulsive force of the return assisting spring 30.

Next, as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, when all the seats 5, 6, and 7 are folded, the steering handle 4 and the backrest 44 of each seat are completely provided on the rear side of the instrument panel 3. An unobstructed and very large resting space appears, allowing the occupants to rest in a free position.

In this case, the instrument panel 3
When the lid 13 on the upper surface is turned to the open position and overlaps the rear surface of the instrument panel 3, the speakers 38 built in these lids 13 are disposed on the left and right sides of the television 10 also serving as a navigation system display panel. In other words, the rest space can be enjoyed as an audio room. Moreover, the open case 12 on the upper surface of the instrument panel 3 can be used for storing cassette tapes, CDs, etc., which is convenient.

In order to return the handle column 18 to the use position A again, the work may be performed in the reverse order to that described above.
Since the repulsive force acts in the direction of the use position A, it can be rotated to the use position A with a relatively small force.

FIG. 9 shows a modification of the present invention, which has the same configuration as the previous embodiment except that the lid 13 is formed of a cushion material. The same reference numerals are given to the portions to be performed, and the description of the portions will be omitted.

According to this modification, if the lid 13 made of a cushion material is placed on the rear surface of the instrument panel 3, the instrument panel 3 can be used as a cushioned backrest. , Which can contribute to promoting the rest of the occupants.

The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various design changes can be made without departing from the gist of the present invention. For example, the handle column 18 may be locked at the storage position B.

[0031]

As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention, a handle column for supporting a steering shaft to which a steering handle is fixed is protruded from a lower part of an instrument panel toward a driver seat. Since the support column is rotatably supported between the use position and the storage position stored in the driver's foot space below the instrument panel, and the handle column can be locked at the use position, the vehicle is parked. When resting in the vehicle, the locking device is released and the handle column is rotated together with the steering handle to the storage position, so that they can be stored in the driver's footrest space. A large resting space, which is not hindered at all, can be formed in the vehicle to contribute to the rest of the occupant.

According to the second feature of the present invention, the backrest portion of the driver's seat is configured to be able to fall down substantially horizontally. By resting the abutment, the rest space in the vehicle can be further expanded, and the occupant can be given a free rest posture.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an oblique rear perspective view of a vehicle including a cockpit of a vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a side view of the cockpit showing a handle column and a driver seat in use.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged longitudinal side view of a main part of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along the line 4-4 in FIG. 3, showing a state in which the case of the instrument panel is closed with a lid.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view corresponding to FIG. 4, showing a state where the container is opened.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the lid of the container.

FIG. 7 is a side view of the inside of the vehicle, showing a folded state of the driver seat and the rear seat, and a downward moving state of the lid.

8 is an oblique rear perspective view corresponding to FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view, corresponding to FIG. 8, showing a modification of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 A: Usage position B: Storage position 1: Cockpit 3: Instrument panel 4: Steering handle 5: Driver seat 17: Steering Shaft 18 Handle column 21 Foot space 22 Lock device 44 Backrest 46 Seat

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A handle column (18) for supporting a steering shaft (17) to which a steering handle (4) is fixed protrudes below the instrument panel (3) toward the driver seat (5). The position of use (A) and the footrest space of the driver below the instrument panel (3) (2
(1) is rotatably supported between a storage position (B) and a handle column (18) that can be locked in at least the use position (A). Automotive cockpit equipment. 2. A cockpit device for an automobile according to claim 1, wherein the backrest (44) of the driver seat (5) is configured to be able to fall down substantially horizontally.