JPH045382Y2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] The present invention relates to a collapse-type instrument panel that breaks and absorbs the impact when it receives an impact from the steering wheel, such as during a car collision.

A conventional steering column cover is attached by sandwiching the column cover lower and the column cover upper above and below the upper part of the steering shaft (strictly speaking, the column tube), and is completely separated from the instrument panel. On the other hand, due to design and appearance requirements, it is currently being considered to mold the portion 2a of the steering column cover 1 corresponding to the column cover top integrally with the instrument panel 2, as shown in Figures 1 and 2. It is being In this case, the column cover lower 1a is attached to the steering shaft 3 side as before. The steering shaft 3 is connected to a gearbox at its lower end, and is mounted and supported on the vehicle body side by brackets 4 at appropriate locations.

By the way, the steering shaft 3 has a built-in shock absorption mechanism. In other words, it protects the driver by absorbing and alleviating the impact load from the steering wheel 5 in the event of a car collision or the like. However, in a conventional steering shaft in which the steering column cover is completely separated from the instrument panel, the above-mentioned shock absorption mechanism works effectively, but in a structure where the column cover upper 2a is integrated with the instrument panel 2, The steering wheel 5 will hit the column cover upper 2a, and the shock absorption mechanism will no longer function effectively.

The present invention was made with the aim of solving the above-mentioned problems in an instrument panel in which the part of the steering column cover that becomes the column cover top is integrally molded. The instrument panel and the column cover top part of the steering column cover are integrally formed of resin, and a sheet metal plate that can be broken by a forward impact load is installed inside the column cover top part. The bracket is placed in the center and extends along the sides of the vehicle, and is connected to the steering shaft via a connecting plate, with both ends bent toward the front of the vehicle and attached to the upper part of the column cover. It is characterized by

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The collapse type instrument panel according to the present invention will be described in detail below based on an embodiment shown in the drawings.

3 and 4 show a schematic configuration of one embodiment. As shown in these figures, the instrument panel 2 and the column cover top portion 2a of the steering column cover are integrally molded from resin (see FIG. 1). A bracket 6 made of sheet metal is assembled within this column cover upper portion 2a. Bracket 6 is
As shown in FIGS. 5 to 7, it has a convex shape, and there are mounting parts 7 on both sides of the protruding front part 6a, side parts 6b connected to the rear of both ends of the protruding front part 6a, and furthermore, there are side parts 6b on both sides. A rear wall portion 6c is formed extending laterally (in the left-right direction) from the portion 6b, and a mounting portion 8 is provided on each rear wall portion 6c. Further, a connecting plate portion 6d having an elongated hole 9 is formed at the rear of the central portion of the protruding front portion 6a. This bracket 6 is assembled into the column cover upper part 2a with the protruding front part 6a facing the driver, and is connected to the column cover upper part 2a at each mounting part 7, 8, and is attached to the connecting plate part. It is connected to the steering shaft side via 6d.

Steering wheel 5 due to car collision, etc.
When the steering wheel 5 jumps forward, the steering wheel 5 collides with the resin column cover upper part 2a.
At this time, the column cover upper part 2a made of resin is broken approximately at the center as shown in FIG. 4, thereby partially absorbing the impact load of the steering wheel 5. Furthermore, as shown in the figure, the bracket 6 is bent and deformed as if it were crushed, and the steering wheel 5
absorbs impact loads. In this way, the steering wheel 5 destroys the column cover upper part 2a and the bracket 6 and moves forward while absorbing and alleviating the impact, so that the impact is also absorbed by the impact absorption mechanism built into the steering shaft 3. It is announced.

As explained above in detail based on the examples,
According to the collapse type instrument panel according to the present invention, since it has a collapse structure, there is no problem in absorbing the shock by the shock absorption mechanism built in the steering shaft in the event of a collision of a car, and the column cover top part and the This has the advantage that part of the impact load can be absorbed by the destruction of the bracket attached to the bracket. Furthermore, it becomes possible to mold the column cover top integrally with the instrument panel, which simplifies the structure around the steering shaft, resulting in an excellent design and appearance. Furthermore, since the bracket also serves as a holding member for the steering shaft, the number of parts is reduced.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a steering column cover in which the column cover top and instrument panel are integrally molded, Figure 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view thereof,
Fig. 3 is a schematic perspective view of the collapsed instrument panel of the present invention, Fig. 4 is a perspective view showing its collapsed state, Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a sheet metal bracket, and Fig. 6 is a plan view thereof. Figure 7 is A-A.
It is an arrow sectional view. In the drawings, 1a is a column cover lower, 2 is an instrument panel, 2a is a column cover upper part, 3 is a steering shaft, 5 is a steering wheel, and 6 is a bracket made of sheet metal.

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] The instrument panel and the column cover top part of the steering column cover are integrally formed of resin, and a sheet metal plate that can be broken by a forward impact load is installed inside the column cover top part. The bracket is placed in the center and extends along the sides of the vehicle, and is connected to the steering shaft via a connecting plate, with both ends bent toward the front of the vehicle and attached to the upper part of the column cover. A collapsible instrument panel featuring this feature.