Instrument panel structure

Abstract

A reinforcement bridges between left and right front pillars of a vehicle, and includes a first pipe arranged at a driver seat side, and a second pipe having a smaller diameter than a diameter of the first pipe and arranged at a front passenger seat side. A protector is attached to the reinforcement and accommodates a wire harness routed along the reinforcement. An instrument panel is held by the reinforcement and arranged between the left and right front pillars. In a case where the driver seat is positioned at a right side of the vehicle, a locking portion of a right side of the protector is locked in a mounting portion of the first pipe. In a case where the driver seat is positioned at a left side of the vehicle, a locking portion of a left side of the protector is locked in the mounting portion of the first pipe.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to a dashboard structure. Background Technology

[0002] Instrument panels installed inside automobiles typically include reinforcement members (R / F) that serve as reinforcing components for the instrument panel. Patent document JP2016-120803A discloses an instrument panel structure held by a reinforcement member. This instrument panel structure is assembled into a reinforcement member of a vehicle in which wiring harnesses are laid to form the instrument panel section of the vehicle. Summary of the Invention

[0003] In the aforementioned dashboard structure, the wiring harness is routed along the reinforcement, thus requiring a protector to safeguard it. However, there are two vehicle specifications: right-hand drive (driver's seat on the right side of the vehicle) and left-hand drive (driver's seat on the left side of the vehicle). Therefore, considering time and cost, it is desirable to develop a protector that is applicable to both vehicle specifications when controlling the wiring harness routing.

[0004] The objective of this invention is to provide a dashboard structure that is applicable to both right-hand drive and left-hand drive vehicles by utilizing a protector configured as a single component to house and protect the wiring harness. The dashboard structure using this protector can achieve lower costs by reducing labor hours.

[0005] The dashboard structure according to the invention includes: a reinforcement bridged between the left and right front pillars of a vehicle, the reinforcement including a first tube disposed on the driver's side and a second tube having a diameter smaller than that of the first tube and disposed on the passenger side; a wiring harness laid along the reinforcement; a protector attached to the reinforcement and housing and protecting the wiring harness; and a dashboard held by the reinforcement and disposed between the left and right front pillars. The first tube includes at least one mounting portion, and the second tube includes at least one mounting portion. The protector includes locking portions at its center and on both sides, the locking portions locking into the mounting portions of the first tube and the second tube. When the driver's seat is positioned on the right side of the vehicle, the locking portion on the right side of the protector locks into the mounting portion of the first tube. When the driver's seat is positioned on the left side of the vehicle, the locking portion on the left side of the protector locks into the mounting portion of the first tube.

[0006] Based on the above configuration, a dashboard structure can be provided that is applicable to both right-hand drive and left-hand drive vehicles by using a protector configured as a single component to house and protect the wiring harness. The dashboard structure using this protector can achieve lower costs by reducing labor hours. Attached Figure Description

[0007] Figure 1A This is a perspective view showing an example of a driver's seat in a right-hand drive vehicle, which is provided with a dashboard structure for right-hand driving according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0008] Figure 1B Before the protector is installed into the reinforcement Figure 1A A three-dimensional view of the dashboard structure.

[0009] Figure 1C When the protector is installed to Figure 1B A cross-sectional view of the main parts of the instrument panel structure in the state of reinforcement.

[0010] Figure 2A This is a perspective view showing an example of a driver's seat in a left-hand drive vehicle, which is provided with a dashboard structure for left-hand driving according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0011] Figure 2B Before the protector is installed into the reinforcement Figure 2A A three-dimensional view of the dashboard structure.

[0012] Figure 2C When the protector is installed to Figure 2B A cross-sectional view of the main parts of the instrument panel structure in the state of reinforcement. Detailed Implementation

[0013] The dashboard structure according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0014] Figure 1A This is a perspective view showing an example of a driver's seat in a right-hand drive vehicle provided with a dashboard structure 1 for right-hand driving, according to an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 1B This is before the protector 20 is installed to the reinforcement 10. Figure 1A A perspective view of the dashboard structure 1. Figure 1C When the protector 20 is installed to Figure 1B A cross-sectional view of the main part of the instrument panel structure in the state of the reinforcement 10. Figure 2A This is a perspective view showing an example of a driver's seat in a left-hand drive vehicle provided with a dashboard structure 1 for left-hand driving, according to an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 2B This is before the protector 20 is installed to the reinforcement 10. Figure 2A A perspective view of the dashboard structure 1. Figure 2C This is a cross-sectional view of the main part of the instrument panel structure with the protector 20 installed in the reinforcement 10 of the protector 20.

[0015] like Figure 1A and Figure 2AAs shown, the instrument panel structure 1 includes: a cylindrical metal reinforcement 10; a wiring harness W / H formed by bundling several wires H; a synthetic resin protector 20; and a synthetic resin instrument panel 30.

[0016] The reinforcement 10 is formed from a cylindrical metal tube and is a reinforcing component that increases the rigidity of the vehicle body against external impacts. The reinforcement 10 bridges between the left and right front pillars 2 of the vehicle to secure the steering wheel and various devices such as the ECU. The reinforcement 10 includes: a large-diameter cylindrical tube (first tube) 11 located on the driver's side; and a small-diameter cylindrical tube (second tube) 16, with a diameter smaller than that of the large-diameter tube 11, located on the passenger side. The large-diameter tube 11 and the small-diameter tube 16 are joined together by welding or other means to form the cylindrical reinforcement 10, thereby achieving weight reduction and high rigidity of the vehicle. The large-diameter tube 11 is located on the driver's side to increase the rigidity of the reinforcement 10. That is, when the rigidity on the driver's side is low, the reinforcement 10 deforms and shifts during a vehicle collision; however, the high rigidity of the large-diameter tube 11 prevents the driver from being endangered in such a collision.

[0017] like Figure 1B , 1C As shown in 2B and 2C, the diameter of the inner end 12, which is one end of the large-diameter cylindrical tube 11, decreases towards the small-diameter cylindrical tube 16. That is, the inner end 12 is composed of: a tapered portion 12a, the inner diameter of which decreases taperingly to such that the inner diameter is approximately equal to the outer diameter of the inner end 17, which is one end of the small-diameter tube 16; and a connecting portion 12b, which is continuously formed from the tapered portion 12a and serves as a parallel tube within a certain length. Figure 1A and 2A As shown, a bracket 14, which is bolted to the front column 2, is provided at the outer end 13, which is the other end of the large-diameter pipe 11. The mounting elongated hole 15, which is the mounting part, is provided at a position closer to the inner end 12 between the two ends of the large-diameter pipe 11 (between the inner end 12 and the outer end 13).

[0018] like Figure 1C and Figure 2C As shown, the inner end 17 of the small-diameter cylindrical tube 16 is inserted and welded in an overlapping state with the inner circumferential surface of the inner end 12 of the large-diameter cylindrical tube 11, which is a parallel tube. Figure 1A and Figure 2A As shown, the outer end 18, which is the other end of the small-diameter tube 16, is provided with a bracket 14 that is bolted to the front column 2. The mounting elongated hole 19, which is the mounting part, is provided at a position closer to the inner end 17 between the two ends of the small-diameter tube 16 (between the inner end 17 and the outer end 18).

[0019] like Figure 1B and Figure 2B As shown, the wire harness W / H is composed of a wire harness in which multiple wires H are bundled together by a strap 3 having clamps 4. The wire harness W / H is inserted into a box-shaped protector 20 extending in the longitudinal direction and is laid along a cylindrical reinforcement 10.

[0020] The protector 20 includes: a long box-shaped protector body 21 with openings on the top and left and right sides, and a long box-shaped cover 27 with openings on the bottom and left and right sides. In the protector 20, the protector body 21 is attached to the reinforcement 1 and houses and protects the wire harness W / H within the protector 20.

[0021] like Figure 1B and Figure 2B As shown, the protector body 21 of the protector 20 includes a bottom wall 21a and two side walls 21b that rise vertically from both sides of the bottom wall 21a. A protrusion 22 is provided on the lower surface side of the center of the protector body 21 (i.e., at the center of the bottom wall 21a). Recesses 23 are provided on the lower surface sides of the left and right sides of the protector body 21 (i.e., on the left and right sides of the bottom wall 21a). An inclined surface 24 is provided between the lower surface of the center of the protrusion 22 and the lower surfaces of the respective recesses 23 on the left and right sides, respectively, for contacting the tapered portion 12a of the large-diameter tube 11. A latch 25, serving as a locking part, is provided in a protruding manner in the central protrusion 22 and the respective recesses 23 on the left and right sides, and the latch 25 is locked in the elongated hole 15 of the large-diameter tube 11 and the elongated hole 19 of the small-diameter tube 16.

[0022] like Figure 1B and Figure 2B As shown, the cover 27 of the protector 20 includes a top wall 27a and side walls 27b hanging down from both sides of the top wall 27a. The opening on the upper surface side of the protector body 21 is covered by the cover 27, and the wire harness W / H is accommodated and protected in a state where the locking protrusion 27c of the side wall 27b of the cover 27 is locked into the locking recess 21c of the side wall 21b of the protector body 21.

[0023] like Figure 1C and Figure 2CAs shown, the latches 25 protruding from the lower surface of the protrusion 22 at the center of the protector body 21 and the lower surfaces of the recesses 23 on the left and right sides of the protector body 21 include a support portion 25a and a pair of inverted V-shaped elastic pieces 25b extending from the ends of the support portion 25a. When the protector body 21 is attached to the reinforcement member 10, when the pair of inverted V-shaped elastic pieces 25b of the latch 25 are respectively inserted into the mounting elongated hole 15 of the large-diameter tube 11 and the mounting elongated hole 19 of the small-diameter tube 16, the pair of elastic pieces 25b elastically deform towards the support portion 25a. Subsequently, when the L-shaped locking protrusions 25c provided at the ends of the pair of elastic pieces 25b lock to the short edges of the mounting elongated holes 15 and 19, this locking state is maintained by the elastic biasing force of the pair of elastic pieces 25b, and the latches 25 do not disengage from the mounting elongated holes 15 and 19.

[0024] like Figure 1B As shown, in the case of a right-hand drive RHD (where the driver's seat is located on the right side of the vehicle), a latch 25, which is provided in a protruding manner in the right-side recess 23 of the protector 20, locks into the mounting elongated hole 15 of the large-diameter tube 11 provided on the driver's seat side of the reinforcement 10. Figure 2B As shown, in the case of a left-hand drive LHD (where the driver's seat is located on the left side of the vehicle), a buckle 25, which is provided in a protruding manner in the left recess 23 of the protector 20, is locked in the mounting elongated hole 15 of the large-diameter tube 11 provided on the driver's seat side of the reinforcement 10.

[0025] The instrument panel 30 is made of synthetic resin. The instrument panel 30 is held by the reinforcement 10 and is arranged between the left and right front pillars 2 in such a manner as to cover the protector 20 and the wiring harness W / H.

[0026] As described above, according to the dashboard structure 1 of this embodiment, such as Figure 1B As shown, in the case of a right-hand drive RHD, a latch 25, which is provided in a protruding manner in the right-side recess 23 of the protector 20, locks into the mounting elongated hole 15 of the large-diameter tube 11 provided on the driver's side of the reinforcement 10. Furthermore, a latch 25, which is provided in a protruding manner on the convex portion 22 at the center of the protector 20, locks into the mounting elongated hole 19 of the small-diameter tube 16 provided on the passenger side of the reinforcement 10. Because these latches 25 are locked in this way, the protector 20, which accommodates the wiring harness (W / H), is attached to the reinforcement 10. At this time, as... Figure 1CAs shown, the inclined surface 24 between the protrusion 22 and the right-side recess 23 of the protector 20 makes seamless contact with the tapered portion 12a of the large-diameter tube 11 of the reinforcement 10, and the bottom surface of the protrusion 22 of the protector 20 makes seamless contact with the connecting portion 12b of the large-diameter tube 11. These contacts allow the wire harness W / H to be held at both ends of the protector 20. Although only two of the three clips 25 of the protector 20 are secured to the reinforcement 10, the thick wire harness W / H passing through the protector 20 ensures the rigidity of the protector 20, thereby preventing interference with peripheral components.

[0027] like Figure 2B As shown, in the case of a left-hand drive LHD, a latch 25, which protrudes from the left side recess 23 of the protector 20, locks into the mounting hole 15 of the large-diameter tube 11 provided on the driver's side of the reinforcement 10. Furthermore, a latch 25, which protrudes from the convex portion 22 at the center of the protector 20, locks into the mounting hole 19 of the small-diameter tube 16 provided on the passenger side of the reinforcement 10. Because these latches 25 are locked in this manner, the protector 20, which accommodates the wiring harness (W / H), is attached to the reinforcement 10. At this time, as... Figure 2C As shown, the inclined surface 24 between the protrusion 22 and the left recess 23 of the protector 20 makes seamless contact with the tapered portion 12a of the large-diameter tube 11 of the reinforcement 10, and the bottom surface of the protrusion 22 of the protector 20 makes seamless contact with the connecting portion 12b of the large-diameter tube 11. These contacts allow the wire harness W / H to be held at both ends of the protector 20. Although only two of the three clips 25 of the protector 20 are secured to the reinforcement 10, the thick wire harness W / H passing through the protector 20 ensures the rigidity of the protector 20, thereby preventing interference with peripheral components.

[0028] As described above, this disclosure enables the protector 20, configured to house and protect the wiring harness as a single component, to be used in both right-hand drive RHD vehicles and left-hand drive LHD vehicles. Therefore, due to this protector, lower costs can be achieved by reducing labor time.

[0029] In the above embodiment, the large-diameter tube 11 and the small-diameter tube 16 are combined together to form a cylindrical reinforcing member 10; however, this embodiment is not limited to this structure. For example, the cylindrical reinforcing member 10 can be formed by integrally molding a flat plate having a wide portion as the large-diameter portion and a narrow portion as the small-diameter portion using bending or other methods.

[0030] While specific embodiments have been described, these embodiments are presented by way of example only and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. In fact, the novel embodiments described herein can be implemented in various other forms; furthermore, various omissions, substitutions, and changes can be made to the forms of the embodiments described herein without departing from the spirit of the invention. The appended claims and their equivalents are intended to cover forms or modifications that fall within the scope and spirit of the invention.

Claims

1. A dashboard structure, comprising: A reinforcement bridging between the left and right front pillars of a vehicle, the reinforcement comprising: a first tube disposed on the driver's side; and a second tube having a smaller diameter than the first tube and disposed on the passenger side; A wiring harness, which is arranged along the reinforcement; A protector, which is mounted to the reinforcement and houses and protects the wiring harness; and The dashboard, held by the reinforcement and arranged between the left and right front pillars, wherein, The first tube includes at least one mounting portion, and the second tube includes at least one mounting portion. The protector includes locking portions at its center and on both sides, the locking portions locking into the mounting portions of the first tube and the second tube. With the driver's seat positioned on the right side of the vehicle, the locking part on the right side of the protector locks into the mounting part of the first tube, and With the driver's seat positioned on the left side of the vehicle, the locking part on the left side of the protector is locked into the mounting part of the first tube.

2. The instrument panel structure as described in claim 1, wherein, The first tube includes an elongated mounting hole serving as the mounting portion, and the second tube includes an elongated mounting hole serving as the mounting portion. The protector includes: a protrusion located on the lower surface side at the center of the protector; and recesses located on the lower surface sides of the left and right sides of the protector. The protector includes a latch as a locking part, the latch protruding from the protrusion and from the respective recesses on the left and right sides, and locking in the mounting elongated hole of the first tube and the mounting elongated hole of the second tube.

3. The instrument panel structure as described in claim 2, wherein, The reinforcement includes a tapered portion between the first tube and the second tube, which tapers in diameter. The protector includes an inclined surface between the lower surface of the protrusion and the lower surfaces of the respective recesses on the left and right sides, the inclined surface contacting the conical portion.

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