Vehicular console structure

Abstract

To provide a vehicular console structure configured so that a harness connected to an indicator panel can be prevented from being disconnected therefrom, when a garnish is detached from a console box.SOLUTION: A vehicular console structure comprises: a console box that stores a shift lever main body 2 oscillatably supporting a shift lever; an indicator panel 6 which has a shift position display part and is connected with a harness that lights up the shift position display part; and a garnish attachably and detachably provided on the indicator panel 6, which mounts the indicator panel 6 on the console box, The shift lever main body 2 is configured to engage with the indicator panel 6 to restrict the indicator panel 6 from moving. When the indicator panel 6 is moved in a separating direction W with respect to the console box, the indicator panel 6 engages with the shift lever main body 2.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a console structure for a vehicle. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, there is known a shift lever peripheral structure that includes a console box that covers a shift device attached to a vehicle body and has an opening on its upper surface, an indicator panel that is disposed within the opening and has a lever opening through which the shift lever of the shift device is inserted and a shift position display portion, and a shift garnish that is attached to the periphery of the indicator panel (see Patent Document 1).

[0003] In this shift lever peripheral structure, the shift garnish has an engagement portion on the lower surface of its outer peripheral edge for engagement with the console box, and also has an engagement portion on the lower surface of its inner peripheral edge for engagement with the indicator panel.

[0004] The shift garnish is fitted between the inner wall of the console box opening and the outer peripheral surface of the indicator panel, and is fixed to the console box by each of the engagement portions engaging with each of the engagement portions on the inner wall and outer peripheral surface, and the indicator panel, which is freely placed above the shift device, is fixed within the opening via the shift garnish. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] Patent No. 5120096 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] Conventional shift lever peripheral structures include an indicator panel that is positioned above a shift device and has a lever opening for inserting the shift lever of the shift device and a shift position display portion, and a shift garnish that is attached around the indicator panel.When it is necessary to remove a console member from the vehicle body for repair or maintenance, the shift garnish is removed first.

[0007] The shift lever peripheral structure has an indicator panel attached to the shift garnish by engaging a locking portion of the indicator panel with a locked portion of the shift garnish, so that if the shift garnish is removed first, the indicator panel will be removed together with the shift garnish.

[0008] The indicator panel is equipped with illumination for decorative purposes and a shift position display, and since the indicator panel is connected to a power harness to turn on the illumination and the shift position display, care must be taken when removing it. For example, if the coupler of the harness extending from the indicator panel side is not separated from the coupler extending from the vehicle body side to release the connection, the harness may break when the indicator panel is removed together with the shift garnish.

[0009] The engagement portion that engages the shift garnish with the console box has a claw structure, so if you try to remove the shift garnish by pulling it hard, the force generated can easily cause the harness to break, and there is still room for improvement.

[0010] The present invention has been made in light of the above-mentioned circumstances, and aims to provide a console structure for a vehicle that can prevent the harness connected to the indicator panel from being disconnected when the shift garnish is removed from the console box. [Means for solving the problem]

[0011] The present invention provides a console structure for a vehicle comprising a console box that houses a shift lever body that supports a shift lever so that it can swing freely, an indicator panel having a shift position display unit and to which a harness that lights up the shift position display unit is connected, and a garnish that is detachably attached to the indicator panel and attaches the indicator panel to the console box, the garnish having a restricting member that engages with the indicator panel to restrict movement of the indicator panel, and when the indicator panel is moved in a removal direction relative to the console box, the indicator panel engages with the restricting member. Effect of the Invention

[0012] As described above, according to the present invention, when the garnish is removed from the console box, the harness connected to the indicator panel can be prevented from being disconnected. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0013] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a vehicle console structure according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view showing a garnish immediately before being attached to a console box and an indicator panel of the vehicle console structure according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 3] FIG. 3 is an oblique cross-sectional view of the console box, garnish, indicator panel and shift lever body cut along a plane perpendicular to the front-to-rear direction, showing the arrangement of the front engagement portion of the shift lever body and the front engagement portion of the indicator panel in a vehicle console structure according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 4] 4 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the console box, the garnish, the indicator panel, and the shift lever body in the state shown in FIG. 3, as viewed from the direction A (front-rear direction) in FIG. [Diagram 5]FIG. 5 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the indicator panel and the shift lever body cut vertically along a plane perpendicular to the left-right direction, showing the arrangement of the front and rear engagement portions of the shift lever body and the front and rear engagement portions of the indicator panel in a vehicle console structure according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the indicator panel and the shift lever body cut vertically on a plane perpendicular to the front-rear direction, showing the connection state of the connector connection portion of the indicator panel of the vehicle console structure according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along a plane perpendicular to the front-rear direction, showing an engagement state between an engagement hole of a console box and an engagement claw of a garnish in a vehicle console structure according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken along a plane perpendicular to the front-rear direction, showing an engagement state between an engagement protrusion of an indicator panel and an engagement hole of a garnish in a vehicle console structure according to one embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0014] A vehicle console structure according to one embodiment of the present invention includes a console box that houses a shift lever body that supports the shift lever so that it can swing freely, an indicator panel having a shift position display unit and to which a harness that lights up the shift position display unit is connected, and a garnish that is detachably attached to the indicator panel and attaches the indicator panel to the console box, and has a restricting member that engages with the indicator panel to restrict movement of the indicator panel, and when the indicator panel is moved in a removal direction relative to the console box, the indicator panel engages with the restricting member.

[0015] As a result, the vehicle console structure according to one embodiment of the present invention can prevent the harness connected to the indicator panel from being disconnected when the garnish is removed from the console box. EXAMPLES

[0016] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A vehicle console structure according to an embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to the drawings. 1 to 8 are diagrams showing a console structure for a vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention. In Fig. 1 to 8, the up-down, front-rear, left-right directions refer to the front-rear direction of a vehicle provided with the console structure for a vehicle, the left-right direction (width direction) of the vehicle, and the up-down direction of the vehicle.

[0017] First, the configuration will be described. 1, a resin console box 1 is disposed in a vehicle, and extends in the front-rear direction of the vehicle. In other words, the longitudinal direction of the console box 1 extends in the front-rear direction of the vehicle, and the lateral direction extends in the left-right direction of the vehicle.

[0018] The console box 1 is disposed on a floor tunnel between a driver's seat and a passenger seat (neither of which is shown), and behind an instrument panel.

[0019] A shift lever body 2 (see Figs. 2 and 3) is housed inside the console box 1 and is fixed to a floor tunnel. The shift lever body 2 supports a shift lever 3 so that it can swing freely. A knob 3A that is held by the driver is provided at the upper end of the shift lever 3, and the portion of the shift lever 3 below the knob 3A is covered by a shift boot 4.

[0020] A resin garnish 5 is detachably provided on the console box 1. An opening 5a is formed in the garnish 5, and the shift lever 3 passes through the opening 5a from the shift lever body 2 and protrudes upward.

[0021] A resin indicator panel 6 is detachably provided on the garnish 5, and the indicator panel 6 is attached to the garnish 5 so as to close the opening 5a.

[0022] The indicator panel 6 is formed with a rectangular opening 6a, the longer side of which extends in the front-rear direction and the shorter side of which extends in the left-right direction.

[0023] The lower end of the shift boot 4 is attached to the inner peripheral edge of the opening 6a so as to close the opening 6a, and the shift lever 3 moves along the opening 6a inside the shift boot 4.

[0024] The indicator panel 6 is provided with a shift position display section 6A, and the shift position display section 6A is marked with the letters P, R, N, D, etc., which respectively indicate parking, reverse, neutral, drive range, etc.

[0025] 6, the indicator panel 6 is provided with a connector connection portion 6B, and a connector 7 is connected to the connector connection portion 6B. One end of a harness 8 is connected to the connector 7, and the other end of the harness 8 is connected to a connector (not shown).

[0026] This connector is connected to the controller unit via a harness (not shown). Also, a connector provided at the other end of the harness 8 may be directly connected to the controller unit.

[0027] The controller unit controls the display, lighting and extinguishing of the shift position display section 6A.

[0028] 2, the garnish 5 is provided with protruding pieces 5A, which protrude downward from the left and right outer peripheral edges of the garnish 5. A total of ten protruding pieces 5A are provided, including the protruding pieces 5A not shown, on the left outer peripheral edge of the garnish 5, five of which are provided on the right outer peripheral edge.

[0029] An engagement hole 1A is provided in the console box 1. The engagement hole 1A is provided in a surface that extends inwardly to the left and right from the upper end of the console box 1 like a shelf, and a protruding piece 5A is inserted into the engagement hole 1A from above.

[0030] The console box 1 has a total of ten engagement holes 1A, including engagement holes not shown, five on the left side and five on the right side, which face the protruding piece 5A in the vertical direction.

[0031] As shown in Fig. 7, each protruding piece 5A has an elastic claw 5b that protrudes outward to the left and right from the protruding piece 5A. When the protruding piece 5A is attached to each engagement hole 1A, the elastic claw 5b abuts against the lower edge of the engagement hole 1A, thereby engaging the protruding piece 5A with the engagement hole 1A. This prevents the garnish 5 from coming off the console box 1, and the garnish is attached to the console box 1.

[0032] Specifically, the elastic claw 5b is formed in a mountain shape protruding outward to the left and right from the protruding piece 5A, and has an upper tapered surface 5d that slopes upward from the vertex 5c toward the protruding piece 5A, and a lower tapered surface 5e that slopes downward from the vertex 5c toward the protruding piece 5A.

[0033] When the protruding piece 5A is inserted into the engagement hole 1A, the lower tapered surface 5e comes into contact with the periphery of the engagement hole 1A, and as the insertion continues and the protruding piece 5A moves downward, the elastic claw 5b receives a force from the engagement hole 1A and elastically deforms so as to retract from the protruding piece 5A, and the apex 5c passes through the engagement hole 1A. When the elastic claw 5b is further positioned below the engagement hole 1A, the elastic deformation of the elastic claw 5b returns and the upper tapered surface 5d of the elastic claw 5b comes into contact with the lower edge of the engagement hole 1A. This prevents the garnish 5 from coming off the console box 1.

[0034] On the other hand, when the protruding piece 5A is to be removed from the engagement hole 1A, the upper tapered surface 5d moves upward while abutting against the engagement hole 1A, and the elastic claw 5b, which receives a force from the engagement hole 1A, elastically deforms so as to retract from the protruding piece 5A, and the apex 5c passes through the engagement hole 1A. As a result, the elastic claw 5b is positioned above the engagement hole 1A, and the garnish 5 is removed from the console box 1.

[0035] 2, engagement protrusions 6C are provided on the left and right outer peripheral surfaces and the front and rear outer peripheral surfaces of the indicator panel 6. A total of six engagement protrusions 6C are provided, including the engagement protrusions 6C not shown, on the left outer peripheral surface of the indicator panel 6, two on the right outer peripheral surface, and one each on the front and rear outer peripheral surfaces.

[0036] The garnish 5 is provided with protruding pieces 5B at its left and right ends and its front and rear ends, and the protruding pieces 5B protrude downward from the left and right ends and the front and rear ends of the garnish 5.

[0037] A total of six protruding pieces 5B are provided, including protruding pieces 5B not shown, two at each of the left and right ends of the garnish 5 and one at each of the front and rear ends, and each face the protruding piece 5B formed on the opposite side in the front-rear and left-right directions.

[0038] As shown in FIG. 8, an engagement hole 5f is formed in the protruding piece 5B, and an engagement protrusion 6C of the indicator panel 6 is engaged with the engagement hole 5f.

[0039] In the vehicle console structure of this embodiment, the garnish 5 is placed on the indicator panel 6 so as to close the opening 5a, and the engagement protrusion 6C is engaged with the engagement hole 5f, thereby preventing the indicator panel 6 from coming off the garnish 5 and attaching it to the garnish 5.

[0040] In this way, in the vehicle console structure of this embodiment, by attaching the indicator panel 6 to the garnish 5, positional deviation such as a gap between the garnish 5 and the indicator panel 6 is suppressed, improving marketability. And, by attaching the garnish 5 to the console box 1, positional deviation such as a gap between the garnish 5 and the console box 1 is suppressed, improving marketability. And, the console box 1 is attached to the floor tunnel.

[0041] As a result, the console box 1, garnish 5 and indicator panel 6 are accurately positioned and integrated, and are attached to the floor tunnel.

[0042] As shown in Fig. 5, a front engagement portion 6D is provided on the front portion of the indicator panel 6. The front engagement portion 6D protrudes downward from the lower surface 6u of the indicator panel 6, and is formed in a substantially U-shape when viewed from the front of the vehicle (or when viewed from the rear of the vehicle) (see Fig. 4). That is, the front engagement portion 6D is composed of two pillars extending in the vertical direction from the lower surface 6u of the indicator panel 6 and a lower frame 6d connecting the lower ends of the two pillars, the two pillars being aligned in the left-right direction and a hole opening in the front-rear direction is formed surrounded by the lower surface 6u of the indicator panel 6, the two pillars and the lower frame 6d. The front engagement portion 6D is disposed near the center of the indicator panel 6 in the left-right direction.

[0043] A rear engagement portion 6E is provided at the rear of the indicator panel 6. The rear engagement portion 6E is located behind the front engagement portion 6D, and is disposed near the center of the indicator panel 6 in the left-right direction, similar to the front engagement portion 6D. When viewed from the front of the vehicle (or from the rear of the vehicle), the rear engagement portion 6E is formed in a substantially U-shape, similar to the front engagement portion 6D. That is, similar to the front engagement portion 6D, the rear engagement portion 6E is composed of two pillars extending in the vertical direction from the lower surface 6u of the indicator panel 6 and a lower frame 6e connecting the lower ends of the two pillars, the two pillars being aligned in the left-right direction, and a hole opening in the front-rear direction is formed surrounded by the lower surface 6u of the indicator panel 6, the two pillars, and the lower frame 6e.

[0044] The shift lever body 2 is provided with a front engagement portion 2A and a rear engagement portion 2B. When attached, the front engagement portion 2A is located above the lower frame 6d of the front engagement portion 6D and enters the hole of the front engagement portion 6D from the front side of the vehicle (see FIG. 5). In detail, the front engagement portion 2A is disposed so as to have a gap with the periphery of the hole of the front engagement portion 6D in the vertical direction, and the tip of the front engagement portion 2A is bent and extends downward, so that when the indicator panel 6 moves upward with respect to the shift lever body 2, it can engage with the lower frame 6d of the front engagement portion 6D in the front-rear direction.

[0045] In the attached state, the rear engagement portion 2B is located above the lower frame 6e of the rear engagement portion 6E, and enters the hole of the rear engagement portion 6E from the front side of the vehicle. In detail, the rear engagement portion 2B is disposed so as to have a gap with the periphery of the hole of the rear engagement portion 6E in the vertical direction, and the tip of the rear engagement portion 2B is bent and extends downward, so that when the indicator panel 6 moves upward relative to the shift lever body 2, it can engage with the lower frame 6e of the rear engagement portion 6E in the front-rear direction.

[0046] When the garnish 5 and the indicator panel 6 are moved together in the removal direction W (upward) relative to the console box 1, the front engagement portion 6D engages with the front engagement portion 2A, and the rear engagement portion 6E engages with the rear engagement portion 2B. This restricts the upward movement of the indicator panel 6. In detail, the front engagement portion 2A engages with the lower frame 6d of the front engagement portion 6D, and the rear engagement portion 2B engages with the lower frame 6e of the rear engagement portion 6E. Furthermore, the engaged front engagement portion 2A and the lower frame 6d, and the engaged rear engagement portion 2B and the lower frame 6e, engage at bent portions extending downward formed at the respective tips of the front engagement portion 2A and the rear engagement portion 2B, making it difficult for the respective engagements to come loose.

[0047] Furthermore, when the garnish 5 and the indicator panel 6 are attached integrally to the console box 1, the vertical distance between the front engagement portion 6D and the front engagement portion 2A, and the vertical distance between the rear engagement portion 6E and the rear engagement portion 2B are longer than the distance A (see Figure 7) between the apex 5c of the elastic claw 5b of the garnish 5 and the upper edge of the engagement hole 1A.

[0048] In other words, when the garnish 5 and the indicator panel 6 are attached integrally to the console box 1, the vertical distance between the front engagement portion 6D and the front engagement portion 2A, and the vertical distance between the rear engagement portion 6E and the rear engagement portion 2B are longer than the distance from when the elastic claw 5b abuts the lower edge of the engagement hole 1A to when the elastic claw 5b comes out of the engagement hole 1A.

[0049] This allows the indicator panel 6 to move in the removal direction W at least until the elastic claw 5b is disengaged from the engagement hole 1A.

[0050] In this embodiment, the shift lever body 2 constitutes a regulating member. The front engaging portion 2A and the rear engaging portion 2B constitute a first engaging portion, and the front engaging portion 6D and the rear engaging portion 6E constitute a second engaging portion.

[0051] As shown in FIG. 5, a front vertical wall 2C is formed on the rear side of the front engagement portion 2A, and a rear vertical wall 2D is formed on the rear side of the rear engagement portion 2B.

[0052] A front space 10 is formed between the front engagement portion 2A and the front vertical wall 2C, and the front space 10 is open upward. A rear space 11 is formed between the rear engagement portion 2B and the rear vertical wall 2D, and the rear space 11 is also open upward.

[0053] When the indicator panel 6 moves in a direction different from the removal direction W, i.e., from a state in which the front engagement portion 6D is positioned below the front engagement portion 2A and the rear engagement portion 6E is positioned below the rear engagement portion 2B, in the rear direction B, the engagement between the front engagement portion 2A and the front engagement portion 6D is released, and the engagement between the rear engagement portion 2B and the rear engagement portion 6E is released.

[0054] When the indicator panel 6 moves in the rear direction B, the front engagement portion 6D is positioned in the front space portion 10 and the rear engagement portion 6E is positioned in the rear space portion 11, and the front engagement portion 6D and the rear engagement portion 6E move upward along the front space portion 10 and the rear space portion 11, respectively, and the indicator panel 6 is detached from the shift lever body 2.

[0055] Next, the effects of the vehicle console structure of this embodiment will be described. The vehicle console structure of this embodiment includes a console box 1 that houses a shift lever main body 2 that supports a shift lever 3 so that it can swing freely, an indicator panel 6 that has a shift position display unit 6A and is connected to a harness 8 that lights up the shift position display unit 6A, and a garnish 5 that is detachably attached to the indicator panel 6 and attaches the indicator panel 6 to the console box 1.

[0056] The shift lever body 2 is configured to engage with the indicator panel 6 to restrict movement of the indicator panel 6, and when the indicator panel 6 is moved in the removal direction W relative to the console box 1, the indicator panel 6 engages with the shift lever body 2.

[0057] This makes it possible to prevent the harness 8 from being disconnected when the garnish 5 is removed from the console box 1.

[0058] That is, when the console box 1 is to be removed from the floor tunnel in order to perform maintenance or repair of the vehicle console structure, it is necessary to first remove the garnish 5.

[0059] The garnish 5 is removably attached to the indicator panel 6, and when attached to the console box 1, the engagement protrusion 6C of the indicator panel 6 engages with the engagement hole 5f of the protruding piece 5B of the garnish 5, thereby integrating the garnish 5 and the indicator panel 6.

[0060] In this state, when the garnish 5 is removed, the indicator panel 6 is removed together with the garnish 5 from the console box 1.

[0061] The worker will have to remove the garnish 5 from the console box 1 with a strong upward force, and when the indicator panel 6 is removed together with the garnish 5, the connector 7 connected to the connector connection portion 6B of the indicator panel 6 will move upward, applying a strong load to the harness 8, which may cause the harness 8 to break.

[0062] In the vehicle console structure of this embodiment, when the garnish 5 and the indicator panel 6 are moved together in the removal direction W relative to the console box 1 , the indicator panel 6 engages with the shift lever body 2 .

[0063] This prevents the indicator panel 6 from moving excessively in the removal direction W, and prevents a strong load from being applied to the harness 8, thereby preventing the harness 8 from being broken.

[0064] In addition, according to the vehicle console structure of this embodiment, the console box 1 has an engagement hole 1A, and the garnish 5 has an elastic claw 5b that engages with the engagement hole 1A, and when the garnish 5 and the indicator panel 6 are moved together in the removal direction W from the console box 1, the shift lever main body 2 allows the indicator panel 6 to move in the removal direction W until the engagement between the elastic claw 5b and the engagement hole 1A is released.

[0065] This makes it possible to prevent a strong load from being applied to the harness 8 even when the garnish 5 is completely removed from the console box 1, and thus makes it possible to more effectively prevent the harness 8 from being broken.

[0066] This prevents any hindrance to the operation of removing the garnish 5 from the console box 1, prevents a heavy load from being applied to the harness 8, and improves the ease of maintenance and repair work on the vehicle console structure.

[0067] Alternatively, an engagement hole may be provided in the garnish 5, and a protruding piece having an elastic claw may be provided in the console box 1.

[0068] In addition, according to the vehicle console structure of this embodiment, the shift lever main body 2 has a front engagement portion 2A and a rear engagement portion 2B, and the indicator panel 6 has a front engagement portion 6D and a rear engagement portion 6E that engage with the front engagement portion 2A and the rear engagement portion 2B in the same direction as the removal direction W and restrict the movement of the indicator panel 6 in the removal direction W.

[0069] In addition, when the indicator panel 6 moves in a rear direction B different from the removal direction W, the engagement between the front engagement portion 2A and the front engagement portion 6D is released, and the engagement between the rear engagement portion 2B and the rear engagement portion 6E is released.

[0070] This makes it possible to disengage the front engagement portion 2A from the front engagement portion 6D and to disengage the rear engagement portion 2B from the rear engagement portion 6E by simply changing the direction of movement, making it possible to easily remove the indicator panel 6 from the shift lever main body 2.

[0071] As a result, the ease of maintenance and repair work on the vehicle console structure can be improved more effectively.

[0072] Although an embodiment of the invention has been disclosed, it will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art that modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, and it is intended that all such modifications and equivalents be included in the following claims. [Explanation of symbols]

[0073] 1 Console box 1A Engagement hole 2 Shift lever body (regulating member) 2A Front engagement portion (first engagement portion) 2B Rear engagement portion (first engagement portion) 3 Shift lever 5 Garnish 5b Elastic claw 6 Indicator Panel 6A Shift position display unit 6D Front engagement portion (second engagement portion) 6E Rear engagement portion (second engagement portion) 8. Harness W Detachment direction

Claims

1. a console box that houses a shift lever body that supports the shift lever so as to be freely pivotable; an indicator panel having a shift position display unit and to which a harness for lighting the shift position display unit is connected; a garnish that is detachably provided on the indicator panel and that attaches the indicator panel to the console box, a restricting member that engages with the indicator panel to restrict movement of the indicator panel; a restricting member that restricts movement of the indicator panel relative to the console box when the indicator panel is moved in a direction to be removed from the console box;

2. a resilient claw provided on one of the console box and the garnish, and an engagement hole provided on the other of the console box and the garnish, the engagement hole engaging with the resilient claw; When the garnish and the indicator panel are moved integrally from the console box in the removal direction, 2. The vehicle console structure according to claim 1, wherein the restricting member allows the indicator panel to move in the removal direction at least until the elastic claw is disengaged from the engagement hole.

3. The restricting member is formed from the shift lever body, The shift lever body has a first engagement portion, the indicator panel has a second engagement portion that engages with the first engagement portion in the same direction as the removal direction and restricts movement of the indicator panel in the removal direction, 3. The vehicle console structure according to claim 1, wherein the indicator panel is disengaged from the first engagement portion and the second engagement portion when the indicator panel is moved in a direction different from the removal direction.

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