Steering hole cover assembly

Abstract

To provide a steering hole cover assembly that can achieve easy temporary assembly without requiring relative rotation between a cover body and a bracket, and can prevent removal of the bracket.SOLUTION: A steering hole cover assembly 10 has: a steering hole cover 7 comprising a flange part 14 which expands to an outer side from one end of an elastically deformable cover body 13; and a bracket 8 which is overlapped with the flange part 14 and fixes a steering wheel cover 7 to a dash panel of an automobile. An expanded protrusion 16 is provided on an outer peripheral surface of the cover body 13. When the bracket 8 is assembled to the steering hole cover 7, the cover body 13 is deformed so that the expanded protrusion 16 can pass through an opening 8e of the bracket 8, and when the cover 13 is elastically recovered after passing, a part of the bracket 8 is pinched between the flange part 14 and the expanded protrusion 16.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a steering hole cover assembly for an automobile, and more particularly to a steering hole cover assembly structure that covers an insertion hole for a steering shaft that passes through a dash panel on the interior side of the automobile. [Background technology]

[0002] In recent years, in order to reduce the number of steps required for managing automobile parts and improve the ease of automobile assembly, automobile parts are delivered from automobile parts manufacturers to automobile manufacturers in a pre-assembled state.

[0003] For example, the steering hole cover disclosed in Patent Document 1 is distributed and transported in the form of a steering hole cover assembly 20 shown in FIG. 7, in which accessory parts such as brackets and clamp members are temporarily assembled.

[0004] The steering hole cover assembly 20 covers the shaft insertion hole 6a of the steering shaft 3 that passes through the dash panel 6 of FIG. 1 on the interior side of the automobile, and includes a steering hole cover 21 and a bracket 22.

[0005] The steering hole cover 21 is made of a flexible material and has a flange portion 24 integrally formed at one end. A protruding projection 26 that protrudes parallel to the flange portion 24 is integrally formed at part of the outer periphery of the cover body 23 of the steering hole cover 21. A first stopper portion 27 that abuts against a stopper portion 29 of the bracket 22 to restrict rotation of the cover body 23 is formed in a region near the protruding projection 26. A second stopper portion 31 that sandwiches the stopper portion 29 of the bracket 22 between itself and the first stopper portion 27 is also integrally formed in a region near the protruding projection 26.

[0006] Bracket 22 is formed in an annular shape and is fitted over flange portion 24 of cover body 23 to secure cover body 23 of steering hole cover 21 to dash panel 6. Bracket 22 is formed with a cutout portion 28 that is matched with protruding protrusion 26 when fitting bracket 22 over flange portion 24. In addition, a stopper portion 29 is integrally formed near cutout portion 28 to come into contact with first stopper portion 27 of cover body 23 and restrict rotation of cover body 23.

[0007] Then, in the temporary assembly process of the steering hole cover assembly 20, the protruding convex portion 26 is aligned with the cutout portion 28, and the cover body 23 and the bracket 22 are rotated relative to each other in the direction to prevent separation. As a result, the portion of the bracket 22 adjacent to the cutout portion 28 is sandwiched between the bracket 22 and the protruding convex portion 26. In addition, the stopper portion 29 of the bracket 22 is sandwiched between the first stopper portion 27 and the second stopper portion 31 of the cover body 23. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0008] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2019-131093 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0009] In the conventional steering hole cover assembly 20, the cover body 23 and the bracket 22 are rotated relative to each other to sandwich the stopper portion 29 of the bracket 22 between the first stopper portion 27 and the second stopper portion 31 of the cover body 23, which requires a lot of man-hours for temporary assembly.

[0010] Furthermore, if the openings of the cover body 23 and the bracket 22 are formed into a perfect circle, it becomes easier to rotate the cover body 13, but the cover body 23 and the bracket 22 may rotate relative to each other more than necessary, and the relative rotation may be accidentally exceeded during the temporary assembly process, causing the bracket 22 to come off.

[0011] In view of the above circumstances, an object of the present invention is to provide a steering hole cover assembly that facilitates temporary assembly without requiring relative rotation between the cover body and the bracket, and that can prevent the bracket from coming off. [Means for solving the problem]

[0012] Therefore, one aspect of the present invention is a steering hole cover assembly that surrounds a steering shaft that passes through a shaft insertion hole in a dash panel of an automobile on the interior side of the vehicle and covers the shaft insertion hole, the steering hole cover including a flange portion that protrudes outward from one end of an elastically deformable cover main body, and a bracket that secures the steering hole cover to the dash panel by being superimposed on the flange portion. A protruding protrusion is provided on the outer peripheral surface of the cover main body. When the bracket is assembled to the steering hole cover, the cover main body is deformed so that the protruding protrusion can pass through an opening in the bracket. Then, when the cover main body elastically recovers after the bracket has passed through, a portion of the bracket is sandwiched between the flange portion and the protruding protrusion. [Effects of the Invention]

[0013] According to the present invention, relative rotation between the cover body and the bracket is not required during the preliminary assembly process of the steering hole cover assembly, making it easier to preliminary assemble the steering hole cover assembly, and since excessive relative rotation does not occur, detachment of the bracket can be prevented. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0014] [Figure 1] 1 is a perspective view showing one embodiment of a steering shaft to which the steering hole cover assembly of the present invention is applied; [Figure 2] 1 is an exploded perspective view showing one embodiment of a steering hole cover assembly of the present invention; [Figure 3](a) An oblique view of a steering hole cover assembly in which the cover body has been deformed so that the protruding convex portion of the cover body can pass through the opening of the bracket, (b) an oblique view of the steering hole cover assembly in which the cover body has elastically recovered, (c) an oblique view of the steering hole cover assembly when the temporary assembly is complete, and (d) an enlarged view showing the mating state of the stopper portion on the cover body side and the cutout portion on the bracket side when the temporary assembly is complete. [Figure 4] Cross section AA of Figure 3. [Figure 5] Cross section B-B of Figure 3. [Figure 6] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the steering hole cover assembly of FIG. 2 in an assembled state. [Figure 7] FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a conventional steering hole cover assembly in an assembled state. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0015] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, an embodiment of a steering hole cover assembly of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0016] FIG. 1 shows one embodiment of a steering shaft 3 to which a steering hole cover assembly 10 of the present invention is applied. An upper shaft 3a supported by a jacket tube 2 of a steering column 1 is connected to an intermediate shaft 3b via a universal joint 4. The intermediate shaft 3b is connected to a lower shaft 3c via a universal joint 5. The upper shaft 3a, intermediate shaft 3b, and lower shaft 3c constitute the steering shaft 3. The intermediate shaft 3b passes through a dash panel 6 that separates the engine compartment from the passenger compartment of the automobile. The lower shaft 3c is connected to a steering gear (not shown), and a steering wheel (not shown) is connected to the tip of the upper shaft 3a.

[0017] A shaft insertion hole 6a is formed in the dash panel 6, through which the intermediate shaft 3b of the steering shaft 3 is inserted. A steering hole cover 7 that surrounds the intermediate shaft 3b is inserted in advance into the shaft insertion hole 6a. After the assembly of the steering shaft 3 is complete, the lower end of the steering hole cover 7 is fixed to the dash panel 6 by a bracket 8, and the upper end of the steering hole cover 7 is connected to the intermediate shaft 3b by a clamp member 9. A seal member 11 that allows rotation of the intermediate shaft 3b is interposed between the intermediate shaft 3b and the upper end of the steering hole cover 7.

[0018] The steering hole cover 7 is distributed and transported in the form of a steering hole cover assembly 10 in which accessory parts such as a bracket 8 and a clamp member 9, which will be described later, are temporarily assembled. FIG. 2 shows one embodiment of the steering hole cover assembly 10 of the present invention.

[0019] The steering hole cover assembly 10 of this embodiment is formed by temporarily assembling accessory parts such as a bracket 8 and a clamp member 9 to a steering hole cover 7.

[0020] The steering hole cover assembly 10 comprises a steering hole cover 7, a bracket 8 that secures the steering hole cover 7 to the dash panel 6 shown in FIG. 1, a clamp member 9 that connects the steering hole cover 7 to the intermediate shaft 3b of the steering shaft 3, and a soft insulator 12 that is attached to the steering hole cover 7 in advance.

[0021] The steering hole cover 7 is made of an elastically deformable flexible material such as EPDM, and has a cover body 13 in the shape of a pipe with different diameters, an annular flange portion 14 formed integrally with the circular large diameter side opening end of the cover body 13, and a cylindrical small diameter tubular portion 15 formed integrally with the circular small diameter side opening end of the cover body 13, which is arranged at an angle to the large diameter side opening end.

[0022] A clamp member 9 for connection to the intermediate shaft 3b is pre-attached in a temporarily tightened state to the small diameter cylindrical portion 15. When a clamp bolt 9a is tightened, the clamp member 9 is wound tightly around the wire 9b attached to the outer peripheral surface of the small diameter cylindrical portion 15. A protrusion 19 having a generally trapezoidal planar shape is provided on a part of the outer peripheral surface of the small diameter cylindrical portion 15 and is interposed between the wires 9b of the clamp member 9.

[0023] The flange portion 14 functions as a seating surface for the dash panel 6. A circular insulator 12 made of an elastic material such as sponge rubber is attached in advance to the back surface of the flange portion 14. When the steering hole cover 7 is properly assembled to the dash panel 6 as shown in FIG. 1, the insulator 12 comes into close contact with the periphery of the shaft insertion hole 6a.

[0024] As shown in Fig. 4, a plurality of protruding portions 16, each having a generally trapezoidal shape in plan view, are provided on a portion of the outer peripheral surface of the cover body 13, protruding generally parallel to the flange portion 14 and separated by a gap G from the flange portion 14. For example, two protruding portions 16 are provided, and are arranged on the outer peripheral surface of the cover body 13 generally opposite each other as shown in Fig. 3. The number of protruding portions 16 is not limited to two, and a suitable number of protruding portions can be provided depending on the size of the cover body 13.

[0025] Furthermore, a stopper portion 17 having a generally trapezoidal vertical and horizontal cross section that can be fitted into a cutout portion 18 on the bracket 8 side (described later) is provided near one of the two protruding portions 16 to protrude radially.

[0026] A bracket 8 for attaching the steering hole cover 7 to the dash panel 6 is placed on top of the upper surface of the flange portion 14 .

[0027] 2, the bracket 8 is made of a light metal material such as aluminum, and is formed into a circular ring shape similar to the flange portion 14 by aluminum die-casting or the like, and further formed into a substantially L-shaped cross section by an upper wall portion 8a and a peripheral wall portion 8b. The inner diameter of an opening 8e in the upper wall portion 8a is set to be substantially the same as the outer diameter of the cover body 13.

[0028] Flange portions 8c that protrude outward are provided at three circumferential positions of the bracket 8. Bolt holes 8d are formed in each of the flange portions 8c, into which mounting bolts (not shown) are inserted.

[0029] Furthermore, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, a notch 18 into which the stopper portion 17 can be fitted is formed in part of the inner periphery of the upper wall portion 8a of the bracket 8.

[0030] The temporary assembly process of the steering hole cover assembly 10 will be described below.

[0031] First, as shown in FIG. 2, the stopper portion 17 on the cover body 13 is aligned with the notch portion 18 on the bracket 8, and the bracket 8 is placed on the flange portion 14 on the cover body 13. Next, as shown in FIG. 3(a), the cover body 13 is deformed in the direction of the black arrow F so that the protruding portion 16 of the cover body 13 can pass through the opening 8e of the bracket 8. Next, as shown in FIG. 3(b), when the deformation is released after the protruding portion 16 passes through the opening 8e, the cover body 13 elastically recovers, and the upper wall portion 8a of the bracket 8 is inserted into the gap G between the flange portion 14 and the protruding portion 16, as shown in FIG. 4. At this time, a portion of the upper wall portion 8a of the bracket 8 is sandwiched between the flange portion 14 and the protruding portion 16, as shown in FIG. 4, and the stopper portion 17 on the cover body 13 is fitted into the notch portion 18 on the bracket 8, as shown in FIGS. 3(c), 3(d), and 5. Then, as shown in FIG. 6, the protrusion 19 of the small diameter cylindrical portion 15 is clamped by the wire 9b of the clamp member 9 and the clamp bolt 9a is temporarily tightened, completing the temporary assembly of the steering hole cover assembly 10.

[0032] According to the steering hole cover assembly 10 described above, the bracket 8 can be attached to the cover body 13 due to the elastic recovery force of the cover body 13. Therefore, the process of rotating the bracket 8 and the cover body 13 relative to each other in a direction to prevent separation, which is required in the temporary assembly process of conventional steering hole cover assemblies, is no longer necessary, reducing the number of steps required for temporary assembly and facilitating temporary assembly of the bracket 8 to the steering hole cover 7. Furthermore, since excessive relative rotation of the bracket 8 to the cover body 13 does not occur, separation of the bracket 8 is prevented.

[0033] In particular, the relative rotation between the steering hole cover 7 and the bracket 8 is restricted by the engagement between the stopper portion 17 on the cover body 13 side and the cutout portion 18 on the bracket 8 side, which more reliably prevents the bracket 8 from coming off. This further stably maintains the temporary assembly state of the bracket 8 to the steering hole cover 7. Furthermore, the provision of multiple protruding convex portions 16 on the outer circumferential surface of the cover body 13 further stably maintains the temporary assembly state.

[0034] Furthermore, the clamp member 9 attached to the small diameter cylindrical portion 15 of the steering hole cover 7 will not easily come off if the clamp bolt 9a is properly tightened.

[0035] Furthermore, even if the steering hole cover assembly 10 of this embodiment has the bracket 8, clamp member 9, and insulator 12 attached to the flexible steering hole cover 7, these components do not easily come off, and the steering hole cover assembly 10 can be distributed and transported essentially as a single part.

[0036] Depending on the product specifications, the cover body 13 may have a two-layer structure instead of a single-layer structure, but this case is naturally still within the scope of the present invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0037] 3...Steering shaft 6...Dash panel, 6a...Shaft insertion hole 7...Steering hole cover, 13...Cover body, 14...Flange portion, 15...Small diameter cylindrical portion, 16...Protruding convex portion, 17...Stopper portion, 19...Protrusion portion 8...Bracket, 18...Notch 10...Steering hole cover assembly

Claims

1. A steering hole cover assembly that surrounds a steering shaft that passes through a shaft insertion hole in a dash panel of an automobile on the interior side of the automobile to cover the shaft insertion hole, a steering hole cover having a flange portion that protrudes outward from one end of an elastically deformable cover body; a bracket that is overlapped with the flange portion and fixes the steering hole cover to the dash panel; and A protruding projection is provided on the outer peripheral surface of the cover body, A steering hole cover assembly characterized in that when the bracket is assembled to the steering hole cover, the cover body is deformed to allow the protruding convex portion to pass through the opening of the bracket, and when the cover body elastically recovers after the bracket has passed through, a portion of the bracket is sandwiched between the flange portion and the protruding convex portion.

2. A stopper portion is provided on the outer circumferential surface to protrude therefrom, The steering hole cover assembly according to claim 1, wherein the bracket has a notch formed therein that fits with the stopper portion when the bracket is assembled.

3. 2. The steering hole cover assembly according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of the protruding portions are provided.

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