Vehicle structure

Abstract

To provide a vehicle structure easy in restraint of slipping out of a cable according to inertia of a vehicle.SOLUTION: A vehicle structure has a storage box having a box part having an opening part opening toward the cabin inside and a lid part opening-closing the opening part, and the box part has a hole part exposing a terminal connected to a portable machine via a cable, and at least one of the opening part and the lid part has a notch part forming an open hole communicating an internal space and an outer space of the box part in an area of mutually opposite in a closed state of the lid part.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a vehicle structure including a storage box having a box portion with an opening that opens toward the interior of a vehicle compartment and a lid portion that opens and closes the opening. [Background technology]

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a vehicle including an instrument panel at the front of the vehicle, a storage box rotatably mounted on the instrument panel, and multiple connection terminals mounted on the instrument panel above the storage box. The rotatable storage box can be positioned inside the instrument panel in a stored position and pulled out from the instrument panel toward the passenger compartment. The storage box has an opening that opens upward. The rear edge of the opening has, from left to right, a left protrusion, a left recess, a central grip, a right recess, and a right protrusion. The left protrusion and the right protrusion protrude upward. The central grip protrudes obliquely forward and upward. The left recess is formed by the left protrusion and the central grip. The right recess is formed by the right protrusion and the central grip. The plurality of connection terminals are connected to a plurality of cables extending from a plurality of portable devices stored inside the storage box and drawn out of the storage box through the opening. The plurality of cables are arranged separately in the left recess and the right recess to prevent them from becoming entangled. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2014-125043 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In Patent Document 1, the left recess and the right recess are open and connected to each other, so there is a risk that the cable may come loose from inside to outside the recess due to the inertia of the vehicle.

[0005] One object of the present invention is to provide a vehicle structure that can easily prevent a cable from coming loose due to the inertia of the vehicle. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] (1) A vehicle structure according to one aspect of the present invention includes: a storage box including a box portion having an opening that opens toward the interior of the vehicle, and a lid portion that opens and closes the opening, the box portion has a hole portion for exposing a terminal connected to a portable device via a cable, At least one of the opening and the lid has a notch that forms a through hole that connects the internal space of the box with the external space in an area that faces each other when the lid is closed.

[0007] (2) In the vehicle structure described in (1) above, The vehicle further includes an instrument panel provided at the front of the vehicle, the instrument panel has a tray portion recessed forward to open toward the rear of the vehicle, the storage box is provided above the tray portion of the instrument panel so that the opening faces rearward, The external space may be a storage space for the tray portion. [Effects of the Invention]

[0008] In the vehicle structure of (1) above, the cable connected to the terminal can be drawn from the interior space of the storage section to the exterior space through the through hole. In the vehicle structure of (1) above, the cable passed through the through hole is surrounded by the opening and the cover that form the through hole, so the cable is less likely to come out of the cutout due to the inertia of the vehicle.

[0009] In the vehicle structure of (2) above, if the opening has a cutout, the cutout is covered by the lid, i.e., the lid portion, even though it opens toward the rear of the vehicle. In the vehicle structure of (2) above, if the lid portion has a cutout, the cutout is covered by the opening, i.e., the lid portion, even though it opens toward the front of the vehicle. Therefore, in either case, the cutout is difficult to see from the rear of the vehicle. In other words, the cutout is difficult to see from an occupant seated in the seat. Therefore, the vehicle structure of (2) above has a good appearance. In contrast to the vehicle structure of (2) above, in Patent Document 1, the left protrusion, the central grip portion, and the right protrusion are visible to the occupant, which makes it look unattractive. Furthermore, in the vehicle structure of (2) above, a tray portion is provided below the storage box, and a through-hole communicates between the internal space of the storage box and the storage space of the tray portion. Therefore, in the vehicle structure of (2) above, the excess length of the cable passed through the through-hole and the portable device connected to the cable can be easily placed in the tray section. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0010] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is an overall perspective view showing an outline of a vehicle structure according to an embodiment. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is an enlarged perspective view showing an outline of a state in which the opening of a box portion provided in the vehicle structure of the embodiment is closed by a lid portion. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is an enlarged perspective view showing an outline of a state in which the opening of the box portion provided in the vehicle structure of the embodiment is opened by the lid portion. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line IV-IV in FIG. [Figure 5] FIG. 5 is a bottom view showing a through hole provided in the vehicle structure of the embodiment as viewed from below. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a bottom view showing a cutout portion provided in the vehicle structure of the embodiment as viewed from below. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0011] An embodiment of the vehicle structure of the present invention will be described below with reference to Figures 1 to 6. The same reference numerals in the figures indicate the same or equivalent parts. The sizes of the members shown in each figure are expressed for the purpose of clarity of explanation and do not necessarily represent the actual dimensions. In the figures, "UP" indicates the top of a vehicle equipped with the vehicle structure 1 of the embodiment, "LWR" indicates the bottom, "FR" indicates the front, "RR" indicates the rear, "RH" indicates the right, and "LH" indicates the left. In the following description, "upper," "lower," "front," "rear," "right," and "left" respectively correspond to the "upper," "lower," "front," "rear," "right," and "left" of the vehicle.

[0012] <<Embodiment>> [Vehicle structure] As shown in Figures 1 to 3, the vehicle structure 1 of this embodiment includes a storage box 3 having a box portion 4 and a lid portion 5. As shown in Figure 3, the box portion 4 has an opening 46 that opens toward the interior of the vehicle cabin, and a hole portion 49 in which a terminal connected to a portable device 8 via a cable 9 is provided. The lid portion 5 opens and closes the opening 46. One of the features of the vehicle structure 1 of this embodiment is that at least one of the box portion 4 and the lid portion 5 has a cutout portion 48 that forms a through hole 6 shown in Figure 4. In the vehicle structure 1 of this embodiment, an example will be described in which the storage box 3 is provided in an instrument panel 2.

[0013] [Instrument panel] As shown in Fig. 1, the instrument panel 2 is an instrument panel located at the front of the vehicle interior. Various meters necessary for driving, an air conditioning system, an audio system, a glove box, a storage box, a tray section, etc. are arranged on the instrument panel 2. The instrument panel 2 shown in Fig. 1 includes mounting holes 101 for the various meters, a through-hole 102 for the steering column, a display 103 for the navigation system, mounting holes 104 for the audio and air conditioning system control panels, a glove box 105, a storage box 3, and a tray section 7.

[0014] (storage box) The storage box 3 is a member for storing items inside. The storage box 3 is provided in front of the passenger seat on the instrument panel 2. More specifically, the storage box 3 is provided between the cash register 106 and the display 103, which are located on the left side, and above the tray portion 7, which will be described later. The storage box 3 has a box portion 4 and a lid portion 5.

[0015] <Box section> The box portion 4 forms an internal space for storing items. As shown in FIG. 3 , the box portion 4 of this example has a bottom portion 41 located at the bottom, a left wall portion 42 located on the left, a right wall portion 43 located on the right, and a front wall portion 44 located at the front. The front wall portion 44 of this example is inclined so that the upper end of the front wall portion 44 is located further rearward than the lower end. In other words, the box portion 4 of this example does not have a ceiling portion facing the bottom portion 41. The internal space is a space surrounded by the bottom portion 41, the left wall portion 42, the right wall portion 43, and the front wall portion 44. The box portion 4 has an opening portion 46 and a hole portion 49.

[0016] Openings As shown in FIG. 3 , the opening 46 in this example opens toward the rear. The opening 46 is defined by the rear end of the bottom 41, the rear end of the left wall 42, the rear end of the right wall 43, and the upper end of the front wall 44. The opening 46 has a first region 47 that faces the lid 5 when the opening 46 is closed and that forms part of the periphery of the opening 46. In this example, the first region 47 is the rear end of the bottom 41. As shown in FIG. 4 , the rear end of the bottom 41, which is the first region 47 in this example, has a notch 48 that connects the internal space of the box 4 with the external space and opens toward the second region 52 of the lid 5. As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 , the notch 48, together with the lid 5 that closes the opening 46, forms the through hole 6. A cable 9, which will be described later, can be placed in the notch 48. The notch 48 can also be used as a portion for the occupant to hook their fingers when opening the lid 5 that closes the opening 46.

[0017] As shown in FIG. 1 , the cutout 48 in this example is located near the center of the instrument panel 2 at the rear end of the bottom 41. That is, the through-hole 6 is located near the center of the vehicle width. This allows the driver to easily reach the through-hole 6 and open the lid 5 that closes the opening 46, even from the driver's seat. As shown in FIG. 6 , the cutout 48 in this example has a U-shape when viewed from below. As shown in FIGS. 4 and 6 , the cutout 48 in this example is connected to the top and bottom and opens toward the rear. The cutout 48 in this example connects the internal space of the box 4 with the storage space of the tray 7 (described later) and opens toward the lower end 51 of the lid 5. The width and depth of the cutout 48 can be appropriately selected depending on the number of terminals, i.e., the diameter and number of cables. The cutout 48 in this example has a width and depth that allows four cables to be placed therein.

[0018] ·Hole As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 , the hole 49 exposes a terminal connected to the mobile device 8 via a cable 9. The mobile device 8 is, for example, a smartphone, a mobile phone, a tablet terminal, or a laptop computer. The cable 9 may be a charging cable for charging the mobile device 8, a communication cable for transmitting instructions from the mobile device 8 to an ECU, for example, for fuel adjustment, or a cable for both charging and communication. The terminal is, for example, a Universal Serial Bus (USB) female terminal. The hole 49 in this example is located near the notch 48. This makes it easy to place the cable 9 connected to the terminal in the notch 48. The hole 49 in this example is located near the center of the vehicle width of the instrument panel 2, as shown in FIG. 1 . More specifically, the hole 49 in this example is located in the protrusion 45 that protrudes rearward from the front wall 44, as shown in FIG. 3 . The number of holes 49 is not particularly limited. In this example, there are two holes 49. The two holes 49 are arranged in parallel along the width of the vehicle. There are no particular limitations on the size of each hole 49. In this example, the size of each hole 49 is such that two USB female terminals can be arranged in parallel along the top and bottom.

[0019] <Lid> As shown in Figures 2 and 3, the lid 5 opens and closes the opening 46 of the box 4. In this example, the lid 5 is provided to be rotatable relative to the box 4 around a shaft (not shown) as a rotation axis. In this example, the shaft is provided at the upper end of the front wall 44. The shaft extends along the vehicle width. That is, the lid 5 in this example opens and closes the opening 46 of the box 4 by rotating up and down around the shaft provided at the upper end of the front wall 44 as a rotation axis. Unlike this example, the lid 5 may rotate around a shaft provided at the rear end of the bottom 41, the rear end of the left wall 42, or the rear end of the right wall 43 of the opening 46 of the box 4 as a rotation axis. Unlike this example, the lid 5 may be provided to be slidable. The lid 5 may open and close the opening 46 by sliding up and down or left and right. For example, slide grooves extending vertically may be formed on the inner surfaces of the left wall portion 42 and the right wall portion 43, and the side edges of the lid portion 5 may be fitted into the slide grooves. The lid portion 5 slides vertically along the slide grooves. In this case, the slide grooves may be formed so that the lid portion 5 covers the rear end of the bottom portion 41 when the lid portion 5 closes the opening 46.

[0020] As shown in FIG. 4, when the opening 46 is closed, the lid 5 has a second region 52 that faces the first region 47 and forms part of the periphery of the lid 5. In this example, the second region 52 is the lower end 51 of the lid 5. In this example, the lower end 51, which is the second region 52, does not have a notch that opens toward the first region 47. In this example, the lower end 51 has a flat surface that covers the notch 48. In this example, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the notch 48 of the opening 46 and the flat surface of the lower end 51 form a through hole 6 that penetrates vertically.

[0021] (Tray section) As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 , the tray portion 7 forms a storage space for storing items. In this example, the tray portion 7 is provided below the storage box 3 and above the glove compartment 105. The tray portion 7 is configured to be recessed forward and open rearward, located between the storage box 3 and the glove compartment 105 in the instrument panel 2. The tray portion 7 does not have a lid portion 5. The tray portion 7 has an upper surface 71 on which items can be placed. The upper surface 71 is disposed with a gap between it and the storage box 3. The storage space is provided between the upper surface 71 and the storage box 3. A portable device 8 can be placed on the upper surface 71 of the tray portion 7. In addition, an excess portion of the cable 9 that is drawn out of the internal space of the box portion 4 through the through-hole 6 can also be placed on the upper surface 71 of the tray portion 7.

[0022] The notch 48 is provided at the rear end of the bottom 41 so as to communicate upward and downward and open rearward. When the opening 46 is open and not closed by the lid 5, the cable 9 connected to a terminal exposed inside the box 4 can be positioned in the notch 48. When the opening 46 is closed by the lid 5 with the cable 9 positioned in the notch 48, the rear end of the bottom 41 and the lower end 51 of the lid 5 can surround the entire periphery of the cable 9. This makes it difficult for the cable 9 to come loose from inside to outside the notch 48 due to the inertia of the vehicle. Furthermore, the cable 9 is difficult to come loose even when a passenger in the front passenger seat uses the portable device 8 while charging it. Because the notch 48 is covered by the lower end 51 of the lid 5 that closes the opening 46, it is difficult for the passenger to see the notch 48. This improves the appearance.

[0023] The present invention is not limited to these examples, but is defined by the claims, and is intended to include all modifications within the meaning and scope of the claims.

[0024] The through hole may be formed by a rear end of the bottom of the opening where no notch is provided and a notch provided in the lower end of the lid. The notch in the lower end of the lid opens toward the rear end of the bottom. Alternatively, the through hole may be formed by a notch provided in the rear end of the bottom of the opening and a notch provided in the lower end of the lid. The notch in the rear end of the bottom communicates the internal space of the box with the external space and opens toward the notch in the lower end of the lid. The notch in the lower end of the lid communicates the internal space of the box with the external space and opens toward the notch in the rear end of the bottom.

[0025] The storage box is not limited to the above embodiment in which it is provided in the instrument panel, as long as the opening of the box portion faces the interior of the vehicle. For example, the storage box may be provided in at least one of a center console provided along the front-to-rear direction of the vehicle on the floor between the driver's seat and the passenger seat, an overhead console provided near the inner mirror on the roof panel, and a quarter trim provided on the left and right sides of the luggage compartment. [Explanation of symbols]

[0026] 1 Vehicle structure 2. Instrument panel 3 storage boxes 4 Box section 41 Bottom 42 Left wall 43 Right wall 44 Front wall 45 Protrusion 46 Opening 47 First area 48 Notch 49 Hole 5 Lid 51 Lower end 52 Second area 6 through holes 7 Tray section 71 Top surface 8. Mobile devices 9 Cable 101 Mounting hole 102 Through hole 103 Display 104 Mounting hole 105 Glove box 106 Register

Claims

1. An instrument panel provided at the front of a vehicle, The instrument panel includes: a storage box including a box portion having an opening that opens toward the rear of the vehicle and into the passenger compartment, and a lid portion that opens and closes the opening; a tray portion recessed toward the front and opening toward the rear, the storage box is provided above the tray portion of the instrument panel, the box portion has a hole portion for exposing a terminal connected to a portable device via a cable, At least one of the opening and the lid has a notch that forms a through hole that communicates with the internal space of the box and the storage space of the tray in an area where they face each other when the lid is closed, The through-hole is provided directly above the tray portion. Vehicle structure.

2. The tray portion is provided on the passenger side of the instrument panel, 2. The vehicle structure according to claim 1, wherein the notch is provided on a passenger side of the instrument panel at a position close to a center of the vehicle width.

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