On-vehicle device and method for assembling on-vehicle device

Abstract

To fix an on-vehicle instrument and a vehicle attachment bracket with the necessary fastening force while securing a positional relation between the on-vehicle instrument and a cluster panel.SOLUTION: An on-vehicle device comprises: an on-vehicle instrument 1 in which a panel 1B is provided on a front surface of an instrument body 1A; a cluster panel 3 which is arranged on the panel 1B; a positioning mechanism (rib 1Bb, claw part 3B) which positions the panel 1B and the cluster panel 3; a vehicle attachment bracket 2 which is fixed to the cluster panel 3 and the instrument body 1A and is attached to the vehicle; and attachment holes 2aa, 2ab which are provided so as to be arrayed in the cross direction in the vehicle attachment bracket 2, have the larger diameter than screw holes 1Ag arrayed in the cross direction on the lateral sides (right surface 1Ae, left surface 1Af) of the instrument body 1A and whose vertical hole diameters are formed to be larger as going toward the rear side.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an in-vehicle device and an assembly method for the in-vehicle device. [Background technology]

[0002] For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a conventional in-vehicle device. This in-vehicle device includes an in-vehicle device (in-vehicle device main body), a cluster panel, and an instrument panel fixing bracket. The cluster panel has an instrument panel fixing mounting portion and a cluster side positioning protrusion on its rear surface. The in-vehicle device has an in-vehicle device side positioning protrusion. In this in-vehicle device, the in-vehicle device main body and the cluster panel are positioned by the cluster side positioning protrusion and the in-vehicle device side positioning protrusion. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2013-199199 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] Conventionally, in-vehicle devices are secured by screwing a vehicle mounting bracket, which is attached to the side of the device, into a vehicle-side mounting portion. Because misalignment between the cluster panel and the in-vehicle device panel can adversely affect the overall appearance, the vehicle mounting bracket must be attached to the cluster panel without interfering with the alignment of the cluster panel and the in-vehicle device. Therefore, the relative positions of the in-vehicle device and the vehicle mounting bracket depend on the relative positions of the in-vehicle device and the cluster panel. For example, if there is a misalignment between the in-vehicle device and the cluster panel, the relative positions of the mounting holes on the vehicle mounting bracket relative to the screw holes on the in-vehicle device may be misaligned, preventing the screws from being secured and the vehicle mounting bracket from being attached to the in-vehicle device. If the mounting holes on the vehicle mounting bracket were enlarged to avoid this, the contact area between the screw seat and the vehicle mounting bracket would be smaller when the in-vehicle device and the vehicle mounting bracket are fastened together. This would result in insufficient friction, making it impossible to secure the required fastening force, and potentially causing the screws to loosen.

[0005] The present invention aims to provide an on-board device and an assembling method for the on-board device that can secure the on-board device to a vehicle mounting bracket with the necessary fastening force while ensuring the positional relationship between the on-board device and the cluster panel. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, one embodiment of the in-vehicle device of the present invention comprises an in-vehicle device having a panel provided on the front of the device body, a cluster panel placed on the panel, a positioning mechanism for positioning the panel and the cluster panel relative to each other, a vehicle mounting bracket fixed to the cluster panel and the device body and attached to the vehicle, and multiple mounting holes arranged in a line in the fore-and-aft direction on the vehicle mounting bracket, each mounting hole having a larger diameter than each of the multiple screw holes arranged in a line in the fore-and-aft direction on the side of the device body, and with the upper and lower hole diameters increasing toward the rear.

[0007] In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, one aspect of the present invention provides a method for assembling an in-vehicle device comprising: an in-vehicle device having a panel provided on the front of a device body; a cluster panel to be placed on the panel; a positioning mechanism for positioning the panel and the cluster panel; a vehicle mounting bracket fixed to the cluster panel and the device body and attached to a vehicle; and a plurality of mounting holes arranged in a longitudinal direction on the vehicle mounting bracket, the mounting holes having larger diameters than each of a plurality of screw holes arranged in a longitudinal direction on a side of the device body, with the upper and lower hole diameters increasing toward the rear. The method includes the steps of: positioning the cluster panel and the panel using the positioning mechanism; fixing the vehicle mounting bracket to the cluster panel; and fixing the vehicle mounting bracket to the device body by fastening screws into the screw holes via the mounting holes. [Effects of the Invention]

[0008] According to the present invention, the positional relationship between the vehicle-mounted device and the cluster panel can be ensured, and the vehicle-mounted device and the vehicle mounting bracket can be fixed with the necessary fastening force. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of an in-vehicle device according to an embodiment. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a vehicle mounting bracket of the vehicle-mounted device according to the embodiment. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is a side view of the vehicle mounting bracket of the vehicle-mounted device according to the embodiment. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a rear view of the cluster panel of the in-vehicle device according to the embodiment. [Figure 5] FIG. 5 is a flowchart of a method for assembling an in-vehicle device according to the embodiment. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing an assembly procedure for the in-vehicle device according to the embodiment. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing an assembly procedure for the in-vehicle device according to the embodiment. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing an assembly procedure for the in-vehicle device according to the embodiment. [Figure 9] FIG. 9 is a side view showing an assembly procedure for the in-vehicle device according to the embodiment. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing an assembly procedure for the in-vehicle device according to the embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0010] Hereinafter, modes for carrying out the invention (hereinafter referred to as embodiments) will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. Note that the present invention is not limited to the following embodiments. Furthermore, the components in the following embodiments include those that can be easily imagined by a person skilled in the art, those that are substantially the same, and those that are within the so-called equivalent range. Furthermore, the components disclosed in the following embodiments can be combined as appropriate.

[0011] The in-vehicle device according to the embodiment is installed inside a vehicle cabin, for example, on an instrument panel of the vehicle.

[0012] As shown in FIG. 1, the in-vehicle device includes an in-vehicle device 1, a vehicle mounting bracket 2, and a cluster panel 3.

[0013] The in-vehicle device 1 is, for example, a navigation system or an audio system with a display, and includes a device body 1A and a panel 1B.

[0014] The device body 1A has a rectangular box-shaped housing with an upper surface 1Aa facing upward, a lower surface 1Ab facing downward, a front surface 1Ac facing forward, a rear surface 1Ad facing backward, a right surface (side surface) 1Ae facing right, and a left surface (side surface) 1Af facing left. The housing of the device body 1A has a structure in which the front surface 1Ac is open and the upper surface 1Aa, the lower surface 1Ab, the rear surface 1Ad, the right surface 1Ae, and the left surface (side surface) 1Af are sealed with sheet metal. Here, in the in-vehicle device, the upper, lower, front, rear, right, and left sides are defined as the respective directions when the in-vehicle device 1 is mounted in front of the driver's seat of the vehicle. That is, the side facing the driver's seat from in front of the driver's seat is the "front side," and the side facing the windshield at the front of the vehicle is the "rear side," and the right and left sides are directions when the in-vehicle device 1 is viewed from the front. When mounted in a vehicle, the device main body 1A is placed inside a vehicle cluster (also called a dashboard).

[0015] The device main body 1A has screw holes 1Ag formed on both the left and right side surfaces 1Ae, 1Af. The screw holes 1Ag are for attaching the vehicle mounting bracket 2 to the device main body 1A. A plurality of screw holes 1Ag (two in this embodiment) are provided lined up front and back on each of the right surface 1Ae and the left surface 1Af. All of the screw holes 1Ag are formed to have the same hole diameter.

[0016] The panel 1B is a display panel formed in the shape of a rectangular plate with its display surface facing forward and extending in all directions, and is installed in front of the device main body 1A. The panel 1B covers the front of the device main body 1A. In this embodiment, the panel 1B is larger than the device main body 1A in the vertical and horizontal directions. The display surface of the panel 1B is configured, for example, by a liquid crystal display (LCD) or an organic electroluminescence (EL) display. The display surface can be configured as a touch panel. Although not explicitly shown in the figure, the panel 1B can be provided with operation buttons for performing various operations on the in-vehicle device 1.

[0017] Panel 1B is provided with ribs 1Bb that protrude from an outer peripheral surface 1Ba that is continuous in an annular shape and that are oriented in all directions, and that are also continuous in an annular shape. Ribs 1Bb function as a positioning mechanism that cooperates with claw portions 3B of cluster panel 3 to position panel 1B and cluster panel 3 relative to each other. Claw portions 3B will be described in detail in the following explanation of cluster panel 3.

[0018] The vehicle mounting bracket 2 is attached to the device main body 1A and to a vehicle. The vehicle mounting bracket 2 has a right-side vehicle mounting bracket 2A that is attached to the right surface 1Ae of the device main body 1A, and a left-side vehicle mounting bracket 2B that is attached to the left surface 1Af. The right-side vehicle mounting bracket 2A and the left-side vehicle mounting bracket 2B are configured symmetrically, and the following description will focus on one of the vehicle mounting brackets 2, with equivalent parts denoted by the same reference numerals.

[0019] The vehicle mounting bracket 2 is made of sheet metal, and as shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, has an equipment-side contact piece 2a, a panel-side contact piece 2b, and a vehicle-side contact piece 2c.

[0020] The device-side contact piece 2a is formed in a plate shape with its plate surface facing laterally (right or left) so that it is installed against the side surface (right surface 1Ae or left surface 1Af) of the device main body 1A. The device-side contact piece 2a is penetrated by a plurality of (two in this embodiment) mounting holes 2aa, 2ab arranged in the front-rear direction corresponding to the plurality of screw holes 1Ag arranged in the front-rear direction on each side surface (right surface 1Ae or left surface 1Af) of the device main body 1A. As shown in FIG. 3, each of the mounting holes 2aa, 2ab is formed with a larger diameter than the screw hole 1Ag. Furthermore, each of the mounting holes 2aa, 2ab is formed with a larger diameter toward the rear. Specifically, each of the mounting holes 2aa, 2ab is formed with a front-rear hole diameter D1 that is larger than the diameter D0 of the screw hole 1Ag, and a larger upper and lower hole diameter D3 toward the rear relative to the upper and lower hole diameter D2. For example, the mounting holes 2aa and 2ab are formed relative to the screw hole 1Ag such that D1 / D0=1.5, D2 / D0=1.8, and D3 / D0=2.

[0021] The panel-side contact piece 2b is formed in a plate shape with its plate surface facing forward so that it can abut against the cluster panel 3. The panel-side contact piece 2b itself abuts against an abutment portion 3Ca of the cluster panel 3. The panel-side contact piece 2b is also formed with a locking hole 2ba that passes through and locks with a screw 4 (see FIG. 7) that is screwed into the abutment portion 3Ca. The panel-side contact piece 2b is also formed with an insertion hole 2bb that passes through and locks with a protrusion 3Cb of the cluster panel 3. The abutment portion 3Ca and protrusion 3Cb of the cluster panel 3 will be described in detail in the following description of the cluster panel 3.

[0022] The vehicle-side contact piece 2c is formed in a plate shape with its plate surface facing downward so that it will abut against a mounting surface on the vehicle side (not shown in the figure). An insertion hole 2ca is formed through the vehicle-side contact piece 2c, into which a protrusion formed to protrude from the mounting surface on the vehicle side is inserted. The insertion hole 2ca is formed in a substantially rectangular shape so that the protrusion having a rectangular outline can be inserted with some room to maneuver. In addition, the vehicle-side contact piece 2c is formed in front of and behind the insertion hole 2ca, with locking holes 2cb penetrating the vehicle-side contact piece 2c, into which screws to be screwed into the mounting surface on the vehicle side are inserted and locked.

[0023] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 4, the cluster panel 3 is formed in a substantially rectangular frame shape that surrounds the outer periphery of the panel 1B of the in-vehicle device 1. The cluster panel 3 has an inner peripheral surface 3A that is formed along the outer peripheral surface 1Ba of the panel 1B. That is, the panel 1B is inserted into the frame of the cluster panel 3 so that the outer peripheral surface 1Ba faces the inner peripheral surface 3A. The inner peripheral surface 3A is formed in a continuous ring shape facing up, down, left, and right. The cluster panel 3 has claw portions 3B, abutment portions 3Ca, and protrusion portions 3Cb.

[0024] The claws 3B function as a positioning mechanism that cooperates with the ribs 1Bb of the panel 1B to position the panel 1B and the cluster panel 3 relative to each other. The claws 3B are provided on the upper and lower inner peripheral surfaces 3A and the left and right inner peripheral surfaces 3A. In this embodiment, the claws 3B are provided at six locations in total, two on each of the upper and lower inner peripheral surfaces 3A and one on each of the left and right inner peripheral surfaces 3A. The claws 3B are engaged with the ribs 1Bb of the panel 1B of the in-vehicle device 1 and include support claws 3Ba and restriction claws 3Bb. The support claws 3Ba protrude downward on the upper side, upward on the lower side, left on the right side, and right on the left side. All restriction claws 3Bb protrude rearward. The panel 1B is inserted into the frame of the cluster panel 3 from the rear. At this time, the front sides of the support claws 3Ba abut against the ribs 1Bb of the panel 1B. Therefore, the panel 1B is restricted from moving forward by the ribs 1Bb abutting against the support claws 3Ba. Furthermore, each of the restricting claws 3Bb abuts against the ribs 1Bb of the panel 1B on the upper, lower, right, and left sides. Therefore, the panel 1B is restricted from moving up, down, left, and right by the ribs 1Bb abutting against the restricting claws 3Bb. Therefore, the panel 1B is positioned relative to the cluster panel 3 by the claws 3B, with its movement in the forward, up, down, left, and right directions restricted.

[0025] The abutment portion 3Ca is formed to protrude rearward outside the frame formed by the inner peripheral surface 3A of the cluster panel 3 on the left and right sides. The protruding tip surface of the abutment portion 3Ca abuts against the panel-side abutment piece 2b of the vehicle mounting bracket 2. The abutment portion 3Ca is configured so that a screw 4 (see FIG. 7) is fastened to the protruding tip surface. The protrusion portion 3Cb is formed to protrude rearward together with the abutment portion 3Ca outside the frame formed by the inner peripheral surface 3A of the cluster panel 3. The protrusion portion 3Cb is inserted into the insertion hole 2bb of the panel-side abutment piece 2b of the vehicle mounting bracket 2. With the protrusion 3Cb inserted into the insertion hole 2bb and the panel-side contact piece 2b abutting the protruding tip surface of the abutment portion 3Ca, the screw 4 is fastened to the tip surface of the abutment portion 3Ca through the locking hole 2ba of the panel-side contact piece 2b, whereby the vehicle mounting bracket 2 is restricted from moving in the front-rear direction relative to the cluster panel 3, and is also restricted from moving in the rotational direction around the screw 4 by the protrusion 3Cb. Therefore, the vehicle mounting bracket 2 is positioned and fixed to the cluster panel 3 by the abutment portion 3Ca, the protrusion 3Cb, and the screw 4.

[0026] 1 and 4, the cluster panel 3 has locking protrusions 3D formed on the left and right outer sides of the frame formed by the inner peripheral surface 3A, protruding rearward. The locking protrusions 3D are inserted into and locked into locking holes on the vehicle side, although not shown in the drawings.

[0027] Hereinafter, a method for assembling the in-vehicle device of the embodiment will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 5 and the assembly procedures of FIGS.

[0028] 5 and 6, in the method for assembling the in-vehicle device of this embodiment, in step S1, the cluster panel 3 and panel 1B are positioned. In step S1, the cluster panel 3 is placed on a flat table with the front side facing downward. In this state, the front side of panel 1B is inserted into the frame of the cluster panel 3 from the rear side. Then, the panel 1B is positioned by the claws 3B, with movement of the panel 1B in the front, up, down, left, and right directions relative to the cluster panel 3 being restricted.

[0029] 5 and 7, in step S2, the vehicle mounting bracket 2 is positioned and temporarily fixed to the cluster panel 3. In step S2, the protrusion 3Cb of the cluster panel 3 is inserted into the insertion hole 2bb of the panel-side abutment piece 2b of the vehicle mounting bracket 2, and the panel-side abutment piece 2b is abutted against the protruding tip surface of the abutment portion 3Ca, and the screw 4 is tightened through the locking hole 2ba to the tip surface of the abutment portion 3Ca. The vehicle mounting bracket 2 is then positioned and temporarily fixed to the cluster panel 3 by the abutment portion 3Ca, the protrusion 3Cb, and the screw 4.

[0030] 5 and 8, in step S3, the vehicle mounting bracket 2 is temporarily fixed to the device body 1A of the in-vehicle device 1. In step S3, the device-side contact piece 2a of the vehicle mounting bracket 2 is aligned with the side surface (right surface 1Ae or left surface 1Af) of the device body 1A, and the screws 5 are fastened to the screw holes 1Ag through the mounting holes 2aa and 2ab. This temporarily fixes the vehicle mounting bracket 2 to the device body 1A.

[0031] Here, in steps S1 and S2, the panel 1B of the in-vehicle device 1 and the vehicle mounting bracket 2 are positioned relative to the cluster panel 3. However, due to manufacturing errors in various locations, the mounting holes 2aa, 2ab of the device-side contact piece 2a of the vehicle mounting bracket 2 do not align with the screw holes 1Ag of the device main body 1A, and the vehicle mounting bracket 2 cannot be attached to the device main body 1A with the screws 5. To address this issue, as shown in Figure 9, the in-vehicle device has mounting holes 2aa, 2ab formed with a larger diameter than the screw holes 1Ag, which absorbs manufacturing errors and allows the mounting holes 2aa, 2ab to align with the screw holes 1Ag. However, if the mounting holes 2aa, 2ab were larger in diameter than the screw holes 1Ag, the contact area between the bearing surface of the head of the screw 5 and the periphery of the mounting holes 2aa, 2ab would be smaller, and the required fastening force would not be secured due to insufficient friction, which could result in the screws 5 loosening. Therefore, in the in-vehicle device of the embodiment, the upper and lower diameters of the mounting holes 2aa, 2ab are smaller at the front and larger toward the rear. In the in-vehicle device of the embodiment, the front panel 1B is positioned relative to the cluster panel 3, and the device-side contact pieces 2a of the vehicle mounting bracket 2 (2A, 2B) are aligned along both sides (right side 1Ae and left side 1Af) of the in-vehicle device 1. Therefore, tolerances due to manufacturing errors and the like tend to cause the device body 1A to tilt vertically, as indicated by arrow R in FIG. 9 , and are larger at the rear. Therefore, by forming the upper and lower diameters of the mounting holes 2aa, 2ab larger toward the rear, at least the front mounting hole 2aa can have a relatively large contact surface with the seating surface of the screw 5. As a result, the in-vehicle device of the embodiment is less likely to experience insufficient friction, ensures the required fastening force, and prevents the screw 5 from loosening. Furthermore, in the in-vehicle device of the embodiment, the front and rear diameters of the mounting holes 2aa, 2ab are equal, with the upper and lower diameters increasing toward the rear. Therefore, the front and rear diameters of the mounting holes 2aa, 2ab are set equal, allowing a relatively large contact area between the periphery and the seating surface of the screw 5. As a result, the in-vehicle device of the embodiment is less likely to experience insufficient friction, ensures the necessary fastening force, and prevents the screw 5 from loosening.

[0032] 5 and 10, in step S4, the vehicle mounting bracket 2 is fixed to the cluster panel 3. That is, in step S4, the screws 4 are tightened to fix the vehicle mounting bracket 2 to the cluster panel 3. Subsequently, in step S5, the vehicle mounting bracket 2 is fixed to the device main body 1A. That is, in step S5, the screws 5 are tightened to fix the vehicle mounting bracket 2 to the device main body 1A.

[0033] The vehicle-mounted device of the embodiment is assembled in this manner, and can be mounted on the vehicle by fixing the vehicle-side contact piece 2c of the vehicle mounting bracket 2 to a mounting surface on the vehicle side with screws.

[0034] Furthermore, when the on-board device is attached to the vehicle, the insertion hole 2ca of the vehicle-side abutment piece 2c can be inserted with ease into the protrusion on the mounting surface of the vehicle, so that, for example, positional misalignment between the vehicle-side abutment piece 2c and the vehicle side can be absorbed when the locking protrusion 3D of the cluster panel 3 is locked to the vehicle side.

[0035] Thus, the vehicle-mounted device of the embodiment comprises a vehicle-mounted device 1 having a panel 1B provided on the front of the device main body 1A, a cluster panel 3 placed on the panel 1B, a positioning mechanism (rib 1Bb, claw portion 3B) for positioning the panel 1B and the cluster panel 3 relative to each other, a vehicle mounting bracket 2 fixed to the cluster panel 3 and the device main body 1A and attached to the vehicle, and mounting holes 2aa, 2ab arranged in a row in the fore-and-aft direction on the vehicle mounting bracket 2, each of which has a larger diameter than each of the multiple screw holes 1Ag arranged in a row in the fore-and-aft direction on the side surfaces (right surface 1Ae, left surface 1Af) of the device main body 1A, and whose upper and lower hole diameters become larger toward the rear.

[0036] In this in-vehicle device, the mounting holes 2aa, 2ab are formed with a larger diameter than the screw holes 1Ag, allowing for manufacturing tolerances to be absorbed and for the mounting holes 2aa, 2ab to align with the screw holes 1Ag. In particular, in this in-vehicle device, the mounting holes 2aa, 2ab are formed with larger diameters toward the rear. Therefore, in the event that the device body 1A tilts vertically, causing tolerances to increase toward the rear, at least the front mounting hole 2aa can have a relatively large contact surface with the surrounding area and the seating surface of the screw 5. As a result, with the in-vehicle device of this embodiment, the positioning mechanism (rib 1Bb, claw portion 3B) ensures the positional relationship between the in-vehicle device 1 and the cluster panel 3, and the in-vehicle device 1 and the vehicle mounting bracket 2 can be fixed with the necessary fastening force.

[0037] In the in-vehicle device of the embodiment, the mounting holes 2aa, 2ab are formed so that the front and rear hole diameters are equal and the upper and lower hole diameters become larger toward the rear.

[0038] According to this in-vehicle device, the front and rear hole diameters of the mounting holes 2aa, 2ab are set equal to each other, which allows a relatively large contact area between the periphery and the bearing surface of the screw 5. As a result, the in-vehicle device of this embodiment can ensure the required fastening force.

[0039] In addition, in the embodiment of the vehicle-mounted device, the positioning mechanism includes claw portions 3B formed on the top, bottom, left, and right sides within the frame of the cluster panel 3, and ribs 1Bb formed on the outer periphery of the panel 1B so as to engage with the claw portions 3B and regulate the panel 1B in the front, top, bottom, left, and right directions relative to the cluster panel 3.

[0040] According to this in-vehicle device, by restricting the in-vehicle equipment 1 and the cluster panel 3 in the front, up, down, left and right directions, the positional relationship between the in-vehicle equipment 1 and the cluster panel 3 can be set such that the equipment body 1A is tilted in the up and down direction in order to obtain the above-mentioned effects of each mounting hole 2aa, 2ab.

[0041] In addition, in the vehicle-mounted device of the embodiment, the vehicle mounting bracket 2 has a panel-side abutment piece 2b that abuts and is fixed against a protrusion 3Ca formed on the rear surface of the cluster panel 3, and an insertion hole 2bb that is provided in the panel-side abutment piece 2b and through which a protrusion 3Cb formed on the rear surface of the cluster panel 3 is inserted.

[0042] With this vehicle-mounted device, the vehicle mounting bracket 2 can be aligned and fixed to the rear surface of the cluster panel 3, and the vehicle mounting bracket 2 and the cluster panel 3 can be positioned in a relationship that will achieve the above-mentioned effects of each mounting hole 2aa, 2ab.

[0043] The method for assembling the vehicle-mounted device of the embodiment includes the steps of positioning the cluster panel 3 and the panel 1B using a positioning mechanism (rib 1Bb, claw portion 3B), fixing the vehicle mounting bracket 2 to the cluster panel 3, and fastening the screw 5 into the screw hole 1Ag through the mounting holes 2aa, 2ab to fix the vehicle mounting bracket 2 to the equipment main body 1A.

[0044] According to this method for assembling an in-vehicle device, the positioning mechanism (rib 1Bb, claw portion 3B) ensures the positional relationship between the in-vehicle device 1 and the cluster panel 3, while the in-vehicle device 1 and the vehicle mounting bracket 2 can be fixed with the necessary fastening force.

[0045] The present embodiment includes the following inventions. [Invention 1] an in-vehicle device having a panel on the front surface of the device body; a cluster panel disposed on the panel; a positioning mechanism for positioning the panel and the cluster panel relative to each other; a vehicle mounting bracket fixed to the cluster panel and the device body and attached to a vehicle; a plurality of mounting holes provided in the vehicle mounting bracket in a line in the front-rear direction, the mounting holes having diameters larger than those of the plurality of screw holes arranged in the front-rear direction on the side surface of the device body, and having upper and lower hole diameters that increase toward the rear; An in-vehicle device comprising: [Invention 2] The vehicle-mounted device according to invention 1, wherein the front and rear mounting holes have the same diameter, and the upper and lower mounting holes have larger diameters toward the rear. [Invention 3] The positioning mechanism of the vehicle-mounted device according to invention 1 or 2 includes claw portions formed on the top, bottom, left, and right sides within the frame of the cluster panel, and ribs formed on the outer periphery of the panel so as to engage with the claw portions and restrict the panel in the front, top, bottom, left, and right directions relative to the cluster panel. [Invention 4] The vehicle mounting bracket has a panel-side abutment piece that abuts against and is fixed to an abutment portion formed on the rear surface of the cluster panel, and an insertion hole that is provided in the panel-side abutment piece and through which a protrusion formed on the rear surface of the cluster panel is inserted. [Invention 5] A method for assembling the on-vehicle device according to any one of inventions 1 to 4, positioning the cluster panel and the panel by the positioning mechanism; securing the vehicle mounting bracket to the cluster panel; a step of fastening a screw into the screw hole through the mounting hole to fix the vehicle mounting bracket to the device body; A method for assembling an in-vehicle device, comprising: [Explanation of symbols]

[0046] 1 In-vehicle equipment 1A Device body 1Ae Right side (side) 1Af Left side (side) 1Ag screw hole 1B Panel 1Bb Rib (positioning mechanism) 2(2A, 2B) Vehicle mounting bracket 2a Equipment side contact piece 2aa, 2ab mounting holes 2b Panel side contact piece 2bb insertion hole 3 Cluster Panel 3B Claw (positioning mechanism) 3Ca abutment part 3Cb protrusion 5 screws

Claims

1. an in-vehicle device having a panel on the front surface of the device body; a cluster panel disposed on the panel; a positioning mechanism for positioning the panel and the cluster panel relative to each other; a vehicle mounting bracket fixed to the cluster panel and the device body and attached to a vehicle; a plurality of mounting holes provided in the vehicle mounting bracket in a line in the front-rear direction, the mounting holes having diameters larger than those of the plurality of screw holes arranged in the front-rear direction on the side surface of the device body, and having upper and lower hole diameters that increase toward the rear; An in-vehicle device comprising:

2. The vehicle-mounted device according to claim 1 , wherein the front and rear mounting holes have equal diameters, and the upper and lower mounting holes have larger diameters toward the rear.

3. 2. The vehicle-mounted device according to claim 1, wherein the positioning mechanism includes claw portions formed on the top, bottom, left, and right sides within the frame of the cluster panel, and ribs formed on the outer periphery of the panel so as to engage with the claw portions and restrict the panel in the front, top, bottom, left, and right directions relative to the cluster panel.

4. 2. The vehicle-mounted device according to claim 1, wherein the vehicle mounting bracket has a panel-side abutment piece that abuts against and is fixed to an abutment portion formed on the rear surface of the cluster panel, and an insertion hole that is provided in the panel-side abutment piece and through which a protrusion formed on the rear surface of the cluster panel is inserted.

5. an in-vehicle device having a panel on the front surface of the device body; a cluster panel disposed on the panel; a positioning mechanism for positioning the panel and the cluster panel; a vehicle mounting bracket fixed to the cluster panel and the device body and attached to a vehicle; a plurality of mounting holes provided in the vehicle mounting bracket in a line in the front-rear direction, the mounting holes having diameters larger than those of the plurality of screw holes arranged in the front-rear direction on the side surface of the device body, and having upper and lower hole diameters that increase toward the rear; A method for assembling an in-vehicle device, comprising: positioning the cluster panel and the panel by the positioning mechanism; securing the vehicle mounting bracket to the cluster panel; a step of fastening a screw into the screw hole through the mounting hole to fix the vehicle mounting bracket to the device body; A method for assembling an in-vehicle device, comprising:

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