Vehicle cabin front section structure

Abstract

This vehicle cabin front section structure comprises: a dash panel (21) that is disposed in a front section of a vehicle cabin; an interior panel (11) that is assembled to the dash panel (21) and covers the vehicle cabin side of the dash panel (21); and a bracket (31) that is disposed between the dash panel (21) and the interior panel (11) and to which the dash panel (21) and the interior panel (11) are connected.

Description

Front cabin structure

[0001] The present invention relates to a vehicle interior front structure.

[0002] 2. Description of the Related Art The front portion of a vehicle cabin such as an automobile is configured by assembling a resin interior panel to a dash panel, which serves as a partition between an engine compartment and the cabin (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

[0003] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2022-176616

[0004] As described above, it is desirable that the interior panel attached to the dash panel be firmly attached to the dash panel so that it does not rattle due to vibrations that occur when the vehicle is running, etc.

[0005] SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a vehicle interior front structure in which an interior panel is firmly attached to a dash panel.

[0006] The present invention comprises the following configuration: a vehicle interior front structure comprising: a dash panel disposed in the front of a vehicle interior, an interior panel attached to the dash panel to cover the interior side of the dash panel, and brackets disposed between the dash panel and the interior panel to connect the dash panel and the interior panel.

[0007] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a vehicle interior front structure in which an interior panel is firmly attached to a dash panel.

[0008] FIG. 1 is a front view of the front part of the passenger compartment on the passenger seat side. FIG. 2 is a front view of the dash panel on the passenger seat side. FIG. 3 is a front view of the front part of the passenger compartment on the passenger seat side with the interior panel removed. FIG. 4 is a front view of the bracket. FIG. 5 is a front view of the upper panel. FIG. 6 is a back view of the upper panel. FIG. 7 is a front view of the interior panel. FIG. 8 is a back view of the interior panel. FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the ambient light. FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view taken along line X-X in FIG. 1. FIG. 11 is an enlarged view of part A in FIG. 10. FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view taken along line XII-XII in FIG. 1.

[0009] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. This embodiment is a structure for the front portion of a vehicle cabin, such as an automobile, and is mainly a structure for the portion in front of the passenger seat. Fig. 1 is a front view of the front portion of the vehicle cabin on the passenger seat side. Fig. 2 is a front view of a dash panel 21 on the passenger seat side.

[0010] As shown in Figure 1, the vehicle is provided with an interior panel 11 and an upper panel 13 in front of the passenger seat. The front of the passenger compartment is provided with a dashboard 15 across the width of the vehicle. The dashboard 15 is disposed below a windshield (not shown). A glove compartment 17 is provided below the interior panel 11. The glove compartment 17 is supported by a frame-shaped cover panel 19 so as to be able to open and close. The interior panel 11, upper panel 13, dashboard 15, glove compartment 17, and cover panel 19 are molded from resin.

[0011] As shown in FIG. 2 , the front of the passenger compartment is equipped with a dash panel 21. The dash panel 21 is part of the vehicle body made of, for example, steel plate, and is disposed in the front of the passenger compartment as a partition between the engine compartment and the passenger compartment. The dash panel 21 has a plurality of mounting holes 23 and a plurality of screw holes 25. The interior panel 11, the upper panel 13, the dashboard 15, and the cover panel 19 are assembled to the dash panel 21. The dashboard 15 is assembled to the top of the dash panel 21. The interior panel 11 and the upper panel 13 are assembled to the front side of the dash panel 21, and the upper panel 13 is disposed above the interior panel 11. The cover panel 19, which supports the glove compartment 17, is assembled to the dash panel 21 below the interior panel 11.

[0012] FIG. 3 is a front view of the front passenger compartment on the passenger seat side with the interior panel 11 removed. FIG. 4 is a front view of the bracket 31. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 , the bracket 31 is fixed to the front side of the dash panel 21. The bracket 31 is formed from a steel plate, for example, by press working. The bracket 31 has an uneven cross section in the vehicle longitudinal direction to enhance its rigidity. The bracket 31 has multiple mounting holes 33 and insertion holes 35. The bracket 31 is fixed to the front side of the dash panel 21 by threading screws (not shown) inserted through the insertion holes 35 into the screw holes 25 of the dash panel 21. The upper panel 13 and the interior panel 11 are then assembled to the dash panel 21 to which the bracket 31 is fixed. That is, the bracket 31, the upper panel 13, and the interior panel 11 are assembled to the dash panel 21 in this order from the front of the vehicle.

[0013] In this way, fixing the bracket 31 to the dash panel 21 increases the rigidity of the area of ​​the dash panel 21 where the interior panel 11 and the upper panel 13 are assembled. In other words, by attaching the bracket 31, the upper panel 13, and the interior panel 11 to the dash panel 21 in this order from the front of the vehicle, the upper panel 13 and the interior panel 11 can be firmly assembled to the dash panel 21.

[0014] Fig. 5 is a front view of the upper panel 13. Fig. 6 is a back view of the upper panel 13. As shown in Figs. 5 and 6, the upper panel 13 has an elongated shape in the vehicle width direction. The upper panel 13 has an outlet 41 for air sent out from the air conditioning unit at an end of the upper panel 13 closer to the vehicle outer side in the vehicle width direction. The upper panel 13 also has clips 43 at multiple locations on its back side. Furthermore, the upper panel 13 has multiple mounting holes 45, insertion holes 47, and through holes 49.

[0015] The upper panel 13 is assembled from the front side to the dash panel 21 to which the bracket 31 is fixed. Specifically, the upper panel 13 is fixed to the dash panel 21 by inserting and locking the clips 43 into the mounting holes 23 of the dash panel 21. A portion of the upper panel 13 overlaps the bracket 31. The portion of the upper panel 13 overlapping the bracket 31 is fixed to the bracket 31 by inserting and locking the clips 43 of the upper panel 13 into the mounting holes 33a of the bracket 31 (see FIG. 4 ). In this manner, the upper panel 13 is fixed to the dash panel 21 with a portion overlapping the bracket 31, and the portion overlapping the bracket 31 is fixed to the bracket 31. This allows the upper panel 13 to be firmly assembled to the dash panel 21 while the strength of the resin upper panel 13 is supplemented by the bracket 31.

[0016] Fig. 7 is a front view of the interior panel 11. Fig. 8 is a back view of the interior panel 11. As shown in Figs. 7 and 8, the interior panel 11 has an elongated shape in the vehicle width direction. The interior panel 11 has an air outlet 51 for air sent out from the air conditioning unit at an end portion thereof closer to the center of the vehicle in the vehicle width direction. The interior panel 11 also has clips 53 at multiple locations on its back side. The interior panel 11 also has an ambient light 61 extending in the vehicle width direction at a lower edge portion thereof closer to the outer side of the vehicle in the vehicle width direction.

[0017] The interior panel 11 is attached to the bracket 31 fixed to the dash panel 21 from the front side. Specifically, the interior panel 11 is fixed to the bracket 31 by inserting and locking the clips 53 of the interior panel 11 into the mounting holes 33 of the bracket 31. A portion of the interior panel 11 overlaps the dash panel 21 and the upper panel 13. In the portion overlapping the dash panel 21, the clips 53 of the interior panel 11 are inserted and locked into the mounting holes 23a of the dash panel 21, thereby fixing the interior panel 11 to the dash panel 21 (see FIG. 3). In the portion overlapping the upper panel 13, the clips 53 of the interior panel 11 are inserted and locked into the mounting holes 23a, 45a of the dash panel 21 and the upper panel 13, thereby fixing the three-layer interior panel 11 and the upper panel 13 to the dash panel 21 (see FIG. 3). Furthermore, in the portion overlapping the through-hole 49 of the upper panel 13, the clip 53 of the interior panel 11 is inserted through the through-hole 49 into the mounting hole 23b of the dash panel 21 and engaged, thereby fixing the three panels together to the dash panel 21 (see Figure 3).

[0018] In this way, the interior panel 11 is fixed and connected to the bracket 31 fixed to the dash panel 21, and is further fixed and connected to the dash panel 21 with a portion of the interior panel 11 overlapping the dash panel 21 and the upper panel 13. This allows the strength of the resin interior panel 11 to be supplemented by the bracket 31, and the interior panel 11 can be firmly attached to the dash panel 21.

[0019] FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the ambient light 61. As shown in FIG. 9 , the ambient light 61, which is provided at the lower edge of the interior panel 11, is a lighting fixture comprising a light-emitting unit 63 equipped with a light source such as an LED and a light guide rod 65 that guides light from the light-emitting unit 63, and is held by a holding bracket 71. The light-emitting unit 63 of the ambient light 61 is attached to one end of the holding bracket 71. The light guide rod 65 is also housed and held within the holding bracket 71. The light-emitting unit 63 has a connector 69, and the light source emits light when power is supplied from a controller 85 (described later) connected to the connector 69. In the ambient light 61, when the light source of the light-emitting unit 63 emits light, light enters from one end of the light guide rod 65.

[0020] FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line X-X in FIG. 1. FIG. 11 is an enlarged view of part A in FIG. 10. As shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, the retaining bracket 71 has a C-shaped cross section with an opening 73 that is open along a portion of the circumferential direction. In the illustrated example, the opening 73 opens downward. The retaining bracket 71 also has a plurality of fixing pieces 75, which are fastened to the lower edge of the interior panel 11 by screws 77 (see FIG. 8). The retaining bracket 71 preferably has reinforcing ribs spaced apart along its periphery in the longitudinal direction.

[0021] The light guide rod 65 of the ambient light 61 has a reflective surface 65a, which is a flat surface formed in one location along the circumferential direction and extends in the longitudinal direction. In the light guide rod 65, light from the light-emitting unit 63 is reflected by the reflective surface 65a, and the circumferential surface other than the reflective surface 65a emits light. The light guide rod 65 is held by the holding bracket 71 with the reflective surface 65a facing away from the opening 73 of the holding bracket 71 (upward in the illustrated example).

[0022] When the interior panel 11 is attached to the dash panel 21, a gap G that is open at the lower end is provided between the bracket 31 and the interior panel 11. An ambient light 61 attached to the lower end of the interior panel 11 is disposed in this gap G.

[0023] The bracket 31 has a light-guiding surface 37 below the ambient light 61. The light-guiding surface 37 is disposed in a position facing the lower end of the interior panel 11. When light is emitted from the light-guiding rod 65 that constitutes the ambient light 61, the light-guiding surface 37 guides the light to the opening side of the gap G.

[0024] Furthermore, the holding bracket 71 that holds the light guiding rod 65 of the ambient light 61 is positioned so that its opening 73 faces the light guiding surface 37 of the bracket 31. Therefore, light from the light guiding rod 65 of the ambient light 61 can be irradiated from the opening 73 of the holding bracket 71 to the light guiding surface 37 of the bracket 31. This allows the light from the ambient light 61 to be guided to the opening side of the gap G to illuminate the feet below the interior panel 11 with a line of light, thereby achieving a good lighting effect.

[0025] A frame-shaped cover panel 19 that supports the glove compartment 17 so that it can be opened and closed is attached to a dash panel 21. The cover panel 19 has a plurality of clips (not shown) on its back side, and is fixed to the dash panel 21 by inserting and engaging these clips into mounting holes 23 in the dash panel 21.

[0026] The cover panel 19 has its upper end engaged with the lower end of the bracket 31 and is disposed directly below the gap G. The cover panel 19 has a front surface 19a that faces the rear of the vehicle. Light from the ambient light 61 is irradiated onto the front surface 19a of the cover panel 19. By irradiating the light from the ambient light 61 onto the front surface 19a of the cover panel 19 that faces the rear of the vehicle, the lighting effect can be enhanced.

[0027] FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line XII-XII in FIG. 1. As shown in FIG. 12, dash panel 21 has a recess 81 recessed toward the front of the vehicle. Furthermore, a controller 85 supported by a fixing bracket 83 is supported on the bracket 31 on the side where it is attached to dash panel 21. This controller 85 is an ECU (Electronic Control Unit) that controls ambient light 61 and is connected to a connector 69 provided on the light-emitting unit 63 of the ambient light 61 via a wire harness (not shown). This controller 85 controls the emission of the light source of the light-emitting unit 63 of the ambient light 61. When the bracket 31 is fixed to the dash panel 21, this controller 85 is disposed in the recess 81 of the dash panel 21 between the dash panel 21 and the bracket 31. By disposing the controller 85 between the dash panel 21 and the bracket 31 in this manner, the controller 85 can be well protected.

[0028] As described above, in the vehicle interior front structure according to this embodiment, the bracket 31 is provided between the dash panel 21 and the interior panel 11, and the dash panel 21 and the interior panel 11 are connected to this bracket 31. This increases the rigidity of the dash panel 21 while supplementing the strength of the resin interior panel 11 with the bracket 31, and allows the interior panel 11 to be firmly attached to the dash panel 21 without rattle.

[0029] As such, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and the present invention also contemplates the mutual combination of the various components of the embodiments, as well as modifications and applications by those skilled in the art based on the description in the specification and well-known techniques, and these modifications and applications are included in the scope of protection sought.

[0030] As described above, this specification discloses the following: (1) A vehicle interior front structure comprising: a dash panel disposed in the front of a vehicle interior; an interior panel assembled to the dash panel and covering the vehicle interior side of the dash panel; and brackets disposed between the dash panel and the interior panel and connecting the dash panel and the interior panel. According to this vehicle interior front structure, brackets are provided between the dash panel and the interior panel, and the dash panel and the interior panel are connected to the brackets. This allows the strength of the interior panel, which is molded from resin, to be supplemented by the brackets, thereby increasing the rigidity of the dash panel and enabling the interior panel to be firmly attached to the dash panel without rattle.

[0031] (2) The vehicle interior front structure according to (1), wherein a gap having an opening at a lower end is provided between the bracket and the interior panel, a lighting fixture is provided in the gap, and the bracket has a light guiding surface at a position facing the lower end of the interior panel below the lighting fixture, the light guiding surface guiding light from the lighting fixture to the opening side of the gap. According to this vehicle interior front structure, the lighting fixture is provided in the gap having an opening at a lower end between the bracket and the interior panel, and the light from the lighting fixture is guided to the opening side of the gap by the light guiding surface of the bracket, thereby achieving a good lighting effect.

[0032] (3) The vehicle interior front structure according to (2), wherein the lighting fixture is held by a retaining bracket having a C-shaped cross section with an opening that is open in a portion of the circumferential direction, and the opening of the retaining bracket is disposed so as to face the light-guiding surface. With this vehicle interior front structure, light from the lighting fixture held by the retaining bracket can be irradiated from the opening of the retaining bracket to the light-guiding surface of the bracket, thereby guiding the light from the lighting fixture to the opening side of the gap, thereby achieving a good lighting effect.

[0033] (4) The vehicle interior front structure according to (2) or (3), further comprising a cover panel engaged with the lower end of the bracket and disposed directly below the gap, the cover panel having a surface facing the rear of the vehicle onto which light from the lighting fixture is irradiated. With this vehicle interior front structure, the lighting effect can be enhanced by irradiating the surface of the cover panel facing the rear of the vehicle with light from the lighting fixture.

[0034] (5) The vehicle interior front structure according to any one of (2) to (4), wherein the lighting fixture is an ambient light extending in the vehicle width direction. With this vehicle interior front structure, the ambient light extending in the vehicle width direction can illuminate the feet with linear light.

[0035] (6) The vehicle interior front structure according to any one of (2) to (5), wherein a controller that controls the lighting fixture is disposed between the dash panel and the bracket. With this vehicle interior front structure, the controller can be well protected by disposing the controller between the dash panel and the bracket.

[0036] (7) The vehicle interior front structure according to any one of (1) to (6), further comprising an upper panel assembled to the dash panel, wherein the bracket, the upper panel, and the interior panel are attached to the dash panel in this order from the front of the vehicle. With this vehicle interior front structure, the bracket, the upper panel, and the interior panel can be attached to the dash panel in this order from the front of the vehicle, allowing the upper panel and the interior panel to be firmly assembled to the dash panel.

[0037] (8) The vehicle interior front structure according to (7), wherein the upper panel is fixed to the dash panel with at least a portion thereof overlapping the bracket, and the portion overlapping the bracket is fixed to the bracket. With this vehicle interior front structure, for example, the strength of the upper panel molded from resin can be supplemented by the bracket, and the upper panel can be firmly attached to the dash panel.

[0038] (9) The vehicle interior front structure according to (7) or (8), wherein the interior panel is fixed to the bracket with at least a portion thereof overlapping the dash panel and the upper panel, the portion overlapping the dash panel is fixed to the dash panel, and the portion overlapping the upper panel is fixed to the dash panel together with the upper panel. This vehicle interior front structure allows the upper panel and the interior panel to be integrally assembled to the dash panel while increasing the fixing strength of the interior panel.

[0039] (10) The vehicle interior front structure according to any one of (1) to (9), wherein the bracket has a concave-convex shape in a cross section in the vehicle front-rear direction. With this vehicle interior front structure, the rigidity of the bracket can be increased.

[0040] REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 11 Interior panel 13 Upper panel 15 Dashboard 17 Glove box 19 Cover panel 19a Front surface (surface facing rearward of the vehicle) 21 Dash panel 23, 23a, 23b Mounting hole 25 Screw hole 31 Bracket 33, 33a Mounting hole 35 Insertion hole 37 Light-guiding surface 41, 51 Air outlet 43, 53 Clip 45, 45a Mounting hole 47 Insertion hole 49 Through hole 51 Air outlet 53 Clip 61 Ambient light (lighting fixture) 63 Light-emitting unit 65 Light-guiding rod 65a Reflecting surface 69 Connector 71 Holding bracket 73 Opening 75 Fixing piece 77 Screw 81 Recess 83 Fixing bracket 85 Controller G Gap

Claims

1. A front compartment structure comprising: a dash panel disposed at the front of a passenger compartment; an interior panel attached to the dash panel and covering the passenger compartment side of the dash panel; and brackets disposed between the dash panel and the interior panel and connecting the dash panel and the interior panel.

2. A front compartment structure as described in claim 1, wherein a gap with an opening at the lower end is provided between the bracket and the interior panel, a lighting fixture is provided in the gap, and the bracket has a light-guiding surface at a position facing the lower end of the interior panel below the lighting fixture, which guides light from the lighting fixture to the opening side of the gap.

3. The vehicle interior front structure according to claim 2, wherein the lighting fixture is held by a holding bracket having a C-shaped cross section with an opening that is open in a portion of the circumferential direction, and the opening of the holding bracket is positioned so as to face the light-guiding surface.

4. A front compartment structure as described in claim 2 or 3, further comprising a cover panel that is engaged with the lower end of the bracket and positioned directly below the gap, the cover panel having a surface facing the rear of the vehicle onto which light from the lighting fixture is irradiated.

5. A front compartment structure according to any one of claims 2 to 4, wherein the lighting fixture is an ambient light extending in the vehicle width direction.

6. A vehicle interior front structure according to any one of claims 2 to 5, wherein a controller for controlling the lighting fixture is disposed between the dash panel and the bracket.

7. The vehicle interior front structure according to any one of claims 1 to 6, further comprising an upper panel assembled to the dash panel, wherein the bracket, the upper panel, and the interior panel are attached to the dash panel in this order from the front of the vehicle.

8. The vehicle interior front structure according to claim 7, wherein the upper panel is fixed to the dash panel with at least a portion thereof overlapping the bracket, and the portion overlapping the bracket is fixed to the bracket.

9. The front compartment structure according to claim 7 or 8, wherein the interior panel is fixed to the bracket with at least a portion thereof overlapping the dash panel and the upper panel, the portion overlapping the dash panel being fixed to the dash panel, and the portion overlapping the upper panel being fixed to the dash panel together with the upper panel.

10. A front compartment structure according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the bracket has an uneven shape when viewed in cross section in the fore-and-aft direction of the vehicle.

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