JPH0523232B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Object of the Invention] (Field of Industrial Application) The present invention relates to a column cover attached to a steering column of an automobile.

(Prior Art) As shown in Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 60-31962, this type of column cover has an upper and lower cover body made of synthetic resin divided into two parts, and at least the inside of the lower cover body. , there is a structure in which a holder that is attached to the steering column is integrally provided.

When this column cover is attached to a cylindrical steering column through which the steering shaft is inserted, the holder of the lower cover body is fitted and held on the steering column, so that the lower cover body can be easily attached to the steering column. Since it can be temporarily fixed, the worker can tighten the screws from the lower cover body to the upper cover body without holding down the lower cover body with his/her hands, and can be used in narrow spaces of automobiles. This makes it easier to work indoors.

The holding portion of the holder that engages with the steering column is formed into a substantially C-shaped annular shape having a fitting opening in a part thereof, and is pushed into the steering column through the fitting opening to be engaged and held.

(Problems to be Solved by the Invention) The column cover holder described above requires an annular holding portion that engages with the steering column, that is, the holding portion requires a hollow portion through which the steering column is inserted. When molding this with synthetic resin, the hollow part becomes an undercut for a vertically split mold, and a slide mold must be used for this undercut part. As a result, the mold mechanism becomes complicated and the molding time takes longer.
This will increase costs.

The present invention is an attempt to improve these points, and in a column cover in which a holder for temporary fixing is provided on the lower cover body, molding is possible without using a slide mold in the mold, and the mold mechanism is improved. The purpose is to simplify the process, shorten the molding time, reduce costs, and provide the product at a low price.

[Structure of the invention]

(Means for Solving the Problems) The present invention forms the cover bodies 2 and 3 by dividing them into upper and lower halves, and integrates a holder that is fitted and held on the steering column 12 inside the lower cover body 3. In the column cover 1 made of synthetic resin, the lower cover body 3 is provided with a pair of holder pieces 7 protruding from both ends of an opening 6 formed in the lower cover body 3. The first holder 4 has a holding part 8 for holding the upper half of the steering column 12 on the upper part of the holder piece 7, and the second holder 4 has a holding part 11 for holding the lower half of the steering column 12 on the upper part. The holder 5 is arranged side by side.

(Function) In the present invention, the upper half of the steering column 12 is held by the holding parts 8 of the pair of holder pieces 7 of the first holder 4, and the lower half of the steering column 12 is held by the holding parts 11 of the second holder 5. By holding the steering column 12, both the holders 4 and 5 fit and hold the steering column 12. With the lower cover body 3 temporarily fixed to the steering column 12, the upper and lower cover bodies 2 and 3 can be easily assembled.

In addition, a lower cover body 3 having holders 4 and 5
When molding, there is no undercut with respect to the basic die-cutting direction in the vertical direction, and molding can be performed without using a slide mold.

(Example) An example of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3.

1 is a column cover, and this column cover 1 is
It consists of an upper cover body 2 and a lower cover body 3, each made of synthetic resin and formed into upper and lower parts. This lower cover body 3 has a first holder 4 in the inner middle part thereof, and second holders 5 arranged in parallel before and behind the first holder 4.

The first holder 4 has a pair of holder pieces 7 that integrally protrude inward from both ends of a narrow opening 6 formed in the lower cover body 3. Holding portions 8 are curved in a direction toward each other at the upper portions of the holding portions 8, and an inclined guide surface 9 is formed at the upper end of each holding portion 8.

In the second holder 5, a holder plate 10 is integrally erected inward from the lower cover body 3, and a semicircular arc-shaped holding portion 11 is formed on the upper part of the holder plate 10.

The holding portions 8 of the pair of holder pieces 7 in the first holder 4 are adapted to come into contact with and support the upper half of the circumferential surface of the cylindrical steering column 12. The interval l between the holding parts 8 is slightly smaller than the diameter φ of the steering column 12, but this interval l depends on the diameter φ of the steering column 12, the fitting force due to the elasticity of the first holder 4, etc. and set it. Also, the line connecting the ends of the holding parts 8 of the pair of holder pieces 7 is the parting line in the mold.
PL, and as shown in FIG. 3, both sides of the first holder 4 are tapered so that the width becomes narrower from the opening 6 side to the holding part 8 side. It is designed to be easy to remove.

Further, the holding portion 11 of the second holder 5 is formed in a shape that abuts and supports the lower half of the circumferential surface of the steering column 12.

When attaching the column cover 1 to the steering column 12, first place the lower cover body 3 against the steering column 12, and then elastically tighten the pair of holder pieces 7 of the first holder 4. Push the pair of holder pieces 7 into the outer periphery of the steering column 12 via the guide surface 9 while expanding them.
The holding portion 8 is held in close contact with the upper half of the outer circumferential portion of the steering column 12 by the elastic restoring force of By holding the holder 11 in contact with the holder 11, the holders 4 and 5 fit and hold the steering column 12, and the lower cover body 3 is temporarily fixed to the steering column 12.

Next, the upper cover body 2 is fitted onto the steering column 12 from the opposite side of the lower cover body 3, and the upper cover body 2 is fastened from the lower cover body 3 with screws or the like.

Note that the number of the first holder 4 and the second holder 5 in the lower cover body 3 is not limited to one or two, and one or more may be arranged at appropriate positions. Further, the upper cover body 2 may also be provided with a first holder 4 and a second holder 5 to be directly fitted and fixed to the steering column 12.

The upper cover body 2 and the lower cover body 3 are each integrally molded using a mold, but when molding the lower cover body 3, the mold is inserted through the opening 6 and the first Holding part 8 of holder 4
By installing a parting line PL in between,
There is no undercut in the basic die cutting direction, and therefore molding can be performed without using a slide mold mechanism, which simplifies the mold mechanism and shortens molding time.

In addition, in implementation, as shown in FIG. 4, by providing the second holder 5 in contact with both side surfaces of the first holder 4, the rigidity is increased and it is also advantageous in terms of space. Become.

Further, as shown in FIG. 5, the inside of the holder piece 7 and the holding part 8 of the first holder 4 may be thinned out, and as shown in FIG. A reinforcing rib 13 may be integrally provided along the outside of the piece 7 and the holding part 8.

[Effects of the Invention] According to the present invention, the first holder includes a holding portion for holding the upper half of the steering column by protruding holder pieces from both ends of the opening on the lower cover body; Since the second holder that holds the lower half of the column is installed in parallel, the holder can be fitted and held onto the steering column, and the lower cover body can be temporarily secured to the steering column to assemble the upper and lower cover bodies. It is easy to perform, and when molding the lower cover body having the holder, there is no undercut in the basic die cutting direction, and molding can be performed without using a slide die. Therefore, the mold mechanism can be simplified, the molding time can be shortened, the mold cost and the molding cost can be reduced, and the cost can be reduced and the product can be provided at a low price.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing one embodiment of the column cover of the present invention, Fig. 2 is a front view of a part thereof, Fig. 3 is a sectional view thereof, and Figs. 4 to 6 show other embodiments. FIG. 1... Column cover, 2, 3... Cover body, 4
...First holder, 5...Second holder, 6...
Opening part, 7... Holder piece, 8... Holding part, 11...
...Holding part, 12... Steering column.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. A column cover made of synthetic resin in which the cover body is formed into two parts, upper and lower, and a holder that is fitted and held on the steering column is integrally protruded from the inside of the lower cover body, The side cover body has a pair of holder pieces protruding from both ends of the opening formed in the lower cover body, and a holding part for holding the upper half of the steering column is formed on the top of the pair of holder pieces. A column cover characterized in that a first holder is arranged side by side with a second holder, the second holder having a holding part for holding the lower half of the steering column in its upper part.