JPH11255000A - instrument panel - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] [PROBLEMS] To improve the workability of mounting on a vehicle body and easily perform an electrical connection work. SOLUTION: In an instrument panel 1A of an automobile, an instrument panel is directly attached to a vehicle body, a driver side unit 20 provided with various meters, a console side unit 30 provided with a car audio 32 and the like, and In addition to being divided into a passenger seat side unit 40 having a glove box 42 and the like, a driver seat side mounting portion 12, a console side mounting portion 13, and a passenger seat side mounting portion 14 for each unit are formed in the instrument panel main body. Driver's side and passenger's side unit assembly surface 2
4 and 44 have the same shapes as the mounting surfaces 12 'and 14' of the driver's seat side and the passenger's seat side mounting portions. The mounting direction of each unit to the instrument panel body and the electrical connection direction are the same. The direction of assembling each unit to the instrument panel main body and the direction of electrical connection are orthogonal to each other, and the failure of electrical connection is prevented by the weight of each unit.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an instrument panel.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A conventional instrument panel 50 includes:
As shown in FIG. 6, a wiring harness 52 is provided in an instrument panel body 51 made of synthetic resin, a driver side unit 53 provided with various meters, a console unit 54 having car audios and heaters, and a glove box. Seat side unit 55 equipped with a passenger seat airbag and the like
To the instrument panel body 51, and after assembling each unit 5
It is formed by electrically connecting 3, 54, 55 and the wire harness 52. After assembling the units 53, 54, 55 to the instrument panel body 51, the instrument panel 50 is delivered to an automobile manufacturer.

However, since the delivered instrument panel 50 is heavy, there is a disadvantage that the workability of attaching the instrument panel 50 to a vehicle body (not shown) is reduced. Also, since there is a height difference between the vehicle body side connector 56 of the vehicle body and each unit side connector 57, 58, 59 provided in each unit 53, 54, 55, the wires disposed in the instrument panel body 51 are different. A harness side connector 60 of each terminal of the harness 52 and a vehicle body side connector 56
In addition, there is a problem that the working posture for connecting with the unit-side connectors 57, 58, 59 is lowered, so that the workability of the connection is poor.

[0004]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In view of the foregoing, it is an object of the present invention to provide an instrument panel which can be easily mounted on a vehicle body and can be easily connected electrically.

[0005]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to achieve the above object, the present invention relates to an instrument panel for a motor vehicle, wherein the instrument panel is connected to a vehicle body so that the instrument panel can be mechanically and electrically connected at the time of assembly. Directly attached instrument panel body including air duct etc., driver side unit equipped with various meters, console side unit equipped with car audio and heater control, etc., and passenger side with glove box and passenger side air bag etc. An instrument panel is provided which is divided into units, and a driver-side mounting portion, a console-side mounting portion, and a passenger seat-side mounting portion for each unit are formed on an instrument panel main body, respectively. The driver panel unit and the passenger seat unit have the same mounting surface shape, and the driver panel mounting portion and the passenger seat mounting portion have the same mounting surface shape. (Claim 2). An instrument panel is characterized in that an assembly direction of the respective units to the instrument panel body and an electrical connection direction are the same. An assembling panel is characterized in that a direction in which the units are assembled to the instrument panel body is perpendicular to a direction in which the units are electrically connected, and a failure in electrical connection is prevented by the weight of each unit (claim 4).

[0006]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. 1 to 3 show a first embodiment of an instrument panel according to the present invention.

In FIG. 1, the instrument panel 1A includes an instrument panel main body 10 directly mounted on a vehicle body (not shown), a driver's seat side unit 20 including various meters 22 and a handle 23, a car audio system 32 and a heater control. Console unit 30 including a console box 33 and a console box 34, and a glove box 4
2 and a passenger seat side unit 40 having a passenger seat air bag (not shown) and the like, and a driver seat side mounting portion 12 and a console side mounting portion for each of the units 20, 30, 40. 13 and a passenger seat side mounting portion 14 are formed on the instrument panel main body 10, respectively.

The instrument panel body 10 is made of a synthetic resin and is directly attached to a front portion of a vehicle body.
Is arranged. The driver's seat side mounting part 12, the console side mounting part 13, and the assistant for assembling the driver's seat side unit 20 on the right side, the console side unit 30 on the center, and the passenger side unit 40 on the left side, respectively. A seat-side mounting portion 14 is formed. The instrument panel body 10 has a defroster outlet 11 in the longitudinal direction.
a, a central outlet 11b is provided at the center, and side defroster outlets 11c, 11c are provided on both sides. The defroster outlet 11a, the center outlet 11b, and the side defroster outlet 11c are connected to an air duct 11e (see the figure) laid in the instrument panel body 10.

Harness side connectors 2a, 2b, 2c provided at the ends of the wire harness 2 are arranged on the mounting side of each of the mounting portions 12, 13, 14. The unit side connector 2 for the harness side connectors 11a, 11b, 11c is provided on the assembly side of each unit 20, 30, 40.
1, 31, 41 are provided. Then, the harness side connectors 2a, 2b, 2c and the unit side connector 21,
The fitting direction (P direction) with the instrument panel body 31 is
The direction in which the units 20, 30, and 40 are assembled to 0 is the same direction.

Therefore, at the same time when the units 20, 30, and 40 are assembled to the instrument panel body 10, the harness-side connectors 2a, 2b, and 2c and the unit-side connectors 21, 31, and 41 are electrically connected. can do. Thereby, the instrument panel main body 10 can be more easily attached to the vehicle body than before, and the electrical connection operation can be easily performed. As a result, it is not necessary to lower the posture when connecting the connectors (2a and 21, 2b and 31, 2c and 41), and the connection work can be performed quickly.

Then, as shown in FIG. 2, the mounting surfaces 24 of the driver's seat side unit 20 and the passenger seat side unit 40,
The driver seat unit 20 is mounted on the passenger seat side by making the shape of the driver seat unit 44 and the shape of the assembling surfaces 12 ′ and 14 ′ of the driver seat mounting unit 12 and the passenger seat mounting unit 14 the same. The passenger seat side unit 40 can be mounted on the driver seat side mounting part 12, respectively. Therefore, for example, the instrument panel body 10 can be shared and used regardless of the specification of the right handle 23 or the specification of the left handle (not shown). This makes it possible to easily and quickly manufacture a right-hand drive specification or left-hand drive specification automobile using the same parts in response to market trends. Therefore, the instrument panel 1
The manufacturing cost of A can be reduced.

Further, since the instrument panel 1A is divided, the instrument panel body 10 and each of the units 20, 30,
It is possible to easily change the design of only a part of the forty. Since the locking means between the instrument panel main body 10 and each of the units 20, 30, 40 is substantially the same, the instrument panel main body 10
A description will be given of means for locking the driver and the driver's seat side unit 20.

As the locking means, for example, as shown in FIG. 3, a hook-shaped projection 25 is provided on the upper side on the mounting surface 24 of the driver's seat side unit 20 and an engagement groove 12a for the hook-shaped projection 25 is provided. Is formed on the mounting surface 12 ′ of the driver's seat side mounting portion 12, a hook 26 is protruded below the mounting surface 24 of the driver's seat side unit 20, and an engagement frame 12 b for the hook 26 is formed. Mounting surface 1 of driver side mounting part 12
This is a means provided on the 2 'side. In addition, on both side surfaces 45a, 45a of the passenger seat side unit 40, a rotation shaft 46 rotatably supported by the shaft hole 4 of the instrument panel main body 10 is provided so as to protrude therefrom.
An operation lever 47 for opening and closing the glove box 42 is fixed to one surface 45a.

FIGS. 4 and 5 show a second embodiment of the instrument panel according to the present invention. The same components as those in the first embodiment are given the same names and numbers, and detailed description is omitted. In FIG. 4, the instrument panel 1B includes a direction in which the driver's seat side unit 20, the console side unit 30, and the passenger seat side unit 40 are assembled to the instrument panel main body 10, and the respective unit side connectors 21, 31, 41 are connected to the harness side. Connectors 2a, 2b,
2c is fitted in the same direction as each unit 2c.
The fitting property is enhanced by the weight of 0, 30, and 40.

Each of the mounting portions 12, 13 of the instrument panel main body 10,
In the lower part 14, mounting plates 15a, 15b, 15c are respectively provided at lower portions, and the harness side connectors 2a, 2b, 2c are arranged on the mounting plates 15a, 15b, 15c to face upward. Unit-side connectors 21, 31, and 41 for the harness-side connectors 2a, 2b, and 2c are provided below the driver-side unit 20, the console-side unit 30, and the passenger-side unit 40 on the assembly side.

That is, after assembling the units 20, 30, and 40 to the mounting portions 12, 13, and 14, the units 12, 13, and 14 are further pushed down to connect the connectors (21 and 2a, 2b and 31). , 41 and 2c) are electrically connected to each other. Since the vertical direction (Q direction) in which the weight of each unit 20, 30, 40 acts and the fitting direction of the connectors (21 and 2a, 31 and 2b, 41 and 2c) are the same, each unit 20 , 30, and 40, the unit-side connectors 21, 31, and 41 are pushed into the harness-side connectors 2a, 2b, and 2c, respectively. The other effects are substantially the same as those of the first embodiment, and the description will not be repeated.

Each unit 2 is attached to the instrument panel body 10.
The locking means for assembling 0, 30, and 40 are substantially the same, and therefore the means for locking the instrument panel main body 10 and the driver's seat side unit 20 will be described. As the locking means, for example, as shown in FIG. 5, an L-shaped guide groove 16a
A coupling member 16 having the following configuration is provided so as to face both opposing wall surfaces 12c, 12c of the driver's seat side mounting portion 12, and an engaging portion 27 for the guide groove 16a is formed.
Means formed on both opposite wall surfaces 24a, 24a. The engaging portion 27 includes a pair of rollers 27a, 27a.
The engaging portion 27 can be rotated to a substantially right angle state by the guide groove 28.

[0018]

As described above, according to the first aspect, the instrument panel main body, the driver's seat side unit, the console side unit, and the passenger seat side unit are installed in the instrument panel so that they can be mechanically and electrically connected at the time of assembly. As well as the driver's seat side mounting part, console side mounting part,
A passenger seat side mounting portion is formed on the instrument panel body. Thereby, electrical connection can be automatically performed by mechanically connecting each unit to each mounting portion of the instrument panel main body. Therefore, the assembling workability can be improved as compared with the related art.

According to the second aspect, the shapes of the mounting surfaces of the driver's seat side unit and the passenger seat side unit are formed to be the same, and the shapes of the mounting surfaces of the driver's seat side mounting portion and the passenger seat side mounting portion are also changed. Since they are formed identically, the driver's seat side unit can be assembled to the passenger seat side mounting portion and the passenger seat side unit can be assembled to the driver seat mounting portion. Thereby, for example, it is possible to assemble the instrument panel main body without distinguishing whether the driver uses the right handle or the left handle, and to share the instrument panel main body. Therefore, compared to the conventional method of manufacturing an instrument panel for each use of the handle,
The manufacturing cost of the instrument panel can be reduced.

According to the third aspect, the mounting direction of each unit to the instrument panel main body is made the same as the electrical connection direction. Therefore, each unit is mechanically connected to the instrument panel main body, and at the same time, the electrical connection is automatically established. Connection can be made.
Thereby, electrical connection can be easily performed.
According to the fourth aspect, since the mounting direction of each unit to the instrument panel main body is orthogonal to the electrical connection direction, each unit can be pushed into each mounting portion by its own weight. As a result, it is possible to prevent contact failure of the electrical connection. Therefore, the reliability of the electrical connection can be improved as compared with the related art.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an overall perspective view showing a first embodiment of an instrument panel according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory view showing a state before a driver side unit and a passenger side unit are assembled to the instrument panel main body of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view showing locking means for locking the instrument panel main body and each unit in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a second embodiment of the instrument panel according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory view showing locking means for locking the instrument panel body and each unit in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a conventional example.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1A, 1B Instrument panel 10 Instrument panel main body 12 Driver side mounting part 12 'Mounting surface 13 Console side mounting part 14 Passenger seat side mounting part 14' Mounting surface 20 Driver side unit 24 Mounting surface 30 Console side unit 40 Passenger seat side unit 44 Assembly surface

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. An instrument panel for an automobile, wherein an instrument panel main body including an air duct and the like and various meters are directly mounted on a vehicle body so that the instrument panel can be mechanically and electrically connected at the time of assembly. Driver-side unit, a console-side unit equipped with car audio and heater controls, and a passenger-side unit having a glove box, a passenger-side airbag, and the like. An instrument panel, wherein a console side mounting portion and a passenger seat side mounting portion are respectively formed on the instrument panel body. 2. The mounting surface of the driver-side unit and the passenger-side unit have the same shape, and the mounting surface of the driver-side mounting portion and the passenger-side mounting portion have the same shape. The instrument panel according to claim 1, wherein: 3. The instrument panel according to claim 1, wherein an assembling direction of each unit to the instrument panel main body and an electrical connection direction are the same. 4. The electrical connector according to claim 1, wherein a direction of assembling each unit to the instrument panel body and an electrical connection direction are orthogonal to each other, and a failure in electrical connection is prevented by the weight of each unit. Or the instrument panel of 2.