JP5607948B2 - Meter cluster mounting structure - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a mounting structure for a meter cluster in an instrument panel.

  An instrument panel (dashboard) is provided across the entire width in the vehicle width direction in front of the front seat of the automobile (frontmost part of the passenger compartment). A meter unit including instruments such as a speedometer, a distance meter, and a fuel meter, and a meter cluster surrounding the meter unit are mounted on the instrument panel in front of the driver's seat.

  Some meter clusters have a protruding portion that protrudes like a hook on the driver's seat side above the meter unit in order to improve the appearance and the visibility of the instruments. The overhanging portion is generally formed in a hollow shape, and has a substantially V-shaped cross section when it is cut along a plane extending in the front-rear direction and the up-down direction. For this reason, if the overhanging amount of the overhanging portion is large, the lower portion of the overhanging portion (the portion below the bent portion) may be bent and deformed so that the front end thereof is lowered.

  Therefore, a configuration has been proposed in which a plurality of ribs extending in the front-rear direction are formed on the inner surface of the lower portion of the overhanging portion, and the tip ends of the ribs are engaged with engagement holes formed in the instrument panel. According to this configuration, the strength of the lower portion of the overhang portion is increased, and the position of the front end thereof is fixed with respect to the instrument panel, so that the deformation of the lower portion of the overhang portion can be prevented.

JP-A-10-236184

  However, if the shape of the tip of the rib does not match the shape of the engagement hole, and there is play between the tip of the rib and the engagement hole, the meter cluster will be There is a risk of noise from rattling. On the other hand, if there is no play between the tip of the rib and the engagement hole, it becomes difficult to engage / disengage the tip of the rib and the engagement hole, and the workability of attaching / detaching the meter cluster to / from the instrument panel is difficult. Decreases.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a meter cluster mounting structure that can be easily attached to and detached from an instrument panel while preventing generation of abnormal noise due to rattling.

  In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a meter cluster mounting structure in an instrument panel to which a meter unit is mounted, wherein the meter cluster is a hollow projecting in a bowl shape toward the rear above the meter unit. The meter unit is provided with an engaging portion having a width in the vehicle width direction so as to protrude rearward, and the inner surface of the overhanging portion extends in the front-rear direction. A first rib whose front end abuts on the engagement portion from above, a first rib extending in the front-rear direction with a space in the vehicle width direction, and a front end abutting on the engagement portion from below. 2 ribs are formed, and at least one of the lower surface of the front end portion of the first rib and the upper surface of the front end portion of the second rib is inclined so as to be separated from the engagement portion toward the front. Characterized by

  In this meter cluster mounting structure, the meter unit is provided with an engaging portion. The engaging portion extends rearward from the meter unit and has a width in the vehicle width direction. The meter cluster has a hollow projecting portion that projects in a bowl shape toward the rear above the meter unit. A first rib and a second rib are formed on the inner surface of the overhang portion. The first rib and the second rib extend in the front-rear direction toward the engaging portion with a space smaller than the width of the engaging portion in the vehicle width direction. Then, with the meter cluster mounted on the instrument panel, the engaging portion is inserted between the first rib and the second rib, and the lower surface of the front end of the first rib and the front end of the second rib The upper surface comes into contact with the engaging portion from above and below. As a result, the engaging portion is sandwiched between the first rib and the second rib in the vertical direction, and the downward movement of the first rib is blocked and the upward movement of the second rib is blocked. . As a result, the meter cluster is positioned in the vertical direction with respect to the instrument panel via the meter unit, so that the generation of abnormal noise due to the rattling of the meter cluster can be prevented.

  At least one of the lower surface of the front end portion of the first rib and the upper surface of the front end portion of the second rib is an inclined surface that is inclined so as to be separated from the engaging portion toward the front. Therefore, when the meter cluster is mounted on the instrument panel, the engaging portion slides on the inclined surface of the first rib or the second rib as the meter cluster moves forward. The first rib and the second rib are both guided to a position where they abut against the engaging portion. Further, when the meter cluster is detached, the engaging portion slides on the inclined surface of the first rib or the second rib as the meter cluster moves rearward, so that the engaging portion becomes the first. The state sandwiched between the rib and the second rib is released. Therefore, the meter cluster can be easily attached to and detached from the instrument panel.

  In the meter cluster mounting structure, the first ribs are provided on both sides of the second rib in the vehicle width direction, and one engagement of the second rib and the two first ribs on both sides is the same. It is preferable to contact the joint.

  In such a meter cluster mounting structure, since the two first ribs are provided, the meter cluster receives the upward force applied from the engaging portion as a reaction force of gravity by the two first ribs in a distributed manner. be able to. Therefore, the thickness of the first rib can be reduced. As a result, it is possible to prevent sink marks due to the formation of the first ribs on the surface of the meter cluster, and to improve the appearance of the meter cluster.

  According to the present invention, the first rib and the second rib are formed on the inner surface of the protruding portion of the meter cluster, and the meter cluster protrudes from the meter unit in a state where the meter cluster is mounted on the instrument panel. The engaging portion is sandwiched from above and below by the first rib and the second rib. When at least one of the lower surface of the front end portion of the first rib and the upper surface of the front end portion of the second rib is inclined forward and away from the engaging portion, the meter cluster is attached to or detached from the instrument panel. When the engaging portion is inserted between the first rib and the second rib, the inclined surface serves as a guide for the movement of the meter cluster. Therefore, it is possible to easily attach / detach the meter cluster to / from the instrument panel while preventing the generation of noise due to the rattling of the meter cluster.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an instrument panel to which a meter cluster mounting structure according to an embodiment of the present invention is applied. FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a structure inside the meter cluster by cutting the meter cluster along a plane extending in the front-rear direction and the vehicle width direction. FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the engaging portion, the first rib, and the second rib shown in FIG.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an instrument panel to which a meter cluster mounting structure according to an embodiment of the present invention is applied.

  The instrument panel 1 is provided over the entire width in the vehicle width direction in front of the front seat of the automobile (the frontmost part of the vehicle compartment). A steering column 2 is inserted through the instrument panel 1 in front of the driver's seat. The instrument panel 1 is provided with a speedometer, a meter unit 3, and a meter cluster 4 surrounding the meter unit 3 in a portion above the steering column 2.

  FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a structure inside the meter cluster by cutting the meter cluster along a plane extending in the front-rear direction and the vehicle width direction.

  The meter unit 3 is fixed to the instrument panel 1 by being fitted into a unit mounting opening 5 formed in the instrument panel 1. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the meter unit 3 includes a frame 6 having a rectangular shape in front view that is long in the vehicle width direction, a unit case 7 that surrounds the periphery of the frame 6, a distance meter and a fuel disposed in the frame 6. An instrument 8 such as a meter, and a transparent plate 9 arranged on the front surface (driver seat side surface) of the unit case 7 are provided.

  The upper surface of the unit case 7 protrudes rearward (driver's seat side), and its rear edge is formed in an arc shape. Then, at the rear end edge of the circular arc shape, a plate-like engaging portion 10 having a rectangular shape in plan view long in the vehicle width direction protrudes backward at two positions spaced from each other in the vehicle width direction. Is formed.

  The meter cluster 4 is a resin molded product and is provided so as to surround the outer side of the unit case 7 of the meter unit 3. The meter cluster 4 includes a lower extension 11 having a substantially semicircular shape in plan view that extends rearward from the rear upper end of the unit case 7, and a lower extension 11 having a space above the lower extension 11. The upper extension part 12 extended toward the front from the rear end edge is integrally provided. Accordingly, the meter cluster 4 includes a lower extension portion 11 and an upper extension portion 12 above the meter unit 3, and is a hollow extension portion 13 that protrudes in a substantially semicircular shape in plan view toward the rear. have.

  A plurality of hooks 14 are formed on the inner surface of the overhang portion 13 at intervals in the vehicle width direction. Specifically, locking projections 15 having a substantially triangular shape in a side view projecting upward are provided at positions where the projecting portion 13 bulges most rearward and at positions spaced on both sides in the vehicle width direction. A hook 14 is formed. Each hook 14 is inserted into a locking hole (not shown) formed in the instrument panel 1, and the locking projection 15 is locked to the periphery of the locking hole, whereby the meter cluster 4 is Mounted on the instrument panel 1.

  A plurality of ribs 16 are formed on the inner surface of the overhanging portion 13, more specifically on the upper surface of the lower extending portion 11, with an interval in the vehicle width direction. Each rib 16 protrudes upward from the upper surface of the lower extension portion 11 and extends elongated in the front-rear direction.

  The plurality of ribs 16 include a first rib 16A and a second rib 16B. The first ribs 16 </ b> A and the second ribs 16 </ b> B are formed between the central hook 14 and the hooks 14 on both sides thereof, and extend toward the engaging portion 10 of the unit case 7.

  FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the engaging portion, the first rib, and the second rib.

  Between each of the central hook 14 and the hooks 14 on both sides thereof, two first ribs 16A are provided at a predetermined interval smaller than the width of the engaging portion 10 in the vehicle width direction. Each first rib 16A has a substantially lower half of the front end portion cut out in a rectangular shape. As a result, the first rib 16A has a vertical surface 17 extending perpendicularly to the upper surface of the lower extension portion 11 at the front end thereof, and a front surface substantially parallel to the upper surface of the lower extension portion 11 from the vertical surface 17. And a bulging surface 19 that bulges forward from the front end edge of the parallel surface 18 and extends upward. In each first rib 16A, the parallel surface 18 at the front end is in contact with the upper surface of the engaging portion 10 from above.

  The second ribs 16B are provided between the two first ribs 16A arranged at a predetermined interval and spaced from each first rib 16A in the vehicle width direction. The front end portion of the second rib 16B is formed in a triangular shape in a side view that tapers forward. Thereby, the upper surface 20 of the front end part of the 2nd rib 16B becomes an inclined surface which inclines so that it may approach the upper surface of the lower extension part 11 toward the front side. And as for the 2nd rib 16B, the upper surface 20 of the front-end part is contact | abutting from the downward direction to the front-end edge of the lower surface of an engaging part.

  Thus, the engaging part 10 is provided in the unit case 7 of the meter unit 3. The engaging portion 10 extends rearward from the meter unit 3 and has a width in the vehicle width direction. The meter cluster 4 has a hollow projecting portion 13 that projects in a bowl shape toward the rear above the meter unit 3. A first rib 16 </ b> A and a second rib 16 </ b> B are formed on the inner surface of the overhang portion 13. The first ribs 16A and the second ribs 16B extend along the front-rear direction toward the engaging portion 10 with an interval smaller than the width of the engaging portion 10 in the vehicle width direction. Then, with the meter cluster 4 mounted on the instrument panel 1, the engaging portion 10 is inserted between the first rib 16A and the second rib 16B, and the parallel surface 18 of the front end portion of the first rib 16A. And the upper surface 20 of the front end portion of the second rib 16B contacts the engaging portion 10 from above and below. Thereby, the engaging portion 10 is sandwiched between the first rib 16A and the second rib 16B in the vertical direction, and the downward movement of the first rib 16A is prevented and the upward movement of the second rib 16B is prevented. Movement is prevented.

  As a result, the meter cluster 4 is positioned in the vertical direction with respect to the instrument panel 1 via the meter unit 3, so that it is possible to prevent abnormal noise due to the rattling of the meter cluster 4.

  Further, when the meter cluster 4 rattles, the front end edge of the lower extension portion 11 of the meter cluster 4 may be rubbed against the transparent plate 9 of the meter unit 3 and the transparent plate 9 may be damaged. Since there is no rattling, it is possible to prevent the transparent plate 9 from being damaged.

  Moreover, even if the overhanging portion 13 is bent and deformed so that the front end thereof is lowered, the bending portion is corrected by inserting the engaging portion 10 between the first rib 16A and the second rib 16B. can do. As a result, the appearance of the meter cluster 4 can be improved.

  And the upper surface 20 of the front end part of the 2nd rib 16B is made into the inclined surface which inclines so that it may move away from the engaging part 10 toward the front so that it may approach the upper surface of the lower extension part 11 toward the front side. Yes. Therefore, when the meter cluster 4 is attached to the instrument panel 1, the engaging portion 10 slides on the upper surface 20 of the front end portion of the second rib as the meter cluster 4 moves forward. The meter cluster 4 is guided to a position where both the first rib 16 </ b> A and the second rib 16 </ b> B come into contact with the engaging portion 10. Further, when the meter cluster 4 is detached, the engaging portion 10 slides on the upper surface 20 of the front end portion of the second rib as the meter cluster 4 moves backward, so that the engaging portion 10 Is released between the first rib 16A and the second rib 16B. Therefore, the meter cluster 4 can be easily attached to and detached from the instrument panel 1.

  Further, since the first rib 16A is provided on both sides in the vehicle width direction of the second rib 16B, the upward force applied from the engaging portion 10 by the meter cluster 4 as a reaction force of gravity is applied to the two first ribs. 16A can be distributed and received. Therefore, the thickness of the first rib 16A can be reduced. As a result, it is possible to prevent sink marks resulting from the formation of the first ribs 16 </ b> A on the surface of the meter cluster 4, and to further improve the appearance of the meter cluster 4.

  In addition, one second rib 16B is provided between the two first ribs 16A, and a configuration in which these are set as one set has been taken up. However, one set of one first rib 16A and one second rib 16B is taken. May be provided. That is, one first rib 16A may be omitted from the configuration shown in FIG.

  In addition, two second ribs 16B are provided at intervals in the vehicle width direction, and one first rib 16A is provided between the two second ribs 16B. The second rib 16B may be one set.

  Further, only one set of the first rib 16A and the second rib 16B may be provided, or three or more sets may be provided.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Instrument panel 3 Meter unit 4 Meter cluster 10 Engagement part 13 Overhang | projection part 16A 1st rib 16B 2nd rib 18 Parallel surface 20 Upper surface

Claims (1)

A meter cluster mounting structure on an instrument panel to which a meter unit is mounted,
The meter cluster has a hollow projecting portion projecting in a bowl shape toward the rear above the meter unit,
In the meter unit, an engaging portion having a width in the vehicle width direction is projected rearward,
A first rib that extends in the front-rear direction on the inner surface of the projecting portion and whose front end abuts the engagement portion from above, and extends in the front-rear direction with a gap in the vehicle width direction from the first rib. A second rib whose front end abuts against the engaging portion from below is formed,
Wherein at least said front end of the second rib of the lower surface and the upper surface of the front end portion of the second rib of the front end portion of the first rib, the inclined surface inclined away from the engagement portion toward the front Have
The inclined surface of the second rib contacts the front end edge of the lower surface of the engaging portion from below,
The first rib is provided on both sides of the second rib in the vehicle width direction so as not to overlap the second rib in the vertical direction.
One of the second ribs and two first ribs on both sides thereof are in contact to the same of the engaging portion, the mounting structure of the meter cluster.

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