STEERING COLUMN COVER STRUCTURE OF AUTOMOTIVE VEHICLE

• US 20130087006A1
• Filed: 10/09/2012
• Published: 04/11/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 10/11/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mazda Motor Corporation
• Original Assignee: Mazda Motor Corporation
• Inventors: KUSHIDA, Hiroshi, MITSUNARI, Tomoshi, TAKEMURA, Masaki, OHTSUBO, Tomonori, TANAKA, Matsuhiro
• Granted Patent: US 8,820,810 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 74/493
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 26/02 of initiating means or elements
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 13/02 Internal Trim mouldings ; Internal Ledges; Wall liners for passenger compartments; Roof liners B60R13/01 takes precedence ; padded linings for the vehicle interior B60R21/04; arrangements or adaptations of floor mats or carpets in vehicles B60N3/04; internal lining for trains B61D17/18
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/05 associated with the steering wheel, steering hand lever or steering column yieldable steering columns B62D1/18
• CPC Class Codes: G05G 1/30 Controlling members actuated by foot

Abstract

An acceleration pedal is arranged on one side, in a vehicle width direction, of a steering column cover covering a steering column so as to move forward or slant forward through a press operation of a press face thereof. A guide face is provided at a specified portion of a lower face of the steering column cover which is positioned in front of a lower-face rear end portion in a steering-shaft axis direction and on an acceleration-pedal-arrangement side, wherein the guide face is configured to project downward below an extension line extending from the lower-face rear end portion in the steering-shaft axis direction and extend forward. Accordingly, a passenger'"'"'s foot can be properly restrained from moving, in the vehicle width direction, off the pedal in a vehicle head-on collision, ensuring an appropriate ingress-and-egress performance of a passenger.

Claims

1. A steering column cover structure of an automotive vehicle equipped with a pedal which is arranged on one side, in a vehicle width direction, of a steering column cover covering a steering column so as to move forward or slant forward through a press operation of a press face thereof,

wherein a guide face is provided at a specified portion of a lower face of the steering column cover which is positioned in front of a lower-face rear end portion in a steering-shaft axis direction and on a pedal-arrangement side, the guide face being configured to project downward below an extension line extending from the lower-face rear end portion of the steering column cover in the steering-shaft axis direction and extend forward.

2. The steering column cover structure of an automotive vehicle of claim 1, wherein said pedal is an acceleration pedal to operate a drive force of the vehicle.

3. The steering column cover structure of an automotive vehicle of claim 2, wherein said guide face is configured to extend obliquely upward and toward the pedal-arrangement side from a specified position which is located in front of a rear end portion of the steering column cover and the lower-face rear end portion of the steering column cover to a specified side portion of the steering column cover which is positioned on the pedal-arrangement side.

4. The steering column cover structure of an automotive vehicle of claim 3, wherein said guide face is located at a more inside position of the steering column cover, compared to a side face of the steering column cover which is opposite to another side face of the steering column cover positioned on the pedal-arrangement side in the vehicle width direction.

5. The steering column cover structure of an automotive vehicle of claim 2, wherein said guide face is located at a more downward position, compared to a side face of the steering column cover which is opposite to another side face of the steering column cover positioned on the pedal-arrangement side in the vehicle width direction.

6. The steering column cover structure of an automotive vehicle of claim 3, wherein a steering-position adjusting lever is provided at a specified portion of the lower face of the steering column cover which is positioned on an opposite side to the pedal-arrangement side in the vehicle width direction.

7. The steering column cover structure of an automotive vehicle of claim 2, wherein said acceleration pedal is a pedal having a swinging center which is positioned at or below a level of a center of the press face of the pedal.

8. The steering column cover structure of an automotive vehicle of claim 1, wherein said pedal is configured to move forward substantially horizontally or slant forward.

9. The steering column cover structure of an automotive vehicle of claim 8, wherein said guide face is configured to extend obliquely upward and toward the pedal-arrangement side from a specified position which is located in front of a rear end portion of the steering column cover and the lower-face rear end portion of the steering column cover to a specified side portion of the steering column cover which is positioned on the pedal-arrangement side.

10. The steering column cover structure of an automotive vehicle of claim 9, wherein said guide face is located at a more inside position of the steering column cover, compared to a side face of the steering column cover which is opposite to another side face of the steering column cover positioned on the pedal-arrangement side in the vehicle width direction.

11. The steering column cover structure of an automotive vehicle of claim 8, wherein said guide face is located at a more downward position, compared to a side face of the steering column cover which is opposite to another side face of the steering column cover positioned on the pedal-arrangement side in the vehicle width direction.

12. The steering column cover structure of an automotive vehicle of claim 9, wherein a steering-position adjusting lever is provided at a specified portion of the lower face of the steering column cover which is positioned on an opposite side to the pedal-arrangement side in the vehicle width direction.

13. A steering column cover structure of an automotive vehicle, comprising a guide face which is provided at a specified portion of a lower face of a steering column cover covering a steering column which is positioned in front of a lower-face rear end portion in a steering-shaft axis direction and on an acceleration-pedal-arrangement side,

wherein said guide face is configured to project downward below an extension line extending from the lower-face rear end portion of the steering column cover in the steering-shaft axis direction and extend forward, and to extend obliquely upward and toward the acceleration-pedal-arrangement side from a specified position which is located in front of a rear end portion of the steering column cover and the lower-face rear end portion of the steering column cover to a specified side portion of the steering column cover which is positioned on the acceleration-pedal-arrangement side,

said guide face is located at a more downward position, compared to a side face of the steering column cover which is opposite to another side face of the steering column cover positioned on the acceleration pedal-arrangement side in the vehicle width direction, and

a steering-position adjusting lever is provided at a specified portion of the lower face of the steering column cover which is positioned on an opposite side to the acceleration-pedal-arrangement side in the vehicle width direction.

14. A steering column cover structure of an automotive vehicle equipped with a pedal which is arranged on one side, in a vehicle width direction, of a steering column cover covering a steering column so as to move forward or slant forward through a press operation of a press face thereof,

wherein a guide face is provided at a specified portion of a lower face of the steering column cover which is positioned in front of a lower-face rear end portion in a steering-shaft axis direction and on a pedal-arrangement side, the guide face being configured to project downward below an extension line extending from the lower-face rear end portion of the steering column cover in the steering-shaft axis direction and extend forward, and to extend obliquely upward and toward the pedal-arrangement side from a specified position which is located in front of a rear end portion of the steering column cover and the lower-face rear end portion of the steering column cover to a specified side portion of the steering column cover which is positioned on the pedal-arrangement side,

said guide face is located at a more downward position, compared to a side face of the steering column cover which is opposite to another side face of the steering column cover positioned on the pedal-arrangement side in the vehicle width direction, and

a steering-position adjusting lever is provided at a specified portion of the lower face of the steering column cover which is positioned on an opposite side to the pedal-arrangement side in the vehicle width direction.