Arrangement for covering a gap between components

• US 6,183,011 B1
• Filed: 12/08/1998
• Issued: 02/06/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 12/10/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Volkswagen AG
• Original Assignee: Volkswagen AG
• Inventors: Andronis, Odysseus
• Primary Examiner(s): Mai, Lanna
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ilan, Ruth
• Application Number:
  US09/206,858
• Time in Patent Office: 791 Days
• Field of Search: 280/775, 280/777, 744/93, 74/18, 180/78
• US Class Current: 280/775
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 1/16 Steering columns
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 1/184 Mechanisms for locking columns at selected positions
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 1/189 the entire column being tiltable as a unit

Abstract

An arrangement is proposed for covering the gap in an opening between a dashboard and a steering column, which is displaceable in different directions. Additionally provided is a casing part enclosing the steering column, to which is hinged a structural part serving to cover the gap, the structural part serving to cover the gap being held on the dashboard by a spring element. According to the invention, the casing part and the structural part serving to cover the gap are brought together to form a substantially circular outer contour, making for a highly compact and space-saving design of the arrangement.

Claims

1. An arrangement for covering a gap in an opening between a dashboard and a steering column that is displaceable in different directions comprising a casing part substantially enclosing the steering column and a rigid hinged structural part serving to cover the gap, the structural part serving to cover the gap being held against the dashboard by at least one spring element wherein the casing part and the structural part serving to cover the gap can be brought together to form a substantially circular outer contour.

2. An arrangement according to claim 1 wherein the structural part serving to cover the gap is hinged to an upper side of an end region of the casing part toward a steering wheel.

3. An arrangement according to claim 1 wherein the spring element is a helical spring.

4. An arrangement according to claim 1 wherein the spring element is a leaf spring.

5. An arrangement according to claim 1 wherein the casing part is in one piece.

6. An arrangement (1) according to claim 1 wherein the casing part comprises an upper part and a lower part.

7. An arrangement according to claim 6 wherein the upper and the lower parts are connected by being snapped into each other.

8. An arrangement according to claim 1 wherein the casing part has an aperture on a lower side for at least partial accommodation of a locking means for the steering column.

9. An arrangement according to claim 8 wherein the locking means is located in the region of the aperture and substantially conforms to the outer contour of the casing part.

10. An arrangement according to claim 8 wherein the length of the aperture in a longitudinal direction of the casing part is sized so that longitudinal displacement of the casing part is not hindered by the locking means.

11. An arrangement according to claim 8 wherein the locking means comprises a cam.

12. An arrangement according to claim 1 wherein the casing part has a front opening, which serves to accommodate a shoulder of the steering column facing a steering wheel.

13. An arrangement according to claim 1 wherein the hinged structural part serving to cover the gap on the casing part has a hinge joint effected by a snap-in connection.

14. An arrangement according to claim 1 including at least one supporting means for the casing part acting transversely to the steering column.

15. An arrangement according to claim 14 wherein the supporting means is a spring element.

16. An arrangement according to claim 1 wherein the structural part serving to cover the gap is approximately semicircular in cross section.

17. An arrangement according to claim 1 wherein an upper side of the casing part has an outer surface which is recessed inwardly.