FR3121114A1 - Lower steering column half-sheath of a motor vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a lower steering column half-sheath (1) of a motor vehicle intended to be fixed to an upper steering column half-sheath to form a column sheath extending around a steering of the vehicle fixed to a dashboard and supporting a steering wheel, the lower steering column half-sheath (1) comprising a lower edge (7) positioned at a lower part (8) of the column half-sheath bottom steering (1). According to the invention, the lower steering column half-sheath comprises a protrusion (9) extending along the lower edge (7), the protrusion (9) protruding from a front surface (10) of the half - lower steering column sheath (1) towards the interior of the vehicle cabin. (Fig.3)

Description

Lower steering column half-sheath of a motor vehicle

The invention relates to a lower steering column half-sheath of a motor vehicle, a motor vehicle comprising such a lower steering column half-sheath and a method of manufacturing this half-sheath.

Motor vehicles are equipped with steering columns on which are generally installed so-called trim plastic parts generally called “steering column sheaths” or “column sheaths”. They form a covering arranged around the steering column of a vehicle to hide the steering column.

The steering column of the vehicle is attached to a dashboard and supports a steering wheel.

The column shroud includes a lower steering column half-sleeve for attaching to an upper steering column half-sleeve to form the complete column shroud.

The lower steering column half-sheath is intended to be positioned at a lower part of the dashboard and is delimited by a lower border oriented towards the floor of the vehicle.

However, the lower edges of these lower steering column halves have sharp edge-like protruding ends generated during the plastic injection molding process. These sharp edges are in fact the result of mold release constraints in the tooling (slide movements, for example).

However, in some cases, these aggressive edges are said to be "contactable" and can cause injury to the occupant. Indeed, the vehicle driver's knees may come into contact with the protruding edge and cause cuts.

Document FR3040354 from the company PSA is known, which describes a protective cover for the lower part of the steering column of a vehicle intended to prevent the infiltration of material into the bowl-shaped opening of the floor and the floor mat. front of the vehicle intended for the passage of the steering column.

This cover allows simple assembly, without any special tools, but does not solve the problems of protruding edges on the column half-sheaths positioned higher than the cover, around the steering column.

The invention aims to remedy all or part of the drawbacks of the state of the art by proposing a lower steering column half-sheath making it possible to improve contactability and to prevent the driver from being injured at the level of the knees. by an edge of the lower steering column half-sheath.

To do this, it is proposed, according to a first aspect of the invention, a lower steering column half-sheath of a motor vehicle intended to be fixed to an upper steering column half-sheath to form a column extending around a steering column of the vehicle. The steering column is attached to a dashboard and supports a steering wheel. The lower steering column half-sleeve includes a lower rim positioned at a lower portion of the lower steering column half-sleeve.

According to the invention, the lower steering column half-sheath comprises a protrusion extending along the lower edge. The protrusion projects from a front surface of the lower steering column half-sheath toward the inside of the vehicle cabin.

The non-protruding protrusion replaces the protruding edge of the prior art lower steering column half-shells so as not to injure the driver's knees.

Preferably, the lower border delimits a lower end of the lower steering column half-sheath. The lower end is intended to face the floor of the vehicle.

According to one embodiment, the lower steering column half-sheath comprises a cavity positioned at the level of the lower part of the lower steering column half-sheath and intended to receive a steering column handle. The protuberance extends along the lower border from the cavity.

Preferably, the cavity is delimited by a rim. The protrusion extends along the lower edge from the edge of the cavity in a longitudinal direction X and substantially perpendicular to the edge.

According to another embodiment, the lower steering column half-sheath comprises a recess in which the cavity is positioned. The recess is extended in the longitudinal direction X by a side part offset towards the interior of the passenger compartment with respect to the recess. The protuberance extends along the lower border from the rim of the cavity to the lateral part.

Alternatively, the protrusion runs all the way down the bottom border.

Preferably, the protrusion has a "Y" shaped section. The protuberance comprises two opposite faces joining at an apex.

Advantageously, the protrusion has a radius of curvature of at least 3.2 mm.

The invention makes it possible to obtain a lower steering column half-sheath which prevents the driver from injuring his knees.

The invention makes it possible to improve the contactability as required by the ECE 21 regulation and to change the contact points with the surrounding parts. The protrusion also helps protect the surrounding parts.

The tests carried out with a false knee demonstrate the effectiveness of the invention since the false knees are not damaged by the lower edge of the lower steering column half-sheath.

The protuberance can be positioned in different places on the lower steering column half-sheath as needed.

Vehicles are often criticized for their poor performance. The invention allows the improvement of these services at a low cost because the protrusion can be obtained by integrating a simple groove in a plastic injection mold.

The invention also relates to a motor vehicle comprising a lower steering column half-sheath as defined above.

The invention also relates to a method of manufacturing a lower steering column half-sheath as defined previously.

The lower steering column half-sheath is obtained during a plastic injection molding step during which a protrusion is formed projecting from a front surface of the lower steering column half-sheath and extending along the 'a lower edge of the lower steering column half-sheath.

Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will become apparent on reading the following description, with reference to the appended figures, which illustrate:
: a perspective view of a dashboard comprising a lower steering column half-sheath, according to one embodiment of the invention;
: a perspective view of the lower steering column half-sheath;
: a perspective view of a protrusion extending over the lower steering column half-sheath;
: a detailed view of the prominence.

For greater clarity, identical or similar elements are identified by identical reference signs in all the figures.

The lower and upper terms are given with respect to the normal position of use of the lower steering column half-sheath 1 in a vehicle, as illustrated in Figures 1 to 4.

There illustrates a dashboard 5 of a motor vehicle comprising a steering column 4 fixed to the dashboard 5 and which is intended to support a steering wheel.

The lower steering column half-sheath 1 is fixed to an upper steering column half-sheath 2 to form a column sheath 3 extending around the steering column 4 of the vehicle.

The lower steering column half-sheath 1 is intended to be positioned at the height of a lower zone 19 of the dashboard 5, that is to say in the zone which is positioned at the level of the knees of a driver seated in the vehicle.

As illustrated on the , the lower steering column half-sheath 1 comprises a lower edge 7 positioned at a lower part 8 of the lower steering column half-sheath 1 and oriented towards the floor of the vehicle.

In this example, the lower edge 7 is positioned opposite a lower board trim 17 positioned opposite the vehicle floor.

According to the invention, the lower steering column half-sheath 1 comprises a protuberance 9 (or rib or bead) extending along the lower edge 7. The protrusion 9 protrudes from a front surface 10 of the half- lower steering column sheath 1 towards the inside of the vehicle cabin.

The protuberance 9 forms an extension of the lower edge 7 forwards, that is to say towards the inside of the passenger compartment or the driver's seat.

The protuberance 9 can protrude perpendicularly with respect to the front surface 10 of the lower steering column half-sheath 1.

Preferably, the lower edge 7 delimits a lower end 6 of the lower steering column half-sheath 1. The lower edge 7 and the protuberance 9 face the floor of the vehicle and the lower panel trim 17.

The lower steering column half-sheath 1 comprises a cavity 11 positioned at the level of the lower part 8 of the lower steering column half-sheath 1. The cavity 11 is intended to receive a steering column handle 12. The protuberance 9 extends along the lower edge 7 from the cavity 11. The cavity 11 is delimited by a rim 13.

According to one embodiment shown in Figures 3 to 4, the protuberance 9 extends along the lower edge 7 from the rim 13 of the cavity 11 in a longitudinal direction X.

The lower steering column half-sheath 1 comprises a recess 14 in which the cavity 11 is positioned. The recess 14 is extended in the longitudinal direction X by a lateral part 15 offset with respect to the recess 14 towards the inside of the cockpit. There is a step at the difference in level between the recess 14 and the side part 15. The recess 14 and the side part 15 are connected by an intermediate part 23.

The protrusion 9 extends along the lower edge 7 from the rim 13 of the cavity 11 to the side part 15.

According to another embodiment, the protrusion 9 extends over the entire length of the lower edge 7 (not shown).

The lower end 6 of the lower steering column half-sheath 1 has a curvature 21 starting from the side part 15 so that the lower end 6 extends from the curvature 21 towards the floor of the vehicle and to a lower corner 22, as shown in the .

The protrusion 9 can extend from the rim 13 of the cavity 11 to the lower angle 22.

Other positions of the protuberance 9 on the lower steering column half-sheath 1 are also possible.

For example, the lower border 7 can extend along the rim 13 of the cavity 11.

In the case where the cavity 11 is not present, the protuberance 9 can extend over the entire length of the lower edge 7 which itself extends over the entire width of the lower steering column half-sheath 1.

Preferably, the protrusion 9 extends or is positioned at the places where sharp edges appear on the lower steering column half-sheaths 1 of the prior art and which are likely to come into contact with the knees of a driver seated in the vehicle.

Advantageously, the protrusion 9 has a "Y" shaped section. As shown on the , the protrusion 9 comprises two opposite faces 16, 17 joining via a vertex 18.

The protrusion 9 has a radius of curvature of at least 3.2 mm.

Alternatively, the protrusion 9 may have a section in the shape of a "V" or a semicircle.

The invention also relates to a motor vehicle comprising a lower steering column half-sheath 1 as defined previously, fixed to an upper steering column half-sheath 2 to form a column sheath 3.

The invention also relates to a method of manufacturing a lower steering column half-sheath 1 as defined above.

The lower steering column half-sheath 1 is obtained during a plastic injection molding step during which the protuberance 9 is formed.

The plastic injection molding is carried out in a mold comprising a groove to form the protuberance 9.

The molding step is followed by a demolding step to obtain the lower steering column half-sheath 1 comprising the protuberance 9 extending along the lower edge 7 and protruding from the front surface 10 of the half - lower steering column sheath 1.

It is emphasized that all the characteristics, as they emerge for a person skilled in the art from the present description, the drawings and the attached claims, even if concretely they have only been described in relation to other characteristics determined, both individually and in arbitrary combinations, can be combined with other characteristics or groups of characteristics disclosed here, provided that this has not been expressly excluded or that technical circumstances make such combinations impossible or invalid. sense.

Claims (10)

Lower steering column half-sheath (1) of a motor vehicle intended to be fixed to an upper steering column half-sheath (2) to form a column sheath (3) extending around a steering column (4) of the vehicle fixed to a dashboard (5) and supporting a steering wheel, the lower steering column half-sheath (1) comprising a lower border (7) positioned at a lower part (8) of the lower steering column half-sheath (1), characterized in that it comprises a protuberance (9) extending along the lower edge (7), the protuberance (9) protruding from a front surface (10) from the lower steering column half-sheath (1) towards the inside of the vehicle cabin. Lower steering column half-sheath (1) according to Claim 1, characterized in that the lower border (7) delimits a lower end (6) of the lower steering column half-sheath (1), the end lower (6) being intended to face the floor of the vehicle. Lower steering column half-sheath (1) according to any one of Claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the lower steering column half-sheath (1) comprises a cavity (11) positioned at the level of the part lower part (8) of the lower steering column half-sheath (1) and intended to receive a steering column handle (12), the protrusion (9) extending along the lower edge (7) from of the cavity (11). Lower steering column half-sheath (1) according to Claim 3, characterized in that the cavity (11) is delimited by a rim (13), the protrusion (9) extending along the lower edge (7 ) from the rim (13) of the cavity (11) in a longitudinal direction (X) and substantially perpendicular to the rim (13). Lower steering column half-sheath (1) according to any one of Claims 3 or 4, characterized in that it comprises a recess (14) in which the cavity (11) is positioned, the recess (14) being extended in the longitudinal direction (X) by a lateral part (15) offset towards the interior of the passenger compartment with respect to the recess (14), the protuberance (9) extending along the lower edge (7) at from the edge (13) of the cavity (11) to the side part (15). Lower steering column half-sheath (1) according to any one of Claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the protuberance (9) extends over the entire length of the lower edge (7). Lower steering column half-sheath (1) according to any one of Claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the protuberance (9) has a section in the shape of a "Y", the protuberance (9) comprising two faces ( 16, 17) opposed joining by a vertex (18). Lower steering column half-sheath (1) according to any one of Claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the protrusion (9) has a radius of curvature of at least 3.2 mm. Motor vehicle characterized in that it comprises a lower steering column half-sheath (1) as defined according to any one of Claims 1 to 8, the lower steering column half-sheath (1) being fixed to an upper steering column half-sheath (2) to form a column sheath (3) extending around a steering column (4) of the vehicle fixed to a dashboard (5) and supporting a direction. Method of manufacturing a lower steering column half-sheath (1) as defined according to any one of Claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the lower steering column half-sheath (1) is obtained during a plastic injection molding step during which a protrusion (9) is formed projecting from a front surface (10) of the lower steering column half-sheath (1) and extending along an edge (7) of the lower steering column half-sheath (1).