Mazda Motor Corporation

Matsuhiro Tanaka

Tomonori Ohtsubo

Keisuke Miyoshi

Shuji Muraoka

Toshiharu Ikeda

Tomoshi Mitsunari

Hiroyuki Tamagawa

Hiroshi Kushida

Masaki Takemura

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.

Steering column cover structure of automotive vehicle

A structure for supporting a collapsible steering column of a vehicle is covered partially by a column cover between an instrument panel and a steering wheel. The steering column passes through an opening formed in the instrument panel and extends towards a driver's seat. The column includes a meter cover for covering meters installed in the instrument panel. The meter cover is shaped so as to define an upper portion of the opening and is integrally formed with a knee pad adapted to be hit and forced, by knees of a driver thrown out of the driver's seat upon a collision of the vehicle, to move the meter cover upwards. Such expands the opening sufficiently to eliminate crushing of the column cover against the meter panel.

Steering column supporting structure of automotive vehicle

In a rear body structure of a vehicle, a rear pillar forms a rear edge portion of an opening for a door which is formed on one side portion of the vehicle body. A rear fender is connected to the rear pillar and extends rearwardly therefrom. A suspension tower is connected to the rear fender at a distance from the rear pillar. A reinforcement is connected to upper portions of the rear fender and the suspension tower so as to extend in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle body. An impact absorbing portion is provided between the rear pillar and the suspension tower to prevent the rear pillar from being deformed in response to forward displacement of the suspension tower which is caused by a forward impact load acting on the suspension tower.

Rear body structure of vehicle

An instrument panel structure includes a transversely extending support member to which a steering apparatus, a knee protector, or both a steering apparatus and a knee protector are attached for relieving a shock load applied to the knees of a driver upon a collision of an automotive vehicle. The instrument panel structure is provided with a reinforcement or retainer for rigidly reinforcing the support member so as to prevent upward deformation of the support member during a collision.

Growing community of inventors

Hiroshima, Japan

Matsuhiro Tanaka