Abstract:
A display unit attachment structure that attaches a display unit to an instrument panel of an automobile includes a pair of brackets projecting toward a compartment from the instrument panel, each of the brackets having a guide groove. An instrument panel-side connector is fixed with respect to a surface of the instrument panel between the brackets. The display unit has a main body including two side walls, and guide pins project from each of the two side walls. A display unit-side connector is fixed with respect to a back surface of the main body. The display unit is attached to the brackets by sliding the guide pins in the guide grooves, whereby the at least one second connector is automatically connected with the first connector.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of Invention 
     The present invention relates to an attachment structure for a display unit, such as a structure for fixing a center display unit (hereinafter referred to as “CDU”) or the like to an instrument panel while positioning the CDU and, at the same time, connecting connectors that are attached to the CDU with connectors that are provided inside the instrument panel. 
     2. Description of Related Art 
     Conventionally, as shown in FIG. 7, a center display unit (abbreviated as “CDU”) is provided as a module, in which manipulation devices, indicators, and/or the like of audio equipment, an air conditioner, and/or the like are provided. The CDU is fixed to an instrument panel I of an automobile at a central portion  1  that is located between the driver&#39;s seat and the front passenger seat. 
     An exemplary procedure of attaching the above-described CDU to the automobile body is as follows. As shown in FIG. 8, connectors  5  that are connected to ends of a wire harness W/H that is provided inside the instrument panel I are manually engaged with connectors (not shown) that are provided on the back surface of a main body  6  of a CDU  2  through an opening  4  of the instrument panel I provided in the central portion  1 . Then, the main body  6  of the CDU  2  is attached to the instrument panel I so as to be housed in the opening  4 , and is fixed to the instrument panel I by screwing bolts B into fastener holes  7   a  of fixing portions  7  of the instrument panel I and fastener holes  3   a  of fixing portions  3  of the CDU  2 . 
     In the above-described procedure, when the CDU  2  is to be electrically connected to the body-side wire harness W/H, the work of fitting the connectors  5  is performed manually. This results in problems, such as that the number of operation steps is increased and the efficiency of work is low. 
     One method for solving the above-described problems to fix the connectors  5  at a prescribed position in advance and to connect the CDU-side connectors with the connectors  5  at the same time that the CDU  2  is fixed to the instrument panel I. 
     However, to make a decorative plate  8  of the CDU  2  flush with a decorative surface on the instrument panel I side, the fixing portions  3  of the CDU  2  and the fixing portions  7  of the instrument panel I are provided on the front side. On the other hand, the position where the connectors of the CDU  2  are connected with the connectors  5  inside the instrument panel I is usually located inside the instrument panel I, distant from the front side. Since the connector fitting position is distant from the position where the CDU  2  is fixed to the instrument panel I, it is very difficult to fix the CDU  2  to the instrument panel I while positioning the CDU  2  close enough to the instrument panel I to be able to manually connect the wire harness-side and CDU-side connectors. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems, and an object of the invention is therefore to make it possible to fix a display unit to an instrument panel in such a manner that the display unit is positioned with respect to the instrument panel within dimensional allowances for the connector fitting and to automatically connect CDU-side connectors with instrument panel-side connectors at the same time that the CDU is fixed to the instrument panel. 
     To attain the above-described objects, the invention provides a display unit attachment structure, such as a center display unit attachment structure, that attaches a display unit, such as a center display unit (CDU), to an instrument panel of an automobile. The attachment structure includes a pair of brackets projecting toward a compartment from the instrument panel, inside surfaces formed on the brackets and facing each other, the inside surfaces having guide grooves, and at least one first connector fixed with respect to a surface of the instrument panel between the brackets. The CDU has a main body including two side walls, and guide pins project from the two side walls. At least one second connector is fixed with respect to a back surface of the main body. The CDU is attached to the brackets by sliding the guide pins in the guide grooves, whereby the second connector is automatically connected with the first connector. 
     With the above-described configuration, when the CDU is attached to the instrument panel, the guide pins of the CDU slide while engaging the guide grooves of the brackets. As a result, the CDU is guided to a correct position and then attached to the instrument panel, and the CDU-side connectors can automatically be positioned with respect to and connected with the instrument panel-side connectors. Therefore, the CDU attachment work and connector fitting work can be performed at the same time, and hence the number of operation steps can be reduced. 
     A click projection may project from a surface of the guide grooves between a positioning portion of the guide grooves and an entrance of the guide grooves. This provides to an operator a “click” sensation when the CDU is attached. 
     With this configuration, when the CDU is attached to the brackets by sliding the guide pins in the guide grooves, each guide pin goes over the click projection at the position between the end of the guide groove and the entrance of the guide groove and is placed in the positioning portion at the end of the guide groove. An operator who is attaching the CDU can sense the “click” at or before completion of the attachment. 
     The click projection may also serve to restrict a return of the guide pins after the positioning. 
     A support portion that supports the guide pin in a slidable manner may be provided, and may, for example, project in the horizontal direction from a bottom side of each of the guide grooves. For example, if the brackets are made of sheet metal or the like, the guide grooves may be formed by cutting slots into the sheet metal, and the support portions may be formed by bending down the still-attached cut-out portion until it projects horizontally. An elastic member for vibration absorption may be provided on a top surface of the support portions. 
     That is, where the guide grooves are formed by cutting slots in the surfaces of the respective brackets and bending down the cut-out portions to form support plates, the support plates can support the respective guide pins in a state that the guide pins are inserted into the positioning portions of the guide grooves. Therefore, the CDU is held more stably than if the guide grooves had been formed as simple slots from which the cut-out portions were completely removed. It is also possible, for example, to form the guide grooves as grooves having a concave cross-section, especially if the brackets are solid or have thick walls. 
     The elastic member or a thick coating may be provided on the top surface of each support plate. The guide pin is slid on the top surface of the elastic member and rests on the elastic member even after attachment of the CDU. Therefore, transmission of automobile body vibration to the CDU can be reduced. This can make the CDU even more stable and reduce generation of abnormal sound. 
     Panel-side fixing portions may be provided at projecting ends of the brackets, respectively. CPU-side fixing portions to be fastened to the respective panel-side fixing portions may be provided on the CDU. A position at which the panel-side and CDU-side fixing portions are fastened together may be distant from a position at which the connectors are connected. 
     Therefore, the CDU may be fastened to the brackets at a position close to the decorative surface of the CDU. 
     With the above-described configuration, even if the position at which the CDU and the brackets are fastened together is distant from the connector fitting position, the decorative surface of the CDU can be positioned accurately with respect to the decorative surface of the instrument panel because accurate alignment of the connectors is achieved by the guide pins and the guide grooves. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The foregoing and other features of the present invention are described in or are apparent from the following detailed description, which refers to the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a center display unit (CDU) according to an embodiment of the present invention before attachment; 
     FIG. 2 is an enlarged view showing main parts of a guide groove of each metal bracket; 
     FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line A—A of FIG. 2; 
     FIGS.  4 (A)- 4 (C) show how a guide pin slides in the guide groove; 
     FIG. 5 is a sectional view showing a state in which the guide pin is held by an end portion of the guide groove; 
     FIGS.  6 (A)- 6 (C) are sectional views of a main part showing how the CDU is fixed to the brackets at positions close to a decorative surface; 
     FIG. 7 is a view illustrating a place where a CDU is to be conventionally installed; and 
     FIG. 8 is a perspective view illustrating a conventional attachment structure for a CDU. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     As shown in FIG. 1, to enable attachment of a center display unit (abbreviated as “CDU”)  10 , in which manipulation devices, indicators, and/or the like of audio equipment, an air conditioner, and/or the like are provided, a metal plate  19  from which a pair of (right and left) brackets  20  project is provided in an instrument panel I of an automobile in a central portion that is located between the driver&#39;s seat and the front passenger seat. At the same time that the CDU  10  is attached to the brackets  20 , a CDU-side connector  27  is automatically connected with a corresponding connector  25  that is provided on an end portion  24  of the brackets  20  in advance. 
     The metal plate  19  is provided with a pair of (right and left) brackets  20  that have, for example, generally rectangular pyramid shapes and project from the metal plate  19 . A bottom wall  26  connects the bottom ends of tip portions of the respective brackets  20 . CDU fixing portions  22  are provided at the tips of the respective brackets  20 , and the end portion  24  is connected with base portions of the respective brackets  20 . The connector  25  that is connected to a wire harness (not shown) is fixed on the end portion  24  so as to project through an opening of the end portion  24 . Instead of providing the end portion  24 , an opening may be formed in a portion of a panel plate of the instrument panel I that corresponds to the end portion  24 . The connector  25  maybe fixed to the instrument panel I so as to project through that opening. 
     Surfaces of the right and left brackets  20  that face each other are recessed over a length from the tips (right side in FIG. 2) to positions close to the base portions so as to form guide grooves  21   a . The guide grooves may be formed by cutting slots in the walls of the respective brackets  20  and, if desired, bending down the cut-out portions, or portions thereof, to form support plates  21   d  described below. It is also possible, for example, to form the guide grooves  21   a  as grooves that have a concave cross-section and do not penetrate all the way through the walls of the brackets  20 , especially if the brackets  20  are solid or have thick walls. 
     As shown in FIG. 2, each guide groove  21   a  may have the following structure. A taper portion  21   e  is provided on the tip side (entrance side) of the brackets  20 . An instrument panel-side end portion of the guide grooves  21   a  serves as a positioning portion  21   c . The bottom side of the guide grooves  21   a  is formed with a projection  21   b  provided between the positioning portion  21   c  and the taper portion  21   e , preferably at a position near the positioning portion  21   c.    
     At the positioning portion  21   c , as shown in FIG. 3, the support plate  21   d  may project in the horizontal direction from the bottom periphery of the guide groove  21   a  so as to face away from an inside surface  21 . An elastic member  23  made of polyurethane, rubber, or the like may be provided on the top surface of each support plate  21   d.    
     As shown in FIG. 1, a positioning pin  22   a  projects from the CDU fixing portion  22  that is provided at the tip of each bracket  20 . A fastener hole  22   b  is formed through the CDU fixing portion  22  side by side with the positioning pin  22   a . A portion of the CDU fixing portion  22  that is integral with the inside surface  21  is notched to form an entrance portion  22   c  that is continuous with the taper portion  21   e  of the guide groove  21   a . As shown in FIGS.  6 (A)- 6 (C), a nut N may be attached to the back surface of the CDU fixing portion  22  so as to be integral with the CDU fixing portion and to share the same axis with the fastener hole  22   b.    
     As shown in FIG. 1, the CDU  10  is provided with a main body  12  that houses audio equipment, air-conditioner components and/or the like, and a decorative plate  11  that is provided on the front side of the main body  12  and in which manipulation devices, indicators, and the like may be provided. Guide pins  14  project from the right and left surfaces of the main body  12  at prescribed positions, and a pair of fixing portions  13  are provided on the right and left sides of the main body  12  near the side of the decorative plate  11  so as to project in opposite directions. Each fixing portion  13  is formed with a positioning hole  13   a  and a fastener hole  13   b . The connector  27  to be connected with the corresponding connector  25  is provided on the back side of the main body  12  at a prescribed position. 
     Next, a procedure of attaching the CDU  10  will be described. 
     As indicated by an arrow in FIG. 1, the guide pins  14  of the CDU  10  are inserted into the entrance portions  22   c  of the guide grooves  21   a  of the brackets  20  of the instrument panel I. In this operation, the guide pins  14  can easily be guided into the guide grooves  21   a  because the guide grooves  21   a  have the taper portions  21   e  on the entrance side. 
     As shown in FIGS.  4 (A)- 4 (C), the guide pins  14  that have been inserted into the guide grooves  21   a  go over the projections  21   b  and are positioned and held by the positioning portions  21   c  upon reaching the end portions of the guide grooves  21   a.    
     As shown in FIG. 5, the guide pins  14  thus positioned can be supported stably by the support plates  21   d . Further, the elastic members  23 , each of which is interposed between the guide pin  14  and the support plate  21   d  in this state, can absorb vibration. 
     On the other hand, on the decorative plate  11  side, the fixing portions  13  of the CDU  10  come close to the CDU fixing portions  22  that are provided at the tips of the respective brackets  20  as shown in FIG.  6 (A), and the positioning pins  22   a  are inserted into the positioning holes  13   a  and thereby positioned as shown in FIG.  6 (B). Then, a fastener such as bolt B is inserted into the fastener holes  13   b  and  22   b  that are aligned with each other. The guide pins  14  guided by the guide grooves  21   a  are rotatable in the guide grooves  21   a  and hence the CDU  10  itself can be inclined with the guide pins  14  serving as supporting points. Therefore, the positioning holes  13   a  can easily be positioned with respect to the respective positioning pins  22   a.    
     As described above, on the back side of the CDU  10 , the guide pins  14  are guided to the prescribed positions by the guide grooves  21   a  of the brackets  20 , and the decorative plate  11  of the CDU  10  is positioned with respect to the CDU fixing portions  22  at the tips of the brackets  20  by the positioning pins  22   a . Therefore, the connector  27  provided on the back surface of the main body  12  of the CDU  10  can automatically be positioned with respect to and connected with the corresponding connector  25  on the bracket  20  side. That is, the positioning and interconnection of the connectors occur as a result of sliding the CDU into position, and do not require a separate operation or action by the operator. 
     Since the CDU fixing portions  22  at the tips of the brackets  20  are fixed to the CDU  10  at positions close to the decorative plate  11 , the decorative plate  11  of the CDU  10  can be positioned accurately with respect to the surrounding decorative surface. 
     Instead of the elastic member  23  provided on the top surface of the support plate  21   d  that is provided adjacent to the end of each guide groove  21   a , a thick coating may be formed on the respective support plates  21   d  so that the guide pins  14  are closely fitted into the respective positioning portions  21   c  while scraping off part of the coatings as they slide on the support plates  21   d . The coating may be of polyurethane, rubber or the like. 
     As is apparent from the above description, according to the invention, when the CDU is attached to the instrument panel, the guide pins of the CDU slide in the guide grooves of the brackets. As a result, the CDU-side connector can automatically be positioned with respect to and connected with the corresponding instrument panel-side connector. Therefore, connector fitting work can be performed automatically by merely attaching the CDU and hence the work efficiency can be increased. 
     The click projection projects from the bottom of the guide groove at a position on the front side of the positioning portion that is located at the end of the guide groove of each bracket. This gives a “click” sensation to the operator when the guide pins of the CDU go over the click projections, and the operator can immediately recognize completion of the attachment. The projections also serve to restrict return of the positioned guide pins. 
     Where the guide grooves are formed as slots in walls of the right and left brackets that face each other, each support plate is formed so as to project in the horizontal direction from the bottom periphery of the end portion of each guide groove. In this case, the support plates can support the respective guide pins in a stable manner. The elastic member may be provided on the top surface of each support plate to absorb vibration of the support plates and thereby reduce transmission of vibration to the guide pins. 
     The fixing portions of the CDU are provided near the decorative surface of the CDU, and the CDU fixing portions on the brackets are provided at the projecting ends of the brackets, respectively. Even if the CDU is fixed to the brackets at a position that is distant from the connector fitting position, the decorative surface of the CDU can be accurately positioned with respect to a surrounding decorative surface, that is, within dimensional tolerances for the connectors. 
     While the invention has been described in conjunction with the specific embodiments described above, many equivalent alternatives, modifications and variations may become apparent to those skilled in the art when given this disclosure. Accordingly, the exemplary embodiments of the invention as set forth above are considered to be illustrative and not limiting. Various changes to the described embodiments may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.