Abstract: Disclosed a structure for supporting a steering device including a steering shaft 9 adapted to transmit a steering force of a steering wheel to road wheels, relative to a vehicle body through an instrument-panel member 6 extending a lateral direction of a vehicle. The support structure comprises a first bracket 20 fixed to the instrument-panel member 6, a steering column 19 rotatably mounting the steering shaft 9, a second bracket 21, 22 fixed to the steering column 19, and coupling means 23, 24 for providing a coupling between the first bracket 20 and the second bracket 21, 22. The coupling means 23, 24 is designed to allow the second bracket 21, 22 to have an axial relative displacement with respect to the first bracket 20 on the basis of an axial direction of the steering shaft 9 while allowing an upward relative displacement of the second bracket 21, 22 with respect to the first bracket 20 in the course of the axial relative displacement, during a vehicle collision.

Abstract: Disclosed a structure for supporting a steering device including a steering shaft 9 adapted to transmit a steering force of a steering wheel to road wheels, relative to a vehicle body through an instrument-panel member 6 extending a lateral direction of a vehicle. The support structure comprises a first bracket 20 fixed to the instrument-panel member 6, a steering column 19 rotatably mounting the steering shaft 9, a second bracket 21, 22 fixed to the steering column 19, and coupling means 23, 24 for providing a coupling between the first bracket 20 and the second bracket 21, 22. The coupling means 23, 24 is designed to allow the second bracket 21, 22 to have an axial relative displacement with respect to the first bracket 20 on the basis of an axial direction of the steering shaft 9 while allowing an upward relative displacement of the second bracket 21, 22 with respect to the first bracket 20 in the course of the axial relative displacement, during a vehicle collision.

Abstract: In a supporting structure for a brake pedal assembly pivotally mounted for rocking motion on the rear surface of a dash panel of an automobile through a first bracket, a front portion of the first bracket is fixed to the dash panel and the rear end thereof is coupled to a second bracket, fastened to a cowl member in a cabin, so as to be disengageable by the application of a load of automobile collision above a predetermined level. The brake pedal assembly is pivotally mounted for rocking motion to the first bracket. At the lower end of the second bracket, a pedal lever stop is provided which abuts against the rear end of the brake pedal assembly when the first and second brackets are disengaged in an automobile collision so that the brake pedal assembly moves backward. The brake pedal assembly is restrained by abutment on the pedal lever stop against backward movement.

Abstract: In a supporting structure for a brake pedal assembly pivotally mounted for rocking motion on the rear surface of a dash panel of an automobile through a first bracket, a front portion of the first bracket is fixed to the dash panel and a rear-end upper portion thereof is coupled to a second bracket fastened to an instrument panel member as a car body member in a cabin so as to be disengageable by the application of a load of automobile collision above a predetermined level. The brake pedal assembly is pivotally mounted for rocking motion to the first bracket. On the underside of the second bracket, an inclined guide surface is provided which abuts against the upper end of the brake pedal assembly when the coupling between the first and second brackets is disengaged in an automobile collision so that the first bracket moves backward together with the brake pedal assembly. The inclined guide surface guides the brake pedal assembly in its downward movement through its abutment against the inclined guide surface.

Abstract: An automatic transmission shift device has a shift lever extending from a dashboard toward and near a transverse extremity of a steering wheel and movable at least in a vertical direction to shift an automatic transmission into any desired range. The shift lever is operated or pushed up and down in the vertical direction with a vertical operational power between approximately 10 and 15% of an average maximum muscular kinetic power actively available in the vertical direction of arms of average drivers.

Abstract: An operation apparatus for a vehicle automatic transmission mechanism includes an actuator for driving a hydraulic valve for switching a travel range of an automatic transmission mechanism, a control unit for controlling the actuator, and a transmission operation unit for outputting a range switching instruction to the control unit. In the preferred embodiment, the transmission operation unit includes a stroke contact type operation switch suitably mounted on a side surface of a steering column so that at least forward vehicle travel ranges can be switched by only a stretched finger of the hand of a vehicle driver who continues to maintain his grip on the steering wheel with the same hand. The operation switch can include either a rotary switch or slide switch mounted on the steering column.