Steering column structure

A steering column structure comprising:

• a rotary connector attached to an end portion of a steering shaft in a surrounding manner;
• a steering column cover configured to house the end portion of the steering shaft;
• and
• a steering lower cover configured to house a central portion of a steering wheel connected with the end portion of the steering shaft, the steering lower cover being attached with a gap defined between the steering lower cover and the steering column cover in an axial direction of the steering shaft,
• the steering column cover comprising a first side wall portion defining the gap, and a first insertion hole disposed in the first side wall portion, the rotary connector being inserted into the first insertion hole,
• the steering lower cover comprising a second side wall portion facing the first side wall portion and defining the gap together with the first side wall portion, and a second insertion hole disposed in the second side wall portion, the rotary connector being inserted into the second insertion hole,
• at least one of the first side wall portion of the steering column cover and the second side wall portion of the steering lower cover comprising a first dam portion disposed in a position above the rotary connector and corresponding to the rotary connector;
• wherein
• the first dam portion extends along a periphery of at least one of the first insertion hole and the second insertion hole,
• the first dam portion is a protrusion portion disposed on one of the first side wall portion and the second side wall portion and protruding toward the other of the first side wall portion and the second side wall portion, and
• the protrusion portion disposed on one of the first side wall portion and the second side wall portion is inserted into the first insertion hole or the second insertion hole of the other of the first side wall portion and the second side wall portion.

A steering column structure comprising:

• a rotary connector attached to an end portion of a steering shaft in a surrounding manner;
• a steering column cover configured to house the end portion of the steering shaft;
• and
• a steering lower cover configured to house a central portion of a steering wheel connected with the end portion of the steering shaft, the steering lower cover being attached with a gap defined between the steering lower cover and the steering column cover in an axial direction of the steering shaft,
• the steering column cover comprising a first side wall portion defining the gap, and a first insertion hole disposed in the first side wall portion, the rotary connector being inserted into the first insertion hole,
• the steering lower cover comprising a second side wall portion facing the first side wall portion and defining the gap together with the first side wall portion, and a second insertion hole disposed in the second side wall portion, the rotary connector being inserted into the second insertion hole,
• at least one of the first side wall portion of the steering column cover and the second side wall portion of the steering lower cover comprising a first dam portion disposed in a position above the rotary connector and corresponding to the rotary connector,
• wherein
• the rotary connector comprises a stationary case and a rotary case rotatably joined to the stationary case, and is arranged so that the rotary case is positioned on a side closer to the steering wheel, and
• the rotary case comprises an upper end surface positioned on an upper side in the axial direction of the steering shaft with respect to the second side wall portion of the steering lower cover.