# US 4,399,888 A · Support group for mounting instrument and electrical components in a motor vehicle > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 4,399,888 A - Document ID: US4399888A - Status: Granted - Kind: A - Application number: 06/251,110 - Filed: 1981-04-06 - Granted: 1983-08-23 - Earliest claimed: 1980-04-08 - Assignees: Fiat Auto S.p.A. - Inventors: Ugo Contato - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US4399888A ## CPC - B60S 1/586: {including defroster or demisting means} - B60K 35/50: Instruments characterised by their means of attachment to or integration in the vehicle (B60K35/231 takes precedence) - B60K 35/60: Instruments characterised by their location or relative disposition in or on vehicles (arrangements of lighting devices on dashboards B60Q3/10) - B60K 37/10: Arrangements for attaching the dashboard to the vehicle - B60S: SERVICING, CLEANING, REPAIRING, SUPPORTING, LIFTING, OR MANOEUVRING OF VEHICLES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR - B60K: ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PROPULSION UNITS OR OF TRANSMISSIONS IN VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PLURAL DIVERSE PRIME-MOVERS IN VEHICLES; AUXILIARY DRIVES FOR VEHICLES; INSTRUMENTATION OR DASHBOARDS FOR VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENTS IN CONNECTION WITH COOLING, AIR INTAKE, GAS EXHAUST OR FUEL SUPPLY OF PROPULSION UNITS IN VEHICLES ## Abstract A motor vehicle support group for mounting an instrument and control device carrier assembly, accessory elements, and an electric interconnection group for the instruments, control devices and accessory elements, in the passenger compartment of the motor vehicle, the support group comprising a first support part and a second support part adapted to be adjustably secured together, the first support part being mounted on the steering column of the motor vehicle and the second support part being mounted on the dashboard of the vehicle, the support parts and the components mounted thereon being adapted to be preassembled so that the assembly may be tested prior to installation in the motor vehicle. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A motor vehicle support group for mounting an instrument and control device carrier assembly, accessory elements, and an electric interconnection group for the control devices, instruments and accessory elements, in the passenger compartment of the motor vehicle, said support group comprising at least two support parts, means adjustably interconnecting the two support parts, a first of said two parts being adapted to be mounted on the steering column of the motor vehicle, and the second of said two parts being adapted to be secured to a body part of the dashboard of the motor vehicle. ### Claim 2 A motor vehicle support group as claimed in clam 1, including an electric interconnection group comprising a board for a printed circuit, mounted on said second part. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) A motor vehicle support group as claimed in claim 2 wherein said second part is formed from a stamped plate, said plate being configured to mount said electric interconnection group. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) A motor vehicle support group as claimed in claim 1 wherein said first support part is configured to provide an attachment member for engaging the steering column of the motor vehicle. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The motor vehicle support group as claimed in claim 4 wherein said attachment member comprises a cylindrical tube adapted to be fitted around the steering column of the motor vehicle. ### Claim 6 (depends on 4) The motor vehicle support group claimed in claim 4 wherein said attachment member is of semicylindrical configuration and is adapted to be clamped to the steering column of the motor vehicle, and a clamp member for clamping the semicylindrical attachment member to the steering column of the motor vehicle. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5, 6) The motor vehicle support group as claimed in claim 5 or 6 wherein the means adjustably interconnecting said first and second support parts comprises first connection projections mounted on one end of said attachment member, and wherein said attachment member is provided at its opposite end with second connection projections for supporting control devices for the motor vehicle. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) A motor vehicle support group as claimed in claim 7 characterized in that the said first support part is die cast and is configured to mount an ignition switch for the motor vehicle and a steering wheel locking device. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) A motor vehicle support group as claimed in claim 1 wherein the means adjustably interconnecting the two support parts comprises a first set of connection projections on said first support part and a set of mating projections on said second support part, said sets of connection projections being adapted to be secured together by screws, one of said sets of projections having elongated slots therein for receiving the screws, whereby the support parts may be adjusted relative to each other. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The motor vehicle support group as claimed in claim 1 including an instrument and control device carrier assembly and an electrical interconnection group mounted on said second part, and accessory elements mounted on said first part. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The motor vehicle support group as claimed in claim 10 wherein said second support part is mounted on a body bracket affixed to the dashboard of the motor vehicle.