Instrument panel brace
AssigneeFord Global Technologies, LLC
InventorsSudipta K. Misra, Mike J. Leigh, Joseph B. Hurley
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An instrument panel brace for aiding in the alignment of the steering column of a vehicle during a collision. The brace is attached to the instrument panel beam which in turn is attached to the steering column. Further, the instrument panel brace lies adjacent the cowl rather than being rigidly attached to either the cowl or dash panel. During a collision, the brace resists rotation of the steering column caused when the driver's knees push up against the instrument panel beam while resisting transferring load from the engine to the steering column.
Claims15
An instrument panel brace for a vehicle, with said vehicle having a cowl and an instrument panel beam both substantially extending the width of said vehicle, a steering column attached to said instrument panel beam, and an engine, with said instrument panel brace resisting steering column rotation and direct engine loading of said instrument panel beam during a collision of the vehicle, with said instrument panel brace comprising:
- an upper portion for positioning said brace adjacent a portion of said cowl of said vehicle without being attached to said cowl;
- a lower portion for attaching said brace to a portion of said instrument panel beam of said vehicle;
- and
- a mid portion disposed between said upper and lower portions.
An instrument panel structural arrangement for a vehicle comprising:
- a cowl substantially extending the width of said vehicle;
- an instrument panel brace having an upper portion lying adjacent said cowl without being attached to said cowl, a lower portion, and a mid portion disposed therebetween;
- an instrument panel beam substantially extending the width of said vehicle and being attached to said lower portion of said instrument panel brace;
- and,
- a steering column attached to said instrument panel beam.
A method of resisting rotation of a steering column of a vehicle during a collision while resisting engine loading from being transmitted to said steering column, with said vehicle having a cowl and an instrument panel beam both substantially extending the width of said vehicle, with said steering column being attached to said instrument panel beam, with said method comprising the steps of:
- positioning an upper portion of an instrument panel brace adjacent said cowl of said vehicle without attaching said brace to said cowl;
- fastening a lower portion of said instrument panel brace to said instrument panel beam;
- and
- attaching said instrument panel beam to said steering column.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.