Structure of instrument panel portion for use in vehicles

Abstract

A base member is laid in a space portion, which is defined by an instrument panel, in a vehicle width direction over generally an entire width of the vehicle, and a plurality of ducts is integrally formed with the base member. Furthermore, a meter placing portion on which a meter is placed and an air bag placing portion on which an air bag is placed are formed on the base member, and a harness placing portion on which a flat harness is placed is also formed on the base member in the vehicle width direction. Accordingly, the base member with which the plurality of ducts are integrally formed is a separate body from the instrument panel. Even in the case where the size of the instrument panel is changed, the base member is not required to correspond to the instrument panel and, therefore, the ducts can be commonly used. Moreover, since the base member is formed with ducts each having a closed structure in section, it has a predetermined physical strength. Since this base member is laid in the vehicle width direction over a generally entire width of the vehicle, that portion of the vehicle body where the instrument panel is arranged is increased in physical strength owing to the provision of this base member for the sake of a possible side crush or collision of the vehicle.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.