Steering column support system
AssigneeChrysler Corporation
InventorsJoseph P. Holland, John Schambre, Michael D. Tesauro, Chris R. Connolly, Liliana Neag, Raymond C. Deyonker
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A steering column support structure for an automotive vehicle comprising a plastic instrument panel including duct structure having rear reinforcing ribs and front reinforcing ribs. Upper metal struts are secured to the rear reinforcing ribs. Lower metal struts are secured to the rear reinforcing ribs. The rear ends of the upper and lower struts are secured together. The front ends of the upper and lower struts are rigidly secured to vehicle support structure. The lower struts are secured to the steering column.
Claims10
A steering column support system for an automotive vehicle comprising
- a plastic instrument panel having plastic reinforcing ribs,
- metal struts,
- means securing said struts to said instrument panel,
- means for securing said struts to rigid vehicle support structure, and
- means for securing said struts to a steering column.
A steering column support structure for an automotive vehicle comprising
- a plastic instrument panel having a front and a rear and formed with integral laterally spaced reinforcing ribs on the front and integral, laterally spaced reinforcing ribs on the rear,
- elongated, laterally spaced, metal first and second upper struts each having front and rear ends,
- elongated, laterally spaced, metal first and second lower struts each having front and rear ends,
- means securing the rear ends of the first upper and lower struts together,
- means securing the rear ends of the second upper and lower struts together,
- means securing said upper struts to selected ribs on the rear of said instrument panel,
- means securing said lower struts to selected ribs on the front of said instrument panel,
- means for securing the front ends of the first and second upper and lower struts to rigid vehicle support structure, and
- means for securing said lower struts to a steering column.
A steering column support structure for an automotive vehicle comprising
- a plastic instrument panel including duct structure having a front and a rear,
- said instrument panel duct structure having on the rear thereof a first pair of integral laterally spaced rear reinforcing ribs and a second pair of integral laterally spaced rear reinforcing ribs laterally spaced from the first pair,
- each pair of rear reinforcing ribs defining a channel therebetween,
- said instrument panel duct structure having a plurality of integral laterally spaced front reinforcing ribs on the front thereof,
- elongated, laterally spaced, metal first and second upper struts having front and rear ends and disposed in said respective channels,
- means securing the first and second upper struts to the ribs of the respective first and second pair of reinforcing ribs,
- elongated, laterally spaced, metal first and second lower struts having front and rear ends,
- means securing said lower struts to selected front reinforcing ribs on said instrument panel,
- means securing the rear ends of the first upper and lower struts together,
- means securing the rear ends of the second upper and lower struts together,
- means for securing the front ends of the upper and lower struts to rigid vehicle support structure, and
- means for securing said lower struts to a steering column.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.