Automobile instrument panel assembly
AssigneeVisteon Global Technologies, Inc.
InventorBritta Straesser, Jr.
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The present invention provides an apparatus and method of assembly for securely attaching an instrument panel to an automobile. In one embodiment of the invention, a housing containing electronic components for the instrument panel is attached to the frame structure of an automobile. The bezel panel containing the control and display areas is then attached to the housing. The cover panel is then attached to the bezel panel and the housing by fasteners extending through the bezel panel.
Claims20
An automobile instrument panel assembly comprising:
- a frame structure of an automobile;
- a housing, containing electronic components, said housing being attached to said frame structure;
- a bezel panel containing a display board, said bezel panel being attached to said housing;
- and
- a cover panel attached to said bezel panel and said housing via fastening means on said bezel panel,
- wherein said housing, said bezel panel and said cover panel are interconnected and comprise an instrument panel unit, said unit being attached to said frame.
An instrument panel assembly comprising:
- a housing;
- a cover panel joined to said housing via a bezel panel, said bezel panel having a first side and a second side, said bezel panel including bilateral fastening means for fastening said cover panel to one of said first side and said second side, and said other side of said bezel to said housing.
An automobile instrument panel assembly comprising;
- a bezel panel including bilateral fastening means having a first end and a second end;
- a housing, securely fastened to an automobile, said housing having means for connecting said housing to one of said first end and said second end of said bilateral fastening means;
- a cover panel including engaging means for connecting said cover panel to said other end of said bilateral fastening means;
- wherein engagement of said bilateral fastening means to said housing and said cover panel allows for lateral movement of said housing, bezel panel, and cover panel relative to each other.
A method for assembling an automobile instrument panel comprising:
- providing a housing for containing electronic instrumentation;
- attaching a cover panel to said housing via a bezel panel, said bezel having a first side and a second side, said bezel panel including bilateral fastening means for fastening said cover panel to one of said first side and said second side, and the other side of said panel to said bezel housing.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.