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US 7,604,278 B2Granted
Supports for vehicle instrument panels
AssigneeToyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
InventorBenjamin Warren Penner
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An instrument panel for a vehicle having an instrument panel support configured to be supportive in the vertical direction. The instrument panel support is inserted into a receptacle contained on the underside of the instrument panel such that the receptacle holds the support part in the vertical and lateral directions. The instrument panel support is then affixed to the instrument panel by a fastener. Loads applied to the instrument panel are transferred to the instrument panel support which, in turn, transfers the load to an instrument panel reinforcement thereby improving the rigidity of the instrument panel.
Claims18
An instrument panel for a vehicle comprising:
- a top surface;
- an underside positioned opposite the top surface of the instrument panel, the underside having at least one receptacle, wherein the at least one receptacle is defined by at least one rib extending from the underside of the of the instrument panel and comprises a boss and pin;
- and
- at least one instrument panel support for supporting the instrument panel in the vertical direction, wherein the at least one instrument panel support comprises an upper contact surface for contacting the underside of the instrument panel, a lower contact surface for contacting an instrument panel reinforcement, at least one sidewall connecting the upper contact surface with the lower contact surface and an embossment for receiving the boss and the pin;
- wherein the at least one instrument panel support is slidably engaged with the at least one receptacle on the underside of the instrument panel such that the upper contact surface of the at least one instrument panel support is in direct contact with the underside of the instrument panel.
2 more elements
An instrument panel module for a vehicle comprising:
- an instrument panel comprising:
- a top surface;
- an underside positioned opposite the top surface of the instrument panel, the underside having a plurality of receptacles, wherein the plurality of receptacles are defined by a vertical support rib and a plurality of lateral support ribs extending from the underside of the of the instrument panel;
- and
- a plurality of instrument panel supports for supporting the instrument panel in vertical and lateral directions, wherein the plurality of instrument panel supports comprise an upper contact surface for contacting the underside of the instrument panel, a lower contact surface for contacting an instrument panel reinforcement and at least one sidewall connecting the upper contact surface with the lower contact surface;
- wherein the plurality of instrument panel supports are slidably engaged with the plurality of receptacles on the underside of the instrument panel such that the upper contact surfaces of the plurality of instrument panel supports are in direct contact with the underside of the instrument panel;
- and
- an instrument panel reinforcement comprising a plurality of support brackets;
- wherein the instrument panel is installed on the instrument panel reinforcement such that the plurality of instrument panel supports is are disposed between the instrument panel and the instrument panel reinforcement and the lower contact surfaces of the plurality of instrument panel supports are resting on a portion of the instrument panel reinforcement.
6 more elements
A method of assembling a vehicle instrument panel module comprising:
- providing a vehicle instrument panel comprising:
- a top surface;
- an underside positioned opposite the top surface of the instrument panel, the underside having a plurality of receptacles, wherein the plurality of receptacles are defined by a vertical support rib and a plurality of lateral support ribs extending from the underside of the of the instrument panel;
- and
- providing a plurality of instrument panel supports for supporting the instrument panel in vertical and lateral directions, wherein the plurality of instrument panel supports comprise an upper contact surface for contacting the underside of the instrument panel, a lower contact surface for contacting an instrument panel reinforcement and at least one sidewall connecting the upper contact surface with the lower contact surface;
- providing an instrument panel reinforcement comprising a plurality of support brackets;
- inserting the plurality of instrument panel supports into the plurality of receptacles on the underside of the instrument panel such that the upper contact surface of the plurality of instrument panel supports contacts the underside of the instrument panel;
- positioning the instrument panel on the instrument panel reinforcement such that the instrument panel supports are disposed between the instrument panel and the instrument panel reinforcement and the lower contact surfaces of the instrument panel supports rests on at least a portion of the instrument panel reinforcement.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.