Integrated center stack electronic module retention system

• US 20050050927A1
• Filed: 06/25/2004
• Published: 03/10/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 06/28/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Collins & Aikman Holdings SA de CV
• Original Assignee: Collins & Aikman Holdings SA de CV
• Inventors: Kapteyn, Kelvin L.
• Granted Patent: US 7,370,500 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 70/237
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/00 Instruments specially adapted for vehicles; Arrangement of instruments in or on vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/10 Input arrangements, i.e. from user to vehicle, associated with vehicle functions or specially adapted therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/50 Instruments characterised by their means of attachment to or integration in the vehicle B60K35/231 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/60 Instruments characterised by their location or relative disposition in or on vehicles arrangements of lighting devices on dashboards B60Q3/10
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 25/14 Dashboards as superstructure sub-units other dashboard aspects B60K
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/40 Portable
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/5009 For portable articles
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/5889 For automotive vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/5982 Accessories
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/8973 Mounting aids, guides and assistors

Abstract

A vehicle interior trim panel comprising a mounting opening with opposing walls for slidably engaging a component into fixed relationship with the mounting opening wherein molded features in the walls of the mounting opening engage the component to align and fixedly retain the component in the mounting opening. In addition, a locking system for preventing theft is disclosed.

Claims

1. A vehicle instrument panel assembly comprising:

a structural carrier including a center stack for housing one or more components wherein said center stack contains opposing walls including mounting openings for slidably engaging said one or more components into fixed relationship with said mounting openings,

wherein molded features in the walls of said mounting openings engage said one or more components to align and fixedly retain said one or more components in the mounting openings, and

including a lock cylinder assembly for retention of said one or more components in said mounting openings.

2. The vehicle instrument panel assembly of claim 1, wherein said center stack molded features comprise fore-aft tongue-like molded projections in the walls of said center stack to align and fixedly retain said one or more components within said mounting opening.

3. The vehicle instrument panel assembly of claim 1, wherein said center stack molded features comprise elongated snap-tabs molded into the walls of said center stack to engage with one of matching depressions and holes in said one or more components to align and fixedly retain said one or more components in said mounting opening.

4. The vehicle instrument panel assembly of claim 1, wherein the lock cylinder assembly comprises a lock cylinder connected to a locking bar wherein upon insertion of a key into the lock cylinder and rotation of the key in the cylinder causes the locking bar to move from a first unengaged position to a second position wherein the locking bar engages said one or more components in said mounting opening.

5. The vehicle instrument panel assembly of claim 4, wherein said one or more components include a depression which is engaged by said locking bar upon movement to said second position.

6. The vehicle instrument panel assembly of claim 5, wherein said depression is a hole or slot.

7. The vehicle instruments panel assembly of claim 1, wherein the lock cylinder assembly comprises a lock cylinder connected to a bar which is pivotally connected to a slider by a linkage bar, wherein upon insertion of a key into said lock cylinder and rotation of the key in the cylinder causes the slider to move from a first unengaged position to a second position wherein said slider engages said one or more components in said mounting opening.

8. The vehicle instrument panel assembly of claim 7, wherein said one or more components include a depression which is engaged by said slider upon moving to said second position.

9. The vehicle instrument panel assembly of claim 1 wherein said one or more components comprises one or more of a radio module, an HVAC control module, a compact disc player, a cassette tape deck, a telematic device, a portable computer, and a DVD player.

10. A vehicle instrument panel center stack for housing one or more components comprising a plurality of mounting openings for slidably engaging said one or more components into fixed relationship within said mounting opening;

wherein molded features in the walls of said mounting openings engage said one or more components to align said components in said mounting openings,

the center stack further comprising a lock cylinder assembly for retention of said one or more components in said mounting opening.

11. The vehicle instrument panel center stack of claim 10, wherein said center stack molded features comprise fore-aft tongue-like molded projections in the walls of said center stack to fixedly engage and locate said one or more components within said mounting opening.

12. The vehicle instrument panel center stack of claim 10, wherein said center stack molded features comprise elongated snap-tabs molded into the walls of said center stack to fixedly engage with one of matching depressions and holes in said one or more components to retain said component in said mounting opening.

13. A vehicle interior trim panel comprising a mounting opening with opposing walls for slidably engaging a component into fixed relationship with said mounting opening wherein molded features in said walls of said mounting opening engages said component to align said component in said mounting opening, the trim panel further comprising a lock cylinder assembly for secure retention of said component in said mounting opening.

14. The vehicle interior trim panel of claim 13, wherein said mounting opening molded features comprise fore-aft tongue-like molded projections in the walls of said mounting opening to align and fixedly retain said component within said mounting opening.

15. The vehicle interior trim panel of claim 13, wherein said mounting opening molded features comprise elongated snap-tabs molded into the walls of said mounting opening to align and engage with matching depressions in said component to retain said component in said mounting opening.