GLOVE BOX ASSEMBLY EXHIBITING KNEE IMPACT FORCE TRANSFERRING STRUCTURE WITH RESPECT TO AN ASSOCIATED VEHICLE DASH/INSTRUMENT PANEL AND REINFORCING BAR AND INCLUDING REMOVABLE STRENGTHENING RIBS FOR TUNING OF CRASH SAFETY CHARACTERISTICS
First Claim
1. A glove box assembly mounted within a vehicle instrument panel and, upon experiencing a collision event, deforming a reinforcing bar associated with the instrument panel following initial forward travel of the glove box to engage the reinforcement bar, said assembly comprising:
- a three-dimensional and interiorly open receptacle fixedly mounted within the instrument panel, said receptacle including at least one structural projection extending in a direction towards the reinforcing bar;
at least one rib engageable with an exterior surface of said receptacle in proximity to said structural projection and adjusting a deformation characteristic associated with said structural projection; and
a three-dimensional and volume holding bin supported within said fixed receptacle and to which is secured a door for selectively pivoting said bin both into and from within said fixed receptacle.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A glove box assembly incorporated into a vehicle instrument panel, along which extends a reinforcing bar. A three-dimensional and interiorly open receptacle is fixedly mounted within the instrument panel. The receptacle includes integrally formed structural projections extending from a rear side thereof and in a direction towards the reinforcing bar. A plurality of ribs are attached to the receptacle proximate the projections and in order to adjust a deformation characteristic of the receptacle. A bin secures within said glove box receptacle and includes a door exposed to adjoining surfaces of the instrument panel. Upon experiencing a collision event resulting in a passenger'"'"'s knees impacting the door, inward deformation of the receptacle transfers forces both to the instrument panel and through deforming the reinforcing bar.
-
Citations
20 Claims
-
1. A glove box assembly mounted within a vehicle instrument panel and, upon experiencing a collision event, deforming a reinforcing bar associated with the instrument panel following initial forward travel of the glove box to engage the reinforcement bar, said assembly comprising:
-
a three-dimensional and interiorly open receptacle fixedly mounted within the instrument panel, said receptacle including at least one structural projection extending in a direction towards the reinforcing bar;
at least one rib engageable with an exterior surface of said receptacle in proximity to said structural projection and adjusting a deformation characteristic associated with said structural projection; and
a three-dimensional and volume holding bin supported within said fixed receptacle and to which is secured a door for selectively pivoting said bin both into and from within said fixed receptacle. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 15, 19)
-
-
14. A glove box assembly incorporated into a vehicle instrument panel along which extends a reinforcing bar, said assembly comprising:
-
a three-dimensional and interiorly open receptacle fixedly mounted within the instrument panel, said receptacle including a plurality of individual structural projections arranged in spaced apart and opposing fashion relative to the reinforcing bar, a plurality of ribs being secured upon each of said structural portions and extending to locations associated with an inner rim of said receptacle; and
a bin secured within said receptacle and including a door exposed to adjoining surfaces of the instrument panel;
upon experiencing a collision event resulting in a passenger'"'"'s knees impacting the door, inward deformation of said receptacle transferring forces to the instrument panel and deforming, the reinforcing bar. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18)
-
-
20. A glove box assembly incorporated into a vehicle instrument panel along which extends a reinforcing bar, said assembly comprising:
-
a three-dimensional and interiorly open receptacle fixedly mounted within the instrument panel, said receptacle including a plurality of individual structural projections arranged in spaced apart and opposing fashion relative to the reinforcing bar;
a plurality of ribs being secured upon each of said structural portions and extending to locations associated with a rim of said receptacle, each of said ribs further comprising a variable length and thickness with both forward and rearward edge configurations;
a plurality of channels defined in extending fashion along at least one top interconnection surface of each of said structural portions and for resistively engaging said configured ribs to provide selected and varying degrees of reinforcing and collapse resistant support to said structural portions; and
a bin secured within said receptacle and including a door exposed to adjoining surfaces of the instrument panel;
upon experiencing a collision event resulting in a passenger'"'"'s knees impacting the door, a controlled inward deformation of said receptacle is regulated by the positioning and configuration of said ribs, transferring forces to the instrument panel and deforming the reinforcing bar.
-
Specification