Instrument panel

• US 5,857,726 A
• Filed: 03/14/1997
• Issued: 01/12/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Mitsubishi Jidosha Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
• Original Assignee: Mitsubishi Jidosha Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
• Inventors: Yokoyama, Tetsuo, Fujino, Mitsuhisa, Yamazaki, Yasunobu
• Primary Examiner(s): Pedder, Dennis H.
• Application Number:
  US08/815,000
• Time in Patent Office: 669 Days
• Field of Search: 296/70, 180/90
• US Class Current: 296/70
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/652 for left- or right-hand drive
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 37/00 Dashboards as road-vehicle superstructure sub-units B62D25/14

Abstract

An instrument panel is formed symmertrically with respect to a center of the panel. The instrument panel comprises a pair of recesses defined by left and right reinforcing/partition walls, and a pair of lower openings located under the recesses. A meter unit is mounted in the recess to oppose the driver seat. An under cover is mounted in the lower opening which is to oppose the driver seat. The under cover is formed with a hole through which a steering shaft is adapted to be passed. A tray is mounted in the recess which is to oppose the front passenger seat. A glove box is mounted in the lower opening which is to oppose the front passenger seat. The walls for defining the recesses of the instrument panel have a common fixing section usable for mounting any of the meter unit and the tray.

Claims

1. An instrument panel for use in a vehicle, having a pair of openings which are symmetrical with respect to a center of the panel, one of which is to oppose the driver seat of the vehicle and to allow passage of a steering shaft, and the other of which is to oppose the front passenger seat of the vehicle, said instrument panel comprising:

an instrument panel body made of synthetic resin and extending in a cross direction of the vehicle;

left and right reinforcing/partition walls provided symmetrically with respect to a center of said instrument panel body, spaced apart in the lengthwise direction of the instrument panel, extending in a longitudinal direction of the vehicle, and partitioning said openings, each into an upper section and a lower section;

a first pair of side walls rising from opposing sides of the left reinforcing/partition wall and connected to a peripheral edge of said upper section and defining in cooperation with the left reinforcing/partition wall a recess for accommodating a first component which opposes the driver seat;

a second pair of side walls rising from opposing sides of the right reinforcing/partition wall and connected to a peripheral edge of said upper section and defining in cooperation with the right reinforcing/partition wall a recess for accommodating a second component which opposes the front passenger seat; and

a steering shaft guiding section located in the lower sections of said opening which is to oppose the driver seat, for allowing passage of the steering shaft.

2. An instrument panel according to claim 1, further comprising rear walls connected to said reinforcing/partition walls and said side walls, wherein at least one of said reinforcing/partition walls and said rear walls include a common fixing means capable of fixing either of said first and second components, said first component and said second component each having a mounting section to be coupled to said common fixing means at a position corresponding to said common fixing means.

3. An instrument panel according to claim 1, wherein said reinforcing/partition walls and said side walls are formed integrally with said instrument panel body.

4. An instrument panel according to claim 1, wherein a glove box having an openable lid is fitted in the lower section of said opening which is to oppose to the front passenger seat, and a reinforcing member having a lock means for holding said lid in closed state is interposed between said upper section and said lower section of said opening.

5. An instrument panel according to claim 1, wherein a meter unit constituting one of said first component is mounted in said recess which is in opposing relation to the driver seat.

6. An instrument panel according to claim 2, wherein said reinforcing/partition walls, said rear walls and said side walls are formed integrally with said instrument panel body.

7. An instrument panel according to claim 1, further comprising a pair of right and left vertical walls for defining the two sides of each of said lower sections of said openings, and an under cover mounted in the lower section of said opening which is to oppose the driver seat, for connecting the vertical walls, said under cover being formed with a hole constituting said steering shaft guiding section.

8. An instrument panel according to claim 1, further comprising a pair of right and left vertical walls for defining the two sides of each of said lower sections of said openings, wherein the lower section of said opening which is to oppose the front passenger seat includes a reinforcing member connected to said vertical walls.