Instrument panel assembly
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An instrument panel assembly for an automotive vehicle, comprising:
- a first molded plastic panel, the first plastic panel formed of a first plastic material; and
a second molded plastic panel joined to the first panel, the second plastic panel formed of a second plastic material different from the first plastic material wherein;
i. the first molded plastic panel, the second molded plastic panel or both extend cross-vehicle;
ii. at least one of the first plastic material and the second plastic is formed of a polyolefin material;
iii. at least one of the first or second panels assists in defining an air duct for a vehicle cabin heating and cooling system; and
iv. the first panel is joined to the second panel with one or more mechanical joints; and
wherein the first panel includes a first flange that extends along a length and side of the first panel, the second panel includes a first flange that extends along a length and side of the second panel, and the first panel and second panel are joined to each other at the first flange of the first panel and the first flange of second panel and wherein the first flange of first panel opposes and is coextensive with the first flange of the second panel and wherein the first flange of the first panel and the first flange of the second panel cooperatively extend away from the air duct.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An improved seating system that includes a seat back assembly (10) that is fabricated to include a seat back (12) with a first panel portion (14) that is optionally secured to a second panel portion (16) with one or more fasteners such as welds, adhesives, tack-offs, steel brackets or otherwise. The first panel portion (14), the second panel portion (16) or both preferably are plastic. The seat back assembly (10) may include one or more integrated reinforcement structures (20).
113 Citations
20 Claims
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1. An instrument panel assembly for an automotive vehicle, comprising:
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a first molded plastic panel, the first plastic panel formed of a first plastic material; and a second molded plastic panel joined to the first panel, the second plastic panel formed of a second plastic material different from the first plastic material wherein; i. the first molded plastic panel, the second molded plastic panel or both extend cross-vehicle; ii. at least one of the first plastic material and the second plastic is formed of a polyolefin material; iii. at least one of the first or second panels assists in defining an air duct for a vehicle cabin heating and cooling system; and iv. the first panel is joined to the second panel with one or more mechanical joints; and wherein the first panel includes a first flange that extends along a length and side of the first panel, the second panel includes a first flange that extends along a length and side of the second panel, and the first panel and second panel are joined to each other at the first flange of the first panel and the first flange of second panel and wherein the first flange of first panel opposes and is coextensive with the first flange of the second panel and wherein the first flange of the first panel and the first flange of the second panel cooperatively extend away from the air duct. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. An instrument panel assembly for an automotive vehicle, comprising:
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a first molded plastic panel, the first plastic panel formed of a first plastic material; and a second molded plastic panel joined to the first panel, the second plastic panel formed of a second plastic material different from the first plastic material wherein; i. the first molded plastic panel, the second molded plastic panel or both extend cross-vehicle; ii. the first material or the second material includes polypropylene and the first material or the second material includes pc/abs; and iii. the first panel is joined to the second panel with one or more mechanical joints that form a mechanical interlock; wherein one or both of the first panel and the second panel include an opening for receiving an instrument or a gauge; and wherein the first panel includes a first flange that extends along a length and side of the first panel, the second panel includes a first flange that extends along a length and side of the second panel, and the first panel and second panel are joined to each other at the first flange of the first panel and the first flange of second panel and wherein the first flange of the first panel opposes and is coextensive with the first flange of the second panel and wherein the first flange of the first panel and the first flange of the second panel cooperatively extend away from the air duct. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. An instrument panel assembly for an automotive vehicle, comprising:
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a first molded plastic panel, the first plastic panel formed of a first plastic material; and a second molded plastic panel joined to the first panel, the second plastic panel formed of a second plastic material different from the first plastic material wherein; i. the first molded plastic panel, the second molded plastic panel or both extend cross-vehicle; ii. the first material or the second material consists essentially of polypropylene and the first material or the second material consists essentially of pc/abs; iii. at least one of the first or second panels assists in defining an air duct for a vehicle cabin heating and cooling system; and iv. the first panel is joined to the second panel with one or more mechanical joints that form a mechanical interlock; wherein the first panel and second panel are separate from a show surface of the vehicle; wherein one or both of the first panel and the second panel include at least one opening for receiving an instrument or a gauge; and wherein the first panel and the second panel extend substantially linearly in a cross-vehicle direction and wherein; i. the one or more mechanical joints include one or more mechanical interlocks and the mechanical interlocks include a protrusion received in a channel; ii. at least one of the panels provides a vent that is configured to open into a passenger compartment of the vehicle; and iii. the panels are joined to each other at flanges of the first panel or the second panel, the flanges extending along sides of the first panel or second panel iv. the flanges of first panel oppose and are coextensive with the flanges of the second panel and wherein the flanges of the first panel and the flanges of the second panel cooperatively extend away from the air duct. - View Dependent Claims (20)
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Specification