Instrument panel subassembly including a glove box door

• US 7,311,328 B2
• Filed: 08/31/2004
• Issued: 12/25/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 09/05/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ABC Group Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Salflex Polymers Limited
• Inventors: Best, Michael James, Ciplijauskas, Rimas, Sadr, Changize, Totonchian, Ali
• Primary Examiner(s): Culbreth, Eric
• Assistant Examiner(s): COKER, ROBERT A
• Application Number:
  US10/929,404
• Publication Number:
  US 20050052011A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,211 Days
• Field of Search: 280/752, 188/371, 188/377, 296/37.12, 296/187.05, 296/70
• US Class Current: 280/752
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/0051 Knees
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/045 associated with the instrument panel or dashboard

Abstract

An instrument panel subassembly for use in an instrument panel assembly in a motor vehicle is provided. The subassembly includes first and second generally C-shaped energy absorption brackets. The brackets have an aft facing C-section and upper and lower mounting ends. The brackets include attachment means for attaching the brackets to a vehicle structural member. The subassembly further includes a glove box door having an aft surface and a forward surface, and a bin. The glove box door includes hinge means for providing hinged movement of the glove box door relative to the first and second brackets between open and closed positions. The bin is within the C-section of the brackets when the glove box door is in a hingedly closed position.

Claims

1. An instrument panel subassembly for use in an instrument panel assembly in a motor vehicle comprising

first and second generally “

C”

shaped energy absorption brackets,

said brackets having an aft facing “

C”

section, and upper and lower mounting ends;

said brackets including an attachment portion for attaching said brackets to a vehicle structural member;

said subassembly further including a glove box door, said glove box door having an aft surface and a forward surface, and a bin, said glove box door including a hinge for providing hinged movement of said glove box door relative to said first and second brackets, between open and closed positions;

wherein said bin is within said “

C”

section of said brackets when said glove box door is in a hingedly closed position,

wherein said “

C”

shaped brackets are spread laterally apart by a distance “

W”

,

and wherein said bin has a lateral width of greater than “

W”

.

2. The subassembly of claim 1 wherein said glove box door comprises a blow molded component having aft and forward walls, said aft wall defining said aft surface, said forward wall defining said forward surface.

3. The subassembly of claim 1 wherein said bin is attached to said glove box door.

4. The subassembly of claim 1 wherein the upper and lower mounting ends of each said bracket defines respective upper and lower bracket contact zones for contact by said glove box door.

5. The subassembly of claim 4 wherein said glove box door includes two upper glove box door contact zones and two lower glove box door contact zones for contact by said brackets,

and wherein said glove box door contact zones are located to interact with said bracket contact zones to transfer forces applied to said aft face of said glove box door to said brackets.

6. The subassembly of claim 5 wherein said contact zones of said brackets and said contact zones of said glove box door form respective inter-working sets of contact zones.

7. The subassembly of claim 6 wherein each said inter-working set of contacting zones includes at least one pocket member and at least one pin member.

8. The subassembly of claim 7 wherein said pin member is on said bracket and said pocket member is on said glove box door.

9. The subassembly of claim 7 wherein said pin member is on said glove box door and said pocket member is on said bracket.

10. The subassembly of claim 6 wherein said glove box door includes at least one first rib structure extending from adjacent a first upper glove box door contact zone to adjacent a first lower glove box door contact zone.

11. The subassembly of claim 10 wherein said glove box door includes a second rib structure extending from adjacent a second upper glove box door contact zone to adjacent to a second lower glove box door contact zone.

12. The subassembly of claim 11 wherein said glove box door includes at least one third rib structure extending generally laterally of said glove box door from adjacent to said first rib structure to adjacent said second rib structure.

13. The subassembly of claim 12 wherein said glove box door includes a plurality of said third rib structures.

14. The subassembly of claim 1 wherein the length “

W”

is selected to be equal to the distance between knee impact zones of the statistically median-sized male occupant.

15. The subassembly of claim 1 wherein said glove box door includes strengthening means for structurally supporting said aft surface so that forces applied to said aft surface are transferred to said mounting ends without substantial deformation of said glove box door.

16. The subassembly of claim 15 wherein said glove box door includes crushable rib structures for absorbing energy from a force applied to said aft surface.

17. An instrument panel subassembly for use in an instrument panel assembly in a motor vehicle comprising:

first and second generally “

C”

shaped energy absorption brackets,

said brackets having an aft facing “

C”

section, and upper and lower mounting ends;

said brackets including attachment means for attaching said brackets to a vehicle structural member;

said subassembly further including a glove box door, said glove box door having an aft surface and a forward surface, and a bin, said glove box door including hinge means for providing hinged movement of said glove box door relative to said first and second brackets, between open and closed positions;

and wherein said bin is within said “

C”

section of said brackets when said glove box door is in a hingedly closed position;

and wherein said glove box door comprises a blow molded component having aft and forward walls, said aft wall defining said aft surface, said forward wall defining said forward surface;

and wherein said “

C”

shaped brackets are spread laterally apart by a distance “

W”

;

and wherein said bin has a lateral width of greater than “

W”

.