Integrated center stack electronic module retention system

• US 7,370,500 B2
• Filed: 06/25/2004
• Issued: 05/13/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 06/28/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Collins & Aikman Holdings SA de CV
• Original Assignee: Collins & Aikman Holdings SA de CV
• Inventors: Kapteyn, Kelvin L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Barrett; Suzanne Dino
• Application Number:
  US10/877,934
• Publication Number:
  US 20050050927A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,418 Days
• Field of Search: 70/14, 704/66, 70/57, 70/58, 70158-169, 702/37, 248/27.3, 296/70, 296/72
• US Class Current: 70/237
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/81 Fastening of instruments, e.g. to dashboard
• 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 at least one component wherein said center stack includes at least one mounting opening having opposing walls for slidably engaging said at least one component into fixed relationship with said at least one mounting opening, wherein said at least one component includes one or more depressions,

wherein at least one molded feature in the walls of said at least one mounting opening engages said at least one component to align and fixedly retain said at least one component in the mounting opening, said at least one molded feature comprising two elongated cantilevered snap-tabs, one of which engages with a pin extended from a back surface of a finish trim plate of said at least one component to force said snap-tab into said depressions, and

including a lock cylinder assembly for retention of said at least one component in said mounting opening, 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 one of said one or more depressions.

2. The vehicle instrument panel assembly of claim 1, wherein said center stack molded feature comprises at least one fore-aft tongue-like molded projection in the walls of said center stack to align and fixedly retain said at least one component within said mounting opening.

3. The vehicle instrument panel assembly of claim 1, wherein said depression is a hole or slot.

4. The vehicle instrument 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 at least one component in said mounting opening.

5. The vehicle instrument panel assembly of claim 4, wherein said at least one component includes a depression which is engaged by said slider upon moving to said second position.

6. The vehicle instrument panel assembly of claim 1 wherein said at least one component 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.

7. 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 said at least one component includes one or more depressions,

wherein at least one molded feature in said walls of said mounting opening engages said component to align said component in said mounting opening, said at least one molded feature comprising two elongated cantilevered snap-tabs, one of which engages with a pin extended from a back surface of a finish trim plate of said at least one component to force said snap-tab into said depressions,

the trim panel further comprising a lock cylinder assembly for secure retention of said component in said mounting opening, 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 one of said one or more depressions.

8. The vehicle interior trim panel of claim 7, wherein said mounting opening molded feature comprises at least one fore-aft tongue-like molded projection in the walls of said mounting opening to align and fixedly retain said component within said mounting opening.