Chrysler Corporation

Dean M Martin

Patrick J Gibbons

Kenneth S Deneau

James A Cotton

A reinforced instrument panel assembly capable of being preassembled and then installed as a unit in a motor vehicle. The instrument panel assembly comprises an instrument panel and motor vehicle instruments mounted on a rigid reinforcing bar. A mounting bracket is secured to each end of the reinforcing bar. When the preassembled instrument panel assembly is placed inside the vehicle body and moved forwardly to the installed position, the mounting brackets contact side frame members of the vehicle body and are readily accessible to the installer so that the mounting brackets can be secured to the side frame members quickly and easily. The instrument panel assembly can be moved to a position for installation with a direct forward movement in an ergonomic manner. Hooks on the mounting brackets guide the instrument panel assembly to its installed position. When the instrument panel is installed, the reinforcing bar serves as a brace to resist the effect of side impact on the body in a collision. The securement of the mounting bracket to the side frame member on the driver side of the vehicle includes a slotted connection which is capable of releasing in the event of a frontal impact when the driver is thrown forwardly against the instrument panel assembly. The reinforcing bar has crush-inducing formations enabling it to bend and crush in a frontal impact.

Growing community of inventors

Livona, MI, United States of America

Dean M Martin