Moriroku Kabushiki Kaisha

Masuda Manufacturing Co., Ltd.

Katsunori Yoshinaka

Hidenori Baba

Yasuharu Masuda

Kenichi Kameyama

In a supporting structure for an instrument panel of a motor vehicle, an energy absorbing member made of a synthetic resin foam is placed between a reinforcing member which is linked to the vehicle body and an instrument panel which is made of a synthetic resin and supported by the reinforcing member, and when the head of an occupant collides with the upper surface of the instrument panel the collision energy is absorbed by destroying foamed cells of the energy absorbing member,as the instrument panel is deformed or destroyed. Thus, the impact caused when the head of the occupant collides with the upper surface of the instrument panel can effectively be absorbed while enabling the reinforcing member and the instrument panel to be placed close to each other.

Supporting structure for instrument panel of motor vehicle

A support boss made of a synthetic resin is integrally formed on an air conditioning duct made of a synthetic resin and coupled to a steering hanger member in an automobile so as to cover the steering hanger member. An instrument panel made of a synthetic resin is welded or bonded to the air conditioning duct. Thus, an assembly of interior parts at a front portion of the automobile, including the steering hanger member, and the air conditioning duct and the instrument panel which are supported on the steering hanger member, can be formed without use of threaded members, or with a decreased number of threaded members used.

Assembly of interior parts at front portion of automobile

A synthetic resin foam is applied to an outer or inner peripheral surface reinforcing member such as a steering hanger member made of a steel pipe and secured to a vehicle body of an automobile to reinforce the vehicle body. The steering hanger member includes hanger beams made of a steel pipe and connected to left and right front pillars of the vehicle body. Thus, it is possible to obtain a reinforcing member structure for the vehicle body at a low cost, which is capable of effectively enhancing the rigidity of the reinforcing member, while suppressing an increase in weight to the utmost.

Reinforcing member structure for vehicle body

A panel body of an instrument panel in an automobile is formed of a synthetic resin foam. A duct element made of a synthetic resin foam having a compatibility with the panel body is welded to a back of the panel body to define air-conditioning air passages between the panel body and the duct element. Thus, the instrument panel also serves as a single duct element. Therefore, it is possible to provide an inexpensive air conditioning duct device in an automobile, which can be produced from a decreased number of parts and at a decreased number of assembling steps.

Growing community of inventors

Saitama, Japan

Katsunori Yoshinaka