The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Feb. 15, 2005
Filed:
Mar. 16, 2001
Daniel V. Beckley, Fenton, MI (US);
Martin Burke, Howell, MI (US);
Jeffrey L. Soncrant, Sterling Heights, MI (US);
Daniel V. Beckley, Fenton, MI (US);
Martin Burke, Howell, MI (US);
Jeffrey L. Soncrant, Sterling Heights, MI (US);
Magna Interior Systems, Inc., Aurora, CA;
Abstract
A cross car duct for use in an instrument panel assembly of an automotive vehicle includes an upper beam of one piece molded plastic extending longitudinally between opposing A-pillars of the vehicle. The cross car duct also includes a lower beam of one piece molded plastic attached to the upper beam and extending longitudinally between the A-pillars. A magnesium steering column support for supporting conventional steering components on the cross car duct is fixedly secured to the upper beam. The upper beam includes a plurality of air ducts and the lower beam includes a plurality of air openings aligned with the air ducts for passing air through the beams. The lower beam also includes a housing for supporting an HVAC module. The cross car duct further includes a plurality of integrated mode doors and actuators operatively connected to the housing of the lower beam for actuation between an open position spaced from the air openings and a closed position covering the air openings in the lower beam. The HVAC module includes a lower casing integrated with the housing of the lower beam for supporting and enclosing the mode doors and the components of the HVAC module in the lower beam forming a cross car duct with integrated mode doors and an integral HVAC module.