Instrument panel mounting structure

Abstract: For mounting an instrument panel onto a given portion in a motor vehicle, there is provided an instrument panel mounting structure. A cowl panel (12) is arranged at the given portion. The cowl panel includes an upper panel part (14) and a lower panel part (15) which are united to constitute an inwardly protruding holder structure. The holder structure comprises a first section (16) where the upper and lower panel parts intimately contact at mutually facing surfaces thereof and a second section where the upper and lower panel parts are spaced from each other at the mutually facing surfaces thereof. The second section constitute a rear end of the holder structure. Catch devices (13) are provided by the instrument panel. Each catch device includes a catch section and a guide section. The catch section is constructed to catch the rear end of the holder structure when brought to the rear end of the holder structure. The guide section is constructed to guide the catch section toward the rear end of the holder structure when shifted toward the holder structure.

Description: The present invention relates to a vehicle with an instrumental panel mounted to a cowl panel according to the preamble of the independent claim 1. In order to clarify the task of the present invention, one known instrument panel mounting structure will be described with reference to Fig. 8 of the accompanying drawings, which is shown in JP 11-254999 A. In Fig. 8, denoted by numeral 1 is a cowl panel that is arranged below a windshield 2. Although not shown in the drawing, the windshield 2 has a lower edge held by a front portion of the cowl panel 1. The cowl panel 1 generally comprises an upper panel part 3 and a lower panel part 4 which are secured at a lower end portion of the upper panel part 3. The upper panel part 3 is formed with a plurality of mounting openings 5. Each mounting opening 5 has a tubular catch member 7 fitted thereinto. Each tubular catch member 7 has a skirt-like enlarged mouth 7a. Denoted by numeral 6 is an instrument panel which has a plurality of pins 6a extending therefrom. For assembling the instrument panel 6 onto the cowl panel 1, the instrument panel 6 is conveyed forward, that is, toward the cowl panel 1 having the pins 6a inserted into the tubular catch members 7 respectively, as shown. However, the above-mentioned assembling procedure should be made by moving or handling the instrument panel 6 awkwardly around the back side of the cowl panel 1. In other words, the operator has to work blindly to couple the instrument panel 6 with the cowl panel 1. Obviously, this is troublesome and difficult. Furthermore, since the instrument panel 6 is held by only the upper panel part 3, it is difficult to provide the instrument panel 6 with a satisfied supporting stability. According, it is an object of the present invention to improve a vehicle with an instrumental panel mounted to a cowl panel as indicated above so as to enable an easy and precise mounting of the instrumental panel. According to the present invention, this objective is solved by a vehicle with an instrument panel mounted to a cowl panel, wherein said cowl panel comprises an upper panel part and a lower panel part, and said instrument panel comprises catch devices, and wherein said upper and lower panel part are united to constitute an inwardly protruding holder structure, wherein said holder structure includes a first section, where said upper and lower panel parts intimately contact at mutually facing surfaces thereof, and a second section constituting a rear end of said holder structure, where said upper and lower panel parts are spaced from each other at said mutually facing surfaces thereof, and each catch device includes a catch section and a guide section, wherein said catch section is constructed to catch said rear end of said holder structure when brought to said rear end of said holder structure, and said guide section is constructed to guide said catch section toward and to said rear end of said holder structure when shifted toward said holder structure. It is an advantage of the present invention that the instrument panel is stably held in the vehicle body. According to a preferred embodiment, a damper member is resiliently deformably disposed between said upper and lower panel parts of said second section. According to another preferred embodiment, said damper member has an exposed rounded part positioned at said rear end of said holder structure, wherein said exposed rounded part is pressed against said catch section to restrict a relative displacement therebetween when said holder structure is caught by said catch section. According to a further preferred embodiment, said damper member is a sealing material applied to said upper and lower panel parts to provide said cowl panel with a water proof function. According to a further preferred embodiment, said respective rear end portions of said upper and lower panel parts of said second section constitute a part of a rectangular raised structure defined by said holder structure. According to a further preferred embodiment, said catch section comprises a recess sized to resiliently receive said rear end of said holder structure, wherein said recess comprises an inner surface with which said exposed rounded part of said damper member is frictionally engageable. According to a further preferred embodiment, said recess of said catch section has a sloped bottom so that, when said holder structure is deeply inserted into said recess, said frictional engagement between said inner surface of said recess and said exposed rounded part of said damper member is enhanced. According to a further preferred embodiment, said guide section comprises a generally triangular recess defined by mutually intersected sloped upper and lower surfaces, wherein said sloped upper and lower surfaces are constructed to slidably contact said rear end of said holder structure for guiding said catch section toward said rear end of said holder structure. According to a further preferred embodiment, said guide section is positioned beside said catch section. According to a further preferred embodiment, said first section of said holder structure is provided by welding said upper and lower panel parts. According to a further preferred embodiment, a box-like reinforced structure is defined by said instrument panel for increasing a mechanical connection between each of said catch devices and said instrument panel. Further preferred embodiments of the present invention are laid down in the further subclaims. In the following, the present invention is explained in greater detail by means of several embodiments thereof in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein: Fig. 1 is a perspective view of an instrument panel of the vehicle of the present invention; Fig. 2 is a sectional view of the instrument panel and a cowl panel of the present invention in an assembled condition; Fig. 3 is an enlarged view of the part indicated by the arrow "III" of Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a catch device employed in the instrument panel of the present invention; Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a horizontal holder structure defined by the cowl panel of the vehicle; Fig. 6 is an enlarged sectional view taken along the line VI-VI of Fig. 5; Fig. 7 is a sectional view of a modification of the catch device of the instrument panel of the present invention, showing a condition wherein the catch device is going to catch the holder structure of the cowl panel ; and Fig. 8 is a view similar to Fig. 2, but showing a related art of the present invention. In the following, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Referring to Figs. 1 to 6, there is shown an arrangement of an instrument panel mounted to the vehicle of the present invention, which is generally designated by numeral 100. Referring to Fig. 1, there is shown the instrument panel 11 which is to be mounted to a front part of a passenger room of an associated motor vehicle. As is seen from the drawing, the instrument panef 11 is equipped, at its lateral sides of lower surface thereof, with respective catch devices 13 which will be described in detail hereinafter. As is best shown in Fig. 2 the arrangement 100 of the instrument panel 11 is arranged below a windshield 10. Denoted by numeral 12 is a cowl panel of metal, which comprises an upper panel part 14 and a lower panel part 15. As shown, a rear flat portion of the upper panel part 14 and an upper flat portion of the lower panel part 15 are mated to constitute a horizontal holder structure 16 with which the catch devices 13 are engaged. As is seen from Figs. 2 and 5, the rear flat portion of the upper panel part 14 and the upper flat portion of the lower panel part 15 are spot-welded along a given narrow zone, and the rear flat portion of the upper panel part 14 is formed with a rectangular raised portion 23. That is, the holder structure 16 comprises a first section where like the spot-welded zone the two panel parts 14 and 15 intimately contact at mutually facing surfaces thereof and a second section where like the rear end of the holder structure 16, the two panel parts 14 and 15 are spaced from each other at the mutually facing surfaces thereof. It is to be noted that the second section of the holder structure 16 is caught by a catch section 17 which will be described in detail hereinafter. Because of provision of the second section where the two panel parts 14 and 15 are spaced from each other and thus protected from the spot-welding, dimensional stability of the rear end of the holder structure 16 is improved. Furthermore, due to provision of the first section where the two panel parts 14 and 15 are welded to each other, the mechanical strength of the holder structure 16 is increased. As is seen from Figs. 3, 5 and 6, between the rear flat portion of the upper panel part 14 and the upper flat portion of the lower panel part 15, there is disposed a damper member 22 which has an exposed rounded part 22a formed on the rear end of the rear flat portion of the lower panel part 15, as shown in Fig. 6. It is to be noted that due to provision of the damper member 22 between the two panel parts 14 and 15, the resiliency of the holder structure 16 is increased. For placing the rounded part 22a of the damper member 22 on the rear end of the rear flat portion of the lower panel part 15, the rear flat portion of the upper panel part 14 is shaped shorter than the upper flat portion of the lower panel part 15, as shown in Fig. 6. The damper member 22 used is a waterproof material of a type that has a suitable resiliency. Thus, when the damper member 22 is applied between the upper and lower panel parts 14 and 15, it exhibits a suitable waterproof function in addition to the damper function, it is to be noted that due to presence of such damper member 22, undesired low frequency noises, which would be produced when the catch devices 13 make a play relative to the holder structure 16, are suppressed or at least minimized. As is seen from Fig. 4, each of the catch devices 13 generally comprises the catch section 17 and a guide section 18 which are positioned beside each other. Designated by numeral 19 is a box-like reinforcing structure defined by a lower surface of the instrument panel 11. With this reinforcing structure, the catch devices 13 are reinforced. The catch section 17 comprises a recess 21 having a mouth portion directed forward. The mouth of the recess 21 is so sized as to receive the rear end of the holder structure 16 on which the rounded part 22a of the elastic material (damper member) 22 is mounted, as will be understood from the drawing of Fig. 3. As is seen from Fig. 3, the recess 21 of the catch section 17 has a sloped bottom 20, so that, when the rear end of the holder structure 16 is deeply and sufficiently inserted into the recess 21, the rounded part 22a of the damper member 22 is pressed against an upper inner surface of the recess 21, as is seen from the drawing. Referring back to Fig. 4, the guide section 18 comprises a generally triangular recess (no numeral) that is defined by sloped upper and lower surfaces 18a and 18b which are angled to each other. The mouth portion of this recess is also directed forward. If desired, the sloped upper and lower surfaces 18a and 18b may be concavely or convexly curved. As will be understood from Figs. 3 and 4, the mouth portion of the catch section 17 is positioned behind the mouth portion of the guide section 18. More specifically, as is seen from Fig. 3, when viewed from a lateral side of the catch device 13, an intersecting part of the sloped upper and lower surfaces 18a and 18b of the guide section 18 is positioned behind the mouth portion of the catch section 17. For mounting the instrument pane! 11 to the cowl panel 12, the following steps are employed in the invention. First, as is seen from Fig. 2, due to work of a power assist carrier (not shown), the instrument panel 11 is conveyed behind the horizontal holder structure 16 of the cowl panel 12 the catch devices 13 facing forward, that is, toward the rear end of the holder structure 16 where the rectangular raised portion 23 is formed. Then, by the carrier, the instrument panel 11 is pushed forward by a certain distance. With this, the rear end of the holder structure 16 is brought into contact with the sloped upper and lower surfaces 18a and 18b of the guide section 18. Then, the instrument panel 11 is further pushed forward with a certain force. With this pushing, the rear end of the holder structure 16 is guided into the mouth portion of the catch section 17 of each catch device 13. As is seen from Fig. 3, further pushing of the instrument panel 11 toward the holder structure 16 causes insertion of the holder structure 16 into the recess 21 of the catch section 17. When, due to further pushing of the instrument panel 11, the rear end of the holder structure 16 reaches the sloped bottom 20 of the recess 21, the rounded part 22a of the damper member 22 is pressed against the upper surface of the recess 21 of the catch section 17, as is see from the drawing. Thus, upon completion of the insertion, the catch device 13 tightly catches the holder structure 16 of the cowl panel 12 at the portion where the rectangular raised portion 23 is formed. As is seen from the foregoing description, according to the present invention, due to provision of the guide section 18, the work for assembling the instrument panel 11 onto the cowl panel 12 is easily and assuredly carried out. Thus, the rear ends of the holder structure 16 can be assuredly and stably held by the catch section 17. Furthermore, due to provision of rounded part 22a of the damper member 22 on the holder structure 16 and provision of the sloped bottom 20 by the catch section 17, deeper insertion of the rear end of the holder structure 16 into the recess 21 of the catch section 17 brings about a tight attachment of the instrument panel 11 to the cowl panel 12. Furthermore, due to the spot-welded construction and provision of the rectangular raised portion 23, the holder structure 16 of the cowl panel 12 has an increased mechanical strength and thus assuredly and stably holds the instrument panel 11. Referring to Fig. 7, there is shown a modification of the present invention. In this modification, the holder structure 16 is not provided with the above-mentioned rectangular raised portion 23. However, for obtaining a dimensional stability of the rear ends of the holder structure 16, the damper member 22 is substantially entirely disposed between the rear flat portion of the upper panel part 14 and the upper flat portion of the lower panel part 15. Furthermore, the rounded part 22a of the damper member 22 is turned back onto the rear end of the rear flat portion of the upper panel part 14, as shown. Although the invention has been described above with reference to the embodiment of the invention, the invention is not limited to such embodiment as described hereinabove. Various modifications and variations of such embodiment may be carried out by those skilled in the art, in light of the above descriptions.

Claims: A vehicle with an instrument panel (11) mounted to a cowl panel (12), wherein said cowl panel (12) comprises an upper panel part (14) and a lower panel part (15), and said instrument panel (11) comprises catch devices (13), characterized in that said upper and lower panel part (14,15) are united to constitute an inwardly protruding holder structure (16), wherein said holder structure (16) includes a first section, where said upper and lower panel parts (14,15) intimately contact at mutually facing surfaces thereof, and a second section constituting a rear end of said holder structure, where said upper and lower panel parts (14,15) are spaced from each other at said mutually facing surfaces thereof, and each catch device (13) includes a catch section (17) and a guide section (18), wherein said catch section (17) is constructed to catch said rear end of said holder structure (16) when brought to said rear end of said holder structure (16), and said guide section (18) is constructed to guide said catch section (17) toward and to said rear end of said holder structure (16) when shifted toward said holder structure (16). A vehicle according to claim 1, characterized by a damper member (22) resiliently deformably disposed between said upper and lower panel parts (14,15) of said second section. A vehicle according to claim 2, characterized in that said damper member (22) has an exposed rounded part (22a) positioned at said rear end of said holder structure (16), wherein said exposed rounded part (22a) is pressed against said catch section (17) to restrict a relative displacement therebetween when said holder structure (16) is caught by said catch section (17). A vehicle according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that said damper member (22) is a sealing material applied to said upper and lower panel parts (14,15) to provide said cowl panel (12) with a water proof function. A vehicle according to one of the claims 1 to 4, characterized in that said respective rear end portions of said upper and lower panel parts (14,15) of said second section constitute a part of a rectangular raised structure (23) defined by said holder structure (16). A vehicle according to claim 3, characterized in that said catch section (17) comprises a recess (21) sized to resiliently receive said rear end of said holder structure (16), wherein said recess comprises an inner surface with which said exposed rounded part (22a) of said damper member (22) is frictionally engageable. A vehicle according to claim 6, characterized in that said recess (21) of said catch section (17) has a sloped bottom (20) so that, when said holder structure (16) is deeply inserted into said recess (21), said frictional engagement between said inner surface of said recess (21) and said exposed rounded part (22a) of said damper member (22) is enhanced. A vehicle according to one of the claims 1 to 7, characterized in that said guide section (18) comprises a generally triangular recess defined by mutually intersected sloped upper and lower surfaces (18a,18b), wherein said sloped upper and lower surfaces (18a,18b) are constructed to slidably contact said rear end of said holder structure (16) for guiding said catch section (17) toward said rear end of said holder structure (16). A vehicle according to one of the claims 1 to 8, characterized in that said guide section (18) is positioned beside said catch section (17). A vehicle according to one of the claims 1 to 9, characterized in that said first section of said holder structure (16) is provided by welding said upper and lower panel parts (14,15). A vehicle according to one of the claims 1 to 10, characterized by a box-like reinforced structure (19) defined by said instrument panel (11) for increasing a mechanical connection between each of said catch devices (13) and said instrument panel (11).

Inventors: FUJITA YUKIHISA, TAKEUCHI TAKASHI, FUJITA, YUKIHISA, TAKEUCHI, TAKASHI
Applicants: CALSONIC KANSEI CORP, NISSAN MOTOR, CALSONIC KANSEI CORPORATION, NISSAN MOTOR COMPANY, LIMITED
Application year: 2001
Main classification: B60K37
IPC codes: B62D25, B60K37, B62D65