Patent ID: 8020913

Claim:
A vehicle interior structural assembly, comprising: an instrument panel having a main section with a first end and a second end dimensioned to extend laterally between opposing interior side walls of a passenger compartment of a vehicle; a structural member extending between the first and second ends of the instrument panel such that the structural member is substantially concealed by the instrument panel; a stay bracket having a first end connected to the structural member, the stay bracket extending downward from the structural member, the stay bracket extending rearward of the structural member; and a reinforcement member connected to the stay bracket at a first point and a second point that are vertically spaced from one another, the reinforcement member including a support portion cantilevered from and extending rearward of the main section of the instrument panel such that forces applied to the reinforcement member are directed to the stay bracket and the structural member, the reinforcement member being centrally located with respect to a lateral width of the passenger compartment of the vehicle.