Patent ID: 8016342

Claim:
A support frame for supporting an instrument panel in an automotive vehicle above a floor pan, comprising: a cross car beam extending laterally across the vehicle; and a pair of support braces with each support brace having an upper member with an upper end connected to the cross car beam and a lower member with an opposing lower end connected to the floor pan, each support brace being formed with a lap joint located between the upper and lower members and including an elastomeric pad positioned between the upper and lower members to separate the upper and lower members and dampen the transmission of vibrations between the upper and lower members, the elastomeric pad allowing a limited amount of vertical movement between the upper and lower members, each support brace having a floating positive mechanical connection including a limit member on one of the upper and lower members received with the other of the upper and lower members to permit the limited amount of vertical movement without contact therebetween, the floating positive mechanical connection restricting the relative movement between the upper and lower members to the limited movement accommodated by the elastomeric pad.