Patent ID: 6854794

Claim:
A cross car duct for use in an instrument panel assembly of an automotive vehicle comprising: a contoured upper beam extending longitudinally between a first end and a second end and having a plurality of air ducts forming air outlets; a contoured lower beam extending longitudinally between a first end and a second end and attached to said upper beam between said respective first and second ends, said lower beam having a plurality of air openings aligned with said air ducts of said upper beam; an air channel formed between said upper beam and said lower beam for supplying air to each of said air ducts and said air openings; a steering column support affixed to said upper beam and adapted to be directly attached to the vehicle and to support steering components of the vehicle; a mode door operatively connected to said lower beam adjacent at least one of said air openings; an actuator secured to said lower beam and operably connected to said mode door for actuating said mode door between a closed position covering said air opening and an opened position spaced from said air opening for opening said air opening to allow passage of air; and a heat, ventilating and air conditioning (HVAC) module secured to said lower beam for circulating ambient air through selective ones of said air openings and said air ducts dependent on said actuator controlling said actuation of said mode door between said opened and closed positions.