Patent ID: 6932410

Claim:
An instrument-panel mounting system for mounting an instrument panel to the body of an automotive vehicle, said system comprising: the instrument panel having at least one base panel with at least one aperture defined therethrough and adapted to be aligned with a corresponding aperture on the vehicle body; a threaded fastener received in said apertures defined through said base panel and the vehicle body when aligned and adapted to generate a clamping force to mount said instrument panel to the vehicle body; and a clamping sheet disposed between said base panel and the vehicle body, said clamping sheet including an aperture defined therethrough and aligned with said apertures defined through said base panel and the vehicle body when aligned, said clamping sheet including a strut defined about the periphery of said aperture defined through said clamping sheet and extending in the general direction of the clamping force generated by said fastener, said strut acting to distribute said clamping force through said clamping sheet and the vehicle body.