GB2247654A

GB2247654A - Moulded dash panel

Info

Publication number: GB2247654A
Application number: GB9019673A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Alan Richard Condon
Original assignee: Ford Motor Co
Current assignee: Ford Motor Co
Priority date: 1990-09-08
Filing date: 1990-09-08
Publication date: 1992-03-11
Anticipated expiration: 2010-09-08
Also published as: GB2247654B; GB9019673D0

Abstract

A dash panel 10 is moulded with formations 20, 21, 22 to define the back and side walls of a storage pocket 23, a shed portion 30 being moulded integrally of the dash panel 10 as a forward extension of the formation 20 defining the back wall. The shelf portion 30 is connected to the formation 20 defining the back wall by a flexible plastic strip 31, so that the shelf portion 30 may be hinged about the flexible plastic strip 31 and secured to the formations 21, 22 defining the side walls. <IMAGE>

Description

MOULDED DASH PANEL The present invention relates to a moulded dash panel for vehicles and in particular to the provision of a stowage pocket in such panels.

The present invention provides a stowage pocket in the lower dash panel of a vehicle, this panel being located beneath the instrument panel or glove compartment of the vehicle. Hitherto, where such stowage pockets have been moulded integrally of the dash panel, because of restraints with respect to undercut or re-entrant areas which are enclosed by the moulding process, the shelf has been too shallow to prevent objects from falling out of the pocket, and consequently a separate lip portion has been required. Alternatively a separate shelf has been fitted beneath the lower dash panel.

According to one aspect of the present invention a dash panel is moulded with formations to define the back and side walls of the stowage pocket, a shelf portion is moulded integrally of the dash panel as a forward extension of the formation defining the back wall, said shelf portion being interconnected to the formation defining the back wall by a flexible plastic strip, so that the shelf portion may be hinged about the flexible plastic strip and secured to the formations defining the side wall.

By moulding the shelf portions so that it may be hinged in the manner described above, a relatively deep pocket may be provided without the need for separate lip formations.

An embodiment of the invention is now described, by wa- example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 shows the dashboard of a vehicle illustrating the position of a low dash panel formed in accordance with the present invention; Figure 2 shows a prospective view of the lower dash panel shown in Figure 1 as it is moulded; and Figure 3 shows the lower dash panel as illustrated in Figure 2 with the shelf portion located in position.

As illustrated in Figure 1 a vehicle dashboard 10 includes a lower dash panel 11 which is located beneath the instrument panel 12 of a vehicle. The lower dash panel 11 has a cut out portion 13 to accommodate the vehicle steering column. As illustrated in greater detail in Figures 2 and 3, the lower dash panel 11 is moulded from a strip of plastics material, for example polypropylene. The panel is moulded with formations 20, 21 and 22 to define the back and side walls of a stowage pocket 23, the formations 20, 21 and 22 extending rearwardly of the front face 24 of the dash panel 11.

Abutment formations 25 are formed in the side wall formations 21 and 22 and define abutment surfaces 26 which follow the contour of the front face 24 but are recessed therefrom. A shelf portion 30 is moulded integrally of the dash panel 11 as a forward extension of the back wall formation 20. The shelf formation 30 is moulded substantially co-planer of the portion 20 but is curved to conform to the curvature of the front face 24. The strip 31 joining the shelf portion 30 to the back wall portion 20 is of reduced thickness to provide a flexible strip about which the shelf portion 30 may be hinged. A pair of detent members 32 with catch formations form therein are provided on the shelf formation adjacent the free edge thereof. After moulding the lower dash panel 11 with integral shelf formation 30, the shelf formation 30 is hinged about strip 31 to partially close the aperture 33 in the dash panel 11 and thereby form the stowage pocket 23. The shelf formation 30 engages the edges 26 of abutments 25 so that the outer face 34 will conform to the outer face 24 of the dash panel. The detent formations 32 engage in apertures 35 in the abutment formations 25 to retain the shelf formation 30 in position. Alternatively, the shelf formation 30 may be permanently secured to the side wall formations 21 and 22 by other suitable means.

Various modifications may be made without departing from the invention. For example, the procedure described above may be used to provide a stowage pocket on the lower dash panel 14 which is located below the glove compartment on the passenger side of the dashboard.

Claims

CLAINS

1. A dash panel moulded with formations to define the back and side walls of a storage pocket, a shelf portion being moulded integrally of the dash panel as a forward extension of the formation defining the back wall, said shelf portion being interconnected to the formation defining the back wall by a flexible plastic strip, so that the shelf portion may be hinged about the flexible plastic strip and secured to the formations defining the side walls.

2. A dash panel according to claim 1 in which the strip connecting the shelf portion to the formation defining the back wall is of reduced thickness.

3. A dash panel according to claim 1 or 2 in which detent formations are provided on the shelf formation, said detent formations engaging with corresponding formations on the formations defining the side walls, to secure the shelf formation to the formations defining the side walls.

4. A dash panel according to any one of the preceding claims in which abutment formations are provided on the formations defining the side walls said abutment formations acting to locate the shelf formation so that its outer face conforms to the outer face of the dash panel, when the shelf formation is closed.

5. A dash panel according to any one of the preceding claims moulded from polypropylene.

6. A dash panel substantially as described herein with reference to and as shown in Figures 1 to 3 of the accompanying drawings.

7. A method of providing a storage p l t in a dash panel comprising; moulding the dash panel with formations to define the back and side walls of the storage pocket and a shelf formation as a forward extension of the formation defining the back wall, the shelf formation being interconnected to the formation defining the back wall by a flexible plastic strip; hinging the shelf portion about the flexible plastic strip; and securing the shelf portion to the formations defining the side walls.