GB2339734A - Vehicle facia with removable container - Google Patents
Vehicle facia with removable container Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- GB2339734A GB2339734A GB9816199A GB9816199A GB2339734A GB 2339734 A GB2339734 A GB 2339734A GB 9816199 A GB9816199 A GB 9816199A GB 9816199 A GB9816199 A GB 9816199A GB 2339734 A GB2339734 A GB 2339734A
- Authority
- GB
- United Kingdom
- Prior art keywords
- recess
- assembly
- facia
- vehicle
- unitary container
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Granted
Links
Classifications
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
- B60R—VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- B60R11/00—Arrangements for holding or mounting articles, not otherwise provided for
- B60R11/02—Arrangements for holding or mounting articles, not otherwise provided for for radio sets, television sets, telephones, or the like; Arrangement of controls thereof
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
- B60R—VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- B60R11/00—Arrangements for holding or mounting articles, not otherwise provided for
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
- B60R—VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- B60R7/00—Stowing or holding appliances inside vehicle primarily intended for personal property smaller than suit-cases, e.g. travelling articles, or maps
- B60R7/04—Stowing or holding appliances inside vehicle primarily intended for personal property smaller than suit-cases, e.g. travelling articles, or maps in driver or passenger space, e.g. using racks
- B60R7/06—Stowing or holding appliances inside vehicle primarily intended for personal property smaller than suit-cases, e.g. travelling articles, or maps in driver or passenger space, e.g. using racks mounted on or below dashboards
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
- B60R—VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- B60R11/00—Arrangements for holding or mounting articles, not otherwise provided for
- B60R2011/0001—Arrangements for holding or mounting articles, not otherwise provided for characterised by position
- B60R2011/0003—Arrangements for holding or mounting articles, not otherwise provided for characterised by position inside the vehicle
- B60R2011/0005—Dashboard
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
- B60R—VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- B60R11/00—Arrangements for holding or mounting articles, not otherwise provided for
- B60R2011/0094—Arrangements for holding or mounting articles, not otherwise provided for characterised by means for covering after user, e.g. boxes, shutters or the like
Landscapes
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- Vehicle Step Arrangements And Article Storage (AREA)
Description
1 2339734 A Vehicle Facia Assembly
Field
This invention relates to facia assemblies, sometimes called dashboards, used in motor vehicles.
Background of Invention
A typical facia assembly is located at the front of the motor vehicle interior immediately below the windscreen and extends across the full width of the vehicle. The driver's side of the facia assembly typically supports an instrument panel, the centre portion may include heater controls and a radio, and the passenger side of the facia assembly may typically incorporate a built-in glove compartment. In more recent times the passenger side may alternatively or additionally house a passenger side air bag as a protection for a passenger during head-on collisions. The typical facia assembly comprises at least one support panel that extends the full width of the vehicle and which has anchorage points for securing the panel in the vehicle body and for the attachment of other components to the panel. Such panels may contribute to the overall strength of the vehicle shell.
2 Oblect of the Invention The present invention provides for an improved facia assembly.
Statements of Invention
According to the present invention there is provided a facia assembly for a motor vehicle including a facia support which extends substantially across the width of the vehicle and has on the passenger side thereof a walled recess which opens upwardly and rearwardly of the vehicle to accommodate within the recess a readily removable and replaceable unitary container having an exposed surface that blends with the facia.
The facia suppoprt is typically a panel, or composite of - panels, which are covered in a decorative material.
Preferably, the unitary container is a glove compartment having a removable lid with the expog-ed surface being formed on said lid. Alternatively the unitary container may be an interchangeable unit which may contain apparatus such as a portable fax machine, portable computer, or other.
The walled recess may include an electrical connector terminal mounted in a wall thereof and adapted to receive 3 a co-operating terminal connected to an electrical component. The connector may be of the type described in US-A-5620,329, the contents of which are hereby incorporated into the present description, or may be a standard connector which accommodates power feeds for most portable equipment.
Preferably the facia assembly includes an inflatable air bag housing which is located immediately below the recess and is anchored to either the vehicle body or the facia panel. The air bag housing may form the base of the recess.
According to a second aspect of the Invention there is 15 provided a method of temporary installation of electrical equipment in a motor vehicle, wherein the vehicle facia assembly includes a facia support which extends for the full width of the vehicle and has on the passenger side thereof a walled recess which opens upwardly and rearwardly of the vehicle to accommodate within the recess a readily removable and replaceable unitary container in the form of a glove box, the wall having at least one electrical connector terminal mounted therein, wherein the equipment is mounted in a housing that is interchangeable with said unitary container allowing the electrical equipment to be installed in the recess, and connected to said terminal.
4 Description of Drawings
The invention will be described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:
Fig. 1 is an isometric view of a facia assembly according to the present invention, and Fig. 2 is a schematic view of a combined recess and air bag housing.
Detailed description of the Invention
With reference to Fig 1., there is shown a facia assembly 11 for a motor car. The assembly 11 extends substantially the full width of the vehicle and is located beneath the windscreen 12 extending between the two roof pillars 13 (only one of which is shown), sometimes referred to as "A" posts.
The facia assembly 11 comprises at least one facia support in the form of a panel 14 which may be pressed sheet steel, or a glass reinforced polyester (GRP) moulding, and which is typically covered in a decorative trim material such as leather cloth. An instrument panel 15 is mounted on the driver's side of the assembly 11 and a recess 16 is located in the passenger side of the assembly 11. Other controls 17 e.g. heater controls, radio-cassette player, may be mounted in the centre portion of the facia assembly 11.
The recess 16 opens upwardly and rearwardly of the panel 14 and has a base 18 and walls 19, 21, which are preferably formed from a structural material such as sheet steel, sheet aluminium, or GRP. When formed of a structural material the recess will enhance the structural rigidity of the panel 14. The base 18 may have drinks container holding depressions 22 formed therein, and at least one of the back wall 21 or side walls 19 may have an electrical connector terminal 23 mounted therein.
The recess 16 forms a receptacle to accommodate a unitary container 24 which in this case is a glove box. The container 24 has a removable lid 25 which blends with the facia panel 14 when the container 24 is docked in the recess 16. The container 24 may be held in the recess by a resilient detent 26 which may engage a side wall 19 and which is releasable allowing the container 24 to be readily removed from the recess 16.
A passenger grab handle 27 may be located below the recess, and a release for the glove box may be incorporated with the grab handle.
The unitary container 24 may be made interchangeable with a similar shaped housing 28, which may house a PC or fax 29 which can be connected to the terminal 23 for operation.
The base 18, or walls 19, 21, may have a sensor 29 therein 6 which senses the presence of the container 24 or similar housing 28. The signal from the sensor may be passed to a programmable control means so as to render the vehicle inoperable if the presence of the container 24, or the like, is not sensed.
In a further development of the invention, an air bag housing 31 may be located in the facia assembly 11 immediately beneath the recess 16 to provide passenger protection in the event of a crash. In the preferred embodiment the air bag housing forms a part of the recess 16 so that the base 18 of the recess is formed by a side wall of the air bag housing 31. The side walls 19 and rear wall 21 may also be formed integrally with the air bag housing 34, or may be separately formed and affixed thereto.
With this type of construction the combined housing 34 and recess 16 may be used as a structural component in the design of the facia assembly. with the air bag housing located adjacent and beneath the recess 16 it may be necessary to re-site the grab handle 27.
7
Claims (12)
1. A facia assembly for a motor vehicle including a facia support which extends for the width of the vehicle and has on the passenger side thereof a walled recess which opens upwardly and rearwardly of the vehicle to accommodate within the recess a readily removable and replaceable unitary container having an exposed surface that blends with the facia.
2. An assembly as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the unitary container is a glove compartment having a removable lid with the exposed surface being formed on said lid.
3. An assembly as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein the walled recess includes at least one electrical connector terminal mounted in a wall thereof and adapted to receive a co- operating terminal connected to an electrical component.
4. An assembly as claimed in Claim 3 wherein the electrical connector terminals comprise a blind assembly connective arrangement.
5. An assembly as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 4, 8 wherein the facia assembly includes an inflatable air bag housing which is located immediately below the recess and is anchored to either the vehicle body or the facia support.
6. An assembly as claimed in claim 5 wherein a wall of the air bag housing forms the base of the recess.
7. A assembly as claimed in Claim 6, wherein the side walls of the recess are formed integrally with the air bag housing.
8. An assembly as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 7 wherein the unitary container is secured within the recess is by a resilient detent having an easily accessible release mechanism.
9. An assembly as claimed in Claim 8 and further including a grab handle located on the exterior of the facia below the recess, wherein the release mechanism is incorporated into the grab handle.
10. An assembly as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 9 and further including a sensor for sensing the presence of a unitary container in the recess, said sensor passing a signal to a control to disable the vehicle in the absence of a unitary container.
9
11. An assembly as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 10 further including unitary containers that are interchangeable with said unitary container allowing auxiliary equipment to be installed in the recess.
12. In a motor vehicle a method of temporary installation of electrical equipment wherein the vehicle facia assembly includes a facia support which extends for the width of the vehicle and has on the passenger side thereof a walled recess which opens upwardly and rearwardly of the vehicle to accommodate within the recess a readily removable and replaceable unitary container in the form of a glove box, the wall having at least one electrical connector terminal mounted therein, wherein the equipment is mounted in a housing that is interchangeable with said unitary container allowing the electrical equipment to be installed in the recess, and connected to said terminal.
Priority Applications (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
GB9816199A GB2339734B (en) | 1998-07-25 | 1998-07-25 | A vehicle facia assembly |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
GB9816199A GB2339734B (en) | 1998-07-25 | 1998-07-25 | A vehicle facia assembly |
Publications (3)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
GB9816199D0 GB9816199D0 (en) | 1998-09-23 |
GB2339734A true GB2339734A (en) | 2000-02-09 |
GB2339734B GB2339734B (en) | 2002-02-13 |
Family
ID=10836148
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
GB9816199A Expired - Fee Related GB2339734B (en) | 1998-07-25 | 1998-07-25 | A vehicle facia assembly |
Country Status (1)
Country | Link |
---|---|
GB (1) | GB2339734B (en) |
Cited By (10)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
DE10013434A1 (en) * | 2000-03-17 | 2001-09-27 | Daimler Chrysler Ag | Modular instrument panel of vehicle; has variable module between middle bracket module and passenger's side module to form cladding or cup holder, or to provide additional function, e.g. telephone |
FR2832678A1 (en) * | 2001-11-29 | 2003-05-30 | Sai Automotive Allibert Ind | Motor vehicle dashboard glove box consists of detachable case that can be removed for separate use |
EP1197394A3 (en) * | 2000-10-14 | 2004-01-21 | Robert Bosch Gmbh | Electrical apparatus with support and cover |
WO2007103197A3 (en) * | 2006-03-01 | 2008-02-14 | Textron Inc | Vehicle glove box |
DE102007052975A1 (en) * | 2007-11-07 | 2009-05-14 | GM Global Technology Operations, Inc., Detroit | Table arrangement for use with table for front seat passenger, and for use with cockpit module for motor vehicle, has dashboard which is provided on passenger side of passenger seat |
EP1939044A3 (en) * | 2006-12-28 | 2010-09-01 | Seat, S.A. | Support for removably fixing a navigator on the instrument panel of a vehicle |
CN101657337B (en) * | 2007-01-29 | 2011-10-05 | 派卡阿库斯蒂克公司 | Receiving device |
FR2969068A3 (en) * | 2010-12-21 | 2012-06-22 | Renault Sa | Device for supporting e.g. object in housing in fascia of motor vehicle, has closure unit moving from one configuration in which closure unit conceals opening to another configuration in which closure unit allows access to opening |
CN108973683A (en) * | 2018-08-27 | 2018-12-11 | 重庆长安汽车股份有限公司 | A kind of personalization and modular panel assembly and automobile |
DE102020128871A1 (en) | 2020-11-03 | 2022-05-05 | Dr. Ing. H.C. F. Porsche Aktiengesellschaft | Instrument panel with case module |
Citations (2)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US5154617A (en) * | 1989-05-09 | 1992-10-13 | Prince Corporation | Modular vehicle electronic system |
US5207471A (en) * | 1991-03-22 | 1993-05-04 | Mercedes-Benz Ag | Vehicle vdu workstation |
Family Cites Families (1)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
SE504640C2 (en) * | 1995-07-26 | 1997-03-24 | Volvo Ab | Vehicles comprising a cassette compartment located adjacent to a dashboard |
-
1998
- 1998-07-25 GB GB9816199A patent/GB2339734B/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
Patent Citations (2)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US5154617A (en) * | 1989-05-09 | 1992-10-13 | Prince Corporation | Modular vehicle electronic system |
US5207471A (en) * | 1991-03-22 | 1993-05-04 | Mercedes-Benz Ag | Vehicle vdu workstation |
Cited By (14)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US6464281B2 (en) | 2000-03-17 | 2002-10-15 | Daimlerchrysler Ag | Motor-vehicle modular dashboard |
DE10013434B4 (en) * | 2000-03-17 | 2006-04-13 | Daimlerchrysler Ag | Modular instrument panel of a motor vehicle |
DE10013434A1 (en) * | 2000-03-17 | 2001-09-27 | Daimler Chrysler Ag | Modular instrument panel of vehicle; has variable module between middle bracket module and passenger's side module to form cladding or cup holder, or to provide additional function, e.g. telephone |
EP1197394A3 (en) * | 2000-10-14 | 2004-01-21 | Robert Bosch Gmbh | Electrical apparatus with support and cover |
FR2832678A1 (en) * | 2001-11-29 | 2003-05-30 | Sai Automotive Allibert Ind | Motor vehicle dashboard glove box consists of detachable case that can be removed for separate use |
WO2007103197A3 (en) * | 2006-03-01 | 2008-02-14 | Textron Inc | Vehicle glove box |
EP1939044A3 (en) * | 2006-12-28 | 2010-09-01 | Seat, S.A. | Support for removably fixing a navigator on the instrument panel of a vehicle |
CN101657337B (en) * | 2007-01-29 | 2011-10-05 | 派卡阿库斯蒂克公司 | Receiving device |
DE102007052975A1 (en) * | 2007-11-07 | 2009-05-14 | GM Global Technology Operations, Inc., Detroit | Table arrangement for use with table for front seat passenger, and for use with cockpit module for motor vehicle, has dashboard which is provided on passenger side of passenger seat |
FR2969068A3 (en) * | 2010-12-21 | 2012-06-22 | Renault Sa | Device for supporting e.g. object in housing in fascia of motor vehicle, has closure unit moving from one configuration in which closure unit conceals opening to another configuration in which closure unit allows access to opening |
CN108973683A (en) * | 2018-08-27 | 2018-12-11 | 重庆长安汽车股份有限公司 | A kind of personalization and modular panel assembly and automobile |
CN108973683B (en) * | 2018-08-27 | 2021-09-03 | 重庆长安汽车股份有限公司 | Individualized and modular instrument board assembly and car |
DE102020128871A1 (en) | 2020-11-03 | 2022-05-05 | Dr. Ing. H.C. F. Porsche Aktiengesellschaft | Instrument panel with case module |
DE102020128871B4 (en) | 2020-11-03 | 2023-04-27 | Dr. Ing. H.C. F. Porsche Aktiengesellschaft | Instrument panel with case module |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
GB2339734B (en) | 2002-02-13 |
GB9816199D0 (en) | 1998-09-23 |
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Legal Events
Date | Code | Title | Description |
---|---|---|---|
732E | Amendments to the register in respect of changes of name or changes affecting rights (sect. 32/1977) | ||
PCNP | Patent ceased through non-payment of renewal fee |
Effective date: 20160725 |