Description:A MOUNTING STRUCTURE ASSEMBLY BETWEEN A PANEL METER CLUSTER AND AN INSTRUMENT PANEL MAIN

TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present subject matter described herein relates to an assembly between a panel meter cluster and an instrument panel. The present invention is particularly related to a mounting structure assembly located at the bottom ends of a panel meter cluster for maintaining a gap and proper fitment between the panel meter cluster and the instrument panel.

BACKGROUND
[0002] Background description includes information that may be useful in understanding the present subject matter.
[0003] Referring to Fig. 1a, the instrument panel main (101) of a vehicle is a panel where the dials and switches are located. On the instrument panel main (101), a space is allocated to mount a panel meter cluster (102). The panel meter cluster (102) covers the speedometer that informs a driver of the speed of the vehicle, the speed of the engine, how much fuel is remaining in the tank and often the temperature of the engine.
[0004] Referring to Fig. 1b and Fig. 1c, the instrument panel main (101) has a mounting cavity (103) located on a bottom ends (104) of the instrument panel main (101) that houses the panel meter cluster (102). A clip tower (105) is provided on the panel meter cluster (102) and the panel meter cluster (102) is mounted to the instrument panel (101) using the clip tower (105) that gets inserted into a mounting cavity (103) that is provided on the instrument panel main (101).
[0005] Upon mounting the panel meter cluster (102) on the instrument panel main (101), a gap (107) and a gap (106) is required to be maintained throughout a matching that is visible to the passenger sitting in the car.
[0006] Referring to Fig. 2, In an existing design, an undesired gap (201) and shift (203) towards –X between the panel meter cluster (102) and the instrument panel main (101) was observed at a bottom supporting structure (202) that is a part of the panel meter cluster (102) due to the part warpage and unavailability of any supporting feature to control the part warpage after assembly. Additionally, while assembling the panel meter cluster (102) with the instrument panel main (101), the clip tower (105) frequently mismatches with the cavity mounting (103). It was observed due to part warpage and misaligned assembly. During the assembly, mounting features are hidden from the operator, sometimes breakage of the clip tower is also observed due to this mismatch.
[0007] To counter the disadvantages, various solutions are proposed. In one solution, an integrated snap is used for guiding the panel meter cluster inside the instrument panel main. For proper assembly, integrated snaps are widely used, however, to prevent part fly-off in a crash test, mounting through clips is recommended as clips have more holding strength than snaps. Other adverse effects of integrated snap are increased part rejection due to damaged snaps, increased repair time during assembly, improper fit and finish between child parts fitted onto big instrument panel parts and scratched inner surfaces of instrument panel main leading to increased internal stresses and easy crack initiation during head impact and crash situations.
[0008] It is therefore required maintain a gap between the panel meter cluster and the instrument panel main and also ensure proper fitment of the clip tower during the assembly to prevent breaking of the clip tower.
OBJECTS OF THE DISCLOSURE
[0009] It forms an object of the present disclosure to overcome the aforementioned and other drawbacks/limitations in the existing solutions available in the form of related prior arts.
[0010] It is a primary object of the present disclosure is to maintain a gap between a panel meter cluster and an instrument panel main and also ensure proper fitment of the clip tower during the assembly.
[0011] It is another object of the present disclosure to ensure proper assembly of the panel meter cluster and the instrument panel main by preventing breakage of the clip tower.
[0012] It is another object of the present disclosure to provide a cost-effective solution to achieve the above objectives.
[0013] These and other objects and advantages of the present subject matter will be apparent to a person skilled in the art after consideration of the following detailed description taken into consideration with accompanying drawings in which preferred embodiments of the present subject matter are illustrated.
SUMMARY
[0014] A solution to one or more drawbacks of existing technology and additional advantages are provided through the present disclosure. Additional features and advantages are realized through the technicalities of the present disclosure. Other embodiments and aspects of the disclosure are described in detail herein and are considered to be a part of the claimed disclosure.
[0015] The present disclosure provides a solution in the form of a mounting structure assembly for maintaining a gap and allowing efficient fitment between a panel meter cluster and an instrument panel main. The mounting structure assembly includes the panel meter cluster having a clip tower and the instrument panel main having a mounting cavity to receive the clip tower for assembly of the panel meter cluster with the instrument panel main. The mounting cavity defines a profile to achieve a zero-touch with the clip tower and maintain the clip tower at a mean position with respect to a mean position of the mounting cavity, a side of the mounting cavity which is in zero touch with the clip tower pushes the panel meter cluster to maintain the gap between a panel meter cluster and an instrument panel main.
[0016] In an aspect, the mounting structure assembly further comprises a tapered structure provided adjacent to the side of the mounting cavity which is supposed to have zero touch with the clip tower, the tapered structured extend outward from the instrument panel main to guide insertion of the clip tower in the mounting cavity during assembly, wherein the tapered structure is supported by a vertical rib provide in direction of the side having zero touch with the clip tower.
[0017] In an aspect, the tapered side of the tapered structure faces the clip tower.
[0018] In an aspect, the tapered structure is elongated in a horizontal direction.
[0019] In an aspect, the tapered structure is provided above the horizontal rib.
[0020] In an aspect, the mean position of the clip tower is the centre of the clip tower.
[0021] In an aspect, the mean position of the mounting cavity is the center of the slot.
[0022] The foregoing summary is illustrative only and is not intended to be in any way limiting. In addition to the illustrative aspects, embodiments, and features described above, further aspects, embodiments, and features will become apparent by reference to the drawings and the following detailed description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS
[0023] It is to be noted, however, that the appended drawings illustrate only typical embodiments of the present subject matter and are therefore not to be considered for limiting of its scope, for the present disclosure may admit to other equally effective embodiments. The detailed description is described with reference to the accompanying figures. In the figures, a reference number identifies the figure in which the reference number first appears. The same numbers are used throughout the figures to reference like features and components. Some embodiments of system or methods or structure in accordance with embodiments of the present subject matter are now described, by way of example, and with reference to the accompanying figures, in which:
[0024] Fig. 1a illustrates a panel meter cluster and an instrument panel main according to the prior art;
[0025] Fig. 1b illustratesunting structure to assemble the panel meter cluster on the instrument panel main according to the prior art;
[0026] Fig. 1c illustrates an ideal condition of a mounting structure between a panel meter cluster and an instrument panel main according to the prior art;
[0027]
[0028] Fig. 2 illustrates an undesired gap between the panel meter cluster and the instrument panel main according to the prior art;
[0029] Fig. 3a illustrates the gap maintained between the panel meter cluster and the instrument panel main according to the present disclosure;
[0030] Fig. 3b illustrates mean position of the clip tower and the mounting cavity according to the present disclosure
[0031] Fig. 4 illustrates a tapered structure provided at the instrument panel main according to the present disclosure.
[0032] The figures depict embodiments of the present subject matter for illustration only. A person skilled in the art will easily recognize from the following description that alternative embodiments of the structures and methods illustrated herein may be employed without departing from the principles of the disclosure described herein.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION
[0033] The detailed description of various exemplary embodiments of the disclosure is described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings. It should be noted that the embodiments are described herein in such details as to communicate the disclosure. However, the amount of details provided herein is not intended to limit the anticipated variations of embodiments; on the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the present disclosure as defined by the appended claims.
[0034] It is also to be understood that various arrangements may be devised that, although not explicitly described or shown herein, embody the principles of the present disclosure. Moreover, all statements herein reciting principles, aspects, and embodiments of the present disclosure, as well as specific examples, are intended to encompass equivalents thereof.
[0035] It should also be noted that in some alternative implementations, the functions/acts noted may occur out of the order noted in the figures. For example, two figures shown in succession may be executed concurrently or may sometimes be executed in the reverse order, depending upon the functionality/acts involved.
[0036] Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientific terms) used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which example embodiments belong. It will be further understood that terms, e.g., those defined in commonly used dictionaries, should be interpreted as having a meaning that is consistent with their meaning in the context of the relevant art and will not be interpreted in an idealized or overly formal sense unless expressly so defined herein.
[0037] In the following detailed description of the embodiments of the disclosure, reference is made to the accompanying drawings that form a part hereof, and in which are shown by way of illustration of specific embodiments in which the disclosure may be practiced. These embodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the disclosure, and it is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and that changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. The following description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense.
[0038] Hereinafter, a description of an embodiment with several components in communication with each other does not imply that all such components are required. On the contrary, a variety of optional components are described to illustrate the wide variety of possible embodiments of the present disclosure.
[0039] The present invention discloses a mounting structure assembly for maintaining a gap and allowing efficient fitment between a panel meter cluster and an instrument panel main so that proper mating between a clip tower of the panel meter cluster and a mounting cavity of the instrument panel main is achieved. Further, in the present invention, blind assembly of the panel meter cluster on the instrument panel main is done without damaging the clip tower.
[0040] Referring to FIG. 3a and FIG. 3b, it shows the mounting structure assembly (300). The mounting structure assembly (300) has the panel meter cluster (102). The panel meter cluster (102) has a clip tower (105). The instrument panel main (101) has a mounting cavity (103) to receive the clip tower (105) for assembly of the panel meter cluster (102) with the instrument panel main (101).
[0041] The mounting cavity (103) that is provided on the instrument panel main (101) has a profile to achieve a zero-touch with the clip tower (105) and maintain the clip tower (105) at a mean position (306) of the clip tower designed position i.e., the centre of the clip tower (105) with respect to a mean position (307) of the mounting cavity (103) i.e. center of the mounting cavity (103).
[0042] Therefore, when the clip tower (105) is inserted inside the mounting cavity (103), the clip tower (105) gets in zero-touch with the side (301) of the mounting cavity (103). Further, a side (301) of the mounting cavity (103) which is in zero-touch with the clip tower (105) pushes the panel meter cluster (102) in the +X direction along with a bottom supporting structure (202) that is a part of the panel meter cluster (102) to maintain the gap (303) that remains constant between a panel meter cluster (102) and an instrument panel main (101).
[0043] With this design, the clip tower (105) is kept in the mean position (306) and further, the clip tower (105) is not able to move in –X direction to create the gap (201) (as shown in Fig. 2) which is prominently visible and is not an ideal choice with respect to the aesthetic appearance of the instrument panel main (101) of the vehicle.
[0044] Referring to FIG. 4, the mounting structure assembly (300) further comprises of a tapered structure (401) that is provided adjacent to the side (301) of the mounting cavity (103) which is supposed to have zero-touch with the clip tower (105) (as provided in Fig. 3a).
[0045] The tapered structure (401) is provided for the purpose of guiding and positioning the clip tower (105) in the direction of the mounting cavity (103). The clip tower (105) (as provided in Fig. 3a) matches with the mounting cavity (103) during assembly in the direction from where the clip tower (105) (as provided in Fig. 3a) is inserted.
[0046] Further, the tapered structure (401) is extended in an outward direction from the instrument panel main (101) to guide the insertion of the clip tower (105) (as provided in Fig. 3a) in the mounting cavity (103) during assembly.
[0047] Furthermore, the tapered structure (401) is supported by a vertical rib (402) provided in direction of the side (301) having zero-touch with the clip tower (105) (as provided in Fig. 3a). The tapered structure (401) is also supported by a horizontal rib (403) and the horizontal rib (403) is provided below the tapered structure (401). The vertical rib (402) and the horizontal rib (403) are connected to each other.
[0048] The tapered side of the tapered structure (401) faces the clip tower (105) (as provided in Fig. 3a). The tapered structure (401) is elongated in a horizontal direction. The surface area of the tapered structure (401) increases from top to bottom such that as the clip tower (105) (as provided in Fig. 3a) is being inserted into the mounting cavity (103), a top side of the clip tower (as provided in Fig. 3a) which gets inserted first into the mounting cavity is guided by the tapered structure (401) from small cross-section area of the tapered structure (401) towards the large cross section area of the tapered structure (401) that is joined to the side of the mounting cavity (103) which is in zero-touch with the clip tower (105) (as provided in Fig. 3a).
TECHNICAL ADVANTAGES
[0049] With the help of the solution as proposed herein in the context of the present disclosure, proper mating of the clip tower into the mounting cavity is ensured.
[0050] By introducing the tapered structure, assembly of the instrument panel main can be done without damaging the clip tower.
[0051] It will be understood by those within the art that, in general, terms used herein, and especially in the appended claims (e.g., bodies of the appended claims) are generally intended as “open” terms (e.g., the term “including” should be interpreted as “including but not limited to,” the term “having” should be interpreted as “having at least,” the term “includes” should be interpreted as “includes but is not limited to,” etc.). It will be further understood by those within the art that if a specific number of an introduced claim recitation is intended, such an intent will be explicitly recited in the claim, and in the absence of such recitation, no such intent is present. For example, as an aid to understanding, the following appended claims may contain usage of the introductory phrases “at least one” and “one or more” to introduce claim recitations. However, the use of such phrases should not be construed to imply that the introduction of a claim recitation by the indefinite articles “a” or “an” limits any particular claim containing such introduced claim recitation to disclosures containing only one such recitation, even when the same claim includes the introductory phrases “one or more” or “at least one” and indefinite articles such as “a” or “an” (e.g., “a” and/or “an” should typically be interpreted to mean “at least one” or “one or more”); the same holds true for the use of definite articles used to introduce claim recitations. Also, even if a specific number of an introduced claim recitation is explicitly recited, those skilled in the art will recognize that such recitation should typically be interpreted to mean at least the recited number (e.g., the bare recitation of “two recitations,” without other modifiers, typically means at least two recitations or two or more recitations). Furthermore, in those instances where a convention analogous to “at least one of A, B, and C, etc.” is used, in general, such construction is intended in the sense one having skill in the art would understand the convention (e.g., “a system having at least one of A, B, and C” would include but not be limited to systems that have A alone, B alone, C alone, A and B together, A and C together, B and C together, and/or A, B, and C together, etc.). In those instances, where a convention analogous to “at least one of A, B, or C, etc.” is used, in general, such construction is intended in the sense one having skill in the art would understand the convention (e.g., “a system having at least one of A, B, or C” would include but not be limited to systems that have A alone, B alone, C alone, A and B together, A and C together, B and C together, and/or A, B, and C together, etc.). It will be further understood by those within the art that virtually any disjunctive word and/or phrase presenting two or more alternative terms, whether in the description, claims, or drawings, should be understood to contemplate the possibilities of including one of the terms, either of the terms or both terms. For example, the phrase “A or B” will be understood to include the possibilities of “A” or “B” or “A and B.”
[0052] It will be further appreciated that functions or structures of a plurality of components or steps may be combined into a single component or step, or the functions or structures of one-step or component may be split among plural steps or components. The present disclosure contemplates all of these combinations. Unless stated otherwise, dimensions and geometries of the various structures depicted herein are not intended to be restrictive of the disclosure, and other dimensions or geometries are possible. Also, while a feature of the present disclosure may have been described in the context of only one of the illustrated embodiments, such feature may be combined with one or more other features of other embodiments, for any given application. It will also be appreciated from the above that the fabrication of the unique structures herein and the operation thereof also constitute methods in accordance with the present disclosure. The present disclosure also encompasses intermediate and end products resulting from the practice of the methods herein. The use of “comprising” or “including” also contemplates embodiments that “consist essentially of” or “consist of” the recited feature. , Claims:We claim:
1. A mounting structure assembly (300) for maintaining a gap (303) and allowing efficient fitment between a panel meter cluster (102) and an instrument panel main (101), the mounting structure assembly (300) comprising:
the panel meter cluster (102) having a clip tower (105) and the instrument panel main (101) having a mounting cavity (103) in rectangular shape to receive the clip tower (105) for assembly of the panel meter cluster (102) with the instrument panel main (101),
characterized in that
the mounting cavity (103) defines a profile to achieve a zero touch with the clip tower (105) and maintain the clip tower (105) at a mean position (306) with respect to a mean position (307) of the mounting cavity (103), a side (301) of the mounting cavity (103) which is in zero-touch with the clip tower (105) pushes the panel meter cluster (102) to maintain the gap (303) between a panel meter cluster (102) and an instrument panel main (101).

2. The mounting structure assembly (300) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the mounting structure assembly (300) further comprises:
a tapered structure (401) provided adjacent to the side (301) of the mounting cavity (103) which is supposed to have zero-touch with the clip tower (105), the tapered structured is extend outward from the instrument panel main (101) to guide insertion of the clip tower (105) in the mounting cavity (103) during assembly,
wherein the tapered structure (401) is supported by a vertical rib (402) provide in direction of the side (301) having zero-touch with the clip tower (105).

3. The mounting structure assembly (300) as claimed in claim 2, wherein the tapered side of the tapered structure (401) faces the clip tower (105).

4. The mounting structure assembly (300) as claimed in claim 2, wherein the tapered structure (401) is elongated in a horizontal direction.

5. The mounting structure assembly (300) as claimed in claim 2, wherein the tapered structure (401) is provided above a horizontal rib (403).

6. The mounting structure assembly (300) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the mean position (306) of the clip tower (105) is the centre of the clip tower (105).

7. The mounting structure assembly (300) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the mean position (307) of the mounting cavity (103) is the center of the the mounting cavity (103).