DESC:FIELD
The present disclosure relates to the field of instrument panels of vehicles.
BACKGROUND
The background information herein below relates to the present disclosure but is not necessarily prior art.
An instrument panel of a vehicle usually has various vehicle accessorial systems that include a human-machine interface (HMI), an infotainment screen, and an instrument cluster. Generally, different variants of the vehicle require different instrument panels as the infotainment and cluster design varies according to the variant of the vehicle. Hence, for each variant a new type of instrument panel is required to mount different vehicle accessories.
There is therefore felt a need for an instrument panel of a vehicle, which allows a variety of systems to be added or removed thereon depending on the user requirements, and which allows variation in the location of the systems thereon depending on the user requirements.
OBJECTS
Some of the objects of the present disclosure, which at least one embodiment herein satisfies, are as follows:
An object of the present disclosure is to provide an instrument panel for a vehicle.
Another object of the present disclosure is to provide an instrument panel for a vehicle, which allows variation in the configuration of the instrument panel according to the variant of the vehicle.
Yet another object of the present disclosure is to provide an instrument panel for a vehicle, which reduces the inventory for making and storing the different panels that is otherwise required for accommodating to the different vehicle variants.
Other objects and advantages of the present disclosure will be more apparent from the following description, which is not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure.
SUMMARY
The present disclosure envisages an instrument panel of a vehicle having at least three vehicle variants selected from the group consisting of a high-level variant, a mid-level variant and a low-level variant. The panel comprises a reconfigurable topper pad module configured to be mounted on a panel carrier provided on the vehicle body, and a mid-roll module configured to be arranged below the topper pad. The panel further comprises a console module configured to be attached to the vehicle body. The console module has at least three variants, wherein each variant corresponds to a variant of the vehicle. The topper pad module and the mid-roll module are configured to be reconfigured to accommodate the console module, of the desired vehicle variant, thereon to define the instrument panel.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
An instrument panel, of the present disclosure, for a vehicle will now be described with the help of the accompanying drawing, in which:
Figure 1 illustrates a front view of the instrument panel for a high-level variant vehicle;
Figure 2 illustrates a front view of the topper pad of the instrument panel of Figure 1;
Figure 3 illustrates a front view of the instrument panel for a mid-level variant vehicle;
Figure 4 illustrates a front view of the topper pad of the instrument panel of Figure 3;
Figure 5 illustrates a front view of the instrument panel for a low-level variant vehicle;
Figure 6 illustrates a front view of the topper pad of the instrument panel of Figure 5; and
Figure 7 illustrates a front view of a mid-roll of the instrument panel of Figure 1.
LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS
10 instrument panel
11, 11A, 11B, 11C topper pad
11D bracket
12 mid-roll
12A driver side component
12B passenger side component
13 instrument cluster
14 infotainment screen
15 human machine interface (HMI)
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
Embodiments, of the present disclosure, will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawing.
Embodiments are provided so as to thoroughly and fully convey the scope of the present disclosure to the person skilled in the art. Numerous details, are set forth, relating to specific components, and methods, to provide a complete understanding of embodiments of the present disclosure. It will be apparent to the person skilled in the art that the details provided in the embodiments should not be construed to limit the scope of the present disclosure. In some embodiments, well-known processes, well-known apparatus structures, and well-known techniques are not described in detail.
The terminology used, in the present disclosure, is only for the purpose of explaining a particular embodiment and such terminology shall not be considered to limit the scope of the present disclosure. As used in the present disclosure, the forms “a”, “an” and “the” may be intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly suggests otherwise. The terms “comprises”, “comprising”, “including” and “having” are open-ended transitional phrases and therefore specify the presence of stated features, operations, elements, modules, units and/or components, but do not forbid the presence or addition of one or more other features, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof.
When an element is referred to as being “attached to”, “connected to” or “coupled to” another element, it may be directly on, engaged, connected or coupled to the other element.
Terms such as ‘between’ and the like, may be used in the present disclosure to describe relationships between different elements as depicted from the figures.
An instrument panel (10), of the present disclosure, of a vehicle will now be described in detail with respect to Figure 1 through Figure 7.
The motor vehicle has at least three vehicle variants selected from the group consisting of a high-level variant, a mid-level variant and a low-level variant. The instrument panel (10) is configured to be remodeled to suit every variant without changing the basic configuration of the instrument panel (10).
The panel (10) comprises a reconfigurable topper pad module (11) configured to be mounted on a panel (10) carrier provided on the vehicle body, and a mid-roll (12) module configured to be arranged below the topper pad. The panel (10) further comprises a console module configured to be attached to the vehicle body. The console module has at least three variants, wherein each variant corresponds to a variant of the vehicle. The topper pad module (11) and the mid-roll (12) module are configured to be reconfigured to accommodate the console module, of the desired vehicle variant, thereon to define the instrument panel (10).
In an embodiment, the topper pad module (11) and the mid-roll (12) are attached to the panel (10) carrier with the help of fasteners.
In accordance to a first embodiment, as shown in Figure 2, the topper pad module (11A) includes a plurality of apertures of varying sizes configured thereon to house various instruments thereon.
In an embodiment, the mid-roll (12) module comprises a driver side component and a passenger side component. The driver side component and the passenger side component are configured to be snap-fitted to the topper pad module (11A).
In one embodiment, the mid-roll (12) module is a soft-type mid-roll.
The topper pad module (11A), as described above, and the mid-roll (12) of the soft-type are configured to accommodate the console module comprising a human machine interface (HMI) (15) to define the instrument panel (10) of a high-level variant of the vehicle.
In accordance to a second embodiment, as shown in Figure 4, the topper pad module (11B) includes a slot configured on an operative lower portion thereof. In an embodiment, the slot is cut out with the help of laser cutting, and is made in correspondence to the outline of the HMI unit (15) of the vehicle.
Further, the mid-roll (12) module is a hard-type mid-roll.
The topper pad module (11B) having the slot, and the mid-roll (12) of the hard-type are configured to accommodate the console module comprising a human machine interface (HMI) (15) to define the instrument panel (10) of a mid-level variant of the vehicle.
In accordance to a third embodiment, as shown in Figure 6, the topper pad module (11C) includes a plurality of brackets (11D) attached thereto.
The topper pad module (11C), the brackets (11D) and the mid-roll (12) are configured to accommodate the console module comprising an instrument cluster (13) and an infotainment unit (14) to define the instrument panel (10) of a low-level variant of the vehicle.
In accordance with all three embodiments of the present disclosure, the topper pad module (11) is first attached to the panel (10) carrier, succeeding which the mid-roll (12) is attached thereon.
The instrument panel (10), of the present disclosure, therefore allows designing and producing the topper pad modules and the mid-rolls of the same configuration. The topper pads are reconfigured by laser cutting or adding brackets, and the change in the type of mid-roll (12) is only done according to the demand of the variant of the vehicle.
As a result, the inventory and its maintenance are relatively reduced. The instrument panel (10) can be provided in the same assembly line, keeping the jigs and fixtures of the assembly line the same. The productivity and the time required to assemble is improved. Investments that were otherwise required to design and make different types of topper pads and mid-rolls for different types of vehicles variants are largely reduced.
The foregoing description of the embodiments has been provided for purposes of illustration and not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure. Individual components of a particular embodiment are generally not limited to that particular embodiment, but, are interchangeable. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the present disclosure, and all such modifications are considered to be within the scope of the present disclosure.
TECHNICAL ADVANCEMENTS
The present disclosure described herein above has several technical advantages including, but not limited to, the realization of provide an instrument panel for a vehicle, which:
• allows variation in the instrument panel as per the variation in the vehicle variant without affecting the cost of the instrument panel;
• reduces the inventory and its maintenance;
• does not require separate assembly lines, jigs and fixtures for assembling the instrument panels on different vehicle variants;
• improves the productivity; and
• reduces the time required to assemble the instrument panel.
The embodiments herein and the various features and advantageous details thereof are explained with reference to the non-limiting embodiments in the following description. Descriptions of well-known components and processing techniques are omitted so as to not unnecessarily obscure the embodiments herein. The examples used herein are intended merely to facilitate an understanding of ways in which the embodiments herein may be practiced and to further enable those of skill in the art to practice the embodiments herein. Accordingly, the examples should not be construed as limiting the scope of the embodiments herein.
The foregoing description of the specific embodiments so fully reveal the general nature of the embodiments herein that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily modify and/or adapt for various applications such specific embodiments without departing from the generic concept, and, therefore, such adaptations and modifications should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalents of the disclosed embodiments. It is to be understood that the phraseology or terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation. Therefore, while the embodiments herein have been described in terms of preferred embodiments, those skilled in the art will recognize that the embodiments herein can be practiced with modification within the spirit and scope of the embodiments as described herein.
The use of the expression “at least” or “at least one” suggests the use of one or more elements or ingredients or quantities, as the use may be in the embodiment of the disclosure to achieve one or more of the desired objects or results.
Any discussion of devices, articles or the like that has been included in this specification is solely for the purpose of providing a context for the disclosure. It is not to be taken as an admission that any or all of these matters form a part of the prior art base or were common general knowledge in the field relevant to the disclosure as it existed anywhere before the priority date of this application.
While considerable emphasis has been placed herein on the components and component parts of the preferred embodiments, it will be appreciated that many embodiments can be made and that many changes can be made in the preferred embodiments without departing from the principles of the disclosure. These and other changes in the preferred embodiment as well as other embodiments of the disclosure will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the disclosure herein, whereby it is to be distinctly understood that the foregoing descriptive matter is to be interpreted merely as illustrative of the disclosure and not as a limitation.
,CLAIMS:WE CLAIM:
1. An instrument panel (10) for a vehicle having at least three vehicle variants selected from the group consisting of a high-level variant, a mid-level variant and a low-level variant, said panel (10) comprising:
• a reconfigurable topper pad module (11) configured to be mounted on a panel (10) carrier provided on the vehicle body;
• a mid-roll (12) module configured to be arranged below said topper pad (11); and
• a console module configured to be attached to the vehicle body, said console module having at least three variants corresponding to said variants of the vehicle;
wherein said topper pad module (11) and said mid-roll (12) module are configured to be reconfigured to accommodate said console module of the desired vehicle variant, thereon to define the instrument panel (10).
2. The instrument panel (10) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said mid-roll (12) module comprises a driver side component (?) and a passenger side component (?).
3. The instrument panel (10) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said mid-roll (12) module is a soft-type mid-roll.
4. The instrument panel (10) as claimed in claim 3, wherein said topper pad module (11A) and said mid-roll (12) are configured to accommodate said console module (?) comprising a human machine interface (HMI) (15) to define the instrument panel (10) of a high-level variant of the vehicle.
5. The instrument panel (10) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said topper pad module (11B) includes a slot configured on an operative lower portion thereof.
6. The instrument panel (10) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said mid-roll (12) module is a hard-type mid-roll.
7. The instrument panel (10) as claimed in claims 5 and 6, wherein said topper pad module (11B) and said mid-roll (12) are configured to accommodate said console module comprising a human machine interface (HMI) (15) to define the instrument panel (10) of a mid-level variant of the vehicle.
8. The instrument panel (10) as claimed in claim 5, wherein said topper pad module (11C) includes a plurality of brackets (11D) attached thereto.
9. The instrument panel (10) as claimed in claims 5 and 8, wherein said topper pad module (11C), said brackets (11D) and said mid-roll (12) are configured to accommodate said console module comprising an instrument cluster (13) and an infotainment unit (14) to define the instrument panel (10) of a low-level variant of the vehicle.
10. The instrument panel (10) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said topper pad (11) and said mid-roll (12) are attached to the panel (10) carrier with the help of fasteners.

Dated this 10th day of August, 2022

_______________________________
MOHAN RAJKUMAR DEWAN, IN/PA – 25
of R.K. DEWAN & CO.
Authorized Agent of Applicant