DESC:FIELD
The present disclosure relates to occupant safety inside a vehicle and more specifically to a collapsible instrument panel.
DEFINITIONS
As used in the present disclosure, the following terms are generally intended to have the meaning as set forth below, except to the extent that the context in which they are used indicate otherwise.
Weakening(s) – Weakening(s) is/are defined as reduced thickness locations configured on a structure to allow ease of collapsibility of the structure at desired locations in the event of a crash
BACKGROUND
The background information herein below relates to the present disclosure but is not necessarily prior art.
Conventionally, one of the methods in enhancing occupant safety inside vehicles is to devise a collapsible steering column, which includes a telescopic arrangement of shafts. In the event of external impact from the front of the vehicle, the collapsible steering column absorbs the energy of impact by collapsing a section of a smaller diameter of the steering column into a section of a larger diameter. This safety feature increases the safety rating of the vehicles manufactured by the original equipment manufacturers (OEMs). However, customer demands have been on the rise for architectural as well as styling driven modifications. Such modifications include variation in packaging clearance, steering column angles and the like. But, these modifications have a tendency to limit the efficiency of the collapsible steering column which further reduces its reliability. Ultimately, occupant safety is compromised leading to increase in the severity of injuries.
There is, therefore, felt a need for an instrument panel of a vehicle, to overcome the aforementioned problems.
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 of a vehicle.
Another object of the present disclosure is to provide an instrument panel of a vehicle which meets safety norms.
Yet another object of the present disclosure is to provide an instrument panel of a vehicle that offers increased safety of occupants.
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 discloses an instrument panel of a vehicle comprising a steering column zone configured on an upper portion of the instrument panel, and a plurality of weakenings configured on the steering column zone. The steering column zone of the instrument panel is configured to absorb energy of a frontal impact of the vehicle with an obstruction, and the weakenings are configured to collapse under the frontal impact of the vehicle with the obstruction.
In a preferred embodiment, the thickness of the instrument panel varies along the extents of the instrument panel.
In another embodiment, the dimensions of the weakenings are adjustable.
In another embodiment, the locations of the weakenings are adjustable along the extent of the steering column zone.
In a preferred embodiment, the steering column zone includes an upper shroud and a bottom shroud (not shown in figures).
In a preferred embodiment, the upper shroud is configured with a plurality of weakenings.
In a preferred embodiment, the weakenings are configured on the upper portion of the instrument panel and the locations of the weakenings on the upper portion are adapted as per packaging and safety requirements.
In a preferred embodiment, the weakenings are in the form of portion of the instrument panel having reduced thickness as compared to the other portions of the instrument panel.
In a preferred embodiment, the instrument panel is made of a material from the group consisting of plastic, fibre composite, and polyvinyl chloride.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE ACCOMPANYING DRAWING
An instrument panel of a vehicle, of the present disclosure, will now be described with the help of the accompanying drawing, in which:
Figure 1 shows a side view of a driver side cabin of a prior art;
Figure 2 shows a driver side view of an instrument panel and cabin space in accordance with a prior art;

Figure 1 shows a front view of an instrument panel, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure;
Figure 4 shows a sectional view of Figure 3 along plane A-A;
Figure 5 shows a rear view of the instrument panel in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure;
Figure 6 shows a detailed view of the Figure 5;
Figure 7 shows a sectional view of the Figure 6 along plane B-B;
Figure 8 shows the rear view of the steering column zone of the Figure 3;
Figure 9 shows a detailed view of the Figure 8; and
Figure 10 shows a sectional view of the Figure 9 along plane A-A.
LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS
100’, 200’ – cabin space of prior art
10’, 110’ – instrument panel of prior art
20’, 120’ – combination switch of prior art
30’, 130’ – ignition barrel of prior art
40’, 140’ – steering hub of prior art
100 – Instrument panel of the present disclosure
110 – Steering column zone
115 – Upper shroud
120 – Upper portion
130 – Weakening(s)
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, specific processes specific apparatus structures, and unique 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, elements, modules, units and/or components, but do not forbid the presence or addition of one or more other features, elements, components, and/or groups thereof. The particular order of steps disclosed in the method and process of the present disclosure is not to be construed as necessarily requiring their performance as described or illustrated. It is also to be understood that additional or alternative steps may be employed.
When an element is referred to as being “mounted on”, “engaged to”, “connected to” or “coupled to” another element, it may be directly on, engaged, connected or coupled to the other element. As used herein, the term “and/or” includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed elements.
Terms such as “inner”, “outer”, “beneath”, “below”, “lower”, “above”, “upper” and the like, may be used in the present disclosure to describe relationships between different elements as depicted from the figures.
Figure 1 shows a side view of a typical driver side cabin 100’, in accordance with a prior art. The driver side cabin houses a conventional instrument panel 10’. A steering hub 40’ with its shaft (not shown in figure) is surrounded by the instrument panel 10’. An ignition barrel 30’ and a combination switch 20’ is provided on the instrument panel 10’. This arrangement results in a compact design of the driver side cabin. However, this compact design leaves small clearance spaces between the components of the instrument panel. As shown in the Figure 1, the clearance space between an edge of the instrument panel 10’ and a combination switch 20’ is drastically reduced. Similarly, the clearance space between another edge of the instrument panel 10’ and the ignition barrel 30’ is also reduced significantly. In the event of a frontal impact of the vehicle, insufficient clearance spaces results in reduced collapsing action of the steering column. As a consequence, the higher impact energy gets transferred onto the occupants that cause severe injuries to the occupant. It is expected that a proportion of the impact energy should be absorbed by the instrument panel 10’. Moreover, any variation in the inclination of the steering column also causes insufficient impact energy absorption leading to severe injuries. The present disclosure aims at solving these problems.
Figure 2 shows a driver side view of the conventional instrument panel 110’ and cabin space 200’. Figure 2 shows a combination switch 120’, an ignition barrel 130’ and a steering hub 140’ assemble in relation to the conventional instrument panel 110’. As seen in Figure 2, the instrument panel 110’ has been provided with a first clearance space between one of the edges of the instrument panel 110’ and the ignition barrel 130’. Similarly, a second clearance space between the instrument panel 110’ and the combination switch 120’ has been provided. The first and the second clearance spaces facilitate collapsing of the instrument panel 110’ in the event of an impact occurring from the front side of the vehicle. However, the instrument panel 110’ is still ineffective in meeting the crash-safety norms.
An instrument panel (hereinafter instrument panel 100) of a vehicle, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure will now be described with the help of figures 3-11. The instrument panel 100 offers increased absorption capacity of the impact energy of the vehicle with an obstruction in the event of a frontal collision.
The instrument panel 100 comprises a steering column zone 110 configured on an upper portion 120 of the instrument panel 100. The steering column zone 110 includes an upper shroud structure that partially surrounds the steering column assembly of the vehicle. A plurality of weakenings 130 is configured on the steering column zone 110 and at different locations on the upper portion 120. The steering column zone 110 of the instrument panel 100 is configured to absorb impact energy. The absorption of the impact energy is facilitated by the collapse of the weakenings 130 of the instrument panel 100. The thickness of the instrument panel 100 can be varied along the extents of the instrument panel 100 as per the design requirement.
Figures 3 shows a front view of the instrument panel 100 including the steering column zone 110 and the operative upper portion 120 of the instrument panel 100. Figure 4 shows a sectional view of the instrument panel 100 of Figure 3 along A-A plane. The weakenings 130 facilitate ease of collapsibility of the steering column zone 110 in the event of the front impact of the vehicle with an obstruction, thus reducing the severity of injuries to occupant.
Figures 5 shows a rear view of the upper portion 120 of the instrument panel 110, while Figure 6 shows a detailed view of portion X marked in Figure 5. Figure 7 shows a sectional view of the instrument panel 110 of Figure 5 along a plane B-B. The weakenings 130, as shown in Figure 7, have been provided to facilitate deformation of the upper portion 120 of the instrument panel 100 at desired locations, so as to allow ease of collapsibility of the upper portion 120.
Figures 8 show a front view of an upper shroud 115. The upper shroud 115 is a part of the steering column zone 110. Figure 9 shows a detailed view of portion “Y” of the panel 100 as seen in Figure 8. The weakenings 130, as shown in Figure 10, have been provided to facilitate deformation of the upper shroud 115 at desired locations, so as to allow ease of collapsibility of the upper shroud 115.
In a preferred embodiment, the dimension of the weakenings 130 is variable along their lengths.
In another embodiment, the locations of the weakenings 130 are adjustable along the extent of the steering column zone 110, according to the observations in the crash analysis simulation.
In a preferred embodiment, the weakenings 130 are configured on the upper portion 120 and the locations of the weakenings 130 on the upper portion 120 are decided as per the packaging and safety requirement.
In still another embodiment, the weakenings 130 are in the form of portion of the instrument panel 100 having reduced thickness as compared to the other portions of the instrument panel 100.
In a preferred embodiment, the instrument panel 100 is made of a material from the group consisting of plastic, fibre composite, and polyvinyl chloride.
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 a collapsible instrument panel of a vehicle that:
• ease of collapsibility of the instrument panel;
• is efficient in absorption of impact energy; and
• offers increased safety of occupants.
The foregoing disclosure has been described with reference to the accompanying embodiments which do not limit the scope and ambit of the disclosure. The description provided is purely by way of example and illustration.
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.
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.
ECONOMIC SIGNIFICANCE
One of the objects of the Patent Law is to provide protection to new technologies in all fields and domain of technologies. The new technologies shall or may contribute in the country economy growth by way of involvement of new efficient and quality method or product manufacturing in India.
To provide the protection of new technologies by patenting the product or process will contribute significant for innovation development in the country. Further by granting patent the patentee can contribute in manufacturing the new product or new process of manufacturing by himself or by technology collaboration or through the licensing.
The applicant submits that the present disclosure will contribute in country economy, which is one of the purposes to enact the Patents Act, 1970. The product in accordance with present invention will be in great demand in country and worldwide due to novel technical features of a present invention is a technical advancement in undertaking occupant safety measures of the instrument panels used in vehicles. The technology in accordance with present disclosure will provide a safer product capable of reducing injuries to occupants.
The product will contribute new concept of constructing the instrument panels with safety features that help in reducing injuries to occupants in the event of a frontal crash, wherein patented product will be used. The product is developed in the national interest and will contribute to country economy.
The economic significance details requirement may be called during the examination. Only after filing of this Patent application, the applicant can work publically related to present disclosure product/process/method. The applicant will disclose all the details related to the economic significance contribution after the protection of invention.
,CLAIMS:
WE CLAIM:
1. An instrument panel (100) of a vehicle, said instrument panel (100) comprising:
• a steering column zone (110) configured on an upper portion (120) of said instrument panel (100);
• a plurality of weakenings (130) configured on said steering column zone (110);
wherein said steering column zone (110) of said instrument panel (100) is configured to absorb energy of a frontal impact of the vehicle with an obstruction, and said weakenings (130) are configured to collapse in the event of a frontal impact of the vehicle with the obstruction.
2. The instrument panel (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the thickness of the instrument panel (100) varies along the vertical and horizontal dimensions of said instrument panel (100).
3. The instrument panel (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the dimensions of said weakenings (130) are adjustable.
4. The instrument panel (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the locations of the weakenings (130) are adjustable along the extent of the steering column zone (110).
5. The instrument panel (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the steering column zone (110) includes an upper shroud (115) and a bottom shroud (not shown in figures).
6. The instrument panel (100) as claimed in claim 5, wherein said upper shroud (115) is configured with a plurality of weakenings (130).
7. The instrument panel (100) as claimed in claim 5, wherein said weakenings (130) are configured on said upper portion (120).
8. The instrument panel (100) as claimed in claim 8, wherein the locations of said weakenings (130) on said upper portion (120) are adapted as per packaging and safety requirement.
9. The instrument panel (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said weakenings (130) are in the form of portion of the instrument panel (100) having reduced thickness as compared to the other portions of the instrument panel (100).
10. The instrument panel (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said instrument panel (100) is made of a material from the group consisting of plastic, fibre composite, and polyvinyl chloride.