Control element mounting arrangement

Claim 2

In an instrument panel structure including a rigid plate member and a relatively thick compressible pad member disposed against one side of said plate member for deflection in a cushioning mode in response to a compressive impact thereon, the combination comprising, means defining a recess in said pad member, means defining a recess in said plate member registering with said pad member recess and cooperating therewith in defining a passage through said panel structure, a control element unit adapted for disposition in said passage in an operational position wherein one end of said unit is situated in generally flush relation to the outer surface of said pad member, and quick release means adapted to connect said unit to said plate member in a manner whereby said unit is normally rigidly supported in said operational position on said plate member but is releasable therefrom in response to a compressive impact on said unit thereby to preserve the impact cushioning ability of said pad member in the area of said unit, said quick release means including latch means on said unit and on said plate member operative in a latched condition to rigidly support said unit on said plate member and cam means on said unit and on said plate member responsive to compressive forces exerted on said unit to effect a change in the condition of said latch means from the latched condition to an unlatched condition permitting substantially instantaneous release of said unit from said plate member.

Claim 3

In an instrument panel structure including a rigid plate member and a relatively thick compressible pad member disposed against one side of said plate member for deflection in a cushioning mode in response to a compressive impact thereon, the combination comprising, means defining a recess in said pad member, means defining a recess in said plate member registering with said pad member recess and cooperating therewith in defining a passage through said panel structure, a control element adapted for disposition in said pad member recess in an operational position wherein one end of said control element is situated in generally flush relation to the outer surface of said pad member, a receptacle adapted for disposition in said plate member recess, means on said receptacle and on said control element operative to unitize the former and the latter, means on said receptacle and on said plate member operative to detachably mount said control element and receptacle unit in said passage and on said plate member for pivotal movement about an axis of said plate member between a mounted position wherein said control element is disposed in the operational position thereof and a releasing position angularly spaced from said mounted position wherein said unit is readily detachable from said plate member, a cantilever spring element having latch means thereon, means rigidly attaching said cantilever spring element to one of said plate member and said unit, said latch means being resiliently urged by said cantilever spring element to a latching position engaging the other of said plate member and said unit to rigidly support said unit on said plate member, and cam means on one of said plate member and said unit associated with said latch means and responsive in the mounted position of Said unit to compressive forces on the latter to move said latch means against said cantilever spring element from the latched position to an unlatched position permitting substantially instantaneous movement of said unit from the mounted to the releasing position thereof thereby to preserve the impact cushioning ability of said pad member in the area of said control element.

Claim 4

In an instrument panel structure including a rigid plate member and a relatively thick compressible pad member disposed against one side of said plate member for deflection in a cushioning mode in response to a compressive impact thereon, the combination comprising, means defining a recess in said pad member, means defining a recess in said plate member registering with said pad member recess and cooperating therewith in defining a passage through said panel structure, a control element adapted for disposition in said pad member recess in an operational position wherein one end of said control element is situated in generally flush relation to the outer surface of said pad member, a receptacle adapted for disposition in said plate member recess, means on said receptacle and on said control element operative to unitize the former and the latter, means on said receptacle and on said plate member operative to detachably mount said control element and receptacle unit in said passage and on said plate member for pivotal movement about an axis of said plate member between a mounted position wherein said control element is disposed in the operational position thereof and a releasing position angularly spaced from said mounted position wherein said unit is readily detachable from said plate member, a cantilever spring element having latch means thereon, means rigidly attaching said cantilever spring element to one of said plate member and said unit, said latch means being resiliently urged by said cantilever spring element to a latching position engaging the other of said plate member and said unit to rigidly support said unit on said plate member, and cam means on one of said plate member and said unit associated with said latch means and responsive in the mounted position of Said unit to compressive forces on the latter to move said latch means against said cantilever spring element from the latched position to an unlatched position permitting substantially instantaneous movement of said unit from the mounted to the releasing position thereof thereby to preserve the impact cushioning ability of said pad member in the area of said control element.

Claim 5

In an instrument panel structure including a rigid plate member and a relatively thick compressible pad member disposed against one side of said plate member for deflection in a cushioning mode in response to a compressive impact thereon, the combination comprising, means defining an aperture in said pad member, means defining an aperture in said plate member registering with said pad member aperture and cooperating therewith and defining a passage through said panel structure, a control element adapted for disposition in said pad member aperture in an operational position wherein one end of said control element is situated in generally flush relation to the outer surface of said pad member, a receptacle adapted for disposition in said plate member aperture, means on said receptacle and on said control element operative to unitize the former and the latter, means defining a hooklike projection on one of said receptacle and said plate member adapted to hookingly engage the other for releasably mounting said control element and receptacle unit on said plate member and in said passage for pivotal movement about an axis of said plate member between a mounted position wherein said control element is disposed in the operational position thereof and a releasing position angularly spaced from said mounted position wherein said unit is readily detachable from said plate member, and means defining an integral cantilever spring element on said receptacle having latch means and a cam surface thereon, said cantilever spring element in the mounted position of said unit resiliently urging said latch means to a latched position engaging said plate member to relatively rigidly support said unit on said plate member and said cam surface being operative in response to compressive impact on said unit to deflect said cantilever spring element from the position thereof corresponding to the latched position of said latch means to a position corresponding to an unlatched position of said latch means permitting substantially instantaneous pivotal movement of said unit from the mounted to the releasing position thereof thereby to preserve the impact cushioning ability of said pad member in the area of said control element.

Claim 6

In an instrument panel structure including a rigid plate member and a relatively thick compressible pad member disposed against one side of said plate member for deflection in a cushioning mode in response to a compressive impact thereon, the combination comprising, means defining an aperture in said pad member, means defining an aperture in said plate member registering with said pad member aperture and cooperating therewith and defining a passage through said panel structure, a control element adapted for disposition in said pad member aperture in an operational position wherein one end of said control element is situated in generally flush relation to the outer surface of said pad member, a receptacle adapted for disposition in said plate member aperture, means on said receptacle and on said control element operative to unitize the former and the latter, means defining a hooklike projection on one of said receptacle and said plate member adapted to hookingly engage the other for releasably mounting said control element and receptacle unit on said plate member and in said passage for pivotal movement about an axis of said plate member between a mounted position wherein said control element is disposed in the operational position thereof and a releasing position angularly spaced from said mounted position wherein said unit is readily detachable from said plate member, and means defining an integral cantilever spring element on said receptacle having latch means and a cam surface thereon, said cantilever spring element in the mounted position of said unit resiliently urging said latch means to a latched position engaging said plate member to relatively rigidly support said unit on said plate member and said cam surface being operative in response to compressive impact on said unit to deflect said cantilever spring element from the position thereof corresponding to the latched position of said latch means to a position corresponding to an unlatched position of said latch means permitting substantially instantaneous pivotal movement of said unit from the mounted to the releasing position thereof thereby to preserve the impact cushioning ability of said pad member in the area of said control element.