US3776359A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Instrument panel for vehicles
Assignee: Daimler Benz AG
•
Filing: 1972-08-17
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Granted: 1973-12-04
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Expires: 1992-08-17
Abstract
Abstract An instrument panel for motor vehicles, especially with a negative profile formed approximately in accordance with the contours of a person seated facing the same, which is automatically displaceably arranged in the vehicle longitudinal direction in such a manner that with the opening of a front door, the instrument panel is displaced into a forward position remote from the driver and/or co-driver, and with the closing of the front doors is displaced into a rearward position close to the driver and co-driver; at least one damping member is provided which is supported, on the one hand, at the instrument panel and, on the other at a relatively fixed vehicle part and which is preferably constructed in the manner of a shock absorber.
Inventors
- 👤 W Breitschwerdt
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 10:55
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60R; B60R21/00; B60R21/02
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 35
Claim 1
Independent Claim
106 words
An instrument panel arrangement for motor vehicles characterized by instrument panel means displaceable in the vehicle longitudinal direction, means for automatically displacing the instrument panel means in the vehicle longitudinal direction in such a manner that with the opening of a front door, the instrument panel means is displaced into a forward position remote from the driver or co-driver and with the closing of the respective front door, the instrument panel means is brought into a rearward position near the driver or co-driver, and damping means supported, on the one hand, at the instrument panel means and, on the other, at a relatively fixed vehicle part.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
106 words
An instrument panel arrangement for motor vehicles characterized by instrument panel means displaceable in the vehicle longitudinal direction, means for automatically displacing the instrument panel means in the vehicle longitudinal direction in such a manner that with the opening of a front door, the instrument panel means is displaced into a forward position remote from the driver or co-driver and with the closing of the respective front door, the instrument panel means is brought into a rearward position near the driver or co-driver, and damping means supported, on the one hand, at the instrument panel means and, on the other, at a relatively fixed vehicle part.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
31 words
An instrument panel arrangement according to claim 1, characterized in that the instrument panel means has a negative profile matched approximately to the contours of a person seated facing the same.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
30 words
An instrument panel arrangement according to claim 1, characterized in that the automatic displacement of the instrument panel means in the vehicle longitudinal direction is initiated by a working medium.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
19 words
An instrument panel arrangement according to claim 3, characterized in that the working medium is a compressible working medium.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
35 words
An instrument panel arrangement according to claim 3, in a motor vehicle with an internal combustion engine, characterized in that the vacuum prevailing in the suction pipe of the engine is used as working medium.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
23 words
An instrument panel arrangement according to claim 5, characterized in that the damping means is constructed in the manner of a shock absorber.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
60 words
An instrument panel arrangement according to claim 6, characterized in that the instrument panel means is divided approximately in the direction of the center longitudinal axis of the vehicle, and in that the longitudinal displacement of each part of the subdivided instrument panel means takes place in dependence on tHe opened and closed condition of the respectively adjacent front door.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
48 words
An instrument panel arrangement according to claim 6, characterized in that the adjusting movement of the instrument panel means is achieved by at least one double-acting piston-cylinder unit supported, on the one hand, at the instrument panel means and, on the other, at a relatively fixed vehicle part.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
56 words
An instrument panel arrangement according to claim 7, characterized in that the adjusting movement of each part of a two-partite instrument panel means is achieved by at least one double-acting piston-cylinder unit supported, on the one hand, at the respective part of the instrument panel means and, on the other, at a relatively fixed vehicle part.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
44 words
An instrument panel arrangement according to claim 8, characterized in that the distance of extension in case of a unitary instrument panel means is limited by at least one abutment means fixed at the vehicle and coordinated to the position of a steering wheel.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
55 words
An instrument panel arrangement according to claim 9, characterized in that in case of a two-partite instrument panel means the distance of extension of the part of the instrument panel means coordinated to the co-driver seat is limited by at least one abutment means displaceable in the vehicle longitudinal direction together with the co-driver seat.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
94 words
An instrument panel arrangement according to claim 9, characterized in that in case of a two-partite instrument panel means the distance of extension of the part of the instrument panel means coordinated to the driver seat is limited by at least one abutment means fixed at the vehicle and coordinated to the position of the steering wheel and the distance of extension of the part of the instrument panel means coordinated to the co-driver seat is limited by at least one abutment means displaceable in the vehicle longitudinal direction together with the co-driver seat.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
65 words
An instrument panel arrangement according to claim 8, characterized in that the piston-cylinder unit coordinated to a unitary instrument panel means is acted upon with vacuum by way of a displacement valve means which with closed front doors is held in its normal rest position by the effect of a spring and which upon opening of a front door is displaced into its working position.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
49 words
An instrument panel arrangement according to claim 13, characterized in that upon opening of a front door the displacement valve means is transferred into its working position by way of door contact switch means and by the effect of an electromagnet operatively connected with the door contact switch means.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
58 words
An instrument panel arrangement according to claim 12, characterized in that in case of a two-partite instrument panel means, the piston-cylinder unit coordinated to a respective part of the instrument panel means is acted upon by a spring-loaded displacement valve means which assumes always a position caused in dependence on the condition of the respectively coordinated front door.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
69 words
An instrument panel arrangement according to claim 12, characterized in that in case of a two-partite instrument panel means, upon longitudinal displacement of the co-driver seat, the part of the instrument panel means facing the same is displaced automatically in the direction of its position remote from the co-driver and after termination of the displacement operation returns into a position matched to the new position of the co-driver seat.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
31 words
An instrument panel arrangement according to claim 16, characterized in that one piston-cylinder unit and one damping means each engage approximately centrally at each part of a two-partite instrument panel means.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
42 words
An instrument panel arrangement according to claim 17, characterized in that the approximately centrally engaging piston-cylinder unit and damping means of a respective part of an instrument panel are disposed one above the other in an aperture of the instrument panel means.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
29 words
An instrument panel arrangement according tO claim 16, characterized in that a respective centrally engaging piston-cylinder unit is surrounded on both sides by two approximately horizontally disposed damping means.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
31 words
An instrument panel arrangement according to claim 19, characterized in that the instrument panel means has a negative profile matched approximately to the contours of a person seated facing the same.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
23 words
An instrument panel arrangement according to claim 1, characterized in that the damping means is constructed in the manner of a shock absorber.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
60 words
An instrument panel arrangement according to claim 1, characterized in that the instrument panel means is divided approximately in the direction of the center longitudinal axis of the vehicle, and in that the longitudinal displacement of each part of the subdivided instrument panel means takes place in dependence on the opened and closed condition of the respectively adjacent front door.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
48 words
An instrument panel arrangement according to claim 1, characterized in that the adjusting movement of the instrument panel means is achieved by at least one double-acting piston-cylinder unit supported, on the one hand, at the instrument panel means and, on the other, at a relatively fixed vehicle part.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
56 words
An instrument panel arrangement according to claim 1, characterized in that the adjusting movement of each part of a two-partite instrument panel means is achieved by at least one double-acting piston-cylinder unit supported, on the one hand, at the respective part of the instrument panel means and, on the other, at a relatively fixed vehicle part.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
44 words
An instrument panel arrangement according to claim 1, characterized in that the distance of extension in case of a unitary instrument panel means is limited by at least one abutment means fixed at the vehicle and coordinated to the position of a steering wheel.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
55 words
An instrument panel arrangement according to claim 1, characterized in that in case of a two-partite instrument panel means the distance of extension of the part of the instrument panel means coordinated to the co-driver seat is limited by at least one abutment means displaceable in the vehicle longitudinal direction together with the co-driver seat.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
94 words
An instrument panel arrangement according to claim 1, characterized in that in case of a two-partite instrument panel means the distance of extension of the part of the instrument panel means coordinated to the driver seat is limited by at least one abutment means fixed at the vehicle and coordinated to the position of the steering wheel and the distance of extension of the part of the instrument panel means coordinated to the co-driver seat is limited by at least one abutment means displaceable in the vehicle longitudinal direction together with the co-driver seat.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
65 words
An instrument panel arrangement according to claim 23, characterized in that the piston-cylinder unit coordinated to a unitary instrument panel means is acted upon with vacuum by way of a displacement valve means which with closed fornt doors is held in its normal rest position by the effect of a spring and which upon opening of a front door is displaced into its working position.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
49 words
An instrument panel arrangement according to claim 28, characterized in that upon opening of a front door the displacement valve means is transferred into its working position by way of door contact switch means and by the effect of an electromagnet operatively connected with the door contact switch means.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
58 words
An instrument panel arrangement according to claim 24, characterized in that in case of a two-partite instrument panel means, the piston-cylinder unit coordinated to a respective part of the instrument panel means is acted upon by a spring-loaded displacement valve means which assumes always a position caused in dependence on the condition of the respectively coordinated front door.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
69 words
An instrument panel arrangement according to claim 1, characterized in that in case of a two-partite instrument panel means, upon longItudinal displacement of the co-driver seat, the part of the instrument panel means facing the same is displaced automatically in the direction of its position remote from the co-driver and after termination of the displacement operation returns into a position matched to the new position of the co-driver seat.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
31 words
An instrument panel arrangement according to claim 1, characterized in that one piston-cylinder unit and one damping means each engage approximately centrally at each part of a two-partite instrument panel means.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
42 words
An instrument panel arrangement according to claim 32, characterized in that the approximately centrally engaging piston-cylinder unit and damping means of a respective part of an instrument panel are disposed one above the other in an aperture of the instrument panel means.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
29 words
An instrument panel arrangement according to claim 1, characterized in that a respective centrally engaging piston-cylinder unit is surrounded on both sides by two approximately horizontally disposed damping means.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-12-03 | 1977-06-04 | 1977-12-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-12-03 | 1981-06-04 | 1981-12-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-12-03 | 1985-06-04 | 1985-12-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |