Apparatus for mounting instrument to instrument panel in motor vehicle

Claim 1

In a motor vehicle having a passenger compartment: an instrument panel having a first surface, on one side thereof, exposed to the passenger compartment and a second surface, on the other side thereof, the instrument panel having an opening formed therethrough; an instrument mounted to said instrument panel having a body disposed in an area on the said other side of said instrument panel and a knob projecting from the body into the passenger compartment through the opening formed throught the instrument panel; means for holding the instrument in an operative position in which the knob projects into the passenger compartment by a predetermined amount from the first surface, but permitting the instrument to move in a sense tending to retract the knob from the passenger compartment upon application of a force exceeding a predetermined value on the instrument in a sense tending to move the instrument toward the opening of the instrument panel; the instrument holding means including at least one projection on the second surface of the instrument panel adjacent the opening of the same; a plurality of bolts screwed into the projection, the bolts having shank portions, respectively, which extend in parallel with each other; a flange secured to the instrument, the flange being slidably mounted on the shank portions; and springs mounted around the shank portions, respectively, the springs being compressed to bias the flange into abutting engagement with the projection.