Quick attach/detach instrument panel and method

Claim 2

A quick attach/detach instrument panel assembly comprising: a plurality of electrical instruments; an instrument panel having front and back surfaces and a plurality of individual apertures receiving said instruments such that said instruments are readable on said panel front surface; a ZIF connector loaded at said back surface including first and second portions, said first portion including a plurality of cables emanating therefrom, each of said plurality of cables being electrically secured to a back portion of each of said instruments, and said second portion terminating the conductors of a wire harness such that said individual harness conductors are electrically connected to appropriate ones of said instruments; and mechanical means removably securing each of said plurality of instruments to said instrument panel front.

Claim 3

A quick attach/detach instrument panel assembly as in claim 1 wherein said ZIF connector is of the key shift variety, said assembly including a key means for interlocking said first and second portions and said instrument panel including an aperture for insertion of said key from said panel front surface.

Claim 4

A quick attach/detach instrument panel assembly as in claim 1 wherein said plurality of cables are of the ribbon conductor type, said ribbon conductors terminating in disc portions having a plurality of apertured face pads, said back portions of said instruments including corresponding face pads and pins, whereby said plurality of ribbon conductors are electrically secured to said back portions by insertion of said pins in the apertures of said disc portion face pads.

Claim 5

A quick attach/detach instrument panel assembly comprising: a plurality of electrical instruments, each of said instruments including a flange element having inner and outer faces, said plurality of instruments being operable via an instrument conductor secured to said flange inner face and terminating in a first connector element; an instrument panel having front and back surfaces, said instrument panel including a plurality of individual apertures receiving said instruments with said flange elements in overlapping relationship with said front surface whereby said instruments are readable on said panel front surface; a ZIF connector including first and second portions, said first portion being secured in an aperture in said instrument panel and including a plurality of conductors emanating therefrom, each of said plurality of conductors terminating in a second connector element, and being secured to said panel front surface, wherein said ZIF conductors are electrically connected to said instruments with said first and second connector elements in electrical contact, an instrument panel supporting structure, said ZIF connector second portion being secured to said structure and terminating the conductors of a wire harness such that said individual harness conductors are electrically connected to appropriate ones of said instruments; and mechanical means removably securing each of said plurality of instruments to said instrument panel front.

Claim 6

A quick attach/detach instrument panel assembly comprising: a plurality of electrical instruments, each of said instruments including a flange element having inner and outer faces, said plurality of instruments being operable via an instrument conductor secured to said flange inner face and terminating in a first connector element; an instrument panel having front and back surfaces, said instrument panel including a plurality of individual apertures receiving said instruments with said flange elements in overlapping relationship with said front surface whereby said instruments are readable on said panel front surface; a ZIF connector including first and second portions, said first portion being secured in an aperture in said instrument panel and including a plurality of conductors emanating therefrom, each of said plurality of conductors terminating in a second connector element, and being secured to said panel front surface, wherein said ZIF conductors are electrically connected to said instruments with said first and second connector elements in electrical contact, an instrument panel supporting structure, said ZIF connector second portion being secured to said structure and terminating the conductors of a wire harness such that said individual harness conductors are electrically connected to appropriate ones of said instruments; and mechanical means removably securing each of said plurality of instruments to said instrument panel front.

Claim 7

A quick attach/detach instrument panel assembly as in claim 4 wherein said first and second connector elements comprise contact pad pins.

Claim 8

A quick attach/detach instrument panel assembly in claim 4 wherein said ZIF connector is of the key shift variety.

Claim 9

A quick attach/detach instrument panel assembly comprising: a plurality of electrical instruments, each of said instruments including a flange element having inner and outer faces, said plurality of instruments including a conductor secured to said flange inner face and terminating in a first connector element; an instrument panel having front and back surfaces, said instrument panel including a plurality of individual apertures receiving said instruments with said flange elements in overlapping relationship with said front surface whereby said instruments are readable on said front surface; a ZIF connector including first and second portions, said first portion being secured to said panel back surface, said first portion and said panel having an aligned through passage; an instrument panel support structure, said second ZIF connector portion being secured in an aperture in said support structure and including a projecting manual operation pin received in said through passage, said second portion terminating the conductors of a wire harness such that said individual harness conductors are electrically connected to appropriate ones of said instruments; and mechanical means removably securing each of said plurality of instruments to said instrument panel front.

Claim 10

A quick attach/detach instrument panel assembly comprising: a plurality of electrical instruments, each of said instruments including a flange element having inner and outer faces, said plurality of instruments including a conductor secured to said flange inner face and terminating in a first connector element; an instrument panel having front and back surfaces, said instrument panel including a plurality of individual apertures receiving said instruments with said flange elements in overlapping relationship with said front surface whereby said instruments are readable on said front surface; a ZIF connector including first and second portions, said first portion being secured to said panel back surface, said first portion and said panel having an aligned through passage; an instrument panel support structure, said second ZIF connector portion being secured in an aperture in said support structure and including a projecting manual operation pin received in said through passage, said second portion terminating the conductors of a wire harness such that said individual harness conductors are electrically connected to appropriate ones of said instruments; and mechanical means removably securing each of said plurality of instruments to said instrument panel front.