Patent US4767153A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4767153A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Safety structure of vehicle body adjacent instrument panel
Assignee: Nissan Motor Co Ltd
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Filing: 1987-01-08
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Granted: 1988-08-30
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Expires: 2007-01-08
Abstract
Abstract A safety structure of a vehicle body adjacent an instrument panel is provided with a stopper spanning between an instrument stay and a front door hinge pillar so as to cooperate with the instrument stay to prevent rearward movements of a heater unit, fan unit and cooling unit of an air conditioner upon a head-on collision or the like.
Inventors
- 👤 Tomoaki Kawasaki
- 👤 Yoshinori Akiyama
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-10 01:13
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60H; B60H1/00; B60H1/00507; B60H1/00514; B60H1/00535; B60R; B60R21/00; B62; B62D; B62D25/00; B62D25/08; B62D25/14
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
100 words
A safety structure of a vehicle body adjacent an instrument panel, comprising: an air box extending laterally of the vehicle body and having a longitudinally intermediate portion; a vehicle floor; an instrument stay spanning between said intermediate portion of said air box and said vehicle floor; vehicle equipment disposed forwardly of said instrument stay; a front door hinge pillar located nearer to a front passenger seat; and a detachable, elongated rigid stopper member spanning between said instrument stay and said front door hinge pillar to prevent rearward movement of said vehicle equipment toward an occupant of the front passenger seat.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
100 words
A safety structure of a vehicle body adjacent an instrument panel, comprising: an air box extending laterally of the vehicle body and having a longitudinally intermediate portion; a vehicle floor; an instrument stay spanning between said intermediate portion of said air box and said vehicle floor; vehicle equipment disposed forwardly of said instrument stay; a front door hinge pillar located nearer to a front passenger seat; and a detachable, elongated rigid stopper member spanning between said instrument stay and said front door hinge pillar to prevent rearward movement of said vehicle equipment toward an occupant of the front passenger seat.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
43 words
A safety structure as set forth in claim 1 wherein said instrument stay comprises a pair of depending rigid members which are spaced from each other in the lateral direction of the vehicle body and a transversal rigid member interconnecting said depending members.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
41 words
A safety structure as set forth in claim 2 wherein said vehicle floor comprises a tunnel portion, said depending members being secured at the lower ends thereof to said tunnel portion and at the upper ends thereof to said air box.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
52 words
A safety structure as set forth in claim 3 wherein said stopper member is bolted at the opposite ends thereof to said front door hinge pillar and one of said depending members located nearer to the front passenger seat, and an abutment member secured to said stopper member to project forwardly therefrom.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
29 words
A safety structure as set forth in claim 4 wherein said stopper member has a central portion projecting forwardly from the remaining end portions to have a bow-like shape.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
50 words
A safety structure as set forth in claim 5 wherein said stopper member is made of a pipe material, and said stopper member has a V-like shape and is secured, at their rearward ends which are arranged to oppose vertically, to the upper and lower sides of said stopper member.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
24 words
A safety structure as set forth in claim 6 wherein said vehicle equipment comprises an air conditioner disposed rearwards of a dash lower panel.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
41 words
A safety structure as set forth in claim 7 wherein said air conditioner includes a plurality of constituent units one of which is disposed in front of said instrument stay and the remaining units are disposed in front of said stopper.
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) | 1991-08-30 | 1992-02-29 | 1992-08-30 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1995-08-30 | 1996-02-29 | 1996-08-30 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1999-08-30 | 2000-02-29 | 2000-08-30 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |