A structural instrument panel member for an instrument panel assembly of a vehicle comprises a cross beam, a steering column support, a first and second HVAC duct, and a first dash panel mount. The cross beam mount has a first surface, a first side, a second side and a first, second, third, fourth and fifth walls. The cross beam mount is fastened to a cross beam of the vehicle. The steering column support extends from the first side of the cross beam mount. The first and second HVAC duct each have a first end and a second end. The first HVAC duct is disposed on the second side of the cross beam mount and the second HVAC duct is disposed adjacent the first HVAC duct. The first dash panel mount extends from the first HVAC duct and fastened to a dash panel of the vehicle.

The present invention relates to a self-supporting carrier structure for an instrument panel in a vehicle, comprising a network of a plurality of hollow support elements and solid support elements arranged according to the results of a load path analysis, wherein the hollow support elements form at least one manifold used as an air duct comprising at least one air inlet for introducing air into the hollow support elements and at least one air outlet for guiding the air into a passenger compartment of a vehicle. Furthermore, the invention is directed to an instrument panel comprising such a carrier structure and is directed to a vehicle equipped with such an instrument panel.

A cowl cross bar is provided for a vehicle capable of easily ensuring a space in which a heads-up display device is disposed and a passage through which an air duct extends, and which exhibits improved self-supporting stiffness and sufficient stiffness to support a steering column. The cowl cross bar includes a main bar disposed in a lateral direction from a vehicle body, a pair of first brackets for supporting hardware, which is coupled to the main bar and extends forward therefrom, a second bracket for supporting a steering column, which is coupled to the main bar and extends forward therefrom, the second bracket being disposed between lower ends of the pair of first brackets for supporting hardware, and a third bracket for reinforcement, which is disposed between the pair of first brackets for supporting hardware and the second bracket for supporting the steering column and is connected thereto.

The disclosure provides an instrument panel structure of a vehicle, which is connected to a steering device of the vehicle and configured to mount an in-vehicle device. The instrument panel structure of the vehicle includes an the instrument panel, a hanger beam member, and a bracket. The instrument panel has an instrument panel upper portion, and an instrument panel middle portion located below the instrument panel upper portion and having an opening for placing the in-vehicle device. The hanger beam member is configured to support the instrument panel and extends in a left-right direction of the vehicle and is connected between a left side and a right side of a vehicle body. The bracket is disposed on the hanger beam member and configured to support the in-vehicle device. The in-vehicle device and the instrument panel middle portion are connected to the hanger beam member via the bracket.

A unitary defroster system for a motor vehicle windshield comprises an instrument panel substrate, an HVAC supply source, and an air supply plenum in fluid communication with the HVAC supply source and terminating in a plurality of individually configured defroster nozzle ducts conjoined with the instrument panel substrate and aligned in a substantially linear row parallel to and proximate an interior surface of the windshield. The unitary defroster system is formed by an additive manufacturing process and at least two of the ducts are configured and arranged to deliver a different air flow to the interior surface of the windshield.

A connecting member includes at least one of a tilting allowing structure configured to allow tilting of the connecting member, a buckling allowing structure configured to buckle at a first portion of the connecting member and a bending deformation allowing structure configured to allow the connecting member to be bent at a second portion of the connecting member. When a force equal to or larger than a predetermined force is loaded on the connecting member, an upper portion of an instrument panel can be deformed without being resisted by the connecting member. Further, the connecting member is constructed such that the connecting member does not buckle when a force smaller than the predetermined force is loaded on the connecting member. Therefore, the upper portion of the instrument panel can be prevented from being deformed downward at a normal operating state.

A cowl cross bar is provided for a vehicle capable of easily ensuring a space in which a heads-up display device is disposed and a passage through which an air duct extends, and which exhibits improved self-supporting stiffness and sufficient stiffness to support a steering column. The cowl cross bar includes a main bar disposed in a lateral direction from a vehicle body, a pair of first brackets for supporting hardware, which is coupled to the main bar and extends forward therefrom, a second bracket for supporting a steering column, which is coupled to the main bar and extends forward therefrom, the second bracket being disposed between lower ends of the pair of first brackets for supporting hardware, and a third bracket for reinforcement, which is disposed between the pair of first brackets for supporting hardware and the second bracket for supporting the steering column and is connected thereto.

In a vehicle air-conditioner-unit attachment-part structure, an air conditioner unit is arranged to face a rear surface of a dashboard and on an occupant room side. An air conditioner unit-side fixation part that is provided on a unit case is attached to a vehicle body-side fixed part at a more vehicle rearward position than the dashboard. A displacement acceptance part that accepts a movement to a vehicle rearward direction of the unit case with respect to the vehicle body-side fixed part is provided between the air conditioner unit-side fixation part and the vehicle body-side fixed part when an impact load is input to the unit case via the dashboard from a vehicle frontward direction.

A vehicle with a front windshield and a dashboard, which has a ventilation device with a defroster air outlet, and which has a head-up display integrated into the dashboard and has a front windshield projector, and a shielding frame, which delimits a projection passage, through which the front windshield projector projects optical information onto the front windshield and/or onto a combiner screen disposed in the region of the front windshield. The shielding frame is formed closed in the form of a frame with a front frame part, facing the front windshield, and a rear frame part facing away therefrom, which are connected to one another via side frame parts. The front frame part of the shielding frame is made double-walled with an inner wall, delimiting the projection passage, and an outer wall facing the front windshield, which form the defroster air outlet therebetween.

A structural instrument panel member for an instrument panel assembly of a vehicle comprises a cross beam, a steering column support, a first and second HVAC duct, and a first dash panel mount. The cross beam mount has a first surface, a first side, a second side and a first, second, third, fourth and fifth walls. The cross beam mount is fastened to a cross beam of the vehicle. The steering column support extends from the first side of the cross beam mount. The first and second HVAC duct each have a first end and a second end. The first HVAC duct is disposed on the second side of the cross beam mount and the second HVAC duct is disposed adjacent the first HVAC duct. The first dash panel mount extends from the first HVAC duct and fastened to a dash panel of the vehicle.