| US 7,607,691 B2 | ||
| Lost core structural instrument panel | ||
| Paul Arnold, LaSalle (Canada); and Spero Boutsikaris, Troy, Mich. (US) | ||
| Assigned to Mahle International GmbH, Stuttgart (Germany) | ||
| Filed on Aug. 27, 2004, as Appl. No. 10/928,793. | ||
| Claims priority of provisional application 60/558865, filed on Apr. 02, 2004. | ||
| Claims priority of provisional application 60/498071, filed on Aug. 27, 2003. | ||
| Prior Publication US 2005/0046164 A1, Mar. 03, 2005 | ||
| Int. Cl. B60R 21/04 (2006.01) | ||
| U.S. Cl. 280—751 [280/752; 296/70] | 15 Claims |
| 1. A plastic support structure for an instrument panel comprising:
a first segment having a hollow core defining an air passage;
a support segment for an instrument panel; and
at least one knee bolster support segment, wherein said first segment, said support segment and said at least one knee bolster
support segment comprise a single unitary plastic molded article, said at least one knee bolster support segment including
a substantially oval cross-section having a wall thickness that varies along a length of the knee bolster support segment.
|