BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] The invention relates to a dashboard assembly and to a vehicle comprising such an assembly.

[0003] To be more precise, the aim is to integrate a housing, such as an electrical housing, especially a fuse-carrier housing or the like, in the dashboard at minimum cost, while at the same time ensuring absolute safety for the occupants of the vehicle in the case of impact.

[0004] 2. Description of the Prior Art

[0005] This housing is generally removably mounted in a support between a normal, retracted, use position and a maintenance position in which the fuses and other electrical or electronic components are accessible. It is generally located in the vicinity of the firebreak bulkhead of the vehicle (separation between the engine compartment and the passenger space) to which it is secured, because numerous electrical cables from the engine compartment are connected thereto.

[0006] In the case of front impact, since the bulkhead penetrates into the inside of the passenger space, there is a risk that the housing will hit the passengers. In particular, in the case of a fuse-carrier housing, which is generally disposed to the left of the driver, in the vicinity of the A-pillar (front support of the vehicle structure) and at the lower portion of the dashboard, in the case of impact, there is a risk that the housing will collide either with the A-pillar of the vehicle or with the left knee of the driver.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0007] The object of the invention is to solve this problem without notably increasing the cost of the dashboard. In order to do this, according to the invention, the assembly comprises:

[0008] a structural element extending in a direction of elongation,

[0009] flanges being an integral part of the structural element and extending substantially perpendicularly to the direction of elongation,

[0010] a housing connected to the flanges by way of releasable retaining means, in order:

[0011] to permit the displacement of the housing relative to the flanges under the action of a load, greater than a determined threshold, exerted in a longitudinal direction which is substantially perpendicular to the direction of elongation and substantially horizontal, and

[0012] to hold the housing in position relative to the flanges when the housing is subjected to loads lower than the given threshold in the longitudinal direction.

[0013] Thus, since the housing is connected to the structural element by way of the flanges, the connection between the housing and the bulkhead can be dispensed with. Consequently, when the bulkhead penetrates into the inside of the passenger space and collides with the housing, the releasable retaining means release the housing relative to the flanges, so that there is no risk that it will damage the A-pillar or the driver's knee.

[0014] By producing the flanges at the same time as the structural element of the dashboard, the cost of producing the housing support is reduced and time is saved in mounting the housing on the dashboard.

[0015] In order further to reduce the risk of injury to the passengers, according to the invention, the assembly has the following additional features:

[0016] the housing extends in the longitudinal direction between a front end and a rear end,

[0017] the releasable retaining means comprise a front portion disposed in the vicinity of the front end and a rear portion separate from the front portion and disposed in the vicinity of the rear end.

[0018] The separation of the releasable retaining means into a front portion and a rear portion makes it possible to obtain both good retention and a release of the housing after slight translation (a few centimetres at most) of the housing relative to the flanges, in contrast with a slide which requires translation over a distance at least equal to half the length of the housing before the latter is released, if it is desired that the slide should hold the housing in position in a satisfactory manner under normal conditions.

[0019] Advantageously, the releasable retaining means comprise two radially open bores which are substantially Ω-shaped and which are resiliently deformable, and two studs which are inserted tightly in the bores.

[0020] Such retaining means are relatively simple, inexpensive, reliable and sturdy.

[0021] Preferably, the Ω-shaped bores have a radial opening directed slightly upwards.

[0022] Thus, there is less risk that the weight of the housing will cause an inadvertent release of the housing relative to the flanges, in particular under the action of vibration.

[0023] According to an additional advantageous feature, the releasable retaining means also comprise two curved rails which extend each of the Ω-shaped bores in such a manner as to guide the studs.

[0024] Thus, the displacement of the housing relative to the flanges is controlled after release, which consequently reduces the risk that the housing will hit the occupants of the vehicle or a portion of the vehicle.

[0025] Furthermore, the determined load threshold beyond which the releasable retaining means permit the displacement of the housing is advantageously from 10 newtons to 100 newtons.

[0026] Thus, by means of the releasable retaining means, the housing is held in position relative to the flanges sufficiently securely not to be released under the action of vibration, and it can be released, especially for a maintenance operation, by exerting a moderate force.

[0027] The invention relates also to a vehicle comprising a passenger space containing the assembly and a front engine compartment separated from the passenger space by a bulkhead. According to the invention, there is a space separating the flanges from the bulkhead.

[0028] A space is therefore available for absorbing energy in the case of impact, before the bulkhead collides with the structure of the dashboard via the flanges. This space can be obtained, on the one hand, owing to the fact that the housing is held in position on the dashboard structure and not on the bulkhead and, on the other hand, by the release of the connection between the flanges and the housing.

[0029] Advantageously, the flanges are spaced from the bulkhead by at least 30 millimetres.