Overhead instrument console

• US 4,421,190 A
• Filed: 06/03/1981
• Issued: 12/20/1983
• Est. Priority Date: 06/03/1981
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Case Corporation (CNH Industrial N.V.)
• Original Assignee: Steiger Tractor, Inc. (CNH Industrial N.V.)
• Inventors: Martinson, William E., Tuchscherer, Michael A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bertsch, Richard A.
• Application Number:
  US06/270,111
• Time in Patent Office: 930 Days
• Field of Search: 180/90, 280/752, 350/307, D12/155, D12/192, 248/27.1
• US Class Current: 180/90
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/00 Instruments specially adapted for vehicles; Arrangement of instruments in or on vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/02 for radio sets, television sets, telephones, or the like; Arrangement of controls thereof
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/0205 for radio sets B60R11/0211 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/0264 for control means
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0028 Ceiling, e.g. roof rails

Abstract

An overhead instrument console for use in a tractor includes a panel spanning the driver'"'"'s compartment. A hinge pivotally connects the panel to the ceiling such that the panel pivots to a down position permitting full access to the rear of instruments mounted on the panel and to such devices as windshield wiper motors, and pivots to an up position hiding from view the rear of the instruments mounted thereon. A latching mechanism is provided to keep the panel in the up position.

Claims

1. An overhead instrument console in combination with a tractor having a driver'"'"'s compartment with a steering column and steering wheel, and having windows with motor driven windshield wipers, and a ceiling structure, the console comprising:

a panel having vertical and horizontal panel sections and transversely substantially spanning the driver'"'"'s compartment overhead adjacent to the windows and having a plurality of instruments mounted on the vertical panel portion and extending through to the rear of said panel, secured to the ceiling structure when in the up position, said panel when in the down position providing access to electrical components and the electrical circuitry located within the ceiling structure and connecting the electrical components located within the ceiling structure;

a hinge pivotally connecting said horizontal panel section to the ceiling structure so that said horizontal panel section constitutes part of the ceiling structure and such that the panel can be pivotally lowered to a down position without interference from the steering wheel, thus permitting full access to the rear of the instruments mounted on the panel and can be pivotally moved to an up position hiding from view the rear of the instruments mounted thereon; and

means for limiting the downward pivoting of the panel and holding the panel in a downwardly angular plane in a stable position.

2. The console of claim 1 wherein the wiper motors of the motor driven windshield wipers are accessible when the panel is lowered.

3. The console of claim 1 in which there are sun visors pivotally mounted to the panel.

4. The console of claim 1 wherein the hinge pivotally connects the panel to the ceiling across the entire transverse width of the panel.

5. The console of claim 1 in which the means for limiting downward pivoting of the panel is a cable means secured at one end to the ceiling structure and at its other end to the panel.