Unit panel structure for a door trim

• US 5,434,757 A
• Filed: 01/04/1993
• Issued: 07/18/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 04/01/1992
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Kasai Kogyo Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Kasai Kogyo Company Limited
• Inventors: Kashiwagi, Naoki
• Primary Examiner(s): Lazarus, Ira S.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Cariaso, Alan B.
• Application Number:
  US08/000,112
• Time in Patent Office: 925 Days
• Field of Search: 307/10.8, 315/77, 315/84, 315/360, 315/362, 362/23, 362/28, 362/29, 362/75, 362/83.3, 362/85, 362/95, 362/100, 362/131, 362/802, 362/276, 362/80, 200/314, 200/315, 200/317
• US Class Current: 362/501
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/797 for use as electrical control means, e.g. switches
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/82 Switches specially adapted for vehicle interior lighting, e.g. switching by tilting the lens
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2400/854 Switches
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2219/039 Selective or different modes of illumination
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2300/01 Application power window
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 17/96 Touch switches specially adapted for electronic time-pieces with no moving parts G04G21/08
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 2217/96042 with illumination
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 362/802 Position or condition responsive switch

Abstract

To allow smooth access to such elements as operating knobs for power window switches and a door lock switch provided in a unit panel in the night time lighting condition, the entire surface of an escutcheon panel mounted on the unit panel is defined as a switch operating part for an illuminating lamp which illuminates the elements to be accessed. The illuminating lamp may be lighted up for a prescribed time period to illuminate the escutcheon panel when the switch operating part is touched so that unnecessary consumption of electric power may be avoided. The escutcheon panel may be made of at lease semi-transparent plastic so that light from an illuminating lamp placed behind the escutcheon panel may be transmitted through the escutcheon panel. Alternatively, the element to be accessed such as a switch knob mounted on the escutcheon panel may be made of at lease semi-transparent plastic so that illuminating light may be transmitted therethrough.

Claims

1. A unit panel for an automobile door trim, comprising:

an escutcheon panel displaceably mounted on said automobile door trim with an element mounted on said escutcheon panel that is to be accessed by a user;

an illuminating lamp for illuminating the element; and

an electric circuit including an electric switch for selectively activating said illuminating lamp, a substantially entire surface of said escutcheon panel being displaceable to thereby activate said switch.

2. A unit panel for an automobile door trim according to claim 1, wherein said circuit comprises a timer circuit for maintaining said illuminating lamp activated for a prescribed time period.

3. A unit panel for an automobile door trim according to claim 1, wherein said electric switch comprises a pressure sensor which is activated upon displacement of said escutcheon panel.

4. A unit panel for an automobile door trim according to claim 1, wherein said electric switch comprises a touch sensor which is activated upon displacement of said escutcheon panel.

5. A unit panel for an automobile door trim according to claim 1, wherein said electric switch comprises a mechanical contact switch which is activated upon displacement of said escutcheon panel.

9. A unit panel for an automobile door trim according to claim 1, wherein wherein said illuminating lamp consists of a room lamp.

10. A unit panel for an automobile door trim according to claim 1, wherein said door trim consists of an arm rest provided in an automotive door trim.

6. A unit panel for an automobile door trim, comprising:

an escutcheon panel displaceably mounted on said automobile door trim with an element mounted on said escutcheon panel that is to be accessed by a user;

an illuminating lamp for illuminating the element; and

an electric circuit including an electric switch for selectively activating said illuminating lamp, a substantially entire surface of said escutcheon panel being displaceable to thereby activate said switch;

said element comprising a knob of a switch unit exposed to a passenger compartment through an opening provided in said escutcheon panel,

said knob being at least semi-transparent, and

said illuminating lamp being placed behind said knob for transmitting light therefrom through said knob.

19. A unit panel for an automobile door trim according to claim 6, wherein said circuit comprises a timer circuit for maintaining said illuminating lamp activated for a prescribed time period.

20. A unit panel for an automobile door trim according to claim 6, wherein said electric switch comprises a pressure sensor which is activated upon displacement of said escutcheon panel.

21. A unit panel for an automobile door trim according to claim 6, wherein said electric switch comprises a touch sensor which is activated upon displacement of said escutcheon panel.

22. A unit panel for an automobile door trim according to claim 6, wherein said electric switch comprises a mechanical contact switch which is activated upon displacement of said escutcheon panel.

7. A unit panel for an automobile door trim, comprising:

an escutcheon panel displaceably mounted on said automobile door trim with an element mounted on said escutcheon panel that is to be accessed by a user;

an illuminating lamp for illuminating the element; and

an electric circuit including an electric switch for selectively activating said illuminating lamp, a substantially entire surface of said escutcheon panel being displaceable to thereby activate said switch;

said escutcheon panel being at least semi-transparent material, and

said illuminating lamp being placed behind said escutcheon panel for transmitting light therefrom through said escutcheon panel.

8. A unit panel for an automobile door trim, comprising:

an escutcheon panel displaceably mounted on said automobile door trim with an element mounted on said escutcheon panel that is to be accessed by a user;

an illuminating lamp for illuminating the element; and

an electric circuit including an electric switch for selectively activating said illuminating lamp, a substantially entire surface of said escutcheon panel being displaceable to thereby activate said switch;

said illuminating lamp being provided adjacent to and externally of said escutcheon panel.

11. A unit panel for incorporation in an automobile door trim, comprising:

an escutcheon panel mounted on said automobile door trim, said escutcheon panel surrounding a surface of a switch unit;

an operating knob of said switch unit exposed to a passenger compartment through an opening provided in said escutcheon panel;

wherein an entire surface of said escutcheon panel is defined as a switch operation unit for operating an illumination unit, said illumination unit illuminating said escutcheon panel for a prescribed time period upon touching operation of said switch operation unit.

12. A unit panel according to claim 11, further comprising a piezo-electric pressure sensor which activates said illumination unit in response to operation of said switch operation unit.

13. A unit panel according to claim 11, further comprising a touch sensor which activates said illumination unit in response to operation of said switch operation unit.

14. A unit panel according to claim 11, further comprising a contact switch which activates said illumination unit in response to operation of said switch operation unit.

18. A unit panel for an automobile door trim according to claim 11, wherein the illuminating unit comprises of a room lamp.

15. A unit panel for an automobile door trim, comprising:

an escutcheon panel mounted on said automobile door trim, said escutcheon panel surrounding a surface of a switch unit;

an operating knob of said switch unit exposed to a passenger compartment through an opening provided in said escutcheon panel;

wherein an entire surface of said escutcheon panel is defined as a switch operation unit for operating an illumination unit which illuminates said escutcheon panel for a prescribed time period upon touching operation of said switch operation unit;

said illumination unit being incorporated in said switch unit, and

said operating knob being at least partially translucent such that said escutcheon panel is illuminated by light transmitted through said operating knob.

16. A unit panel for an automobile door trim, comprising:

an escutcheon panel mounted on said automobile door trim, said escutcheon panel surrounding a surface of a switch unit;

an operating knob of said switch unit exposed to a passenger compartment through an opening provided in said escutcheon panel;

wherein an entire surface of said escutcheon panel is defined as a switch operation unit for operating an illumination unit which illuminates said escutcheon panel for a prescribed time period upon touching operation of said switch operation unit;

said illuminating unit being incorporated in said switch unit, and

said escutcheon panel being at least partially translucent such that said escutcheon panel is illuminated by light transmitted through said escutcheon panel.

17. A unit panel for an automobile door trim, comprising:

an escutcheon panel mounted on said automobile door trim, said escutcheon panel surrounding a surface of a switch unit;

an operating knob of said switch unit exposed to a passenger compartment through an opening provided in said escutcheon panel;

wherein an entire surface of said escutcheon panel is defined as a switch operation unit for operating an illumination unit which illuminates said escutcheon panel for a prescribed time period upon touching operation of said switch operation unit;

said illuminating unit being adjacent to said escutcheon panel.