Control panel assembly for a motor vehicle

• US 5,577,422 A
• Filed: 10/05/1994
• Issued: 11/26/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 04/30/1992
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Daimler Chrysler Company LLC (Stellantis NV)
• Original Assignee: Mercedes-Benz AG (Mercedes-Benz Group AG)
• Inventors: Beck, Oliver, Spengler, Martin, Ohlhausen, Manfred, Heinle, Dieter
• Primary Examiner(s): LUONG, VINH
• Application Number:
  US08/318,334
• Time in Patent Office: 783 Days
• Field of Search: 74/612, 74/555, 200/333, 200/332.1, 200/332.2, 200/338, 220/338, 16/328, 16/330, 16/353
• US Class Current: 74/612
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/0065 Control members, e.g. levers or knobs B60H1/00985 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/00 Arrangements for holding or mounting articles, not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2003/026 specially adapted to avoid injury to occupants of a car during an accident
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2217/022 Part of keyboard not operable
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/2193 Guard mechanisms

Abstract

A control panel assembly for an air conditioning system in a motor vehicle with continuously freely accessible primary actuation elements is provided with selectively accessible secondary actuation elements arranged in an installation shaft recess in the front panel section of the control panel. The recess is covered with a cover element which can be moved about a horizontal axis of rotation. In order to provide access to the secondary actuation elements, an opening movement of the cover element uncovers the installation shaft recess with the control panel of the secondary actuation elements being simultaneously moved into a position which is accessible to the vehicle. The secondary actuation elements form a control module with a circuit board which bears them and is permanently connected to the cover element, which control module is mounted so as to be rotatable about the horizontal axis of rotation so that when the cover element is folded downwards the secondary actuation elements are swivelled into the recess in the front panel section of the control panel.

Claims

1. Control panel assembly for a motor vehicle comprising:

a primary control panel containing a plurality of primary actuation elements which are facing in use in a first direction toward a vehicle passenger space,

an installation opening in the primary control panel which faces in said first direction,

a cover element supported at the primary control panel for pivotal movement about a pivot axis between a closed position with a cover surface of the cover element covering said installation opening, and an open position exposing said installation opening and with at least portions of said cover surface moved inwardly of said installation opening,

and a secondary control panel containing a plurality of secondary actuation elements, said secondary actuation elements being mounted on a circuit board which is attached to the cover element with the second actuation elements disposed substantially in a plane extending at a right angle with respect to the cover element cover surface,

whereby movement of said cover element from the closed position to the open position simultaneously places the secondary actuation elements in the installation opening and facing in the same first direction as the primary actuation elements,

wherein said cover surface and said secondary control panel are similar in size and fill said installation opening in each of said respective closed and open positions of the cover element.

2. Control panel assembly according to claim 1, wherein the secondary actuation elements are constructed as key elements and form a control panel which fills the installation opening recess in a virtually flush manner.

3. Control panel assembly according to claim 2, wherein the closed cover element is configured to be unlocked by tapping on an upper area of the cover element, after which the cover element swivels automatically to the open position.

4. Control panel assembly according to claim 1, wherein the secondary actuation elements are constructed as key elements and form a control panel which fills the installation opening recess in a virtually flush manner.

5. Control panel assembly according to claim 1, comprising drive energy means for assisting manual movement of the cover element between its closed and open positions.

6. Control panel assembly according to claim 5, wherein said drive energy means includes a spring.

7. Control panel assembly according to claim 1, comprising a spring for assisting manual movement of the cover element between the closed and the open positions.

8. Control panel assembly according to claim 1, wherein said pivot axis is a permanent fixed pivot axis.