Illuminating instrument panel gauge with indicator and graphics

• US 5,964,514 A
• Filed: 09/24/1997
• Issued: 10/12/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 09/24/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: FCA US LLC (Stellantis NV)
• Original Assignee: Chrysler Corporation (Stellantis NV)
• Inventors: Carter, James C., Megregian, Richard, Nichols, Eli
• Primary Examiner(s): Spyrou, Cassandra
• Assistant Examiner(s): CHERRY, EUNCHA P
• Application Number:
  US08/936,573
• Time in Patent Office: 748 Days
• Field of Search: 362/23, 362/28, 362/29, 116/256, 116/257, 116/263, 116/286, 116/287, 116/288, 116/DIG. 36, 116/DIG. 39, 116/62.1, 116/304
• US Class Current: 362/23
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/33 Illumination features
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/693 Cover plate features
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/33 Illumination features
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/693 Cover plate features
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/00 Instruments specially adapted for vehicles; Arrangement of instruments in or on vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 11/28 Structurally-combined illuminating devices

Abstract

An illuminating instrument panel gauge has a movable indicator, a front side for positioning toward a viewer and a back side for positioning away from the viewer. The gauge includes a light source, a subdial surface in front of the light source, a transparent gauge cover in front of and spaced apart from the subdial surface, and graphics corresponding to the movable indicator. The gauge cover has a first surface at the front side of the gauge cover and a second surface at the back side of the gauge cover. Either or both of the first and second surfaces of the gauge cover may be randomly textured. The movable indicator is positioned between the subdial surface and the gauge cover and is preferably closer to the gauge cover than it is to the subdial surface. The graphics are on either the first or second surface of the gauge cover. There may be an overlay between the light source and the indicator which allows light from the light source to illuminate the gauge cover yet hides the light source so that the light source is not visible to the viewer facing the instrument panel gauge. The gauge cover may be curved and, correspondingly, the movable indicator may be shaped to follow the curvature of the gauge cover.

Claims

1. An illuminating instrument panel gauge having a movable indicator, a front side for positioning toward a viewer and a back side for positioning away from the viewer, the instrument panel gauge comprising:

a light source;

a subdial surface in front of the light source; and

a transparent gauge cover in front of and spaced apart from the subdial surface, the gauge cover having a first surface at the front side of the gauge cover and a second surface at the back side of the gauge cover, the movable indicator being positioned between the subdial surface and the gauge cover;

graphics on a surface selected from the first and second surfaces of the gauge cover, the graphics corresponding to the indicator; and

wherein one of the first and second surfaces of the gauge cover is randomly textured and the graphics are on the same surface as the random texture.

2. The instrument panel gauge of claim 1, further comprising an overlay between the light source and the indicator which allows light from the light source to illuminate the gauge cover yet hides the light source so that the light source is not visible to the viewer facing the instrument panel gauge.

3. The instrument panel gauge of claim 1, wherein the indicator is closer to the gauge cover than it is to the subdial surface.

4. The instrument panel gauge of claim 1, wherein the gauge cover is curved and the movable indicator is shaped to follow the curvature of the gauge cover.

5. An illuminating instrument panel gauge having a movable indicator, a front side for positioning toward a viewer and a back side for positioning away from the viewer, the instrument panel gauge comprising;

a light source;

a subdial surface in front of the light source; and

a transparent gauge cover in front of and spaced apart from the subdial surface, the gauge cover having a first surface at the front side of the gauge cover and a second surface at the back side of the gauge cover, the movable indicator being positioned between the subdial surface and the gauge cover;

graphics on a surface selected from the first and second surfaces of the gauge cover, the graphics corresponding the indicator; and

wherein one of the first and second surfaces of the gauge cover is randomly textured and the graphics are on the surface opposite the randomly-textured surface.

6. The instrument panel gauge of claim 5, further comprising an overlay between the light source and the indicator which allows light from the light source to illuminate the gauge cover yet hides the light source so that the light source is not visible to the viewer facing the instrument panel gauge.

7. The instrument panel gauge of claim 5, wherein the indicator is closer to the gauge cover than it is to the subdial surface.

8. The instrument panel gauge of claim 5, wherein the gauge cover is curved and the movable indicator is shaped to follow the curvature of the gauge cover.

9. An illuminating instrument panel gauge having a movable indicator, a front side for positioning toward a viewer and a back side for positioning away from the viewer, the instrument panel gauge comprising:

a light source;

a subdial surface in front of the light source; and

a transparent, curved gauge cover in front of and spaced apart from the subdial surface, the gauge cover having a first surface at the front side of the gauge cover and a second surface at the back side of the gauge cover, wherein at least one of the first and second surfaces of the gauge cover is randomly textured and the movable indicator is positioned between the subdial surface and the gauge cover, is closer to the gauge cover than it is to the subdial surface, and is curved to follow the curvature of the gauge cover;

an overlay between the light source and the indicator which allows light from the light source to illuminate the gauge cover yet hides the light source so that the light source is not visible to the viewer facing the instrument panel gauge; and

graphics on a surface selected from the first and second surfaces of the gauge cover, the graphics corresponding to the indicator.