Instrument display

• US 6,140,917 A
• Filed: 11/09/1998
• Issued: 10/31/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 11/09/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Robert Branson
• Original Assignee: Robert Branson
• Inventors: Branson, Robert
• Primary Examiner(s): POPE, DARYL C
• Application Number:
  US09/188,460
• Time in Patent Office: 722 Days
• Field of Search: 340/441, 340/466, 340/461, 340/936
• US Class Current: 340/461
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 13/12 Graduation

Abstract

An instrument display having a face with measurement indicia formed thereon and a pointer rotatably mounted relative to the face. The face has a zoned area formed thereon of a different color than a remainder of the face. The zoned area extends over an area of the instrument face corresponding with a limit of the measurement indicia. The pointer has an indicator thereon. The pointer has a shape with an area greater than the zoned area. The pointer exposes a portion of the zoned area when the pointer is directed to a measurement outside of the limit. The zoned area is a quadrilateral section having a side extending from a pivot point of the pointer to the limit. The pointer has a generally triangular shape with the vertex of the triangular shape being adjacent the pivot point.

Claims

1. An instrument comprising:

a face having measurement indicia formed thereon, said face having a zoned area formed thereon, said zoned area being of a different color than a remainder of said face, said zoned area extending over an area of said instrument face corresponding with a desired limit of said measurement indicia, said zoned area being a quadrilateral section; and

a pointer rotatably mounted relative to said face, said pointer having an indicator thereon, said pointer having a shape with an area greater than said zoned area, said pointer exposing a portion of said zoned area when said pointer is directed to a measurement outside of said desired limit.

2. The display of claim 1, said measurement indicia being miles per hour, said limit being 65 miles per hour, said zoned area having a side extending to the indicia associated with 65 miles per hour.

3. The display of claim 1, said zoned area having a side of said quadrilateral section extending along a line from a pivot of said pointer to said limit.

4. The display of claim 3, said quadrilateral section having ends extending inwardly at an acute angle from said side.

5. The display of claim 1, said zoned area being formed of a brighter color than the remainder of said face.

6. The display of claim 1, said pointer having a pivot point located generally centrally of said face, said pointer rotatable about said pivot point.

7. The display of claim 6, said indicator being a line on a side of said pointer opposite said pivot point, said line directed to a measurement in numeral indicative of a real time condition.

8. The display of claim 6, said pointer having a generally triangular shape, said pointer having a vertex adjacent said pivot point.

9. The display of claim 1, said pointer having a first side extending from a pivot point, said pointer having a second side extending at an acute angle relative to said first side, said pointer having a curved side extending from said first side to said second side.

10. The display of claim 9, said curved side being adjacent said measurement indicia.

11. The display of claim 1, said pointer being opaque.

12. The display of claim 1, said pointer being of a different color than said zoned area.

13. An instrument display comprising:

a face having measurement indicia formed thereon, said face having a zoned area formed thereon, said zoned area being of a different color than a remainder of said face, said zoned area being a quadrilateral section; and

a pointer rotatable relative to face, said pointer having a generally triangular shape with a vertex of said triangular shape being at a pivot point of said pointer, said pointer having an area greater than an area of said zoned area.

14. The display of claim 13, said pointer having a first side extending from said pivot point, said pointer having a second side extending at an acute angle relative to said first side, said pointer having a curved side extending from said first side to said second side.

15. The display of claim 14, said curved side being adjacent said measurement indicia.

16. The display of claim 13, said pointer being opaque.

17. The display of claim 13, said zoned area having a side of said quadrilateral section extending on a line from said pivot point of said pointer to a desired measurement indicia.

18. An instrument display comprising:

a face having measurement indicia formed thereon, said face having a zoned area formed thereon, said zoned area being of a different color than a remainder of said face, said zoned area extending over an area of said instrument face corresponding with a limit of said measurement indicia, said zoned area being a quadrilateral section having a side of said quadrilateral section extending along a line corresponding to said limit; and

a pointer rotatably mounted relative to said face, said pointer having an indicator thereon, said pointer having a shape with an area greater than said zoned area, said pointer having a generally triangular shape, said pointer having a vertex adjacent said pivot point.

19. The display of claim 18, said quadrilateral section having ends extending inwardly at an acute angle from said side, said pointer exposing a portion of said zoned area when said pointer is directed to a measurement indicia outside of said limit.