Diagnostic display unit including replaceable display protector

• US 20060241829A1
• Filed: 04/22/2005
• Published: 10/26/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 04/22/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Snap-On Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Snap-On Incorporated
• Inventors: Cahill, Ed, Schmeisser, Gordon F.
• Granted Patent: US 7,251,552 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/29
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1609 to support filters or lenses
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1626 with a single-body enclosure integrating a flat display, e.g. Personal Digital Assistants [PDAs]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1637 Details related to the display arrangement, including those related to the mounting of the display in the housing
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03547 Touch pads, in which fingers can move on a surface

Abstract

A vehicle diagnostic display unit including a case, a display screen disposed within a front portion of the case, and a main support coupled to a side of the case for allowing a user to lift the vehicle diagnostic display unit with one hand. A navigation pad is disposed on a front surface of the main support, and the main support is configured to allow the user to simultaneously lift the diagnostic display unit and access the navigation pad with a thumb. The display unit also includes a user-replaceable, transparent protective cover that attaches to the front portion of the case over the display screen. The display unit and the protective cover include novel features that allow the protective cover to be replaced by a user without having to return the display unit to the manufacturer.

Claims

1. A vehicle diagnostic display unit comprising:

a case including,

an outer surface having an opening, and

a recess in the outer surface surrounding the opening, wherein the recess includes opposing side walls, and wherein each of the opposing side walls includes at least one slot;

a display screen disposed within the case and viewable through the opening of the case;

a main support coupled to the case to allow the user to lift the vehicle diagnostic display unit using one hand;

a navigation pad disposed on the main support, wherein the main support is configured to allow a user to simultaneously lift the diagnostic display unit and access the navigation pad with a thumb;

a protective cover received in the recess over the opening of the case, wherein opposing ends of the cover include tabs that are received in the slots of the recess to secure the cover in the recess; and

a spring biasing the cover against one of the opposing side walls of the recess.

2. A vehicle diagnostic display unit according to claim 1, wherein the protective cover is transparent.

3. A vehicle diagnostic display unit according to claim 1, wherein the protective cover is flush with the outer surface of the case.

4. A vehicle diagnostic display unit according to claim 1, wherein the protective cover and the recess have matching rectangular shapes.

5. A vehicle diagnostic display unit according to claim 1, wherein a first of the opposing side walls includes one of the slots and a second of the opposing side walls includes two of the slots.

6. A vehicle diagnostic display unit according to claim 1, wherein the spring is provided within the case.

7. A vehicle diagnostic display unit according to claim 1, wherein the spring is generally U-shaped and has two spaced-apart legs, wherein a first of the legs is positioned against an internal wall of the case while a second of the legs is biased against the slot and contacts the tab of the cover when the cover is received in the recess.

8. A vehicle diagnostic display unit according to claim 7, wherein the spring also includes a clip extending from the second leg that is adapted to catch on a top surface of the tab of the cover and hold the tab against a bottom of the recess when the cover is received in the recess.

9. A vehicle diagnostic display unit according to claim 1, wherein the spring also includes a clip adapted to catch on a top surface of the tab of the cover and hold the tab against a bottom of the recess when the cover is received in the recess.

10. A vehicle diagnostic display unit according to claim 1, further comprising a clip adapted to catch on a top surface of the tab of the cover and hold the tab against a bottom of the recess when the cover is received in the recess.

11. A display unit comprising:

a case including,

an opening, and

walls positioned on opposing sides of the opening, and wherein each of the opposing walls includes at least one slot;

a display screen disposed within the opening of the case;

a protective cover received over the opening of the case and between the opposing walls, wherein opposing ends of the cover include tabs that are received in the slots of the walls to secure the cover over the display screen; and

a spring biasing the cover against one of the opposing walls.

12. A display unit according to claim 11, wherein the protective cover is transparent.

13. A display unit according to claim 11, wherein the protective cover is flat.

14. A display unit according to claim 11, wherein the protective cover is rectangular.

15. A display unit according to claim 11, wherein a first of the opposing walls includes one of the slots and a second of the opposing walls includes two of the slots.

16. A display unit according to claim 11, wherein the spring is provided within the case.

17. A display unit according to claim 11, wherein the spring is generally U-shaped and has two spaced-apart legs, wherein a first of the legs is positioned against an internal wall of the case while a second of the legs is biased against the slot and contacts the tab of the cover when the cover is received over the display screen.

18. A display unit according to claim 17, wherein the spring also includes a clip extending from the second leg that is adapted to catch on a top surface of the tab of the cover and hold the tab against the case when the cover is received over the display screen.

19. A display unit according to claim 11, wherein the spring also includes a clip adapted to catch on a top surface of the tab of the cover and hold the tab against the case when the cover is received over the display screen.

20. A display unit according to claim 11, further comprising a clip adapted to hold the tab of the cover against the case when the cover is received over the display screen.