Conically graduated display instrument for a motor vehicle

• US 8,550,026 B2
• Filed: 02/26/2008
• Issued: 10/08/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 02/27/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company (Johnson Controls International plc)
• Original Assignee: Johnson Controls Automotive Electronic (Johnson Controls International plc)
• Inventors: Mayer, Martin
• Primary Examiner(s): Smith, R. A.
• Application Number:
  US12/528,214
• Publication Number:
  US 20100326347A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,051 Days
• Field of Search: 116/284, 116/286, 116/287, 116/288, 116/294, 116/295, 116/297, 116/304, 116/328, 116/331, 116/332, 116/62.1, 116/62.4, 116/DIG.5, 116/DIG.6, 116/303
• US Class Current: 116/62.1
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/6985 with only part of pointer being visible
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/213 Virtual instruments
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/215 characterised by the combination of multiple visual outputs, e.g. combined instruments with analogue meters and additional displays
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/60 Instruments characterised by their location or relative disposition in or on vehicles arrangements of lighting devices on dashboards B60Q3/10
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 13/04 Construction
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 13/22 Pointers, e.g. settable pointer
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 Assembling or joining

Abstract

The invention relates to a pointer instrument comprising a graduated disk, a contour element which is arranged in the edge region of the disk and has a visible surface, and a pointer. The invention also relates to a method for producing a pointer instrument.

Claims

1. A pointer instrument having a graduated disk and a contour element in an edge region thereof—

said edge region having a viewing surface—

and a pointer, characterized in that the pointer is mounted underneath the graduated disk and has a pointer section which is arranged above the surface of the contour element, wherein the contour element and the graduate disk each have a cutout, the cutout of the contour element and the cutout of the graduated disk are arranged to accept a tip of the pointer and wherein the pointer is a unitary piece and the graduated disk and the contour element are a unitary piece.

2. The pointer instrument as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the pointer section extends essentially parallel to the viewing surface of the contour element.

3. The pointer instrument as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the contour element is an annulus.

4. The pointer instrument as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that one or more of a symbol or other information displays are arranged on the graduated disk.

5. The pointer instrument as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that one or more of the contour element or the graduated disk is partially covered by a panel.

6. A display in a motor vehicle having the pointer instrument as claimed in claim 1.

7. The display in a motor vehicle as claimed in claim 6, characterized in that the pointer section extends essentially parallel to the viewing surface of the contour element.

8. The display in a motor vehicle as claimed in claim 6, characterized in that the contour element is an annulus.

9. The display in a motor vehicle as claimed in claim 6, characterized in that one or more of a symbol or other information displays are arranged on the graduated disk.

10. The display in a motor vehicle as claimed in claim 6, characterized in that one or more of the contour element or the graduated disk is partially covered by a panel.

11. A method for mounting a pointer instrument, which has

a graduated disk having a center, an edge region with a viewing surface, and a contour element in the edge region of the graduated disk, wherein the contour element is provided with a cutout, and

a pointer which has an elongate region with which it is attached to a drive, has a bent region at its tip, and is made from a unitary piece,

wherein the graduated disk has a cutout which is arranged in a region of the cutout of the contour element, characterized in that the pointer is mounted underneath the graduated disk and has a section which is arranged above the surface of the contour element and wherein the pointer is made to extend from the edge region of the graduated disk in the region of the cutout of the contour element in a direction of the center of the graduated disk, and is then rotated into the region of the contour element.

12. The method as claimed in claim 11, characterized in that the pointer is connected to the drive.

13. A method, for mounting a pointer instrument which has

a graduated disk and a contour element, wherein the contour element is provided with a cutout, and

a pointer which has an elongate region with which it is attached to a drive, and has a bent region at its tip,

wherein the graduated disk has a cutout which is arranged in a region of the cutout of the contour element, characterized in that the bent region is made to extend through the cutout of the graduated disk from below and is then rotated in the region of the contour element.

14. The method as claimed in claim 13, characterized in that the pointer is connected to the drive.