Illumination – With control console
Reexamination Certificate
1999-05-03
2001-01-23
Husar, Stephen (Department: 2875)
Illumination
With control console
C362S029000, C362S489000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06176591
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to an instrument panel with a reciprocable plunger for mounting through an aperture in a (preferably illuminated) instrument panel. The plunger can for example be used to re-set a function on the instrument panel, (e.g., the trip counter) but is not limited to any particular application.
2. Disclosure Information
It is known to mount a re-set knob behind the front face of an instrument panel with a return spring acting between a part of the knob and another fixed structure. This construction has to be assembled from behind the panel, which is disadvantageous. Also, it is difficult to prevent light leakage with such a construction.
It would be desireable to provide a reciprocable plunger that is easy to assemble and reduces light leakage when the plunger passes through an illuminated instrument panel.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to the present invention, there is provided an instrument panel having a front face and a circuit board arranged behind and spaced from the front face, wherein a plunger is mounted in the panel through an aperture which includes a collar extending from the rear face of the panel into the space behind the panel, the plunger having a head and a shaft which has a cross section adapted to be a close sliding fit in the collar so that the plunger is guided for reciprocating movement by the engagement between the collar and the shaft and the head is unrestrained, the shaft having a radial projection which extends beyond the internal diameter of the collar, the projection and/or the collar being resilient to allow the part of the plunger with the projection to be forced through the collar, and a compressible gasket mounted on the plunger between a shoulder on the plunger and the instrument panel, the thickness of the gasket being such that it is in contact with the shoulder and with the front of the panel when the radial projection abuts the rear of the panel, and provides a restoring force which opposes movement of the plunger shoulder towards the panel, the circuit board including a switch which can be operated by movement of the plunger against the circuit board.
The instrument panel is preferably illuminated with illuminating light travelling within the panel front face (which will then be of a transparent or translucent material with an opaque coverlay on the front surface) and/or travelling in a space behind the front panel.
The use of a radial projection which allows the plunger to be pushed through the aperture from the front of the panel greatly assists assembly, in that the plunger can be assembled with the panel after other components have already been installed. Since the plunger only needs to be retained against a relatively low restoring force, this type of retention mechanism is satisfactory.
Use of a compressible gasket, both to provide a light seal and to provide a restoring force when the plunger is pressed in avoids the use of separate components to implement these two functions. The gasket is preferably slightly compressed when the plunger is in its non-operated condition, and is compressed still further when the plunger is pressed.
The radial projection can extend from a cylindrical rod-like part of the plunger, and can be tapered to ease insertion of the plunger through the aperture and to hinder removal. The rod-like part of the plunger can have a void section registering with the radial projection, arranged so that the resilient movement of the radial projection on insertion of the plunger into the aperture involves the temporary movement of part of the plunger into the void.
The aperture in the instrument panel is preferably in the form of a collar which extends from the rear face of the panel into the space behind the panel, to provide a support for the reciprocating movement of the plunger.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5171080 (1992-12-01), Bathurst
patent: 5432684 (1995-07-01), Fye et al.
Atkins Richard Keith
Lewis Barry
Livermore Malcolm John
Brown Gregory P.
Ford Motor Company
Husar Stephen
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