Signals and indicators – Vehicle – Transmission indicator
Reexamination Certificate
2000-05-24
2002-08-27
Gutierrez, Diego (Department: 2859)
Signals and indicators
Vehicle
Transmission indicator
C116SDIG002, C362S029000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06439151
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention pertains to the art of methods and apparatuses for indicating the shift position of a transmission of a motor vehicle, and more specifically to methods and apparatuses for illuminating a shift position indicator next to a motor vehicle shifter for shifting the transmission of the motor vehicle.
DESCRIPTION OF RELATED ART
A conventional on-the-floor shifter for an automatic transmission includes a shifter that moves the transmission between Park (P), Reverse (R), Neutral (N), Drive (D), and various other driver gears (i.e., 3, 2, and 1). A shift position indicator with notations such as PRND321 on it indicates to the vehicle operator the gear in which the transmission is placed. The shift position indicator may be lighted or not lighted.
In the known art, U.S. Pat. No. 5,626,093 to Jacobs et al shows a shift lever indicator. This patent shows a light bulb housing
42
, depicted in
FIGS. 3 and 4
. The light bulb housing
42
has a square cross-section from the side view where the bottom is more narrow than the top, with the bottom and top connected by upwardly sloped sides (as shown in FIG.
4
). The bottom of the Jacobs et al light box does not appear to be parabolically shaped. Moreover, the Jacobs et al concept does not contemplate the unique bulb positioning concept of the present invention.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,540,180 to Kataumi et al shows a bulb case
10
that is described as an elongated box with a smooth bottom (see FIGS.
2
and
5
).
In addition, a light box for a shifter was used with a Honda Prelude in the past. However, the positioning and orientation of the light bulb was different than herein contemplated.
Other art germane to the state of the art includes:
U.S.
Issue
Pat. No.
Title
Inventor(s)
Date
4,565,151
Apparatus For Indicating A Range
Buma
1/21/86
Position For An Automatic
Transmission Installed In A Vehicle
5,245,313
Automatic Transmission Lever
Polityka
9/14/93
Position Indicating Device
5,289,794
Magnetically Aligned Transmission
Jerro et al
3/1/94
Shift Indicator
5,398,018
Automatic Transmission Lever
Polityka
3/14/95
Position Indicating Device
5,420,565
Electronic PRNODDL Display
Holbrook
5/30/95
System
5,861,800
Ignition Interlock And PRNDL
Peters et al
1/19/99
Indicator Powering Switch
Little or no attention has been given to the position of the light bulb in the light box that illuminates the shift position indicator on the motor vehicle shifter. Also ignored was the shape of the light box itself. Problems with uneven back illumination of the shifter position indicator are typically corrected by including lenses within the light box to better distribute light. Another method of correcting the problem has been to use paints of varying opacity to paint the letters or number of the shift position indicator to give the impression of even distribution of light from the light bulb.
The present invention contemplates a new and improved light box for illuminating a shift position indicator of a motor vehicle shifter. The invention is simple in design, effective in use, and overcomes many difficulties while providing better and more advantageous overall results.
GENERAL SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention contemplates a new and improved light box for illuminating a shift position indicator of a motor vehicle shifter.
According to one aspect of the present invention, a shifter assembly for use in a motor vehicle includes a shifter operatively connected to a transmission of the motor vehicle to shift the transmission between a plurality of operating positions. The shifter assembly also includes a shift position indicator located adjacent to the shifter to indicate one of the operating positions, a light box located beneath the shift position indicator having a parabolic base and side walls, and a light bulb inset in the light box for illuminating the shift position indicator.
According to another aspect of the present invention, a shifter assembly for use in a motor vehicle includes a shifter operatively connected to a transmission of the motor vehicle to shift the transmission between a plurality of operating positions. The shifter assembly also includes a shift position indicator located adjacent to the shifter to indicate one of the operating positions, a light box located beneath the shift position indicator having a base and side walls, and a light bulb for illuminating the shift position indicator. The light bulb casts a first shadow around a circumference of a base of the light bulb and a second shadow from a tip of the light bulb. The light bulb emits light radially from a body of the light bulb. The light bulb is inset in the light box at an angle &agr; from the base between 0 degrees and 45 degrees. The light bulb is oriented to emit light on the shift position indicator.
According to another aspect of the present invention, a method of assembly of a shifter assembly for use with a transmission of a motor vehicle includes the steps of inserting the light bulb into a hole in the light box for receiving the light bulb at an angle &agr; between 0 degrees and 45 degrees and rotating the light bulb an angle &thgr; of approximately 45 degrees to secure the light bulb in light box. The light bulb is oriented so as to fully illuminate the shift position indicator.
In an overall combination and apparatus sense, another aspect of the invention entails a vehicle gear shift console comprising:
a gear shift position indicator extending generally longitudinally of the gear console and having
a shift position indicia array extending longitudinally of the console;
an illumination housing positioned to provide illumination of the indicia array;
a light bulb carried by the illumination housing;
a light bulb mount connected with the illumination housing and supporting the light bulb for illumination of the indicia array;
said light bulb, when illuminated, creating
shadowing projecting externally of said light bulb;
the light bulb mount including
support structure to position the aforesaid shadowing displaced from impingement upon the indicia array; and
the illumination housing having a parabolic light distributing surface having
a flat-configuration extending generally transversely of the indicia array, and
a parabolic curved configuration extending generally longitudinally of the indicia array and operable to distribute light eminated from the light bulb, substantially longitudinally along the indicia array, substantially free of the aforesaid shadowing.
Furthermore, in an overall combination and method sense this invention presents a method for illuminating a vehicle gear shift console comprising:
providing a gear shift position indicator extending generally longitudinally of the gear console and having
a shift position indicia array extending longitudinally of the console;
providing an illumination housing positioned to provide illumination of the indicia array;
providing a light bulb carried by the illumination housing, with
a light bulb mount being connected with the illumination housing and supporting the light bulb for illumination f the indicia array;
the light bulb, when illuminated, creating
shadowing projecting externally of said light bulb;
the light bulb mount providing
a support structure operable to position the aforesaid shadowing displaced from impingement upon the indicia array; and
the illumination housing providing a parabolic light distributing surface having
a flat-configuration extending generally transversely of the indicia array, and
a parabolically curved configuration extending generally longitudinally of the indicia array and operable to distribute light eminating from the light bulb, substantially longitudinally along the indicia array, substantially free of the aforesaid shadowing.
Independent significance is attached to refinements of each of the aforesaid overall combination apparatus and method concepts wherein:
the shadowing includes
a first shadowed area projecting generally circumferentially around the lateral periphery of the light bulb,
a second shadowed area extending generally
Bowers Lee N.
Oda Shigeaki
Gutierrez Diego
Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
Lahive & Cockfield LLP
Smith R Alexander
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