Supports – Instrument in panel
Reexamination Certificate
1999-03-09
2001-05-08
King, Anita M. (Department: 3632)
Supports
Instrument in panel
C248S027300, C439S534000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06227500
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a meter mounting structure and a meter mounting method, in which a meter is mounted into an instrument panel of an automobile.
The present application is based on Japanese Patent Application No. Hei. 10-56998, which is incorporated herein by reference.
2. Description of Related Art
A meter for an automobile is mounted to an instrument panel. As shown in
FIG. 7
, a meter
51
comprising a connector fitting portion
53
is pushed into an instrument panel
52
having a connector
54
from the front side to the inner side in the horizontal direction indicated by an arrow G in FIG.
7
.
As a result of the pushing operation in the direction of the arrow G, as shown in
FIG. 8
, the connector fitting portion
53
of the meter
51
is fitted to the connector
54
of the instrument panel
52
.
The above-mentioned meter mounting structure has the following problem. The meter
51
is held by a hand, and then pushed into the instrument panel
52
in a substantially horizontal manner, thereby fitting the connector fitting portion
53
to the connector
54
. Therefore, it is difficult to correctly position the connector fitting portion
53
with respect to the connector
54
, and the force required for fitting the connector fitting portion
53
to the connector
54
directly acts on the worker. Accordingly, there is a problem in that the assembly of the meter mounting structure is low in workability.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In order to eliminate the above-described problems, it is an object of the present invention to provide a meter mounting structure and a meter mounting method, in which positioning of a connector can be surely conducted, a meter can be easily inserted, and the assembly of the meter mounting structure can be improved in workability.
To achieve the above object, according to the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a meter mounting structure which comprises a meter having a connector fitting portion, an instrument panel, into which the meter is inserted and mounted, having a connector for fitting to the connector fitting portion, a first engaging mechanism located at an end portion of the meter, and a second engaging mechanism disposed inside the instrument panel, wherein the meter is inserted into the instrument panel so as to bring the first engaging mechanism into engagement with the second engaging mechanism, and wherein the meter is rotated about a portion that the first engaging mechanism and the second engaging mechanism are to be engaged, so that the connector fitting portion and connector are fitted to each other.
Further, according to the second aspect of the invention, there is provided a meter mounting method. First, a meter having a first engaging mechanism, and an instrument panel having a second engaging mechanism are provided. Next, the meter is inserted into the instrument panel so as to bring the first engaging mechanism into engagement with the second engaging mechanism. Afterwards, the meter is pushed toward the instrument panel to rotate about a portion that the first engaging mechanism and the second engaging mechanism are to be engaged, so that the meter is completely mounted to the instrument panel.
In the above meter mounting structure and method, in accordance with the principle of the lever, the force which must be applied to the meter can be reduced as compared with the related art. As a result, assembling workability can be improved.
According to the third aspect of the present invention, preferably, the first engaging mechanism includes a projection-like rotation shaft which is formed on a corner portion of the meter adjacent to a back face of the meter, and the second engaging mechanism includes a support groove for receiving the rotation shaft. Alternatively, the second engaging mechanism may include a projection-like rotation shaft which is located at an inner side of the instrument panel, and the first engaging mechanism may include a support groove for receiving the rotation shaft. According to the third aspect of the present invention, the rotation shaft can be easily inserted into the support groove.
According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, preferably, the meter is inserted into the instrument panel while the meter is guided by guiding mechanisms. More specifically, projections respectively formed on side surfaces of the meter, and guide grooves respectively formed in inner side faces of the instrument panel, are provided. When the meter is inserted into the instrument panel, the projections are respectively guided by the guide grooves, and therefore, the insertion and positioning can be easily conducted.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5021003 (1991-06-01), Ohtaka et al.
patent: 5376016 (1994-12-01), Inaba et al.
patent: 5589715 (1996-12-01), Nishitani et al.
patent: 5615080 (1997-03-01), Nishitani et al.
patent: 5627409 (1997-05-01), Nishitani
patent: 5709358 (1998-01-01), Kubota
patent: 5873749 (1999-02-01), Takiguchi et al.
patent: 5884875 (1999-03-01), Hanada et al.
patent: 6048020 (2000-04-01), Gronowicz et al.
Inaba Shigemitsu
Morishita Kazuhiro
King Anita M.
Morrison N.
Sughrue Mion Zinn Macpeak & Seas, PLLC
Yazaki -Corporation
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