GB2381059A

GB2381059A - Illuminated gear shift having light emitting diodes and a translucent film

Info

Publication number: GB2381059A
Application number: GB0124688A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Robert Terry Bath
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2001-10-15
Filing date: 2001-10-15
Publication date: 2003-04-23
Also published as: GB0124688D0

Abstract

An illuminated gear shift has a hollow main body of plastic, wood or aluminium, containing a cluster of light emitting diodes (LED's) C in resin with electronic components such as resistors. Above the LED's is a translucent paper film B and a clear lens A so that light projects through the film and then the lens. The film B has a design which may selected (figs 2 and 3). The LED's are of varying colour display. The gear shift may thus be custom made. The main body also has a power connecting block for use with 12 or 24 volt vehicles; a power conduit and a recess for a gear shaft.

Description

ILLUMINATED GEAR SHIFT The invention relates to illuminated gearshifts for petrol, diesel or electric driven vehicles.

Gear shifts are Mechanical devices used in all makes of vehicles, whether manual or of an automatic design. The selection of gears are displayed on the moulded plastic fixed to the top of the gear shift so the driver of the vehicle can ascertain the direction of the gear to be allocated to put the vehicle in driving motion.

The majority of car manufactures produce moulded plastic casings with the direction and ratio of the vehicles gearing printed on the top of the gearshift. Over a period of time and constant use this can fade and become illegible, thus causing difficulty for the driver or other drivers, not familiar with that particular vehicles gear selection, to determine the correct gear.

Illuminated gearshifts give the driver of the vehicle a greater visual awareness of the available gear selection. Appearing standard by day but softly lit at night so as not to cause distraction to the driver. This makes it easier for the vehicle to be driven by other drivers who may not be usually associated to that particular vehicles type of gearing procedure.

The illuminated gearshift is created by a number of LED's (light emitting diodes), of varying colour display. The individual 5mm square LED's are bonded together to form a cluster. Appropriate electronic components are then added (e. g. resisters etc) and secured in the main body with a non-conductive resin, which can be used for vehicles of 12 or 24 volt. A translucent film with the appropriate design is then sandwiched between the LED cluster and the clear lens to form the finished gearshift in Fig 2 & 3. Illuminated gear shifts are universal to all makes of car manufactures or can be custom made (Fig 2 & 3) in a variety of materials (e. g. wood, plastic, aluminium etc) to the requirements of the individual who wish to complement the interior of there vehicle.

A specific embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of drawings on the following page.

Claims

rs 0 #

1 An illuminated gear shift consists of the inner part of the plastic moulding, (the main body as in fig 2), being hollowed out to accept the components that have to be fitted to the interior to produce the illuminated effect.

2 An illuminated gear shift as in Claim 1 houses the assembled components that are needed to illuminate the top part of the gear shift as shown in fig 1.

3 An illuminated gear shift houses the light emitting diodes, (L. E. D's), which illumunate the translucent film as in Claim 2.

4 An illuminated gear shift contains a translucent paper film placed above the light emitting diodes, (L. E. D's), as in Claim 2 & 3 that project light through to the translucent paper

5 An illuminated gear shift contains a clear lens situated at the uppermost part of the housing where the final lighting is projected through, as in Claim 2,3 or 4.

An Illuminated gear shift consists of a hollowed plastic, allulminium or wooden moulding, (used in petrol, diesel or automatic vehicles for the changing of geas), containing the neccessary components that are illustrated in figl. The main body is hollowed out to accept the components, (fig 1), needed to illuminate the upper-most part of the main body of the gear shift. The hollowed out interior contains light emitting diodes, (LED's) which are housed in a non-conductive resin situated in the middle of the main body, (fig 1). Above the light emitting diodes, (LED's), a translucent paper film is placed with appropiate lettering, (eg figs 2 & 3). At the uppermost part of the main body is placed a clear lens, fig 1A, so the light can be projected from the light emitting diodes, (LED's), through the translucent film to the lens.