GB1582537A

GB1582537A - Instrument box for motor-vehicle dashboard

Info

Publication number: GB1582537A
Application number: GB32244/77A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Fratelli Borletti SpA; Borletti SpA
Current assignee: Fratelli Borletti SpA; Borletti SpA
Priority date: 1977-03-07
Filing date: 1977-08-01
Publication date: 1981-01-07
Also published as: DE2734067A1; ATA156278A; DE2734067C2; FR2383039B1; SE7802524L; AT368809B; FR2383039A1; IT1091227B; NL7802477A

Description

(54) INSTRUMENT BOX FOR MOTOR-VEHICLE DASHBOARDS (71) We, FRATELLI BORLETTI SPA, an Italian Company, of Via Washington, 70, 20 146 Milan, Italy, do hereby declare the invention, for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement: This invention relates to an instrument box for a motor vehicle dashboard, and in particular an instrument box for containing a device for recording the travels of the motor vehicle, and substantially comprising a case fixable to the dashboard and a swing lid which allows the box to be easily opened to give access to the box interior for replacing the recording discs on which certain parameters of the travels are recorded by the device.

Instrument dashboards for industrial vehicles are normally provided with a device for recording the travels of the vehicle, which is able to record on a suitable recording support, normally a paper disc, the instantaneous values of certain parameters such as the speed and distance travelled, and the time taken by the driver for certain stages in the execution of a predetermined mission, such as driving times, resting times, vehicle maintenance times and the like.

Such recording devices, also known as tachographs, normally comprise several instruments for indicating the instantaneous value of said parameters, such as a speedometer, a clock and the like, and recording means for continuously recording the value of said parameters on the recording support. These parts are usually disposed in a cylindrical box fixed to the instrument dashboard and comprising a hollow case and a swing lid connected to the case by a hinge. Certain parts of the device are housed in said case, while others, including certain instruments and the recording discs with their drive means, are mounted on the lid. The purpose of this constructive arrangement is to enable the recording discs to be checked and replaced. In this respect, on swinging open the lid, the discs are immediately accessible, either for checking or for replacement.

In accordance with the present invention there is provided an instrument box for a motor vehicle dashboard comprising a case insertable into a cavity in the dashboard and a lid swingably mounted on the case, the lid having mounted thereon parts of a recording device including means for supporting the recording medium so arranged that upon swinging open the lid the recording medium is accessible for inspection or replacement, wherein the lid comprises a first substantially rectangular flat wall and the case comprises a second substantially rectangular flat wall one edge of which is parallel to a corresponding edge of the first wall and is in immediate proximity thereto when the lid is in the closed position so that the two walls form a simple flat surface, and the lid is swingable about an axis parallel to the said edges and located on the same side of the said walls as the case.

Conveniently the swinging axis for the lid lies between two planes orthogonal to the said flat surface and passing through the said one edge of the first wall and through the opposite edge of the first wall. The perpendicular distance of the swinging axis from the said flat surface is usually not substantially different from, preferably greater than, the distance of the axis from the plane orthogonal to the said flat surface which passes through the said one edge of the first wall.

The present invention will be more evident from the description of a preferred embodiment given hereinafter by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a front view of the box according to the invention; Figure 2 is a partially sectional side view of the box; Figure 3 is a section through a detail of the box in proximity to the lid hinging region; Figure 4 is a view similar to that of the previous figure, in which the box lid has been rotated into the completely open position.

With reference to the drawings, the box according to the invention for containing a device for recording the travel of a motor vehicle, particularly an industrial vehicle, comprises substantially a case 1 (Fig. 2), a part of which, indicated by la, is of substantially cylindrical form and is arranged to contain the instruments and means with which the device is provided, for example a tachometer, and the recordmg means for the recorder device and a further part of which, indicated by lb, is in the form of a parallelepiped block and arranged to allow the box to be fixed to the motor vehicle dashboard. Only those parts of the dashboard indicated by 2 and 3 are shown in the figures.

The dashboard, which may be of any shape, is provided with an aperture 4 (Fig. 1) through which the ports la and 1b of the box case are passed. The part ib of the case is conveniently provided with a flange 5 (Fig. 2 and 3) provided with a support surface 5a, to be placed in contact with the front surface of the parts 2 and 3 of the dashboard. Said flange may be fixed in any convenient manner to said parts of the dashboard. In the embodiment shown, this connection is made by providing the box case 1 with one or more teeth 6 (Fig. 2 and 3) suitably spaced axially from the flange 5, so as to leave a space into which the part 3 of the dashboard (Fig. 2 and 3) may be inserted. In addition, the top of the flange 5 comprises holes for screws 7 (Fig. 2) which are passed through the flange and screwed into corresponding threaded bores 8 provided in the part 2 of the dashboard.

The box lid comprises a substantially rectangular flat wall 10 and the part ib of the case comprises a further rectangular flat wall 11 (Fig. 1 and 3). The sizes and relative position of the two walls are such that the lower edge of the former, indicated by 12 in Figure 1, is substantially parallel to the corresponding edge of the latter, indicated by 13, and is in immediate proximity to this latter when the lid is in the closed position as shown in Figures 1 and 3. In this position, the walls 10 and 11 therefore define a single flat surface.

The lid 9, and thus the wall 10, swings about on axis 14 (Figures 3 and 4) parallel to the edges 12 and 13 of said walls and lying on that side of these latter which faces the case 1. As is apparent from Fig. 3, this axis is conveniently disposed in a position between two planes orthogonal to the flat walls 10 and 11 and which pass respectively through the edge 12 of the wall 10 and through the opposite edge, indicated by 15 in Fig. 1. The distances of the axis 14 from the edge 12, measured in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the box and in the direction perpendicular to this, are indicated respectively by a and b in Fig. 3.

To enable the lid 9 to be hinged, this latter conveniently comprises an enlarged part 16 (Fig. 3) traversed by a pin the axis of which coincides with the axis 14 and is supported, for example by a pair of lugs 17 forming part of the box case 1.

The wall 10 comprises lateral walls 18 (Figs.

2 and 3) substantially orthogonal to it, and the wall 11 also comprises lateral walls 19 (Figs. 2 and 3) orthogonal to it, so that the entire outer perimeter of the walls 10 and 11 is sur rounded by said lateral walls. These latter are bounded in proximity to the edges 12 and 13 by a contour substantially in the form of an arc of a circle indicated by 20, the centre of said arc substantially coinciding with the swing axis 14.

Indicating instruments or parts thereof (such as the clock, dial and pointer of the tachometer and the meter measuring the distance covered) enclosed in a housing 21 are fixed to the lid 9, together with the drive and support means for the recording discs. In Figures 3 and 4, one of these is indicated diagrammatically by 21a. These discs are conveniently disposed above the surface 21b of the housing 21 in corresponding support means (not shown).

The lid 9 comprises an aperture 22 to allow the scales of the instruments in the box to be seen. The aperture is closed by a glass panel 23 fixed to the lid in any usual manner, for example by a pair of rings 24 and 25.

The wall 10 of the lid may be conveniently, traversed by a pair of knobs 26 (Fig. 1) by which the operations to be checked by the recording device (driving, resting, vehicle maintenance and the like) are set. The lid 9 may be locked in its closed position by a key inserted into a lock 27.

The distances a and b (Fig. 3) of the lid swing axis 14 from the edge 12, measured in the axial direction and a direction orthogonal to this latter respectively, are suitably chosen.

In this respect, easy access to the surface 21b (Figs. 3 and 4) of the housing 21 for inspect ing and replacing the recording discs 21a is obtained only if the lid 9 is sufficiently rotated, and this rotation should not be less than 700.

On the other hand, the distance a, which should be small, must obviously be greater than the thickness of the rings 24, 25 and glass 23.

Having determined the value of a, the value of b should differ little from this and should preferably be slightly less. Under such con ditions, when the lid is in the completely open position as in Fig. 4, the space taken up in the axial direction by the bottom of the lid wall 10 inside the box is small.

The box described is used in the following manner.

When in its closed position shown in Figs.

1, 2 and 3, the wall 10 is substantially aligned with 11 and forms a single surface therewith, while the edges 12 and 13 (Figs. 1 and 3) of said walls are in immediate proximity to each other. In this manner these walls, together with the respective lateral walls 18 and 19, substan-, tially define a rectangular panel which lies partially over the dashboard. In particular, as is evident in Fig. 2, the walls 10 and 18 of the lid 9 encloses the top of the flange 5 of the case 1.

When the lid 9 is to be opened, it is rotated in a clockwise direction about the pin 14 to bring it into the position shown in Fig. 4.

During the initial part of this rotation, the contours 20 (Fig. 3) of the lateral walls 18 and 19 move relative to each other while remaining substantially coaxial. When this rotation is finished, the edge 12 of the lid is disposed completely inside the box, as is evident in Fig. 4.

WHAT WE CLAIM IS: 1. An instrument box for a motor vehicle dashboard comprising a case insertable into a cavity in the dashboard and a lid swingably mounted on the case, the lid having mounted thereon parts of a recording device including means for supporting the recording medium so: arranged that upon swinging open the lid the recording medium is accessible for inspection or replacement, wherein the lid comprises a first substantially rectangular flat wall and the case comprises a second substantially rectangular flat wall one edge of which is parallel to a corresponding edge of the first wall and is in immediate proximity thereto when the lid is in the closed position so that the two walls form a single flat surface, and the lid is swingable about an axis parallel to the said edges and located on the same side of the said walls as the case.

2. An instrument box as claimed in claim 1 in which the swinging axis for the lid lies between two planes orthogonal to the said flat surface and passing through the said one edge of the ,first wall and through the opposite edge of the first wall.

3. An instrument box as claimed in claim 2 in which the perpendicular distance of the swinging axis from the said flat surface is not substantially different from the distance of the said axis from the plane orthogonal to the said flat surface which passes through the said one edge of the first wall.

4. An instrument box as claimed in claim 3 in which the distance of the swinging axis from the said flat surface is greater than its distance from the orthogonal plane.

5. An instrument box as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein said lid also comprises lateral walls substantially orthogonal to said first wall, and said case also comprises lateral walls orthogonal to said second wall, said lateral walls of the lid and case being bounded, in proximity to said edges of the first and second wall, by a contour substantially in the form of an arc of a circle the centre of which is on said swinging axis.

6. An instrument box as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, comprising means for fixing said means to said dashboard.

7. An instrument box as claimed in claim 6, wherein said fixing means comprise a flange rigid with said case and arranged to overlie said dashboard, and members for fixing said flange to said dashboard.

8. An instrument box as claimed in claim 7, wherein said members comprise at least one tooth provided on said case at a predetermined distance from said flange, so as to constrain the dashboard between the tooth and the flange, and at least one screw for fixing part of said flange to the dashboard.

9. An instrument box for a motor vehicle dashboard, substantially as described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. tially define a rectangular panel which lies partially over the dashboard. In particular, as is evident in Fig. 2, the walls 10 and 18 of the lid 9 encloses the top of the flange 5 of the case 1. When the lid 9 is to be opened, it is rotated in a clockwise direction about the pin 14 to bring it into the position shown in Fig. 4. During the initial part of this rotation, the contours 20 (Fig. 3) of the lateral walls 18 and 19 move relative to each other while remaining substantially coaxial. When this rotation is finished, the edge 12 of the lid is disposed completely inside the box, as is evident in Fig. 4. WHAT WE CLAIM IS:

1. An instrument box for a motor vehicle dashboard comprising a case insertable into a cavity in the dashboard and a lid swingably mounted on the case, the lid having mounted thereon parts of a recording device including means for supporting the recording medium so: arranged that upon swinging open the lid the recording medium is accessible for inspection or replacement, wherein the lid comprises a first substantially rectangular flat wall and the case comprises a second substantially rectangular flat wall one edge of which is parallel to a corresponding edge of the first wall and is in immediate proximity thereto when the lid is in the closed position so that the two walls form a single flat surface, and the lid is swingable about an axis parallel to the said edges and located on the same side of the said walls as the case.