GB2336817A - Mounting reciprocable plunger in instrument panel - Google Patents
Mounting reciprocable plunger in instrument panel Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- GB2336817A GB2336817A GB9809499A GB9809499A GB2336817A GB 2336817 A GB2336817 A GB 2336817A GB 9809499 A GB9809499 A GB 9809499A GB 9809499 A GB9809499 A GB 9809499A GB 2336817 A GB2336817 A GB 2336817A
- Authority
- GB
- United Kingdom
- Prior art keywords
- plunger
- panel
- aperture
- radial projection
- instrument panel
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Withdrawn
Links
- 239000011800 void material Substances 0.000 claims description 6
- 230000037431 insertion Effects 0.000 claims description 5
- 238000003780 insertion Methods 0.000 claims description 5
- 239000006260 foam Substances 0.000 claims description 4
- 238000010276 construction Methods 0.000 description 2
- 239000012528 membrane Substances 0.000 description 2
- 230000000717 retained effect Effects 0.000 description 2
- OKTJSMMVPCPJKN-UHFFFAOYSA-N Carbon Chemical compound [C] OKTJSMMVPCPJKN-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 230000005540 biological transmission Effects 0.000 description 1
- 229910052799 carbon Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 229920001971 elastomer Polymers 0.000 description 1
- 229920001821 foam rubber Polymers 0.000 description 1
- 230000014759 maintenance of location Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000000463 material Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000004033 plastic Substances 0.000 description 1
- 229920002379 silicone rubber Polymers 0.000 description 1
- 239000004945 silicone rubber Substances 0.000 description 1
Classifications
-
- B60K35/10—
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
- H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
- H01H2219/00—Legends
- H01H2219/054—Optical elements
- H01H2219/064—Optical isolation of switch sites
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
- H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
- H01H2221/00—Actuators
- H01H2221/036—Return force
- H01H2221/042—Foam
Abstract
A plunger 20 which moves in and out relative to a panel 10 to operate a switch 18 is assembled from the front of the panel by pushing a shaft 24 with radial extensions 28 through a socket. The extensions yield to allow the shaft to pass through the socket and spring out once the shaft has passed through. A compressible gasket 32 is positioned between a shoulder 34 on the knob and the front face of the panel 10, to prevent light leaking from behind the panel, and to provide a restoring force to return the plunger to its start position after operation.
Description
2336817 - 1 RECIPROCABLE PLUNGER This invention relates to a reciprocable
plunger for mounting through an aperture in an 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.
Objectives of the invention are to reduce light leakage 10 where the plunger passes through an illuminated instrument panel, and to facilitate assembly of the plunger to the panel.
It is known to mount a re-set knob behind the front face ofan 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.
According to the present invention, there is provided a reciprocable plunger for mounting through an aperture in an illuminated instrument panel, the plunger having a cross-section adapted to be a sliding fit in the aperture and having a radial projection which extends beyond the cross section of the aperture, the projection and/or the aperture being resilient to allow the part of the plunger with the projection to be forced through the aperture, 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.
- 2 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 nonoperated condition, and is compressed still further when the plunger is pressed.
The radial projection can extend from a cylindrical rodlike 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.
The invention also provides an instrument panel having a front face and a circuit board arranged behind and spaced from the front face, wherein a reciprocable plunger is mounted through an aperture in the panel, the plunger having a cross section adapted to be a sliding fit in the 3 aperture and having a radial projection which extends beyond the cross section of the aperture, the projection and/or the aperture being resilient to allow the part of the plunger with the projection to be forced through the aperture, 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 invention will now be further described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:
Figure 1 is a cross section through an instrument panel, showing a plunger in accordance with the invention; Figure 2 is an exploded view of the plunger and part of the instrument panel, prior to assembly; Figure 3 is a view corresponding to Figure 2, but showing an intermediate stage in assembly; and Figure 4 shows the completed assembly.
Figure 1 shows an instrument panel 10 with an opaque coverlay 12 on the front. The coverlay prevents light from passing through the panel 10 (which will normally be translucent), except in places where the coverlay is cut away to allow transmission of light through for example the index marks around a speedometer dial and/or ideograms, letters, numbers or other markings which are to be illuminated.
The coverlay is also cut away where a component has to pass through the panel, and this is the case at 14in Figure 1.
Behind the panel 12 there is a circuit board, a part 16 of which can be seen in Figure 1. This circuit board carries an electronic switch 18. This can for example be of the type where a carbon pad mounted on a silicone rubber membrane is normally spaced from a set of contacts on the board, but can be pressed against the contacts to provide an electrical connection between the contacts. The resilience of the rubber membrane will ensure that the pad is moved away from the contacts to break the connection when the pressure is removed. Such switches are known in themselves.
The switch 18 is to be operated by a plunger 20 which has a protruding knob at 22 and a shaft 24. The shaft 24 passes through a collar 26 formed integrally with the panel 10 and extending from the back of the panel. The shaft 24 has two diagonally opposite radial projections 25 28, and a through slot or void 30 in the region where the projections 28 are located.
A foam rubber or foam plastic gasket 32 is fitted beneath a shoulder 34 of the knob 22.
To fit the plunger 20 in the instrument panel, the plunger is first offered up to the panel 10 in the position shown in Figure 2. The leading end of the shaft 24 is inserted in the collar 26 and pushed. The edges of the aperture in the panel 10 ride on the tapered outer surfaces of the projections 28.Because of the void 30 in the centre of the shaft 24, the projections 28 can collapse inwards as shown in Figure 3 on the application of pressure in the direction indicated by arrow A. Once the projections 28 have reached the end of the collar 26, they snap outwards as a result of the resilience of the material of the shaft 24, to take up the position shown in Figures 1 and 4. In this position the plunger is retained in the panel 10. it could possibly be removed by exerting a large withdrawal force on the knob 22, but the knob is smooth which will make it difficult to apply a large pulling force, and the faces of the projections 28 facing the knob 22 are steep, again to resist withdrawal.
In the normal position, illustrated in Figure 1, the foam gasket 32 is slightly compressed. This will ensure that a good light seal is made between the gasket and the coverlay 12, so that no light will escape around the shaft 24 of the plunger.
To operate the plunger, the user merely presses the head of the knob 22. This compresses the gasket 32 still further, until the tip of the shaft 24 operates the switch 18. Releasing the knob 22 then allows the stored energy in the foam gasket 32 to return the plunger to its start 25 position, limited by the abutment of the radial projections 28 with the bottom of the sleeve 26.
It will be seen that the gasket 32 both provides the necessary light seal and also the restoring force needed to return the knob 22 to its start position where the switch 18 is not being operated.
Because all the assembly is carried out from the front of the instrument panel, the inclusion of the reset knob does not need to interfere with other stages of the instrument panel assembly.
- 6
Claims (10)
1. A reciprocable plunger for mounting through an aperture in an illuminated instrument panel, the plunger having a cross-section adapted to be a sliding fit in the aperture and having a radial projection which extends beyond the cross section of the aperture, the projection and/or the aperture being resilient to allow the part of the plunger with the projection to be forced through the aperture, 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.
2. A plunger as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the gasket is a foam gasket which is 'slightly compressed when the radial projection abuts the rear of the panel.
3. A plunger as claimed in Claim 2, wherein the radial projection is tapered to ease insertion of the plunger through the aperture and to hinder removal.
4 A plunger as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the radial projection extends from a cylindrical rod-like part of the plunger, and is tapered to ease insertion of the plunger through the aperture and to hinder removal.
5. A plunger as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein two diametrically opposite radial projections are provided.
6. A plunger as claimed in Claim 4 or Claim 5, wherein the rod-like part of the plunger has a void section registering with the radial projection or projections, 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.
7. An instrument panel having a front face and a circuit board arranged behind and spaced from the front face, wherein a reciprocable plunger is mounted through an aperture in the panel, the plunger having a cross section adapted to be a sliding fit in the aperture and having a radial projection which extends beyond the cross section of the aperture, the projection and/or the aperture being resilient to allow the part of the plunger with the projection to be forced through the aperture, 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.
8. An instrument panel as claimed in Claim 7, wherein the aperture in the panel is 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.
9. A reciprocable plunger substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
10. An instrument panel substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
Priority Applications (4)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
GB9809499A GB2336817A (en) | 1998-05-02 | 1998-05-02 | Mounting reciprocable plunger in instrument panel |
EP99302213A EP0953468B1 (en) | 1998-05-02 | 1999-03-23 | Instrument panel with a reciprocable plunger |
DE69914962T DE69914962D1 (en) | 1998-05-02 | 1999-03-23 | Dashboard with retractable and extendable piston |
US09/304,476 US6176591B1 (en) | 1998-05-02 | 1999-05-03 | Instrument panel with a reciprocable plunger |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
GB9809499A GB2336817A (en) | 1998-05-02 | 1998-05-02 | Mounting reciprocable plunger in instrument panel |
Publications (2)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
GB9809499D0 GB9809499D0 (en) | 1998-07-01 |
GB2336817A true GB2336817A (en) | 1999-11-03 |
Family
ID=10831419
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
GB9809499A Withdrawn GB2336817A (en) | 1998-05-02 | 1998-05-02 | Mounting reciprocable plunger in instrument panel |
Country Status (4)
Country | Link |
---|---|
US (1) | US6176591B1 (en) |
EP (1) | EP0953468B1 (en) |
DE (1) | DE69914962D1 (en) |
GB (1) | GB2336817A (en) |
Families Citing this family (7)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
FR2857501B1 (en) * | 2003-07-10 | 2005-09-16 | Siemens Vdo Automotive | RETROTECTIVE KEYBOARD, IN PARTICULAR KEYBOARD WITH JOINTIVE TOUCHES |
JP2005308429A (en) * | 2004-04-19 | 2005-11-04 | Calsonic Kansei Corp | Display device |
DE102006038176A1 (en) * | 2006-08-14 | 2008-02-21 | Johnson Controls Automotive Electronics Gmbh | Switching device for use in instrument cluster of motor vehicle, has light source, light detector and light conductor provided for detection of switching status of device, where conductor is arranged between switching key and detector |
FR2967622B1 (en) * | 2010-11-22 | 2013-06-28 | Peugeot Citroen Automobiles Sa | COMBINED DASHBOARD OF A MOTOR VEHICLE |
CA2837213C (en) * | 2011-06-27 | 2019-09-10 | Eaton Corporation | Integral module with lighted faceplate display |
JP6525190B2 (en) * | 2015-03-09 | 2019-06-05 | 日本精機株式会社 | Display device |
JP6872147B2 (en) * | 2017-06-29 | 2021-05-19 | 日本精機株式会社 | Instrument |
Citations (2)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
EP0633453A1 (en) * | 1993-07-09 | 1995-01-11 | MAGNETI MARELLI S.p.A. | Push button for the reset rod of a vehicle odometer |
WO1997041491A1 (en) * | 1996-05-01 | 1997-11-06 | Timex Corporation | Push-button assembly for an electronic wrist instrument |
Family Cites Families (4)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
GB2023937A (en) * | 1978-06-21 | 1980-01-03 | Itw Ltd | Electric push-button switches |
DE3346296C2 (en) * | 1983-12-21 | 1994-05-19 | Siemens Ag | Actuator for transmitting a linear movement to a switch |
US5171080A (en) * | 1991-05-28 | 1992-12-15 | Allied-Signal Inc. | Method of reducing light leakage from internally illuminated panels |
US5432684A (en) * | 1994-01-11 | 1995-07-11 | Delco Electronics Corp. | Process for manufacturing painted backlit displays having uniform backlighting intensity |
-
1998
- 1998-05-02 GB GB9809499A patent/GB2336817A/en not_active Withdrawn
-
1999
- 1999-03-23 DE DE69914962T patent/DE69914962D1/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 1999-03-23 EP EP99302213A patent/EP0953468B1/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 1999-05-03 US US09/304,476 patent/US6176591B1/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
Patent Citations (2)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
EP0633453A1 (en) * | 1993-07-09 | 1995-01-11 | MAGNETI MARELLI S.p.A. | Push button for the reset rod of a vehicle odometer |
WO1997041491A1 (en) * | 1996-05-01 | 1997-11-06 | Timex Corporation | Push-button assembly for an electronic wrist instrument |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
EP0953468A2 (en) | 1999-11-03 |
DE69914962D1 (en) | 2004-04-01 |
EP0953468B1 (en) | 2004-02-25 |
EP0953468A3 (en) | 2001-01-17 |
GB9809499D0 (en) | 1998-07-01 |
US6176591B1 (en) | 2001-01-23 |
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Legal Events
Date | Code | Title | Description |
---|---|---|---|
WAP | Application withdrawn, taken to be withdrawn or refused ** after publication under section 16(1) |