US2145931A

US2145931A - Instrument panel

Info

Publication number: US2145931A
Application number: US49264A
Authority: US
Inventors: Arthur W Hills
Original assignee: Motors Liquidation Co
Current assignee: Motors Liquidation Co
Priority date: 1935-11-11
Filing date: 1935-11-11
Publication date: 1939-02-07
Anticipated expiration: 1956-02-07

Description

Feb. f7, 1939.4 A. w, HILLS .Y -INs'JfRuMEN'r PANEL Filed Noi. 11, 1935 r i i? @PATENT oFFic'E ausm a INSTRUMENT PANEL Arum w. mns, mnt, mein.. mimo;- to Genera Moten CorporationrDetroit, Mich., a corporationolDelaware appuoaunn Namur' 11,1935, serial No. 49,264

s cum. (ci. iis-12s) This invention relates to indicating means and more particularly toinstrument panels for use in automobiles. l

It is the principal object of my invention to provide an instrument panel which includes all of the necessary readings for vproper automobile'operation and which has a pleasing appearance.

It is a further object to so illuminate the panel that there will be no glare into the drivers eyes. 'l Further objects 'of my invention will be'come evident uponl reference to the following speciiication wherein there are described the embodiments f of my invention which are illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which: i5 Fig. 1 is afront elevation of the panel of my invention. l K

Fis. 2 is a vertical sectional view taken on th une z z of Eig. 1. -l

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on' the line #-3 0f Fig. 1.

Flg. 4 is a perspective view of one corner of the` retaining' plate of the assembly. l

The instrument panel assembly of .my inven- 1 tion is composed of a casing 2.which is substantially rectangular in outline and comparatively shallow bein'g open at the front face. Secured to the central portion of the back face by screws 3 is the speedometer assembly 4 the operating parts of which extend through the casing back wall'i and for aportion of the distance into the center of the casing. The forward edge of the casing 2 is ilangedparallel with its base to forni` flanges 6 the purpose of which will later become evident.-

Also carried by the base'6 are a plurality `of hollow cylindrical members Il whichcarry sock- Y ets I2 the latter being pressed onto the circular member il and secured therein by a springportion i4 of the member III pressed against the base of'the socket. The socket of course carries the usual bulb I6 for illuminating the inside of the casing. Carried at the top center part .ofthe base 6 is a similar typeof bulb assembly except that in this case a hood Il is placed over the bulb I6 and allows the light from the bulb to project through a small opening 2l inthe forward face of the hood. ,f y Enclosed in the forward opening in the casing is a sub-assembly which is composed of the parts hereinafter set forth. A retaining plate 22,0f the same general outline as the forward portion of the casing is secured tothe casing by having `flanges 24 projected overthe ilanges l of the casing. The central portion of this retaining plate 22 is pressed inwardly, the main body of the retaining plate being ois'et a' short distance within the casing. At the central portion of the retaining plate there is provided 'a substantially rectangular opening 26 which is in alignment with the odometer 26 and speed indicating needle 36 so that the mileage and speed indication may 5 be observed through this plate.

Carried within the retaining plate 22 is a glass plate 32 of the same outline as the pressed--in portion. the glass plate being spaced from the retaining plate by a gasket '34. This glass plate 10 carries the various indicia for the different indieating instruments, the numerals being painted on the rear face of the glass plate for all the necessary instruments. The plate in front of the opening 26 in the retaining plate is clear so that 15 the speed and distance indications may be seen through this portion. A second gasket 36 is carried by the retaining plate in front of the glass plate 32 and surrounds the periphery thereof. In order to secure this'gasket 36 in place a spacing 20 `Vand retaining ring 38 having notches 54' extends over the gasket 36 and in toward the plate 32 and also surrounds the periphery of the plate.

A'clamping bezel 40 is carried upon the front of this assembly and tends to retain the ordinary 25 glass lens 42 over the whole, a gasket 44 being provided between the lens 42 and the retaining ring 28. The edge of the retaining plate 22 has a 'series of projecting tips 46, these tips being bent over to secure the bezel to the rest of the retain- 30 ing plate assembly. f

In the horizontal side portions -56 of the retaining plate there is provided a series of

openings

52 and 54, the latter being aligned with notches 54'. The openings 52 are provided at the 35 top and bottom for the purpose of allowing light rays from the bulbs i6 in back of theplate to be reflected from the casing, 'the inner surface of which is painted a light color to aid reflection, and onto the edge of the glass plate 32 after 40 which these rays reiect. back and forth within the glass plate and illuminate the indicia painted on the rear face thereof. The openings 54 are provided in the two ends and through these open'Y lings the various indicating needles A56 proj ect over 45 the -forward face of the plate 32 to give an indicationof the condition of the -various parts to which they are connected. The insideface of the retaining plate 22 is painted in a light color to give a more pleasing appearance and assist 50 in improving the visibility of .the indicia. In this connection it should be pointed out that it is necessary to space the glass' dial plate from the retainer plate, accomplished by gasket 34, so that the background orretaining plate will appear 55 2 f 2,145,931 black when the glass dial is illuminated regardless of what color it is painted.- ,This is due to the fact that the light rays are within the glass dial and illuminate whatever is in actual contact with the dial such as the indicia but whatever is out of'contact will not be lighted and will therefore appear black.

It has been before mentioned that one of the vided therefor which allows light to pass from the opening in the forward end thereof. In alignment with this opening 20 thereis provided a furtheropening 58 in the retaining plate 22 lwhich allows a spot of light to be thrown upon a painted portion 60 on the rear face o! the plate 32. This particular b ulb is connected in the series vwith the headlights and so gives the operator an indication as to when his bright lights are illuminated andwhenthey are'out. A v

The various operating instruments necessary to operate the needles 56 are 4secured to the casing i in' any suitable manner such as by welding. The

bolts 62 and nuts 60 act as connections for the electric lines thereto.

It will thus be evident that in this particular Ustructure the speedometer shaft vdoes not project through the glass plate nor does any other part' .of the indicating apparatus, the speedometer needle being visible through the clear portion of the platev and l the other various needles passing through openings'in the side of the retaining plate and lying vin front of the glass plate. The various indicating indicia f r the smaller instruments are painted on there -r face ,ofthe glass plate 32 asin the case of the speedometer and also a seriesy of parallel vertical lines B4 is also painted adjacent each one of these needles 56 the purpose of which is to enable the needles to be more clearly visible at night and causing a more pleasing appearance than solid color in the day time. It

. should be pointed out that in this structure also it is unnecessary to remove the forward assembly, the assembly c :ontainingthe glass plate and clens,, in order to service the speedometer but the latter .45' may be removed from the rear ot the casing without disturbing any other part. I claim: Y

1. In an instrument panel, av casing, an indiv eating instrument carried thereby, a pressed-out plate having an opening therein, said plate carried by the casing with the opening in alignment with the instrument, transparent means carried by the pressed-out portion of the plate, indicia painted on the inner face of the transparent means, said plate having side openings therein,

indicating needles 4extending through the side openings to lie over the transparent means and operating means for the needles supported by the casing.

2. In an instrument panel, a casing, a speedometer' mounted therein having .an indicating needle, a retaining plate tting in the front. of the casing, the main body of which is pressed inwardly and having a plurality of openings in the side portions and an opening in the center, the speedometer needle being visible through Vthe latter, a glass plate ttingswithin the pressed-out portion, indicia painted on the glass plate, a source of light within the casing whereby light rays enter the edge of the glass plate through part of the openings in the side portions, a plurality of other indicating'instruments carried in the casingLan indicating needle -for each instrument,said needles `projecting through the remainder ofthe side`openings and over the forward face of the glass plate.

3. In an instrument panel,- a casing, a plurality of indicating instruments carried thereby having' movable needles, a retainer plate closing the front on the transparent plate adjacent the instruments, some of said needles extending through 'the .side openings over thefa'ce of the transparent plate and some being positioned` behind and visible through the vplate and illuminating means carried by the casing and providing rays entering the transparent plate through other of theV side openings to provide' edge illuminationforthe transparent plate.

Y ARTHUR W. mms.