Chrysler Corporation

Other

Chrysler Motors Corporation

Richard Megregian

James C Carter

Eli Nichols

James E Van Hout

Michael G Moore

Harlan E Kifer

Gilbert L McCauley

L John Ozark

Edward D Pinardi

Carl A Cameron

Richard C Litner

John S Latimer, Iii

Jeffrey M Deneweth

Gary F Kajdasz

An instrument panel having a light source and a transparent cover in front of the light source. The transparent cover has a first surface at the front side of the cover and a second surface at the back side of the cover, and is formed of a polymeric wall and a polymeric film. The polymeric film has a reflection-reduction layer thereon and is bonded by intermolecular forces to the wall so that the polymeric film is on at least one of the first and second surfaces of the cover and the reflection-reduction layer is sandwiched between the film and the wall. The reflection-reduction layer is formed of a material selected from the group consisting of (a) oxides of magnesium, zinc, or aluminum, or alloys thereof, (b) hydroxides of magnesium, zinc, or aluminum, or alloys thereof, and (c) semi-metals and metals which are non-alkali metals and non-alkaline earth metals, alloys thereof, and combinations thereof. The method for making a transparent cover includes (a) applying a reflection-reduction layer onto a polymeric film, (b) placing the polymeric film with the reflection-reduction layer thereon on at least one inside surface of a mold so that the reflection-reduction layer is exposed; (c) filling the mold with a moldable polymer; and (d) allowing the moldable polymer to harden so that a transparent cover having an inmolded reflection-reduction layer is formed.

Instrument panel having cover with reflection-reduction layer and method

An illuminating instrument panel gauge has a movable indicator, a front side for positioning toward a viewer and a back side for positioning away from the viewer. The gauge includes a light source, a subdial surface in front of the light source, a transparent gauge cover in front of and spaced apart from the subdial surface, and graphics corresponding to the movable indicator. The gauge cover has a first surface at the front side of the gauge cover and a second surface at the back side of the gauge cover. Either or both of the first and second surfaces of the gauge cover may be randomly textured. The movable indicator is positioned between the subdial surface and the gauge cover and is preferably closer to the gauge cover than it is to the subdial surface. The graphics are on either the first or second surface of the gauge cover. There may be an overlay between the light source and the indicator which allows light from the light source to illuminate the gauge cover yet hides the light source so that the light source is not visible to the viewer facing the instrument panel gauge. The gauge cover may be curved and, correspondingly, the movable indicator may be shaped to follow the curvature of the gauge cover.

Illuminating instrument panel gauge with indicator and graphics

An instrument panel has a front side for facing toward a driver and a back side for facing away from the driver, a light source, a subdial surface in front of the light source, and a transparent cover in front of and spaced away from the subdial surface. The transparent cover is substantially (preferably, at least 50%) rounded outwardly toward the driver. The instrument panel may include graphics on or in the cover. Due to the curvature of the cover, the graphics may have an outermost portion which is closest to the driver and an innermost portion which is further from the driver. Preferably, the outermost portion of the graphics is narrower relative to the innermost portion so that the graphics appear to be in a plane parallel with the driver. There may be at least three horizontally-spaced transparent covers on one instrument panel, wherein at least one of the covers is an inboard cover and at least two covers are outboard covers, one outboard cover on one side of the inboard cover and the other outboard cover being on the other side of the inboard cover. The outboard covers may be positioned inwardly toward the driver relative to the inboard cover.

Illuminating instrument panel with convex cover

Radio noise in an automotive vehicle is suppressed by grounding the hood of the automotive vehicle with a conductive washer. The conductive washer is concave and is disposed around a rivet used to pivot a hood hinge component to a body hinge component. When the rivet is set, the hinge components compress the washer so as to permanently load the washer to thereby ensure continuous grounding of the hood to the body. Preferably, the rivet is coated with a dry lubricant, such as TEFLON.RTM., which does not flow away from the rivet to interfere with electrical contact between the washer and hinge components.

Grounding washer and arrangements for conductive hinge joints

A mounting system includes a plurality of mounting structures attached to a perimeter of the radio and having longitudinal apertures extending therethrough. The mounting system also includes a plurality of mounting brackets having a pair of hook shaped ends opposing one another in spaced apart relationship and being disposed in the longitudinal apertures. The mounting system further includes fasteners for fastening the mounting brackets to vehicle structure.

Flexible mounting system for a vehicle module

Vehicle remote keyless entry transmitter

A mounting structure for attachment of an electrical device on a vertical or obliquely angled vehicle surface. The surface is formed by a sheet material of predetermined thickness having a spaced pair of surfaces for defining bores therein. The mounting structure includes a mounting base plate adapted for attachment to an electrical device which is to be mounted to the surface. The base plate includes a plurality of mounting flange portions extending therefrom for mating with the surface. At least two of the plurality of mounting flange portions include transversely extending clip members spaced for engagement of the bores. Each of the clip members includes a first flange extending perpendicularly from the mounting flange portion. The first flange has portions formed therein defining a cutout portion. The cutout portion includes a ramp surface which leads to a terminal surface at a predetermined distance from the mounting flange. A second flange extends transversely from the first flange and along the ramp surface. The second flange includes a terminal edge adjacent the terminal surface of the ramp surface. The second flange forms a space between the mounting flange portion and the terminal edge. The space thereby defined is less than the thickness of the sheet material such that the ramp and associated surfaces of the second flange engages the sheet material with an interference fit thereby holding the flange securely to the vehicle surface.

Mounting structure for vehicle radio amplifier

Control panel for a combined vehicular radio receiver, cassette player,

Front control panel for a combined vehicular cassette player and radio

Growing community of inventors

Farmington Hills, MI, United States of America

Richard Megregian