The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
May. 20, 1997
Filed:
Jan. 17, 1996
Lev A Fruitman, Southfield, MI (US);
Dale E Thorsby, Riverview, MI (US);
Ford Motor Company, Dearborn, MI (US);
Abstract
A gauge assembly for a vehicle instrument cluster is provided. The gauge assembly includes a pointer assembly and a plastic housing having a pair of housing elements. One of the housing elements includes a receptacle which defines a side wall having a first circumferentially extending mating surface, while the other housing element includes a plug which defines a side wall having a second circumferentially extending mating surface. Upon assembly of the housing, the plug and receptacle together define a chamber therebetween. The pointer assembly includes a magnet rotatably disposed within the chamber, a pointer body positioned outside of the housing, and a shaft rotatably extending along an axis of rotation defined through one of the housing elements. The shaft couples the pointer body to the magnet for rotative movement about the axis of rotation. The gauge assembly further includes a viscous damping fluid carried in the chamber for damping the rotational movement of the magnet. To prevent fluid leakage from the chamber, the second mating surface is received in sealing engagement with the first mating surface and forms a labyrinthian seal therebetween.