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:
Oct. 12, 1999
Filed:
Sep. 24, 1997
James C Carter, Clarkston, MI (US);
Richard Megregian, Farmington Hills, MI (US);
Eli Nichols, Plymouth, MI (US);
Chrysler Corporation, Auburn Hills, MI (US);
Abstract
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.