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. 05, 2009
Filed:
Apr. 04, 2007
Victor Hugo Salinas Fox, Guadalupe, MX;
Akira Masuda, Yaizu, JP;
Victor Hugo Salinas Fox, Guadalupe, MX;
Akira Masuda, Yaizu, JP;
Yazaki North America, Inc., Canton, MI (US);
Abstract
A light guide has a series of light channels passing through the guide between an outer planar surface and a base. Two resilient arms extend from opposite ends of the guide. The arms have free ends with cap elements for fitting over bosses within an instrument cluster mask. The base of the guide, through a flex action of the resilient arms, forces a dial or appliqué against the mask for viewing through a display window in the mask. In a vehicle instrument cluster assembly, the light guide is located between the mask and a printed circuit board (PCB). The PCB has light emitting diodes for fitting into the channels at the planar surface of the guide and backlighting the appliqué. The PCB presses against the cap elements of the resilient arms, causing the base of the guide to force the appliqué against sides of the mask window.