EP0065040A1
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Instrument panel for a vehicle
Assignee: Deere and Co
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Filing: 1981-05-13
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2001-05-13
Abstract
Abstract The panel (10) has a central slot (15) for a vertically adjustable steering column. On the right of this slot is a plug in moudle which is normally convered by a cover plate (not shown in Fig. 2). The module incorporates a speedometer instrument (24), switches (31, 32) and a plug in circuit board (36) which establishes the pattern of connections appropriate to any given vehicle model and also incorporates fuzes for the electrical circuits. With the cover plate removed, the module can be withdrawn from the front for testing and servicing. All connections are made via one or more multi-pin connectors at the back. Another plug in module on the left under a cover plate (17) carries an array of warning lamps (28) and various gauges (29). This module and its cover plate are removable as one unit to allow replacement of blown bulbs from the rear of the module.
Inventors
- 👤 Klaus Hauk
- 👤 Michael Schutze
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 02:04
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60K; B60K35/00; B60K35/20; B60K35/21; B60K35/215; B60K37/00; B60K37/20; B60K2360/00; B60K2360/20; B60K2360/33
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
60 words
A vehicle instrument panel comprising a plurality of electrical components and connections from the components to the vehicle wiring system, characterised in that a plurality of components are mounted in a unitary module which is detachably mounted in the panel (10) so as to be removable from the front and connected into the vehicle wiring by a multi-pin connector (41).
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
60 words
A vehicle instrument panel comprising a plurality of electrical components and connections from the components to the vehicle wiring system, characterised in that a plurality of components are mounted in a unitary module which is detachably mounted in the panel (10) so as to be removable from the front and connected into the vehicle wiring by a multi-pin connector (41).
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
41 words
A vehicle instrument panel according to claim I, characterised by a detachable cover plate (18) having apertures (26, 27) for the accessible or visible components, and in that the module is removable for servicing after removing the detachable cover plate (18).
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
30 words
A vehicle instrument panel according to claim 1, characterised by a cover plate (17) attached to module (38) and in that the module and plate are removable as one unit.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
32 words
A vehicle instrument panel according to claim 1, 2 or 3, characterised in that at least one of the moudle (38) and cover plate (17, 18) are retained by snap in connectors.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
34 words
A vehicle instrument panel according to any of claims I to 4, characterised by an interchangeable circuit board (36) plugged into the module by establishing a particular pattern of electrical connections in the module.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
22 words
A vehicle instrument panel according to claim 5, characterised in that the plug-in circuit board (36) incorporates fuzes for the electrical circuits.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
43 words
. A vehicle instrument panel according to any of claims 1 to 6, characterised in that the cover plate (17, 18) is formed with a plurality of break out apertures (25) for selective provision of only the apertures required for a given module.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
56 words
A vehicle instrument panel according to any of claims 1 to 7, characterised by a sheet of clear plastics material (37) on the module under the cover plate (18) and serving both to protect hidden components in the module and to distribute light from a panel lighting bulb (52) to a plurality of accessible components (31).
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
42 words
A vehicle instrument panel according to any of claims 1 to 8, characterised by two modules and corresponding cover plates (17, 18) one to the left and one to the right of a slot (15) accommodating a vertically adjustable steering column (16).
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
40 words
A vehicle instrument panel according to claim 9, characterised in that one module (38) includes a plurality of gauges (29) and warning lights (28) while the other module incorporates a speedometer instrument (24) and a plurality of switches (31, 32).
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
91 words
A vehicle instrument panel comprising a plurality of -- electrical components in a detachable unitary module and a multi-pin connector connecting the module into the vehicle wiring, characterised in that the module is completely detachable by withdrawal from the front of the panel (10), with disconnection of the connector (41) without the need for access to the rear of the panel, either automatically on withdrawing the module from the panel or after the module has been withdrawn from the panel, whereby the module is removable from the vehicle for bench testing.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
91 words
A vehicle instrument panel comprising a plurality of -- electrical components in a detachable unitary module and a multi-pin connector connecting the module into the vehicle wiring, characterised in that the module is completely detachable by withdrawal from the front of the panel (10), with disconnection of the connector (41) without the need for access to the rear of the panel, either automatically on withdrawing the module from the panel or after the module has been withdrawn from the panel, whereby the module is removable from the vehicle for bench testing.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
43 words
A vehicle instrument panel according to claim 1, characterised by a detachable cover plate (18) having apertures (26,27) for the accessible or visible components, and in that the module is removable from the front for servicing after removing the detachable cover plate (18).
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
33 words
A vehicle instrument panel according to claim 1, characterised by a cover plate (17) attached to module (38) and in that the module and plate are removable from the front as one unit.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
31 words
A vehicle instrument panel according to claim 1, 2 or 3, characterised in that at least one of the modules (38) and cover plate (17,18) are retained by snap in connectors.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
46 words
A vehicle instrument panel according to any of claims 1 to 4, characterised by an interchangeable circuit board (36) plugged into the module for establishing a particular pattern of electrical connections in the module and which can be changed from the front after withdrawing the module.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
22 words
A vehicle instrument panel according to claim 5, characterised in that the plug-in circuit board (36) incorporates fuzes for the electrical circuits.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
41 words
A vehicle instrument panel according to any of claims 2 to 6, characterised in that the cover plate (17,18) is formed with a plurality of break out apertures (25) for selective provision of only the apertures required for a given module.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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