US3829773A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Analyzer panel
Assignee: Allen Electric and Equipment Co
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Filing: 1971-12-02
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Granted: 1974-08-13
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Expires: 1991-12-02
Abstract
Abstract Apparatus for automotive testing includes a cabinet including a housing for electrical test circuitry. The housing has a front wall defined by at least one recessed panel. The panel carries, in full view of the operator, instructions for making a series of tests on automotive vehicles and at least one series of switch actuating push-buttons visually keyed to such instructions and disposed adjacent the edges of the panel. Meter cases are hinged to the opposite ends of the circuitry housing and have recessed front walls which carry meters electrically connected to the circuitry in the housing. The meter cases are pivotable to close the cabinet, that is, to cover said panel, and thereby also cover said meter faces, when the apparatus is not in use. When the cabinet is opened for use, the meter faces, push-buttons and instructions are visible to the operator of the apparatus. A bracket is provided for supporting the cabinet.
Inventors
- 👤 W Nigg
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 20:37
CPC Classifications
G; G12; G12B; G12B9/00; G12B9/02; G01; G01M; G01M15/00; G01M15/02; G01R; G01R11/00; G01R11/02; G01R11/04
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
198 words
A cabinet for automotive testing apparatus comprising in combination: a housing for test circuitry having a first front panel; a test instruction table fixed on said first front panel; test actuating devices on said first front panel adjacent said table; a pair of cases at opposite ends of said housing and pivoted thereon for movement between adjacent closed positions covering said first front panel and spaced open positions flanking said housing, said cases each having a front readout panel; test readout devices confined to said cases and substantially filling said front readout panels; elongate flexible interconnect cables substantially parallel to the pivot axes of said cases and extending from opposed lower corners of each case front panel upwardly to points adjacent the adjacent top corners of the housing front panel for coupling said readout devices to said test circuitry in said housing; a substantially U-shaped bracket having a base member spanning the width of said housing and mountable on a support, said bracket having parallel, spaced legs rigidly fixed to opposite end walls of said housing for positively preventing forward tilting of said housing when said cases extend forwardly of said housing intermediate their open and closed positions.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
198 words
A cabinet for automotive testing apparatus comprising in combination: a housing for test circuitry having a first front panel; a test instruction table fixed on said first front panel; test actuating devices on said first front panel adjacent said table; a pair of cases at opposite ends of said housing and pivoted thereon for movement between adjacent closed positions covering said first front panel and spaced open positions flanking said housing, said cases each having a front readout panel; test readout devices confined to said cases and substantially filling said front readout panels; elongate flexible interconnect cables substantially parallel to the pivot axes of said cases and extending from opposed lower corners of each case front panel upwardly to points adjacent the adjacent top corners of the housing front panel for coupling said readout devices to said test circuitry in said housing; a substantially U-shaped bracket having a base member spanning the width of said housing and mountable on a support, said bracket having parallel, spaced legs rigidly fixed to opposite end walls of said housing for positively preventing forward tilting of said housing when said cases extend forwardly of said housing intermediate their open and closed positions.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
93 words
The device of claim 1, in which said housing panel has top and bottom margins extending the width thereof, said test instructions table being confined centrally of said housing panel substantially filling same horizontally and vertically between said margins, said test actuating devices being confined to said margins and comprising a row of switches in and extending along each margin, there being one such case movably affixed to said housing at each end thereof, for locating said readout devices to horizontally bracket said instruction table, said readout devices being confined to said cases.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
47 words
The device of claim 2, including indicium visually keying said instructions to said switches, said test instruction table comprising first and second subtables located adjacent respective ones of said flexible cables and including a partial row of said switches located directly above and below each said subtable.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
35 words
The device of claim 2, in which at least a pair of readout devices is provided on the front panel of each case, said readout devices being sized to substantially fill said case front panels.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
89 words
The device of claim 1, in which said front panels of both said housing and cases are recessed, one of said cases being hinged on each end of said housing for pivotal movement about a vertical axis through about 180* from a position of use wherein said readout devices are substantially coplanar with said instructions and test actuating devices to a position of nonuse wherein the cases each cover half of said housing panel and wherein said case and housing panels are spaced from each other and substantially parallel.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
100 words
The device of claim 1 including a second panel on said housing substantially coplanar with said first housing panel and located below said cases, cabling to test devices attachable to a vehicle to be tested, said cables connecting to said cabinet solely in said second panel, said readout device cases being hinged to said housing and being substantially coextensive in height with the first housing panel, and terminating above and in nonoverlapping relation with said second housing panel whereby said second housing panel remains exposed when said cases are hinged to a position of nonuse covering said first housing panel.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
94 words
The device of claim 1, in which said bracket is of sheet material, said legs and base being platelike, the end walls of said housing having bottom portions downwardly extended below the lower edge of said cases, said legs overlapping said end walls only in said bottom portions, said cases extending sidewardly above and beyond the adjacent leg in use, said legs being upwardly tapered and having upper edge portions extending substantially the width of the corresponding housing end walls and being fixed thereto adjacent the forward and rearward edges of said end walls.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
39 words
The device of claim 1, including rigid handles extending from said housing end walls behind and out of the normal path of opening movement of said cases and located to abut and back said cases in their open positions.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
189 words
A cabinet for automotive testing apparatus comprising: a housing for test circuitry having a first front panel bearing test instructions and test actuating devices, said instructions being provided in the form of a table disposed centrally of said housing panel substantially filling same and located vertically between groups of said test actuating devices; a pair of cases fixed to opposite ends of said housing for relative motion with respect thereto and, each said case having a front panel, said front panels carrying test readout devices, so that said readout devices horizontally bracket said instruction table when said cases are open, said cases being movable to a closed position for covering said housing panel for mutual protection of said instructions, actuating devices and readout devices; a second panel on said housing substantially coplanar with and located below said first mentioned housing panel and provided with connections for cabling to test devices attachable to a vehicle to be tested, said readout device cases being disposed above and in nonoverlapping relation with said second housing panel so that said second housing panel remains exposed when said cases are in said closed position.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
189 words
A cabinet for automotive testing apparatus comprising: a housing for test circuitry having a first front panel bearing test instructions and test actuating devices, said instructions being provided in the form of a table disposed centrally of said housing panel substantially filling same and located vertically between groups of said test actuating devices; a pair of cases fixed to opposite ends of said housing for relative motion with respect thereto and, each said case having a front panel, said front panels carrying test readout devices, so that said readout devices horizontally bracket said instruction table when said cases are open, said cases being movable to a closed position for covering said housing panel for mutual protection of said instructions, actuating devices and readout devices; a second panel on said housing substantially coplanar with and located below said first mentioned housing panel and provided with connections for cabling to test devices attachable to a vehicle to be tested, said readout device cases being disposed above and in nonoverlapping relation with said second housing panel so that said second housing panel remains exposed when said cases are in said closed position.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
87 words
The device of claim 9, in which said housing and cases all include ledges extending forwardly beyond and surrounding the respective front panels thereof, one said ledge being interposed between said first and second housing panels and resilient means establishing a seal along ones of said ledges between adjacent parts of said casings and between adjacent parts of said housing and each case, for limiting entry of foreign matter into the area between such casing and housing front panels when said cases are in said closed position.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
131 words
The device of claim 9, in which said readout devices are confined to and substantially fill said case panels, said test actuating devices comprise a series of push-button operated switches confined to first and second substantially linear and horizontal rows respectively located adjacent the top and bottom edges of said housing front panel and vertically bracekting said instruction table whereby, for carrying out a series of separate tests, the operator can set up each test by scanning substantially vertically from the instruction table to the appropriate switching to be actuated and thereafter in reading and interpreting test results can visually scan substantially horizontally between the instruction table and the readout devices to provide for a substantially uniform repetitive pattern of eye and arm movement by the operator during a multi-test sequence.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-08-12 | 1978-02-11 | 1978-08-13 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-08-12 | 1982-02-11 | 1982-08-13 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-08-12 | 1986-02-11 | 1986-08-13 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |