Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
159 words
A sealed encased instrument for vehicles comprising a tubular housing having a rear access opening, an instrument unit longitudinally slidably housed in the housing and resiliently limited in its forward movement to a predetermined position, a closure member having a releasable coupling for separable electrical conductors and carried by the rear portion of the instrument unit in slidable registry with the access opening, said closure member having a perimeter complementing the inside face of the tubular housing, a locking member corresponding in perimeter to that of the closure member and longitudinally movable relative thereto, the closure and locking member having confronting borders, at least one of said closure member and said inside face of said housing having an annular portion removed therefrom, a deformable resilient gasket sandwiched between said confronting borders and means for mutually contracting the closure and locking members to compress the gasket and outwardly distort it into sealing engagement with the inside face of the housing.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
159 words
A sealed encased instrument for vehicles comprising a tubular housing having a rear access opening, an instrument unit longitudinally slidably housed in the housing and resiliently limited in its forward movement to a predetermined position, a closure member having a releasable coupling for separable electrical conductors and carried by the rear portion of the instrument unit in slidable registry with the access opening, said closure member having a perimeter complementing the inside face of the tubular housing, a locking member corresponding in perimeter to that of the closure member and longitudinally movable relative thereto, the closure and locking member having confronting borders, at least one of said closure member and said inside face of said housing having an annular portion removed therefrom, a deformable resilient gasket sandwiched between said confronting borders and means for mutually contracting the closure and locking members to compress the gasket and outwardly distort it into sealing engagement with the inside face of the housing.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
17 words
The instrument of claim 1 including spring means resiliently longitudinally separating said instrument unit and closure member.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
48 words
The instrument of claim 2 wherein said housing has formed in its inside face proximate the access opening said annular removed portion, said annular removed portion being a peripheral groove, said gasket in its compressed distorted condition engaging said groove to lock said closure member against longitudinal movement.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
29 words
The instrument of claim 3 wherein said spring means are loaded in said locked condition of said closure member to resiliently maintain said instrument unit in said predetermined position.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
25 words
The instrument of claim 4 including a stop located at the forward position of said housing engaging said instrument unit in said predetermined position thereof.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
23 words
The instrument of claim 2 wherein said housing is of circular cylindrical configuration and said closure and locking members comprise parallel circular plates.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
47 words
The instrument of claim 6 wherein said closure member has a plurality of angularly spaced tapped bores and said locking member has a plurality of bores coaxial with said tapped bores and said contracting means comprises screws engaging said tapped bores and the respective bores coaxial therewith.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
12 words
The instrument of claim 6 wherein said gasket comprises an elastomeric O-ring.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
27 words
The instrument of claim 8 wherein one of said closure and locking members confronting borders has a stepped peripheral recess formed therein, said O-ring engaging said recess.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
64 words
The instrument of claim 6 wherein said instrument unit includes a bracket located at the rear thereof and having a plurality of longitudinal openings therein and said closure member includes a plurality of posts projecting longitudinally forwardly therefrom into sliding engagement with respective bracket openings and said spring means includes helical compression springs encircling said posts and entrapped between said bracket and closure member.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
28 words
The instrument of claim 10 including a front meter member and with a circuit carrying printed circuit board adapted to extend between said meter member and said bracket.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
31 words
The instrument of claim 1 wherein said housing is of circular transverse cross section and has a front opening and includes a window glass registering with and closing said front opening.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
36 words
The instrument of claim 12 wherein said instrument unit includes a meter located at its front and having a front face observable through said window glass and being of cylindrical shape and slidably telescoping said housing.