Patent US5381304A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
Patent US5434757A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5434757A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Unit panel structure for a door trim
Assignee: Kasai Kogyo Co Ltd
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Filing: 1993-01-04
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Granted: 1995-07-18
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Expires: 2013-01-04
Abstract
Abstract To allow smooth access to such elements as operating knobs for power window switches and a door lock switch provided in a unit panel in the night time lighting condition, the entire surface of an escutcheon panel mounted on the unit panel is defined as a switch operating part for an illuminating lamp which illuminates the elements to be accessed. The illuminating lamp may be lighted up for a prescribed time period to illuminate the escutcheon panel when the switch operating part is touched so that unnecessary consumption of electric power may be avoided. The escutcheon panel may be made of at lease semi-transparent plastic so that light from an illuminating lamp placed behind the escutcheon panel may be transmitted through the escutcheon panel. Alternatively, the element to be accessed such as a switch knob mounted on the escutcheon panel may be made of at lease semi-transparent plastic so that illuminating light may be transmitted therethrough.
Inventors
- 👤 Naoki Kashiwagi
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 15:55
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60Q; B60Q3/00; B60Q3/80; B60Q3/82; B60N; B60N2/00; B60N2/75; B60N2/79; B60N2/797; E; E05; E05Y; E05Y2400/00; E05Y2400/80; E05Y2400/85; E05Y2400/852; E05Y2400/854; H; H01; H01H; H01H2219/00; H01H2219/036; H01H2219/039; H01H2300/00; H01H2300/01; H03; H03K; H03K17/00; H03K17/94; H03K17/96; H03K2217/00; H03K2217/94; H03K2217/96; H03K2217/96042; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S362/00; Y10S362/802
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 30
Claim 1
Independent Claim
71 words
A unit panel for an automobile door trim, comprising: an escutcheon panel displaceably mounted on said automobile door trim with an element mounted on said escutcheon panel that is to be accessed by a user; an illuminating lamp for illuminating the element; and an electric circuit including an electric switch for selectively activating said illuminating lamp, a substantially entire surface of said escutcheon panel being displaceable to thereby activate said switch.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
71 words
A unit panel for an automobile door trim, comprising: an escutcheon panel displaceably mounted on said automobile door trim with an element mounted on said escutcheon panel that is to be accessed by a user; an illuminating lamp for illuminating the element; and an electric circuit including an electric switch for selectively activating said illuminating lamp, a substantially entire surface of said escutcheon panel being displaceable to thereby activate said switch.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
30 words
A unit panel for an automobile door trim according to claim 1, wherein said circuit comprises a timer circuit for maintaining said illuminating lamp activated for a prescribed time period.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
29 words
A unit panel for an automobile door trim according to claim 1, wherein said electric switch comprises a pressure sensor which is activated upon displacement of said escutcheon panel.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
29 words
A unit panel for an automobile door trim according to claim 1, wherein said electric switch comprises a touch sensor which is activated upon displacement of said escutcheon panel.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
30 words
A unit panel for an automobile door trim according to claim 1, wherein said electric switch comprises a mechanical contact switch which is activated upon displacement of said escutcheon panel.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
115 words
A unit panel for an automobile door trim, comprising: an escutcheon panel displaceably mounted on said automobile door trim with an element mounted on said escutcheon panel that is to be accessed by a user; an illuminating lamp for illuminating the element; and an electric circuit including an electric switch for selectively activating said illuminating lamp, a substantially entire surface of said escutcheon panel being displaceable to thereby activate said switch; said element comprising a knob of a switch unit exposed to a passenger compartment through an opening provided in said escutcheon panel, said knob being at least semi-transparent, and said illuminating lamp being placed behind said knob for transmitting light therefrom through said knob.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
115 words
A unit panel for an automobile door trim, comprising: an escutcheon panel displaceably mounted on said automobile door trim with an element mounted on said escutcheon panel that is to be accessed by a user; an illuminating lamp for illuminating the element; and an electric circuit including an electric switch for selectively activating said illuminating lamp, a substantially entire surface of said escutcheon panel being displaceable to thereby activate said switch; said element comprising a knob of a switch unit exposed to a passenger compartment through an opening provided in said escutcheon panel, said knob being at least semi-transparent, and said illuminating lamp being placed behind said knob for transmitting light therefrom through said knob.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
97 words
A unit panel for an automobile door trim, comprising: an escutcheon panel displaceably mounted on said automobile door trim with an element mounted on said escutcheon panel that is to be accessed by a user; an illuminating lamp for illuminating the element; and an electric circuit including an electric switch for selectively activating said illuminating lamp, a substantially entire surface of said escutcheon panel being displaceable to thereby activate said switch; said escutcheon panel being at least semi-transparent material, and said illuminating lamp being placed behind said escutcheon panel for transmitting light therefrom through said escutcheon panel.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
97 words
A unit panel for an automobile door trim, comprising: an escutcheon panel displaceably mounted on said automobile door trim with an element mounted on said escutcheon panel that is to be accessed by a user; an illuminating lamp for illuminating the element; and an electric circuit including an electric switch for selectively activating said illuminating lamp, a substantially entire surface of said escutcheon panel being displaceable to thereby activate said switch; said escutcheon panel being at least semi-transparent material, and said illuminating lamp being placed behind said escutcheon panel for transmitting light therefrom through said escutcheon panel.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
84 words
A unit panel for an automobile door trim, comprising: an escutcheon panel displaceably mounted on said automobile door trim with an element mounted on said escutcheon panel that is to be accessed by a user; an illuminating lamp for illuminating the element; and an electric circuit including an electric switch for selectively activating said illuminating lamp, a substantially entire surface of said escutcheon panel being displaceable to thereby activate said switch; said illuminating lamp being provided adjacent to and externally of said escutcheon panel.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
84 words
A unit panel for an automobile door trim, comprising: an escutcheon panel displaceably mounted on said automobile door trim with an element mounted on said escutcheon panel that is to be accessed by a user; an illuminating lamp for illuminating the element; and an electric circuit including an electric switch for selectively activating said illuminating lamp, a substantially entire surface of said escutcheon panel being displaceable to thereby activate said switch; said illuminating lamp being provided adjacent to and externally of said escutcheon panel.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
22 words
A unit panel for an automobile door trim according to claim 1, wherein wherein said illuminating lamp consists of a room lamp.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
27 words
A unit panel for an automobile door trim according to claim 1, wherein said door trim consists of an arm rest provided in an automotive door trim.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
90 words
A unit panel for incorporation in an automobile door trim, comprising: an escutcheon panel mounted on said automobile door trim, said escutcheon panel surrounding a surface of a switch unit; an operating knob of said switch unit exposed to a passenger compartment through an opening provided in said escutcheon panel; wherein an entire surface of said escutcheon panel is defined as a switch operation unit for operating an illumination unit, said illumination unit illuminating said escutcheon panel for a prescribed time period upon touching operation of said switch operation unit.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
90 words
A unit panel for incorporation in an automobile door trim, comprising: an escutcheon panel mounted on said automobile door trim, said escutcheon panel surrounding a surface of a switch unit; an operating knob of said switch unit exposed to a passenger compartment through an opening provided in said escutcheon panel; wherein an entire surface of said escutcheon panel is defined as a switch operation unit for operating an illumination unit, said illumination unit illuminating said escutcheon panel for a prescribed time period upon touching operation of said switch operation unit.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
27 words
A unit panel according to claim 11, further comprising a piezo-electric pressure sensor which activates said illumination unit in response to operation of said switch operation unit.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
26 words
A unit panel according to claim 11, further comprising a touch sensor which activates said illumination unit in response to operation of said switch operation unit.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
26 words
A unit panel according to claim 11, further comprising a contact switch which activates said illumination unit in response to operation of said switch operation unit.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
118 words
A unit panel for an automobile door trim, comprising: an escutcheon panel mounted on said automobile door trim, said escutcheon panel surrounding a surface of a switch unit; an operating knob of said switch unit exposed to a passenger compartment through an opening provided in said escutcheon panel; wherein an entire surface of said escutcheon panel is defined as a switch operation unit for operating an illumination unit which illuminates said escutcheon panel for a prescribed time period upon touching operation of said switch operation unit; said illumination unit being incorporated in said switch unit, and said operating knob being at least partially translucent such that said escutcheon panel is illuminated by light transmitted through said operating knob.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
118 words
A unit panel for an automobile door trim, comprising: an escutcheon panel mounted on said automobile door trim, said escutcheon panel surrounding a surface of a switch unit; an operating knob of said switch unit exposed to a passenger compartment through an opening provided in said escutcheon panel; wherein an entire surface of said escutcheon panel is defined as a switch operation unit for operating an illumination unit which illuminates said escutcheon panel for a prescribed time period upon touching operation of said switch operation unit; said illumination unit being incorporated in said switch unit, and said operating knob being at least partially translucent such that said escutcheon panel is illuminated by light transmitted through said operating knob.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
118 words
A unit panel for an automobile door trim, comprising: an escutcheon panel mounted on said automobile door trim, said escutcheon panel surrounding a surface of a switch unit; an operating knob of said switch unit exposed to a passenger compartment through an opening provided in said escutcheon panel; wherein an entire surface of said escutcheon panel is defined as a switch operation unit for operating an illumination unit which illuminates said escutcheon panel for a prescribed time period upon touching operation of said switch operation unit; said illuminating unit being incorporated in said switch unit, and said escutcheon panel being at least partially translucent such that said escutcheon panel is illuminated by light transmitted through said escutcheon panel.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
118 words
A unit panel for an automobile door trim, comprising: an escutcheon panel mounted on said automobile door trim, said escutcheon panel surrounding a surface of a switch unit; an operating knob of said switch unit exposed to a passenger compartment through an opening provided in said escutcheon panel; wherein an entire surface of said escutcheon panel is defined as a switch operation unit for operating an illumination unit which illuminates said escutcheon panel for a prescribed time period upon touching operation of said switch operation unit; said illuminating unit being incorporated in said switch unit, and said escutcheon panel being at least partially translucent such that said escutcheon panel is illuminated by light transmitted through said escutcheon panel.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
95 words
A unit panel for an automobile door trim, comprising: an escutcheon panel mounted on said automobile door trim, said escutcheon panel surrounding a surface of a switch unit; an operating knob of said switch unit exposed to a passenger compartment through an opening provided in said escutcheon panel; wherein an entire surface of said escutcheon panel is defined as a switch operation unit for operating an illumination unit which illuminates said escutcheon panel for a prescribed time period upon touching operation of said switch operation unit; said illuminating unit being adjacent to said escutcheon panel.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
95 words
A unit panel for an automobile door trim, comprising: an escutcheon panel mounted on said automobile door trim, said escutcheon panel surrounding a surface of a switch unit; an operating knob of said switch unit exposed to a passenger compartment through an opening provided in said escutcheon panel; wherein an entire surface of said escutcheon panel is defined as a switch operation unit for operating an illumination unit which illuminates said escutcheon panel for a prescribed time period upon touching operation of said switch operation unit; said illuminating unit being adjacent to said escutcheon panel.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
21 words
A unit panel for an automobile door trim according to claim 11, wherein the illuminating unit comprises of a room lamp.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
30 words
A unit panel for an automobile door trim according to claim 6, wherein said circuit comprises a timer circuit for maintaining said illuminating lamp activated for a prescribed time period.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
29 words
A unit panel for an automobile door trim according to claim 6, wherein said electric switch comprises a pressure sensor which is activated upon displacement of said escutcheon panel.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
29 words
A unit panel for an automobile door trim according to claim 6, wherein said electric switch comprises a touch sensor which is activated upon displacement of said escutcheon panel.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
30 words
A unit panel for an automobile door trim according to claim 6, wherein said electric switch comprises a mechanical contact switch which is activated upon displacement of said escutcheon panel.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1998-07-17 | 1999-01-16 | 1999-07-18 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2002-07-17 | 2003-01-16 | 2003-07-18 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2006-07-17 | 2007-01-16 | 2007-07-18 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |