Patent ID: 6439151
Filing Date: 2002-08-27
Classification: F16H,G01D,Y10S

Abstract:
A vehicle gear shift console comprising:a gear shift position indicator extending generally longitudinally of said gear console and having a shift position indicia array extending longitudinally of said console; an illumination housing positioned to provide illumination of said indicia array; a light bulb carried by said illumination housing; a light bulb mount connected with said illumination housing and supporting said light bulb for illumination of said indicia array; said light bulb, when illuminated, creating shadowing projecting externally from said light bulb; said light bulb mount including a support structure operable to position said shadowing displaced from impingement upon said indicia array; and said illumination housing having a parabolic light distributing surface having a flat-configuration extending generally transversely of said indicia array, and a parabolically curved configuration extending generally longitudinally of said indicia array and operable to distribute light emanating from said light bulb, substantially longitudinally along said indicia array, substantially free of said shadowing; said parabolic light distributing surface and said support structure of said light bulb mount cooperating to produce even illumination of said shift position indicia array along the length thereof, illumination of said shift position indicia array along the length thereof, substantially free of said shadowing cast by and emanating from said light bulb, and displacement of said shadowing, cast by and emanating from said light bulb, from impingement upon said shift position indicia array.