Instrument panel meter

An instrument panel meter including a flexible face and a pointer. The flexible face includes indicators configured to convey information to a user regarding operation of the vehicle. The pointer is beneath the flexible face, and is movable between an inactive position and an active position. In the inactive position, the pointer does not stretch the flexible face. In the active position, the pointer does stretch the flexible face at or proximate to one of the indicators so as to convey information to the user regarding operation of the vehicle.

FIELD

The present disclosure relates to an instrument panel meter including a flexible face.

BACKGROUND

Vehicles typically include an instrument panel with one or more meters configured to convey information to the driver regarding operation of the vehicle. For example, meters for conveying speed of the vehicle and engine RPMs are often included. While existing instrument panel meters are suitable for their intended use, they are subject to improvement. The present teachings provide for instrument panel meters having various improvements over the art.

SUMMARY

The present teachings provide for an instrument panel meter including a pointer and a flexible face. The flexible face includes indicators configured to convey information to a user regarding operation of the vehicle. The pointer is beneath the flexible face, and is movable between an inactive position and an active position. In the inactive position, the pointer does not stretch the flexible face. In the active position, the pointer does stretch the flexible face at or proximate to one of the indicators so as to convey information to the user regarding operation of the vehicle.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1illustrates an instrument panel meter cluster at reference numeral10. The instrument panel meter cluster10is illustrated and described herein as a vehicle instrument panel meter cluster. However, the present teachings apply to any suitable meter of any suitable machine, such as any vehicle (including any suitable passenger vehicle, mass transit vehicle, recreational vehicle, military vehicle, motorcycle, aircraft, watercraft etc.) and any suitable building system, such as an HVAC system, power system, etc.

The instrument panel meter cluster10includes a window or plate12with a first meter20according to the present teachings mounted thereto. The first meter20includes a flexible face22with indicators24thereon. Below the flexible face22is a pointer26, which is illustrated in phantom inFIG. 1. In the example ofFIG. 1, the pointer26is in a raised or active position such that the pointer26stretches and/or raises the flexible face22outward and away from the window or plate12.

The pointer26is movable in a clockwise and counterclockwise position to any one of the indicators24, or positions therebetween. The indicators24can be configured to convey any suitable information to a user of the vehicle, such as engine RPMs as illustrated, vehicle speed, fuel level, engine temperature, etc. When the pointer26is in the raised/active position B ofFIG. 1, the pointer26will raise, stretch, or otherwise physically deform the flexible face22at any one of the indicators24, or positions therebetween, corresponding to the particular information to be conveyed to the user. For example, if the engine is operating at 4,000 RPMs, the pointer26will rotate clockwise to beneath the number “4” of the indicators24. The pointer26will stretch, raise, or otherwise deform the flexible face22at the number “4,” as well as at a portion of the flexible face22proximate thereto, as also illustrated inFIG. 4. The pointer26may include a light source86(FIG. 4), as described herein, to provide illuminated area28. The light source86can be configured to direct the illuminated area28only ahead of the pointer26relative to a forward direction of travel of the pointer26.

FIG. 1also illustrates a second meter30, which is substantially similar to the first meter20. The second meter30includes a flexible face32, which is the same as the flexible face22. Indicators34are the same as indicators24, except configured as a speedometer. Pointer36of the second meter30is the same as the pointer26, except that the pointer36is illustrated as inactive and lowered at position A. Because the pointer36is inactive and lowered, it does not stretch, raise, or otherwise deform the flexible face32, and therefore, the flexible face32is generally planar or flat. This provides the second meter30with a sleek and smooth appearance when inactive. When the pointer26is inactive, so as to not stretch, raise, or otherwise deform the flexible face32, the flexible face22of the first meter20will be generally planar or flat, as the second meter30is inFIG. 1. The second meter30is without an illuminated area because the pointer36is lowered and inactive. When the pointer36is raised and active as the pointer26is inFIG. 1, the second meter30can also be provided with an illuminated area that is the same as the illuminated area28of the first meter20. AlthoughFIG. 1illustrates the pointer26in the raised/active position, and the pointer36in the lowered/inactive position, this configuration is provided for illustrative purposes only because during typical operation it is unlikely that the first meter20will be active when the second meter30is inactive. Instead, it is more likely that the first and second meters20and30will be simultaneously active or inactive.

FIG. 2is an exploded view of the first meter20. Because the first meter20is the same as the second meter30, but for the configuration of the indicators24/34and position of the pointers26/36, the description and illustration of the first meter20inFIGS. 2-4also applies to the second meter30. The flexible face22is part of a flexible member50, which further includes a skirt portion52extending from an outer diameter of the flexible face22. The skirt portion52extends downward from the flexible face22, such as at a right angle, or at an angle that is less than 90°.

The flexible member50is seated over a base60, which may be configured as a cylinder or annular ring as illustrated. The base60includes an outer sidewall62, which extends to a lower flange64. The base60is secured to the window or plate12of the instrument panel meter cluster10in any suitable manner, such as with any suitable adhesive. The flexible member50is seated over the base60, such that the skirt portion52extends down and over the outer sidewall62, and the flexible face22extends across the base60.

The first meter20further includes a frame70. The frame70can be a cylinder or annular ring as illustrated, and is sized to be seated over the base60and the flexible member50. Specifically and with additional reference toFIG. 3, the frame70is seated over the skirt portion52in order to secure and sandwich the skirt portion52between the frame70and the base60. The frame70includes a recess72at a bottom portion thereof, which is configured to receive the lower flange64of the base60therein. An upper flange74of the frame70is seated over an upper portion66of the base60. The frame70is secured to the window or plate in any suitable manner, such as with any suitable adhesive. As a result, the flexible member50is secured in place with the skirt portion52being anchored between the frame70and the base60, and the flexible face22extending across and over the base60.

The first meter20further includes a pointer hub80, which can be arranged at an axial center at each of the flexible member50, the base60, and the frame70, or at any other suitable location beneath the flexible member50. The pointer26is secured to the pointer hub80in any suitable manner to permit the pointer26to move between a lowered/inactive position A and a raised/active position B, as illustrated inFIGS. 3 and 4for example. The pointer26can be moved between the positions A and B in any suitable manner, with any suitable device or system.

In the lowered/inactive position A, the pointer26does not stretch, raise, or otherwise deform the flexible face22, and can be spaced apart from the flexible face22. Specifically, the flexible face22can include an outer surface54A and an inner surface54B, as illustrated inFIG. 4for example. In the lowered/inactive position A, the pointer26can be spaced apart from the inner surface54B. In the raised/active position B, the pointer26is raised so as to contact the inner surface54B and stretch, raise, or otherwise deform the flexible face22. Specifically and as illustrated inFIG. 4, in the raised/active position B, the pointer26stretches the flexible face22at a stretched portion56and raises the flexible face22resulting in a raised portion58of the flexible face22. The pointer26can be rotated by the pointer hub80in either one of the lowered/inactive position A or the raised/active position B. As the pointer26rotates clockwise or counterclockwise in the raised/active position B, the stretched and raised portions56and58will move, such as slidably move, about the flexible face22in a clockwise or counterclockwise direction in accordance with movement of the pointer26in the clockwise or counterclockwise direction.

With particular reference toFIG. 4, the pointer26includes an upper surface82A and a lower surface82B, which is opposite to the upper surface82A. When the pointer26is in the raised/active position B, it is generally the upper surface82A that contacts the inner surface54B of the flexible face22in order to stretch, raise, or otherwise deform the flexible face22. The pointer26further includes a front surface84A and a rear surface84B, which is opposite to the front surface84A. The front surface84A faces in the initial or primary direction of travel of the pointer26, such as in the “upstream” or in the clockwise direction of travel.

The pointer26further includes a light source86, which can be provided at any suitable portion of the pointer26, such as at the front surface84A. The light source86can be any suitable light source configured to provide the illuminated area28. For example, the light source86can be a light guide configured to direct light generated elsewhere to provide the illuminated area28, or the light source86itself can be configured to generate light to the illuminated area28. With the light source86at the front surface84A, the light source86is configured to direct light only ahead of the pointer26relative to a forward direction of travel of the pointer about the flexible face22. The light source86can be configured and arranged to direct light to any other suitable location as well, however.