Information-display equipment in a motor vehicle

Abstract: Information-display equipment in a motor vehicle comprises at least one information-summary panel (10) carrying a plurality of symbols (12) having a respective associated message (14), which refer to different parts of the motor vehicle, and a plurality of signs each carrying at least one of the symbols (12) and locatable on the part of the motor vehicle to which it refers.

Description: The present invention concerns equipment in a motor vehicle for displaying information, particularly in relation to actions which are dangerous or in any event should be avoided such as, for example, unexpectedly altering the vehicle electrical system, or in relation to instructions to be followed such as, for example, using certain fluids in the cooling system or the hydraulic brake circuit. It is known to use a plurality of plates or labels for this purpose, each referring to a single part of the motor vehicle, close to or on which it is applied, and carrying relevant information. Altogether these plates, which are usually made independently of one another, are not in any order and are a source of confusion for the user of the motor vehicle. In addition, they are rather laborious to attach and can be attached in the wrong place. In order to overcome the cited disadvantages, the present invention provides information-display equipment in a motor vehicle, wherein at least one information-summary panel carrying a plurality of symbols with respective associated messages which refer to different parts of the motor vehicle; and a plurality of signs, each bearing at least one of the symbols and suitable to be located on the part of the motor vehicle to which it refers. When using the equipment according to the invention, it is sufficient for the user to read the information summary panel or panels, which are preferably located in a clearly visible area of the engine compartment, the luggage compartment or the passenger compartment of the motor vehicle, in order to have all of the necessary information. For their part, the signs act as a reference to indicate further the parts of the motor vehicle to which the various messages of the panel or panels refer. There is therefore a significant reduction in the risk that a message could go unobserved, which could happen according to the prior art, when individual plates were sometimes attached to scarcely visible parts. The equipment according to the invention has the advantage that the symbols on the information-summary panel or panels can be based on a unitary criterion, for example a particular standard, therefore being non-confusable and immediately understood. The panel or panels and the signs are preferably made in the form of plates which are preferably adhesive or attachable by clinching, or which are reproduced on the respective parts of the motor vehicle by means of printing or stamping. The signs can therefore be applied directly to the parts of the motor vehicle to which they refer by the manufacturer of the part, which ensures its reliability. In this way, the risk of application in the wrong place is avoided while, in the course of assembling the motor vehicle, it only remains to apply the information-summary panel or panels which can, in fact, already be applied by the manufacturer of the part which carries it/them (for example, sound-deadening panels in the engine compartment). Further advantages and characteristics of the present invention will become clear from the following detailed description, made with reference to the accompanying drawings and given purely by way of non-limitative example, in which: the single Figure is a front view of an information-summary panel forming part of the equipment according to the invention. Information-display equipment in a motor vehicle comprises an information-summary panel 10 carrying a plurality of symbols 12 having a respective associated message 14, which refer to different parts of the motor vehicle. The information-summary panel 10 may be located in a visible area of the engine compartment, the luggage compartment or the passenger compartment of the motor vehicle. The apparatus further comprises a plurality of signs (not visible in the drawing), each bearing at least one of the symbols 12 and suitable to be located on or adjacent the part of the motor vehicle to which it refers. The symbols 12 are such as to allow the person who reads the associated message 14, which can be displayed in many languages, to recognise it immediately. For example, according to ISO Standard 3864, symbols associated with danger are represented by a yellow triangle with a black border, symbols associated with an obligation are represented by a blue circle, and symbols associated with a prohibition by a red circle. The symbols 12 are also such that they indicate immediately the part of the motor vehicle to which they refer by means of ideograms. For example, the symbol 12a which represents a petrol pump is immediately associated with refuelling so that the associated message 14a "Use 95 RON lead-free petrol only" is even more easily understandable. The information-summary panel 10 also carries messages 16 which do not relate to a specific part - for example, "For reasons of safety and guarantee use original parts only" - and which are also not accompanied by a specific symbol. When using the equipment according to the invention it is sufficient that the user reads the information-summary panel 10 to have all of the necessary information in relation to actions to avoid and instructions to follow in order to use the motor vehicle correctly. In addition, the user can refer to the various signs in order to have a clear indication of the spatial location of the parts of the motor vehicle to which the various messages 14 of the panel 10 refer. Naturally, the effects of the present invention extend to designs which have equivalent uses, employing the same innovative concept. For example, instead of ideograms - as shown in the drawing - the symbols 12 can be numbers, letters, or any combination of alphanumeric characters.

Claims: Information-display equipment in a motor vehicle, characterised in that it comprises: at least one information-summary panel (10) bearing a plurality of symbols (12) with a respective associated message (14), which refer to different parts of the motor vehicle; and a plurality of signs, each bearing at least one of the symbols (12) and suitable to be located on the part of the motor vehicle to which it refers. Equipment according to Claim 1, characterised in that the at least one information-summary panel (10) is suitable to be located in a visible area of the engine compartment, the luggage compartment or the passenger compartment of the motor vehicle. Equipment according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the said at least one panel (10) and the signs are made in the form of plates which are preferably adhesive or attachable by clinching. Equipment according to any one of the preceding claims 1 and 2, characterised in that the said at least one panel (10) and the signs are reproduced on the respective parts of the motor vehicle by means of printing or stamping.

Inventors: CORNACCHIA GIORGIO, FERRANTE MARCELLO, CORNACCHIA, GIORGIO, FERRANTE, MARCELLO
Applicants: FIAT AUTO SPA, FIAT AUTO S.P.A.
Application year: 1996
Main classification: G09F3
IPC codes: G09F3, G09F7