US1712226A - Instrument board panel and lighting construction - Google Patents

Description

T T929. J. R. PADESKY 1312326 INSTRUMENT BOARD PANEL AND LIGHTING CONSTRUCTION Filed July 21, 1928 Patented May 7, 1929. UNITED, STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN R. PADESKY, OF LA CROSSE, WISCONSIN, ASSIGNOR TO NATIONAL GAUGE 8c EQUIPMENT COMPANY, OF LA CROSSE, WISCONSIN, A CORPORATION OF DELA- WARE.

INSTRUMENT BOARD PANEL AND LIGHTING CONSTRUCTION.

Application filed Jul 21,

This invention relates to improvements in intsrument board panels and lighting constructions and similar appliances and to the application of lights to said panels, particularly ofthe type commonly used with motor vehicles.

Animportant feature of the device is that it simplifies the fastening of the light socket to the instrument board panel, reduces the cost of same; and is especially efficient in that it forms a dust proof detachable attachment and at the same time insures against the parts becoming loosened by the jars received by the motor vehicle. It has 1 been the common practice to employ a special housing to receive the light socket and this housing has usually been welded to the panel and then the socket was welded within the housing, Whereas by this improved manner of installation, the special housing is dispensed with and the socket is detachably attached directly to the panel in a way to form a dust proof panel and one that is so securely fastened that it cannot readily be hand the connections are such as to prevent rattling.

Other objects and advantages will be in part indicated in the following description and in part rendered apparenttherefrom in connection with the an'nexedflrawings.

To enable others skilled in the art so fully to apprehend the underlying features here;

of that they may embody the same in the various ways contemplated by this invention, drawings depicting a preferred typical construction have been annexed as a part of this disclosure and, in such drawings, like characters of reference denote corresponding parts throughout "all the views, of whic In the drawings Figure l is a front elevational view of the interior of the panel. hig. 2 is a sectional view on the line 22 of Fig. 1. Fi 3 is a rear view of the panel, parts t ereof being broken away. Fig. 4 is a detail view and Fig. 5 is a detail view pf a modification.

In this improved device an electric light socket 1 has preferabl integral flanges 2 projecting from the si es of the socket. A flexible circumferential gasket 3, preferably of cork, is inserted within the socket to lie adjacent to the bulb 4 and this gasket is jarred loose from the panel, and on the other 1928. Serial NO. 294,486.

proportioned so that its forward circumferentlal edge will project beyond both the socket and the flanges 2 projecting therefrom. The dial plate of the instrument is marked 5. The panel base is formed With pro ecting lugs 6 and 7 which are positioned on the rear surface of the panel soas to engage with the flanges. The flanges and co-operating lugs are so formed as to require a limited amount of pressure to be exerted upon the socket, in order to bring the lugs into locking engagement with the flanges of the socket. This pressure will necessarily cause some compression of the gasket, which 1s espec1ally desirable in an appliance of this character Where dust is apt to enter within the instrument impairing the efliciency of the electric lighted dial face and furthermore this compression of the gasket tends to hold the parts in locking engagement, thereby overcoming any tendency of the parts to become loosened by jars incident to the travel of the motor vehicle over the usual roads.

The panel is preferably formed on its forward face with a semi-circular shield 8 which projects outwardly a sufficient distance to cause the rays of light from the bulb to radiate in' the desired direction to light the instruments 9 to the best advantage.

From the drawings it is apparent that the locking lugs 6 and 7 are so positioned and the slots 10 so formed with the enlarged openings 11 that it is necessary to so position the flange of the socket that the initial engagement of the lugs and flanges are on a diagonal line and by turning the socket bothlugs will pass toward the reduced end of the slot and be brought on a direct line.

In the case of the modified structure shown in Fig. 5 the projecting flanges are formed with stops 12 at opposite ends of the respective flanges and in applying this modified structure to the panel, the socket is positioned so that the lugs 13 lap over the flanges in a similar manner to that just described and by turning the socket on the panel with sufiicient compression of the gasket the lugs can be brought against the stops 12 thereby securely locking the structure to the panel.

Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of this invention that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily adapt it for various utilizations by retaining one or more of the features that, from the standpoint of the prior art, fairly constitute essential characteristics of either the generic or specific aspects of this invention and, therefore, such adaptations should be, and are intended to be, comprehended Within the meaning 7 and range of equivalency of the following claims 2-- Having thus revealed this invention, I claim as new and desire to secure the following combinations and elements, or equivalents thereof, by Letters Patent of United States 1. The combination of a panel for instruments, with a light socket, a compressible gasket secured to said socket of a size and shape to project beyond the body portion of said socket,.interlocking devices on the panel and socket, whereby the socket can be locked to the panel by exerting pressure on the socket to compress the gasket against the panel and simultaneously bring the interlocking devices into engagement.

2. In an instrument panel, embracing instruments and dials attached thereto, the

combination of an electric light socket with p a compressible gasket secured to said socket of a size and shape to project beyond the edges of the socket, interlocking devices on said socket and panel, the gasket being so positioned as to interfere with the engagement of said locking .cdevices until said gasket has been .compressed'by pressure exerted against said socket, the gasket being of such character as to make the panel and socket impervious to dust and simultaneously hold the interlocking devices against unlocking movement.

3. In an instrument of the character specified the combination of an instrument panel board with light sockets; flanges for said sockets projecting therefrom, a compressible gasket having a major part thereof within the socket and the edges extending axially beyond the flanges, said flanges being formed with slots having enlarged openings at the ends of the slots, the enlarged opening of one slot being diagonally opposite the enlarged opening of a companion flange; attaching devices on the panel, the parts being so arranged that by compression of the gasket the attaching devices can enter the slots and secure the socket to the panel.

4:. In an instrument board panel and lighting construction the combination of a panel having a plurality of openings for lights with looking studs projecting therefrom, light sockets having side flanges formed with slots in said flanges, compressible memberssecured to said sockets having portions projecting beyond the body portion a of the socket, said sockets being capable of being positioned whereby the studs can enter the slots upon pressure being exerted to compress the compressible member against the panel to lock the socket directly to the panel.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name.

' JOHN R. PADESKY.

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