Meter cluster seal

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10173527-B2
Application number	US-201615056258-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 29, 2016
Priority date	May 30, 2014
Publication date	Jan 8, 2019
Grant date	Jan 8, 2019

Abstract

A meter cluster includes a meter trim assembly and a combination meter. The meter trim assembly includes a meter cluster lid, a meter ring with a groove, and a seal portion having a connecting portion disposed within the groove to couple the seal portion to the meter ring. The combination meter has a transparent display cover disposed relative to the meter ring so as to form a gap between the meter ring and the transparent display cover. The seal portion is arranged to block transmission of light from a first portion of the meter cluster to a second portion of the meter cluster.

First claim

What is claims is:

1. A meter cluster comprising:
a meter trim assembly including,
a meter cluster lid,
a meter ring with a groove, and
a seal portion having a connecting portion disposed within the groove to couple the seal portion to the meter ring; and

a combination meter having a transparent display cover disposed relative to the meter ring so as to form a gap between the meter ring and the transparent display cover,
the seal portion being arranged to contact the transparent display cover and block transmission of light from a first portion of the meter cluster to a second portion of the meter cluster.

2. The meter cluster according to claim 1 , wherein
the meter ring includes a partition wall that surrounds a gauge, the partition wall extending outward so as to be adjacent to an outer surface of the transparent display cover.

3. The meter cluster according to claim 2 , wherein
the combination meter includes a dividing wall that surrounds the gauge and extends towards the meter ring such that a distal end of the dividing wall is situated adjacent to an inner surface of the transparent display cover.

4. The meter cluster according to claim 2 , wherein
the seal portion includes a sealing section that is compressed between the partition wall and the outer surface of the transparent display cover.

5. The meter cluster according to claim 4 , wherein
the sealing section is configured to be compressed so as to form a substantially uniform cross section.

6. The meter cluster according to claim 4 , wherein
the sealing section is substantially cylindrical.

7. The meter cluster according to claim 4 , wherein
the sealing section is hollow.

8. The meter cluster according to claim 7 , wherein
a wall of the sealing section is thinner than any dimension of the connecting portion.

9. The meter cluster according to claim 4 , wherein
the sealing section has a width that is greater than a width of the connecting portion.

10. The meter cluster according to claim 4 , wherein
the sealing section is configured to be inserted into a gap defined by the meter ring and a transparent display cover.

11. The meter cluster according to claim 1 , wherein
the connecting portion includes a barb configured to be inserted into an opening in the meter ring.

12. The meter cluster according to claim 1 , wherein
the seal portion is arcuately shaped such that the seal portion extends along a peripheral contour of the meter ring.

13. The meter cluster according to claim 12 , wherein
the arcuately shaped seal portion is configured to occupy at least 45° of radial coverage about a circumference of the meter ring.

14. The meter cluster according to claim 1 , wherein
the connecting portion includes a protrusion that has a first portion and a second portion, the second portion having a diameter that is larger than a diameter of the first portion so as to couple the connecting portion to the meter ring.

15. The meter cluster according to claim 1 , wherein
the seal portion is configured to reduce contact between the meter ring and a transparent display cover.

16. The meter cluster according to claim 1 , wherein
the connecting portion is configured to snap fit into an opening in the meter ring.

17. A meter cluster comprising:
a meter trim assembly including,
a meter cluster lid,
a meter ring with a groove, and including a partition wall that surrounds a gauge, and
a seal portion having a connecting portion disposed within the groove to couple the seal portion to the meter ring; and

a combination meter having a transparent display cover disposed relative to the meter ring so as to form a gap between the meter ring and the transparent display cover,
the partition wall of the meter ring extending outward so as to be adjacent to an outer surface of the transparent display cover,
the seal portion including a sealing section that is compressed between the partition wall and the outer surface of the transparent display cover, and
the seal portion being arranged to block transmission of light from a first portion of the meter cluster to a second portion of the meter cluster.

Assignees

• Horton Thomas
• Fridley Timothy
• Nissan North America Inc

Inventors

• Horton Thomas
• Fridley Timothy

Classifications

• G01D11/26 Primary

  Windows; Cover glasses; Sealings therefor · CPC title

• B60K37/02

  Operations & Transport · mapped topic

• B60K35/00 Primary

  Instruments specially adapted for vehicles; Arrangement of instruments in or on vehicles · CPC title

• B60K37/04

  Operations & Transport · mapped topic

• B60K2350/2078

  Operations & Transport · mapped topic