DESC:FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a vehicle instrument cluster protection system, and more particularly, the present invention relates to a system for protecting an instrument cluster of a vehicle from water and dust during vehicle washing.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Vehicle instrument cluster plays a crucial role in vehicle safety. Every vehicle needs to have an instrument cluster to show various kinds of information related to vehicle to the driver for e.g. vehicle speed, engine speed, various alarms, indicators and the like. In order to protect the instrument cluster assembly from water, dust and other contaminants, various apparatus are disclosed in the prior art. Though the instrument cluster is fitted on a dash board inside the vehicle and not exposed to external environment, very often the instrument cluster is exposed to water while cleaning with water from inside the cabin. The conventional cover which is attached mechanically or using similar means to the instrument cluster has gaps in-between as shown in figure 1. Hence, the water may enter inside the instrument cluster leading to malfunctioning thereof.

An US Patent application 20060037794 discloses an instrument panel cover which includes a sealing edge to protect a portion of the instrument panel from water, dust and other contaminants.

Another US Patent 8562159B2 discloses an instrument cluster. Specifically, a grommet is provided at end to prevent entry of dust and water inside the instrument cluster.

A Chinese Patent 201696610U discloses a sealing ring for an instrument panel which is arranged on a joint surface among an upper shell, an inner shell and a lower shell of the instrument panel. Further, the sealing ring helps to prevent water and dust inside instrument panel.

One more US Patent 4939934A discloses a combination instrument. The combination instrument is further provided with ribs or teeth seal in the gap between gauge and panel against dust and water penetration.

Though there have been a number of prior arts such as protective covers, grommet, teeth seal and sealing ring that provide ingress protection of the instrument panel of a vehicle, such configurations do little to protect the vehicle instrument panel from contaminants as the sealing of the cover with the instrument cluster is not effective.

Hence, there exist a need to provide a device for protecting at least a portion of an instrument panel from water, dust and other contaminants.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

An object of the present invention is to prevent/restrict water entry into an instrument cluster during washing from inside the vehicle.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, the present invention provides a system for protecting an instrument cluster of a vehicle. The system is formed from a flexible material selected from any one of a thermoplastic and a thermoset elastomer that closely conforms to the size and shape of the instrument cluster. The system comprises a back cover, a pair of first sealing rings, a pair of second sealing rings, and an unsealed connector.

The back cover is fixed to house the instrument cluster therein. The back cover is overlapped on a housing of the instrument cluster.

The pair of first sealing rings is fixed at a top side open edge of the instrument cluster across an upper periphery thereof by compressing between a front crystal, a facia cover, and the housing to restrict entry of water from top side of the instrument cluster.

The pair of second sealing rings is fixed at the backside of the instrument cluster at a lower end thereof by compressing between the back cover and a groove on the housing to restrict entry of water rear of the instrument cluster. The pair of first sealing rings and the pair of second sealing rings are detachably attached to the top side open edge and the backward open edge of the instrument cluster, respectively.

The unsealed connector is fixed centrally at the backside of the instrument cluster to provide electrical connections thereto for functioning thereof, to facilitate easy mounting of the instrument cluster as well as to provide ease of accessibility/service of cluster components.

When the instrument cluster is exposed to water from any direction, the pair of first sealing rings with the front crystal, and the pair of second sealing rings along with the back cover completely seal the top and rear sides respectively of the instrument cluster without leaving any gap in-between for entry of water, dust and other contaminants thereby providing an improved ingress protection to the instrument cluster while washing a vehicle cabin from inside.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

The objectives and features of the present invention will be more clearly understood from the following description of the invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, wherein,

Figure 1 shows gaps on a conventional cover for an instrument cluster; and

Figure 2 shows a schematic drawing of a system for protecting the instrument cluster of a vehicle, in accordance with the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The foregoing objects of the present invention are accomplished and the problems and shortcomings associated with the prior art, techniques and approaches are overcome by the present invention as described below in the preferred embodiment.

The present invention provides a system for protecting an instrument cluster of a vehicle. The system is a water sealed ingress protection system that prevents/restricts water entry into the instrument cluster during vehicle washing from inside the vehicle and subsequent malfunctioning.

The present invention is illustrated with reference to the accompanying drawing, throughout which reference numbers indicate corresponding parts in the various figures.

Referring to figure 2, there is shown a system (100) for protecting an instrument cluster (90) of a vehicle (not shown), in accordance with the present invention. Specifically, the system (100) protects the instrument cluster (90) (alternatively referred as an instrument panel) and particularly provides an ingress protection to the instrument cluster (90). In an embodiment, the system (100) is formed from a flexible material, such as a thermoplastic or thermoset elastomer, that closely conforms to the size and shape of the instrument cluster (90). The system (100) comprises a back cover (40), a pair of first sealing rings (10), a pair of second sealing rings (20), and an unsealed connector (30).

The back cover (40) is fixed to house the instrument cluster (90) therein. The back cover (40) is overlapped on a housing (70) of the instrument cluster (90).

The pair of first sealing rings (10) is fixed at top side open edges of the instrument cluster (90) across an upper periphery thereof to restrict entry of water from top sides of the instrument cluster (90). Specifically, the pair of first sealing rings (10) is fixed by compressing it between a front crystal (50), a facia cover (60) and the housing (70) of the instrument cluster (90). The compressed pair of first sealing rings (10) together with the front crystal (50) restricts the entry of the water from the top sides of the instrument cluster (90) through a gap (shown in figure 1) between the facia cover (60) and the housing (70).

The pair of second sealing rings (20) is fixed at a backward open edge of the instrument cluster (90) at a lower end thereof to restrict entry of water from rear side of the instrument cluster (90). Specifically, the pair of second sealing rings (20) is fixed by compressing it between the back cover (40) and a groove (not shown) on the housing (70). The arrangement of the overlapped back cover (40) and the compressed pair of second sealing rings (20) restricts the water entry from rear side into an opening/ gap (shown in figure 1) around the unsealed connector (30) and the housing (70).

The pair of first sealing rings (10) and the pair of second sealing (30) are fixed as protective covers over the instrument cluster (90). In an embodiment, the pair of first sealing rings (10) and the pair of second sealing rings (20) are detachably attached to the top side open edge and the backward open edge of the instrument cluster (90), respectively.

The unsealed connector (30) is fixed centrally at the backside of the instrument cluster (90) to provide the electrical connections thereto for functioning thereof. The unsealed connector (30) also facilitates easy mounting of the instrument cluster (90) as well as provides ease of accessibility/service of the cluster components.

When the instrument cluster (90) is exposed to water from any direction, the pair of first sealing rings (10) with the front crystal (50), and the pair of second sealing rings (20) with the back cover (40) completely seal the top and rear sides respectively of the instrument cluster (90) without leaving any gap in-between for entry water, dust and other contaminants therein thereby providing an improved ingress protection to the instrument cluster (90) while washing a vehicle cabin from inside.

ADVANTAGES OF THE INVENTION

Unlike the prior art cover which is attached mechanically or using similar means to the instrument cluster which has gaps in-between as shown in figure 1, the system (100) leaves no gaps and thus restricts water entry into the instrument cluster (90) with the arrangement of the dual sealing rings (10, 20) and the unsealed connector (30) and the back cover (40). Even if the vehicles are cleaned from inside the cabin with water, the design of the system (100) prevents the water from entering into the instrument cluster (90) and thus prevents malfunctioning.

The foregoing descriptions of specific embodiments of the present invention have been presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the present invention to the precise forms disclosed, and obviously many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the present invention and its practical application, and to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the present invention and various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. It is understood that various omissions and substitutions of equivalents are contemplated as circumstances may suggest or render expedient, but such omissions and substitutions are intended to cover the application or implementation without departing from the spirit or scope of the claims of the present invention. ,CLAIMS:WE CLAIM:

1. A system (100) for protecting an instrument cluster (90) of a vehicle, the system (100) comprising:
• a back cover (40) fixed to house the instrument cluster (90) therein, the back cover (40) being overlapped on a housing (70) of the instrument cluster (90);
• a pair of first sealing rings (10) fixed at a top side open edge of the instrument cluster (90) across an upper periphery thereof by compressing between a front crystal (50), a facia cover (60) and the housing (70) to restrict entry of water from top side of the instrument cluster (90);
• a pair of second sealing rings (20) fixed at a backward open edge of the instrument cluster (90) at a lower end thereof by compressing between the back cover (40) and a groove on the housing (70) to restrict entry of water from rear of the instrument cluster (90); and
• an unsealed connector (30) fixed centrally at the backside of the instrument cluster (90) to provide electrical connections thereto for functioning thereof, to facilitate easy mounting of the instrument cluster (90) as well as to provide ease of accessibility/service of cluster components,

wherein, when the instrument cluster (90) is exposed to water from any direction, the pair of first sealing rings (10) with the front crystal (50), and the pair of second sealing rings (20) with the back cover (40) completely seal the top and rear sides respectively of the instrument cluster (90) without leaving any gap in-between for entry water, dust and other contaminants thereby providing an improved ingress protection to the instrument cluster (90) while washing a vehicle cabin from inside.

2. The system (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the pair of first sealing rings (10) and the pair of second sealing rings (20) are detachably attached to the top side open edge and the backward open edge of the instrument cluster (90), respectively.
3. The system (100) as claimed in claim 1 is formed from a flexible material selected from any one of a thermoplastic and a thermoset elastomer that closely conforms to the size and shape of the instrument cluster (90).

Dated this 29th day of June, 2017

Priya Pandey
(Agent for Applicant)
IN/PA-2018