Title of Invention

AUTOMOBILE DASHBOARD ASSEMBLY WITH REVOLVING SEGMENTS

Abstract

1. Automobile dashboard assembly comprising a plurality of segments assembled on two concentric shafts (RS), atleast one such segment being rotatably disposed on said outer shaft (4) which is rotatably drivable, the extreme right (3) and left (1) segments capable of being fixed on either side within the vehicles, a gap (G) is provided around said detachable segments, control knobs, display units, consoles and the like are disposed on the front and rear side of said rotatable segments, said knobs and the like being electrically connected through the openings / slots (O) provided on the inner and outer shafts (4, 6), said assembly also being provided with means for energizing and activating said shaft.

Full Text

THE PATENTS ACT 1970 (39 of 1970) COMPLETE SPECIFICATION (See Section 10; rule 13) TITLE AUTOMOBILE DASHBOARD ASSEMBLY WITH REVOLVING SEGMENTS APPLICANTS TATA MOTORS LIMITED., an Indian company having its registered office at Bombay House, 24 Homi Mody Street, Hutatma Chowk, Mumbai 400 001, Maharashtra, India. INVENTOR FIROZ SIDDIQUI an Indian National of TATA MOTORS LIMITED., an Indian company having its registered office at Bombay House, 24 Homi Mody Street, Hutatma Chowk, Mumbai 400 001, Maharashtra, India, an Indian Company The following specification particularly describes the nature of this invention and the manner in which it is to be performed ORIGINAL 651/MUM/2005 31/05/2005 FIELD OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to automobile dashboard assembly with revolving segments. Dashboards in automobiles are located at the junction of the firewall and the windscreen of each vehicle. The dash board panel divides the engine compartment and the interior of the automobile. Conventionally, dashboards have various systems like heating and ventilating system, gear shift knob, satellite navigation, music system and the like, fixed thereto in addition to the other most important controls like steering and indicator system. Description of the invention hereinafter is directed to dashboards of left hand driven vehicles, though it is applicable to right hand driven vehicles as well, wherein parts are to be symmetrically interchanged. Further, the following description relates to an assembly wherein only the central zone or segment is rotatable. It is to be understood that other zones and segments may also be made rotatable according to the customer requirement. Steering column, temperature gauge, speedometer and the like are conventionally located on the left hand side of the vehicle. Normally the central zone of the dash board houses various controls knobs and systems. It is difficult to locate and identify the control knobs of choice while driving. The already crowded panel is likely to be further congested as technology progresses in the direction of further automation and passenger comfort. 2 OBJECT OF INVENTION One of the objectives of this invention is to avoid clutter and congestion of dashboard panels by utilizing both the sides of dashboard panels. At present only one side of the panel that is, the side which faces the interior of the automobile, is utilized for accommodating systems and control knobs. The outer side of the dashboard unutilized and may be used, if the dashboard is segmented and some segments are rotatably mounted. Both the right and left side of the panels of the dash board assembly are fixedly mounted on a rotatable outer shaft which houses a rigidly mounted inner shaft. In other words, the outer shaft is rotatably drivable while the inner shaft is fixed. Both the inner and the outer shafts are hollow. Slots are provided on the inner shaft which houses the female part of rotatable switches. The inner shaft also houses power cables and network bus wires required for the system and consoles of the dashboard. The outer shaft is also provided with slots for housing the male counterparts of the switches for rotating the shaft. DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION This invention relates to automobile dashboard assembly which comprises a plurality of segments assembled on two concentric shafts, atleast one such segment being rotatably disposed on said outer shaft which is rotatably drivable, the extreme left and right segments capable of being fixed on either side within a 3 vehicle a gap is provided around said rotatable segments, control knobs, display units consoles and the like are disposed on the front and rear side of said rotatable segments, said knobs and the like being electrically connected through openings /slots provided on the inner and outer shaft, said assembly, also having means for energizing and actuating said outer shaft. The gap between either the fixed segments and/or the rotatable segments may be equal to the distance between the firewall of the automobile and the forward most projection on the segments. This is to avoid any interference among the dashboard segments during rotation. The energizing means is preferably a motor capable of rotating the shaft at 180°C anti-clock wise and clock wise. The outer shaft may be provided with ribs or the like reinforcing means to provide additional support and strength. Roller or needle bearings may be provided at junction points of the segments to reduce friction. Pivot or switches are preferred actuating means for rotating the rotatable segments. This invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings: Fig I is a view of the assembled dash board from the interior of the vehicle reference letters S, Si, S2, G and RS represent the different segments of the panel, gap between the segments and the shaft respectively. Fig II and IIA represent the components of the dashboard separately. Reference numbers 1,2 and 3 in Fig II indicate the left hand side segment, the central segment and right hand side segment respectively. Reference letter O indicates the opening 4 for the co-axial shafts on which these components or segments are mounted. Fig IIA shows the outer and the inner shafts. Reference numeral 4 stands for the outer shaft, numeral 5 for the motor for driving the shaft and 6 for inner shaft. O in the outer shaft and inner shaft stands for the slots or openings for providing the switches for activating rotation of the central segment. The inner shaft houses bus wires for electrical connection. Both the front and back side of the central segment can house control knobs, displays and other essential items required for automobile and passenger comfort. The arrangement is that the central panel can be rotated to 180°C necessary to locate and activate the controls provided on the other side of the dash board panel. By this arrangement overcrowding of the dashboard panel is avoided. Various alterations and modifications fall within the scope and ambit of the invention described herein above and claimed hereinafter without departing from the scope and ambit of the invention. 5 WE CLAIM: 1. Automobile dashboard assembly comprising a plurality of segments assembled on two concentric shafts (RS), atleast one such segment being rotatably disposed on said outer shaft (4) which is rotatably drivable, the extreme right (3) and left (1) segments capable of being fixed on either side within the vehicles, a gap (G) is provided around said detachable segments, control knobs, display units, consoles and the like are disposed on the front and rear side of said rotatable segments, said knobs and the like being electrically connected through the openings / slots (O) provided on the inner and outer shafts (4, 6), said assembly also being provided with means for energizing and activating said shaft. 2. The assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein the width of the gap (G) is equal to the distance between the firewall of the automobile and the forward most projection, such as knob, on the dashboard assembly. 3. The assembly as claimed in claims 1 and 2 wherein said outer shaft (4) is energized by a motor for rotatably driving the same. 4. The assembly as claimed in claim 3 wherein said activating means for rotating the outer shaft (4) is a switch provided therein. 5. The assembly as claimed in claims 1 to 4 wherein said inner shaft (6) houses power cables and the electric connections for the knobs, display system and the like. 6. The assembly as claimed in claims 1 to 5 wherein said rotatable segments are mounted on bearings.

Documents:

651-mum-2005-cancelled pages(2-2-2007).pdf

651-mum-2005-claims(granted)-(2-2-2007).doc

651-mum-2005-claims(granted)-(2-2-2007).pdf

651-mum-2005-correspondence(2-2-2007).pdf

651-mum-2005-correspondence(ipo)-(4-5-2007).pdf

651-mum-2005-correspondence-received-ver-01072005.pdf

651-mum-2005-correspondence-received-ver-01092005.pdf

651-mum-2005-correspondence-received-ver-31052005.pdf

651-mum-2005-correspondence-send.pdf

651-mum-2005-description (complete).pdf

651-mum-2005-drawing(2-2-2007).pdf

651-mum-2005-drawings.pdf

651-mum-2005-form 1(31-5-2005).pdf

651-mum-2005-form 18(2-9-2005).pdf

651-mum-2005-form 2(granted)-(2-2-2007).doc

651-mum-2005-form 2(granted)-(2-2-2007).pdf

651-mum-2005-form 3(31-5-2005).pdf

651-mum-2005-form 5(31-5-2005).pdf

651-mum-2005-form 9(1-7-2005).pdf

651-mum-2005-form-1.pdf

651-mum-2005-form-18.pdf

651-mum-2005-form-2.doc

651-mum-2005-form-2.pdf

651-mum-2005-form-26.pdf

651-mum-2005-form-3.pdf

651-mum-2005-form-5.pdf

651-mum-2005-form-9.pdf

651-mum-2005-power of attorney(21-5-2003).pdf

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