Claims
- 1. A control panel for a vehicle comprising:
a housing defining a recess formed therein; a panel pivotally attached to said housing at a pivot axis, said panel having at least one control mechanism mounted thereon, said panel movable between a first position, wherein said panel generally covers a portion of said recess, and a second position wherein said panel generally exposes said recess; and a detent mechanism attached to said housing and said panel for biasing said panel in one of said first and second positions.
- 2. The control panel of claim 1, wherein said detent mechanism includes:
a cam rotationally fixed relative to said panel, said cam defining a cam surface having an inwardly extending detent formed therein; and a member having an end in sliding engagement with said cam surface during movement of said panel such that placement of said end of said member in said detent provides a locking engagement with said cam to bias said panel in one of said first and second positions.
- 3. The control panel of claim 1, wherein said detent mechanism further includes a spring biasing said end of said member against said cam surface.
- 4. The control panel of claim 3, wherein the spring force acting on said cam surface by said end of said roller is transmitted in a direction passing through the pivot axis of said panel relative to said housing.
- 5. The control panel of claim 3, wherein the spring force acting on said cam surface by said end of said roller is transmitted in a direction offset from said pivot axis, thereby providing an assisting force to move said panel into one of said first and second positions.
- 6. The control panel of claim 1, wherein said cam surface has an arcuate shape corresponding to a radius originating from said pivot axis.
- 7. The control panel of claim 1, wherein said end of said member includes a roller rollingly engaging said cam surface.
- 8. The control panel of claim 1 further including a spring mechanism attached to said housing and said panel for biasing said panel towards one of said first and second positions.
- 9. The control panel of claim 1 further including a damper mechanism to dampen the motion of the panel during movement of said panel between said first and second positions.
- 10. A control panel for a vehicle comprising:
a housing defining a recess formed therein; a panel movably attached to said housing, said panel having at least one control mechanism mounted thereon, said panel movable between a first position, wherein said panel generally covers a portion of said recess, and a second position wherein said panel generally exposes said recess; and a spring mechanism attached to said housing and said panel for biasing said panel towards one of said first and second positions.
- 11. A control panel for a vehicle comprising:
a housing defining a recess formed therein; a panel movably attached to said housing, said panel having at least one control mechanism mounted thereon, said panel movable between a first position, wherein said panel generally covers a portion of said recess, and a second position wherein said panel generally exposes said recess; and a damper mechanism to dampen the motion of the panel during movement of said panel between said first and second positions.
- 12. A control panel for a vehicle comprising:
a housing defining a recess formed therein; a panel pivotally attached to said housing at a pivot axis, said panel having at least one control mechanism mounted thereon, said panel movable between a first position, wherein said panel generally covers a portion of said recess, and a second position wherein said panel generally exposes said recess; a detent mechanism attached to said housing and said panel for biasing said panel in one of said first and second positions; a spring mechanism attached to said housing and said panel for biasing said panel towards one of said first and second positions; and damper mechanism to dampen the motion of the panel during movement of said panel between said first and second positions.
- 13. The control panel of claim 12, wherein said detent mechanism includes:
a cam rotationally fixed relative to said panel, said cam defining a cam surface having an inwardly extending detent formed therein; and a member having an end in sliding engagement with said cam surface during movement of said panel such that placement of said end of said member in said detent provides a locking engagement with said cam to bias said panel in one of said first and second positions.
- 14. The control panel of claim 13, wherein said cam further includes a set of gear teeth meshingly engaged with a gear of said damper mechanism, wherein said gear rotates within a chamber filled with a viscous fluid.
- 15. The control panel of claim 14, wherein said cam further includes a spring retainer for housing said spring mechanism.
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/317,170 filed Sep. 4, 2001.
Provisional Applications (1)
|
Number |
Date |
Country |
|
60317170 |
Sep 2001 |
US |