3,980,041
`m:
`119:
`United States Patent
`
`Evans {45} Sept. 14, 1976
`
`{541 SPEEDOMETER WITH SPEED WARNING
`INDICATOR AND METHOD OF PROVIDING
`THE SAME
`
`1 15 I 223rd
`inventor: Robert Burns Evans,
`Sh, Carson, Calif. 90745
`
`[761
`.
`0“ 22’ 1974
`{23} Filed:
`{g1} AWL No; 517,273
`
`V
`
`V
`{52} U:S- CL ............................. 116f116; 116;:29 E
`[51]
`11.1%.. CI.2 ............................................ GUI? 1/10
`{58} F‘dd 9‘ Search ~~~~~~~~~~~ 1165316 57 56 129 F
`“63129 E :29 K 156/99 10.0 ‘06 ‘07
`108 73/181 132 488
`
`{56}
`
`2,158,925
`2,35?.345
`2,533.4?4
`3,276,418
`
`References Cit“!
`UNiTED STATES PATENTS
`5;:939
`Brasweli .......................... 116i129 E
`91‘1944 Monitor: .,
`,,,,,,, 1551106
`
`1211950 Koch .....
`1561108
`{0/1966 Harris ......................
`
`....... 1161136
`
`OTHER PUBLECATIONS
`Tricoior Speedometer; Sunday Morning Star; Peoria,
`Illinois Jan. 26, 1936.
`
`Primary Examiner~3 Clement Swisher
`Assign)?! Examiner—Denis E. Corr
`
`Aarmwy, Agemt, (2r Fzrm—wHenry M’ Brssefl
`{57}
`ABSTRACT
`An impmved speed warning indicator for a speedome-
`fer comprises a transparent plate such as a transparent
`decal having means such as an attached transparent
`Mastic sheet bearing adhesive for attaching it to the
`transparent face cover of a speedometer casing cog-
`mining a speedometer dia} The plate bears indicia
`such as color and/or a piurality of spaced lines etc
`demarking the plate and the speedometer dial viewed
`through the plate, thereby indicating a speed warning
`on the dial while stili permitting unobstructed viewing
`of al} of the diai. Preferabiy, the plan: is configured
`and dimensioned to overlie only a portirm of the cover
`and dial 80 as to more C‘aarly PIOVide the Speed Wflm~
`ing. The piate can be affixed, in accordance with the
`present methoci, to the face cover of a fuily assembled
`speedometer so as to provide xery easiiy, simpiy and
`effectiveEy,
`the
`improved
`speedometer
`of
`the
`invenhon
`
`6 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures
`
`
`
`Sarmin International, Inc.
`
`Exhibit 1009 - 1
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`SepL14,1976
`
`_
`
`>
`
`A 3,980,041
`
`
`
`
`
`Barmin International, Inc.
`
`Exhibit 1009 .. 2
`
`

`

`1
`
`3,980,041
`
`SPEEDOMETER WITH SPEED WARNING
`INDICATOR AND METHOD OF PROVIDING THE
`SAME
`
`,
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`l. Field of the invention
`The present invention generally relates to speed indi-
`caters and more particularly to speedometers bearing
`speed Warning indicators
`-
`.
`2 Description of the Prior Art
`Speedometers are, of course, standard equipment on
`automobiles, trucks motorcycles. buses and most bicy-
`cles as well as other vehicles. Conventional speedome—
`ters usually indicate the speed of the vehicle by the
`position of a needle on the dial of the speedometer. In
`many instances, the dial is lighted for better viewing,
`particularly at night. However, since the speedometer-
`dial is positioned on the vehicle‘s instrument panel well
`below the direct line ofsight needed by the driver when
`steering the vehicle, most drivers usually can spare only
`an occasional quick glance at the dial when maneuver-
`ing the vehicle. Such a glance is ordinarily given while
`the driver’s main attention is elsewhere. Accordingly,
`although the speed at which the vehicle is traveling is
`ostensibly periodically monitored by the driver through
`his occasional glances at the dial, such glances usually
`leave little impression on the driver. Instead the driver
`usually depends on the flow of traffic, road feel and
`other factors to guess the vehicle’s speed. Such a prac-
`ticc can easily lead to habitually dangerously high vehi-
`cle speeds and increased risk of accidents, speeding
`citations and financial loss. The described risks are
`greater when the usual highway or freeway speed limits
`are suddenly changed as occurred in thelatest fuel
`crisis. in that instance, a national speed limit of 55
`miles per hour was instituted. Most stateswere forced
`to reduce their maximum speed limits, for example
`from 65 to 70 miles per hour to the 55 mile per hour
`limit, and the drivers of the nation’s vehicles have had
`to learn to slow down. Many have not learned as yet
`and as a consequence the number of speeding citations
`has greatly increased recently
`Conventional speedometers do not provide speed
`warning means to aid the driverin such circumstances
`as described above. A few specialized devices have
`been employed in conjunction with speedometers to
`give speed warnings. Howaver, such devices are expen-
`sive and invariably require dissembiy of the speedome—
`ter or the construction of a speedometer of special
`design and‘its substitution for the one with which the
`vehicle is equipped Few of such devices have ever
`been used and none have been used extensively and
`successfully
`Accordingly, it would be highly desirable to provide
`a simpleinexpensive speed warning device for vehicles,
`which device could be connected to the standard in—
`stalled vehicle speedometer without any dissembly of
`the speedometer and without the need of special brack-
`ets. fittings or skilled labor. Such device should provide
`a clear warning against excessive speed, should he eas»
`ily viewable and should not obstruct the view of the
`speedorneter
`,
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTlON
`
`ill
`
`15-
`
`2
`Abstract above. Thus. it comprises a transparent plate
`dimensioned and configured to attach to the transpan
`eat front cover of the vehicle speedometer. The plate
`bears warning indicia, for example. a special color
`5 andlor a plurality of marks, spaces, ridges, etc. so that
`when the speedometer dial is viewed through it, a pork
`tion of the dial representing speeds in excess ofa prede-
`termined limit are demarked by the warning indicia.
`The driver only need glance at the dial while driving,
`with the indicator in place on the dial, and tell whether
`the speed limit is being exceeded or not, Le. whether
`the speedometer needle is in or out of the warning area
`of the dial, as defined by the indicator plate. Sharp,
`accurate and swift reference to the dial can thus be
`made; with a lasting visual impression on the driver. .
`The indicator is easy to install on the speedometer
`cover, can be‘made inexpensively and is durable and
`effective. Moreover,
`it can be made adjustable for
`changes in the speed limits, etc. When installed, as by
`the present «method of the invention,
`the indicator
`forms with the vehicle speedometer an improved
`speedometer of the invention Further details of the
`invention are set forthin the following detailed descrip-
`tion and accompanying drawings
`
`20
`
`25.
`
`30
`
`BRIEF DESCRPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`H6. 1 is a schematic top plan view of a first preferred
`embodiment of the improved speed warning indicator
`of the present invention on a display card, portions
`being broken aWay to illustrate certain features thereof; ~
`FIG. 2:8 a schematic fragmentary greatly enlarged
`cross—section of a portion of the assembly of FiG. 1;
`FIG 3 is a schematic front elevation of the speed
`warning indicator of FIG. 1in place on the front cover
`of a first vehicle speedometer;
`FIG 4is a schematic side elevation of the speedome-
`ter of FIG. 3, portions being broken away to illustrate
`certain features thereof;
`FIG 5 is a schematic front elevation of a second
`preferred embodiment of the speed warning indicator
`of theinvention in place on the front cover of a second
`vehicle speedometer; and
`FIG. 6 is an enlarged schematic fragmentary cros»
`45
`A ssection of the indicator of FIGS.
`
`35
`
`4Q
`
`50
`
`55
`
`60
`
`65
`
`DESCRlPTlON OF THE PREFERRED
`,
`EMBODIMENTS
`FIGS. 1 and 2
`
`Now referring more particularly to FIGS 1 and 2 of
`the accompanying drawings a first preferred embodi»
`merit of the speed warning indicator of the invention is
`illustrated Thus, indicator 10is schematically depicted
`in plan view Indicator 10 comprises a transparent dc~
`calcomania (hereinafter decal}, that:5, a thin flexible
`plastic plate 12 bonded to a thin flexible transparent
`backing sheet 14 bearing attaching means in the form
`of a‘layer 16 of contact adhesive on the side 18 thereof
`opposite that side to which plate 12 is attached. Layer
`16 is in turn releasably affixed to a sheet 29 of waxed
`paper attached to and peelable from a pasteboard dis-
`play card 22.
`.
`it will he understood that plate 12 can, if desired, be
`relatively flexible or stiff clear plastic, such as cello-
`phane, celluloid, polyethylene, clear polyacrylate,
`polyvinylchloride polysiloxane or another material
`such as glass, etc The attaching means, such as layer
`16, can be of protein adhesive, such as casein glue, or
`
`The foregoing needs have been satisfied by theim-
`proved speed warning indicator of the present inven—
`tion. The indicator is substantially as set forthin the
`
`Garmin International, Inc.
`
`
`
`Exhibit 1009 - 3
`
`

`

`3,980,041
`
`3
`rubber cement or any other suitable means which-does
`not obscure the transparency of plate 12 or its equiva—
`lent. Backing sheet 14 need not be present, and usually
`is not present if plate 12 is self-supporting, Waxed
`paper sheet 20 and display pasteboard 22 are also or»
`tional. Suitable equivalents can be substituted, if de-
`sired.
`FIG. 2 is only schematic. The true relative thick-
`nesses of plate 12, sheets 14 and 20, layer 16 and paste~
`board 22 are not represented therein.
`‘
`FlGS. 3 and 4
`
`The present method comprises affixing the indicator
`of the invention to the face (front cover) of a speedom~
`eter so as to provide an improved speedometer having
`a speed warning system. The present method can be
`used to produce the improved speedometer shown in
`FIGS. 3 and 4.
`It will be noted that plate 12 is of a configuration and
`dimension such that when it is properly attached as by
`layer 16 and in accordance with the present method to
`the transparent front (face) glass cover 24 of a speed—
`ometer 25 having a casing 26 containing a speedometer
`needle 28 and dial 30, as well as a mileage indicator 32
`(FIG. 3), it overlies only a portion of dial 36. Cover 24
`is retained in place by a frame 34, as shown in HQ. 4.
`Plate 12 bears indlcia 36 (FIG. 1) in the form of a color
`which demarks the boundaries of plate l2 and the
`portion of dial 30 overlaid by plate 12. In other words,
`the indiclal color (red) of plate 12 appears to be on a
`portion of dial 36 when viewed through cover 24.
`Plate 12 is positioned on dial 30 so that only the
`portion of the dial which contains numbers represent-
`ing speeds in excess of the speed limit to be warned
`against is overlaid by plate 12, for example, speeds in
`excess of 55 mph, as shown in FIG. 3. Mileage indicator
`32 is not covered. it will be understood that plate 12
`can, if desired, be removed from cover 24 and either
`another similar plate of different configuration can be
`substituted or plate 12 can be recut and repositioned or
`merely repositioned on cover 24 so as to extend over
`another range of speed numbers on dial 30. For exam»
`pie this would be desirable in the event that the 55 mph
`current speed limit were abolished.
`Accordingly the improved warning speed indicator of
`the invention is simple, inexpensive, easily installed and
`removed and easily redimensioned for reinstallation, if
`desired. When installed on cover 24, it forms with
`speedometer 25 a new and improved speedometer.
`indicator 10 permits the driver of the vehicle contain-
`ing it to instantly determine if the speed limit is or is not
`being exceeded. The color and position of plate 12
`makes this possible. Accordingly,
`indicator 10 is a
`safety device of considerable utility.
`FIGS. 5 and 6
`
`25
`
`30
`
`35
`
`40
`
`45
`
`50
`
`55
`
`[0
`
`l5
`
`20
`
`4
`one side of which is affixed a clear layer 58 of adhesive,
`such as rubber cement, etc, which forms the means of
`securing plate 56 to cover 42. The shape and size of
`plate 56 are such that the plate overlies the portion of
`dial 50 which is adjacent to those speed numbers and
`marks on dial 50 which indicate speeds in excess of 55
`mph.
`Although plate 56 is clear and colorless, it contains
`indicia 60 in the form of finely etched cross-hatching
`62 which renders plate 56 readily visible while still not
`obscuring dial 50. Accordingly, the portion of dial 50
`overlaid by plate 56 is instantaneously recognizable by
`the vehicle driver. So also is the position of needle 52
`relative to that excessive speed area. Accordingly, indi-
`cia 60 provide the necessary speed warning in the same
`general manner as does indicia 36 of plate 12. It will be
`understood that, if desired, plate 56 can be crippled or
`a plurality of spaced dots, imprinted lines or the like
`can be used as indicia in place of cross-hatching 62.
`l’late 56 is inexpensive and easy to install, remove,
`modify, reshape and reinstall.
`Accordingly, an improved speed warning indicator is
`provided which. when installed on the transparent front
`cover of a conventional speedometer. as per the pre-
`sent method, converts it to the improved speedometer
`of the invention. The indicator is inexpensive, simple,
`safe, easy and fast to install and to use and has other
`advantages as set forth in the» foregoing.
`Various changes, modifications, alterations and addi«
`dons can be made in the present method, its steps and
`parameters,
`in the present indicator and its compo
`nents, and in the improved speedometer incorporating
`the same. All such changes, modifications, alterations
`and additions as are within the scope of the appended
`claims form part of the present invention.
`What is claimed is:
`
`1. An improved speed warning indicator for a speed-
`ometer, said warning indicator comprising:
`a transparent plate of clear plastic having means for
`attaching said plate to the transparent front cover
`of a speedometer casing having a speedometer dial
`disposed therein and spaced behind said cover, the
`plate being releasable and repositionable on said
`cover, the attaching means comprising a releasable
`and reattachablc adhesive layer for adhering to the
`front cover in a selected position;
`said plate bearing indicia demarlcing said plate and
`capable of demarking at least a portion of said dial,
`thereby indicating a speed warning while still per—
`mitting unobstructed viewing of said speedometer
`dial when said plate is secured on said cover.
`2. The improved indicator of claim 1 wherein said
`indicia comprises coloring for said plate.
`3. The improved indicator of claim I wherein said
`plate is configured and dimensioned so as to overlie
`only a portion of said cover and speedometer dial when
`affixed to said cover.
`
`A second preferred embodiment of the speed warn-
`ing indicator of the invention is schematically depicted
`in front elevation in FIG. 5 and in enlarged fragmentary
`cross~section in FIG. 6. Thus, indicator 40 is shown in
`place on a transparent, round front glass cover 42 of a
`speedometer 44, cover 42 being held in a round frame
`46 of a casing 48 within which a speedometer dial 50,
`pointer needle 52 and mileage indicator 54 are dis-
`posed.
`indicator 40 comprises a clear, colorless, plate 56 of
`self-supporting transparent glass or plastic, such as,
`polysiloxane, polyvinylchloride, celluloid or the like, to
`
`60
`
`65
`
`4. An improved speedometer, said speedometer com—
`prising a casing having a transparent front cover and a
`speedometer dial disposed within said casing, spaced
`behind and viewable through said cover, said speedom-
`eter also including a novel speed warning indicator
`comprising a transparent plate of clear plastic having
`means for attaching said plate over said cover, the plate
`being releasable and repositionable on said cover, the
`attaching means comprising a releasable and reattacha-
`ble adhesive layer for adhering to the front cover in a
`selected position, said plate bearing indicia demarking
`
`Garmln international, Inc.
`
`Exhibit 1009 - 4
`
`

`

`3,980,041
`
`6
`6. The improved speedometer of claim 4 wherein
`said plate is configured anti dimensioneé so that it
`overlies only a portion of said cover and said speedmn—
`eter dial.
`5!:
`*
`*
`it
`4:
`
`5
`said plate and at least a portion of said speedometer
`dial, thereby indicating a speed warning while still per-
`mitting unobstructed viewing of all of said dial.
`5. The improved speedometer of claim 4 wherein
`said indicia comprises coloring for said plate.
`
`5
`
`10
`
`15
`
`20
`
`25
`
`30
`
`35
`
`40
`
`45
`
`50
`
`55
`
`>60
`
`65
`
`We“iiiii_.
`
`Garmin International, Inc.
`
`Exhibit 1009 - 5
`
`