United States Patent 1191
`Evans
`
`1541 SPEEDOMETER WITH SPEED WARNING
`INDICATOR AND METHOD OF PROVIDING
`THE SAME
`[76] Inventor: Robert Burns Evans, 1151 223rd
`St., Carson, Calif. 90745
`Oct. 22, 1974
`[221 Filed:
`1211 Appl. NO.I 517,278
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`{52] us. 01. ........................... ..116/116; 116/129 E
`1511 1111. c1.2 .......................................... .. G01? 1/10
`{58] Field of Search .......... .. 116/116, 57, 56, 129 F,
`116/129 E, 129 K; 156/99, 100, 106, 107,
`108; 73/181, 182, 488
`
`[56]
`
`References Cited
`UNITED STATES PATENTS
`
`2,158,925
`
`5/1939
`
`Braswell ........................ .. 116/129 E
`
`2,357,345
`
`9/1944 Moulton . . . . . .
`
`. . . . . . . . . .. 156/106
`
`2,533,474
`
`12/1950 Koch . . . . . . . , .
`
`. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 156/108
`
`3,276,418
`
`10/1966
`Harris ............................... .. 116/116
`OTHER PUBLICATIONS
`Tricolor Speedometer; Sunday Morning Star; Peoria,
`Illinois Jan. 26, 1936.
`
`3,980,041
`1111
`[451 Sept. 14, 1976
`
`Primary Examiner—-S. Clement Swisher
`Assistant Examiner—Denis E, Corr
`Attorney, Agent, or Firm-l-lenry M. Bissell
`
`ABSTRACT
`[57}
`An improved speed warning indicator for a speedome
`ter comprises a transparent plate such as a transparent
`decal, having means such as an attached transparent
`plastic sheet bearing adhesive for attaching it to the
`transparent face cover of a speedometer casing con_
`taining a speedometer dial. The plate bears indicia,
`such as color and/or a plurality of spaced lines, etc.
`demarking the plate and the speedometer dial viewed
`through the plate, thereby indicating a speed warning
`on the dial while still permitting unobstructed viewing
`of all of the dial. Preferably, the plate is con?gured
`and dimensioned to overlie only a portion of the cover
`and dial so as to more clearly provide the speed warn
`ing. The plate can be affixed, in accordance with the
`present method, to the face cover of a fully assembled
`speedometer so 'as to provide very easily, simply and
`effectively, the improved speedometer of the
`invention.
`
`6 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures
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`PETITIONER FORD MOTOR COMPANY EX. 1012-1
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`US. Patent sept.14,1976 Q "
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`3,980,041
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`01 0\
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`\k 229;
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`PETITIONER FORD MOTOR COMPANY EX. 1012-2
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`1
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`SPEEDOMETER WITH SPEED WARNING
`INDICATOR AND METHOD OF PROVIDING THE
`SAME
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`5 .
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`20
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`25.
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`3,980,041
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`Abstract above. Thus, it comprises a transparent plate
`dimensioned and con?gured to attach to the transpar
`ent front cover of the vehicle speedometer. The plate
`bears. warning indicia, for example, a special color
`5 and/or a plurality of marks, spaces, ridges, etc. so that
`when the speedometer dial is viewed through it, a por
`tion of the dial representing speeds in excess of a 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, i.e. whether
`the speedometer needle is in or out of the warning area
`of the dial, as de?ned 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 forth in the following detailed descrip
`tion and accompanying drawings.
`BRIEF DESCRPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`FIG. 1 is a schematic top plan view of a ?rst 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; I
`FIG. 2 is 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. I in place on the front cover
`of‘ a first vehicle speedometer;
`‘ FIG. 4 is 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 the invention in place on the front cover of a second
`vehicle speedometer; and
`FIGQ6 is an enlarged schematic fragmentary cros
`‘ ssection of the indicator of FIG. 5.
`_
`45
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`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`1. Field of the Invention
`The present invention generally relates to speed indi
`cators 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 of sight 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 ?ow of traf?c, road feel and
`other factors to guess the vehicle’s speed. Such a prac
`tice can easily lead to habitually dangerously high vehi
`cle speeds and increased risk of accidents, speeding
`citations and ?nancial 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 states were 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.
`I
`Conventional speedometers do not provide speed
`warning means to aid the driver in such circumstances
`as described above. A few specialized devices have
`been employed in conjunction with speedometers to
`give speed warnings. However, such devices are expen
`sive and invariably require dissembly 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
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`30
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`successfully.
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`Accordingly, it would be highly desirable to provide
`a simple inexpensive 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, ?ttings or skilled labor. Such device should provide
`a clear warning against excessive speed, should be eas
`ily viewable and should not obstruct the view of the
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`60
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`speedometer.
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`I
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`SUMMARY OF THE INvENTIoN
`.65
`The foregoing needs have been satisfied by the im
`proved speed warning indicator of the present inven
`tion. The indicator is substantially as set forth in the
`
`DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED
`EMBODIMENTS
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`I
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`FIGS. 1 and 2
`Now referring more particularly to FIGS. 1 and 2 of
`the accompanying drawings, a ?rst preferred embodi
`ment of the speed warning indicator of the invention is
`illustrated. Thus, indicator 10 is schematically depicted
`in plan view. Indicator 10 comprises a transparent de
`calcomania (hereinafter decal), that is, a thin ?exible
`plastic plate 12 bonded to a thin ?exible 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 20 of waxed
`paper attached to and peelable from a pasteboard dis
`play card 22.
`It will be 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
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`PETITIONER FORD MOTOR COMPANY EX. 1012-3
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`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 op
`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.
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`5
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`FIGS. 3 and 4
`The present method comprises af?xing 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 con?guration 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 30. Cover 24
`is retained in place by a frame 34, as shown in FIG. 4.
`Plate 12 bears indicia 36 (FIG. 1) in the form of a color
`which demarks the boundaries of plate 12 and the
`portion of dial 30 overlaid by plate 12. In other words,
`the indicial color (red) of plate 12 appears to be on a
`portion of dial 30 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
`ple 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.
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`3,980,041
`one side of which is af?xed 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 ?nely 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 stippled or
`a plurality of spaced dots, imprinted lines or the like
`can be used as indicia in place of cross-hatching 62.
`Plate 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, modi?cations, alterations and addi
`tions 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, modi?cations, 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 reattachable adhesive layer for adhering to the
`front cover in a selected position;
`said plate bearing indicia demarking 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 1 wherein said
`plate is con?gured and dimensioned so as to overlie
`only a portion of said cover and speedometer dial when
`affixed to said cover.
`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
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`65
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`FIGS. 5 and 6
`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
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`PETITIONER FORD MOTOR COMPANY EX. 1012-4
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`3,980,041
`said plate and at least a pinion of said speedometer
`6. The improved speedo6met|er of claim 4 wherein
`dial, thereby indicatinga speed warning while still per-
`said plate is con?gured and dimensioned so that it
`mitting unobstructed viewing of all of said dial.
`overlies only a portion of said cover and said speedom
`5. The improved speedometer of claim 4 wherein 5 eter dial.
`said indicia comprises coloring for said plate.
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`PETITIONER FORD MOTOR COMPANY EX. 1012-5
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