# US 5,702,078 A · Hand stabilizing identification member for an instrument panel > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 5,702,078 A - Document ID: US5702078A - Status: Granted - Kind: A - Application number: 08/448,739 - Filed: 1995-05-24 - Granted: 1997-12-30 - Earliest claimed: 1995-05-24 - Assignees: PACCAR Inc - Inventors: Jeffery H. Shaw - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US5702078A ## CPC - B60K 35/10: Input arrangements, i.e. from user to vehicle, associated with vehicle functions or specially adapted therefor - B60K: ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PROPULSION UNITS OR OF TRANSMISSIONS IN VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PLURAL DIVERSE PRIME-MOVERS IN VEHICLES; AUXILIARY DRIVES FOR VEHICLES; INSTRUMENTATION OR DASHBOARDS FOR VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENTS IN CONNECTION WITH COOLING, AIR INTAKE, GAS EXHAUST OR FUEL SUPPLY OF PROPULSION UNITS IN VEHICLES ## Abstract A substantially horizontal hand stabilizing member attached to a vehicle instrument panel adjacent to a plurality of switches. The hand stabilizing member protrudes outwardly away from the instrument panel and provides a support surface that is a first distance from the switches. The hand stabilizing member allows an operator to engage and move a movable portion of a selected switch with a first portion of his or her hand when a second portion of the operator's hand engages the support surface and stabilizes the operator's hand from movement relative to the switch. The hand stabilizing member includes indicium on identification markers that are substantially adjacent to respective switches, and the indicium represents a function associated with the respective switch. The hand stabilizing member of the preferred embodiment also includes tactile locating members adjacent to the switches to enable the user to non-visually identify the location of a selected switch. The hand stabilizing member also has a light assembly positioned adjacent to the identification markers to illuminate the indicium to facilitate visual identification of the location of a selected switch. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A vehicle instrument panel assembly, comprising: an instrument panel; a plurality of components connected to said instrument panel, one of said components having a control device that is controllable by a first portion of a hand of a user; and a hand stabilizing member attached to said instrument panel adjacent to said plurality of components, said hand stabilizing member extending in a first direction away from said instrument panel and extending substantially horizontally in a second direction along a portion of said instrument panel, said hand stabilizing member having a support surface extending in said first direction away from said instrument panel, said support surface being a first distance from said control device that allows a user to engage said control device with said first portion of the user's hand while a second portion of the user's hand engages said support surface and substantially stabilizes the user's hand from movement relative to said control device, said hand stabilizing member including a tactile locating member thereon, said tactile locating member being positioned substantially adjacent to one of said components to non-visually identify to the user a location of said adjacent component. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The vehicle instrument panel of claim 1 wherein said hand stabilizing member is positioned above said plurality of components. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The vehicle instrument panel of claim 1 wherein said hand stabilizing member is integrally connected to said instrument panel. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The vehicle instrument panel of claim 1 wherein said hand stabilizing member includes a protruding portion and a cover member removably attached to said protruding portion. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The vehicle instrument panel of claim 4 wherein said cover member has indicium thereon substantially adjacent to one of said plurality of components, said indicium representing a function associated with said selected one of said plurality of components. ### Claim 6 (depends on 4) The vehicle instrument panel of claim 4 wherein said protruding portion of said hand stabilizing member includes indicium located thereon substantially adjacent to one of said plurality of components, said indicium representing a function associated with said one of said plurality of components, and said cover member has a window portion adjacent to said indicium, said indicium being visible to a user through said window portion. ### Claim 7 (depends on 4) The vehicle instrument panel of claim 4 wherein said hand stabilizing member includes indicium located thereon substantially adjacent to one of said plurality of components, said indicium representing a function associated with said one of said plurality of components, and said cover member is transparent, said indicium being visible through said cover member. ### Claim 8 A vehicle instrument panel assembly, comprising: an instrument panel; a plurality of components connected to said instrument panel, one of said components having a control device that is controllable by a first portion of a hand of a user; a hand stabilizing member attached to said instrument panel adjacent to said plurality of components, said hand stabilizing member extending in first direction away from said instrument panel and extending substantially horizontally in a second direction along a portion of said instrument panel, said hand stabilizing member having a support surface extending in said first direction away from said instrument panel, said support surface being a first distance from said control device that allows a user to engage said control device with said first portion of the user's hand while a second portion of the user's hand engages said support surface and substantially stabilizes the user's hand from movement relative to said control device; and an illuminating device behind said hand stabilizing member, and indicia being coupled to said hand stabilizing member adjacent to said illuminating device, said indicia being positioned to be illuminated by said illuminating device and being positioned substantially adjacent to said plurality of components, said indicia representing functions associated with said plurality of components, said hand stabilizing member having a plurality of integral windows therein positioned with said indicia being visible to a user therethrough. ### Claim 9 A vehicle instrument panel assembly, comprising: an instrument panel; a plurality of components connected to said instrument panel, one of said components having a control device that is controllable by a first portion of a hand of a user; and a hand stabilizing member attached to said instrument panel adjacent to said plurality of components, said hand stabilizing member extending in a first direction away from said instrument panel and extending substantially horizontally in a second direction along a portion of said instrument panel, said hand stabilizing member having a support surface extending in said first direction away from said instrument panel, said support surface being a first distance from said control device that allows a user to engage said control device with said first portion of the user's hand while a second portion of the user's hand engages said support surface and substantially stabilizes the user's hand from movement relative to said control device, said hand stabilizing member including an indicium connected thereto, said indicium being positioned substantially adjacent to one of said plurality of components, said indicium representing a function associated with said selected one of said plurality of components. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The vehicle instrument panel of claim 9 further comprising an illuminating device connected to said hand stabilizing member, said illuminating device being adjacent to said indicium and being positioned to illuminate said indicium. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The vehicle instrument panel of claim 10 wherein said indicium is attached directly to said illuminating device. ### Claim 12 A vehicle instrument panel assembly, comprising: an instrument panel having a plurality of components, one of said components having a control device that is controllable by a first portion of a hand of a user, said instrument panel having a front face that is accessible by a hand of a user; and a hand stabilizing member attached to said vehicle instrument panel adjacent to said plurality of components, said hand stabilizing member extending in a first direction away from said front face of said instrument panel and extending substantially horizontally in a second direction substantially parallel to said front face of said instrument panel, said hand stabilizing member having a support surface extending in said first direction away from said front face of said instrument panel, said support surface being a first distance from said control device which allows a user to engage said control device with said first portion of the user's hand while a second portion of the user's hand engages said support surface and substantially stabilizes the user's hand from movement relative to said control device, said hand stabilizing member including a tactile locating member adjacent to a component, said tactile locating member being positioned to non-visually identify a location of said adjacent control device. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The vehicle instrument panel of claim 12 wherein said hand stabilizing member is positioned above said plurality of components. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The vehicle instrument panel assembly of claim 12 wherein said hand stabilizing member includes a protruding portion extending outwardly away from said front face of said instrument panel, and a cover member is removably attached to said protruding portion of said hand stabilizing member, said cover member having indicia thereon substantially adjacent to said plurality of components on said instrument panel, said indicia representing functions associated with said components. ### Claim 15 A vehicle instrument panel assembly, comprising: an instrument panel having a plurality of components, one of said components having a control device that is controllable by a first portion of a hand of a user, said instrument panel having front face that is accessible by a hand of a user; and a hand stabilizing member attached to said vehicle instrument adjacent to said plurality of component, said hand stabilizing member extending first direction away from said front face of said instrument panel and extending substantially horizontally in a second direction substantially parallel to said front face of said instrument panel, said hand stabilizing member having a support surface extending in said first direction away from said front face of said instrument panel said support surface being distance from said control device which allows a user to engage said control device with said first portion of the user's hand while a second portion of the user's hand engages said support surface and substantially stabilizes the user's hand from movement relative to said control device, said hand stabilizing member including indicium located substantially adjacent to a selected one of said plurality of components on said instrument panel, said indicium representing a function associated with said selected one of said plurality of components. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The vehicle instrument panel assembly of claim 15 wherein said hand stabilizing member has a protruding portion extending outwardly from said front face of said instrument panel and a cover member attached to said protruding portion, said cover member having a window portion adjacent to said indicia, said indicia being visible to a user through said window portion. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The vehicle instrument panel assembly of claim 15 further comprising an illuminating device connected to said hand stabilizing member, said illuminating device being positioned to illuminate said indicium.