JP4542818B2 - Guidelines and pointer caps - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention illuminates with a predetermined light source and is rotated by a predetermined angle based on a predetermined measurement value to indicate a predetermined display design on the dial plate and to cover the upper part of the pointer light guide unit used for the pointer. Regarding the needle cap.

  In general, vehicles such as automobiles are equipped with instruments for instructing speed, engine rotation, and the like. Furthermore, this type of instrument is illuminated by a predetermined light source, and is rotated by a predetermined angle based on a predetermined measurement value such as speed and engine rotation by the movement to correspond to the speed on the dial, engine rotation, and the like. A guideline indicating a predetermined display design is included.

  FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view showing a conventional pointer included in this type of instrument. FIGS. 7A and 7B are diagrams for explaining the problems of the conventional pointer.

  A guide light guide portion 82 of the conventional pointer shown in FIG. 6 is usually made of a transparent resin, and tapers to receive light from a light source (not shown) by the light receiving portion 82a and guide the light toward the tip portion. It is formed in a needle shape. A weight 82 b for stabilizing the rotational movement is loaded on the proximal end portion of the pointer light guide portion 82. A hot stamp layer (not shown) is formed on the lower surface of the pointer light guide unit 82, and the pointer light guide unit 82 shines based on the color tone of the hot stamp layer.

  The pointer cap 81 is usually made of a black resin and covers the upper side of the pointer light guide portion 82 with the side facing a dial (not shown) as an opening surface. The distal end surface of the pointer cap 81 is formed with a bent portion 81a that is bent downward in order to prevent light leakage forward from the distal end surface of the pointer light guide portion 82. The upper surface of the pointer cap 81 is also formed with a slit 81b for allowing the light from the brilliant pointer light guide 82 to pass upward. The fixing portion 83 includes a fixing piece 83b for fixing the pointer light guide portion 82 to the pointer cap 81, and a pointer rod 83a through which the rotation shaft of the movement is inserted. The fixing portion 83 is usually applied only to the vicinity of the proximal end portion of the pointer light guide portion 82 in order to reduce the weight and simplify the entire pointer.

  In the pointer having such a structure, the pointer light guide unit 82 receives light from the light source by the light receiving unit 82a and guides the light toward the tip. That is, the light traveling through the pointer light guide unit 82 travels toward the distal end surface of the pointer light guide unit 82 while being reflected inside the pointer light guide unit 82. As a result, the pointer light guide 82 shines in a color tone based on the hot stamp layer. The guidelines for the configuration as shown in FIG. 6 are also shown in Patent Document 1 below.

Note that prior art document information relating to the invention of this application includes the following.
JP 2003-247870 A Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-37805

  As described above, the light that travels through the pointer light guide portion 82 and reaches the distal end surface of the pointer light guide portion 82 is caused by the bent portion 81a of the pointer cap 81 in a normal state as shown in FIG. It is blocked and does not leak forward from this tip surface.

  However, the distal end portion of the pointer light guide portion 82 may be deformed so as to drop downward as shown in FIG. 7B due to its own weight or aging. If it does so, the light which reached | attained the front end surface of the pointer | guide light guide part 82 will leak ahead from this front end surface, as shown by R3 of FIG. 7 (B). As a result, the appearance in the vicinity of the portion where the light leaks decreases.

  In particular, since it is an easy-to-read meter, the dial has tended to increase in size in recent years, and the guidelines have also been prone to become longer. Therefore, the possibility that the pointer light guide portion 82 is deformed is higher than before.

  In order to prevent such deformation, a guideline with an additional bottom plate 93 as shown in FIG. 8 has also been proposed. FIG. 8 is an exploded perspective view showing another conventional pointer.

  In the pointer light guide 92 shown in FIG. 8, a pointer collar 92a is integrally formed. A hot stamp layer (not shown) is formed on the lower surface of the pointer light guide 92, and the pointer light guide 92 shines based on the color tone of the hot stamp layer.

  The pointer cap 91 covers the upper side of the pointer light guide portion 92 with the side facing a dial (not shown) as an opening surface. The tip end surface of the pointer cap 91 is also formed with a bent portion 91 a that is bent downward in order to prevent light from leaking forward from the tip end surface of the pointer light guide portion 92.

  In addition, a slit 91b is formed on the upper surface of the pointer cap 91 for allowing light from the brilliant pointer light guide portion 92 to pass upward. Further, a weight 91d for stabilizing the rotational movement is loaded on the base end portion. Further, the pointer cap 91 is provided with a plurality of locking holes 91 c corresponding to the locking pieces 93 c of the bottom plate 93.

  The bottom plate 93 covers the opening surface of the pointer cap, and fixes the entire pointer light guide 92 to the pointer cap 91. The bottom plate 93 is provided with a plurality of locking pieces 93 c that engage with the locking holes 91 c of the pointer cap 91. The action when the pointer light guide unit 92 shines is the same as the above-described conventional example.

  With such a configuration, the problem of leakage light from the tip surface as shown in FIG. 7B is solved to some extent, but as is clear from the above structure, the entire pointer is complicated. As a result, another major problem such as an increase in cost due to an increase in weight or an increase in assembly man-hours occurs. Strictly speaking, there is still a possibility that leakage light is generated from the locking hole 91c formed in the distal end surface. The guidelines for the configuration as shown in FIG.

  Therefore, in view of the above-described situation, the present invention facilitates assembly work and prevents deformation of the distal end portion of the pointer light guide portion after assembly, thereby reliably blocking light leaking forward from the distal end surface. It is an object to provide a guide and a cap that can be used.

The pointer according to claim 1, which has been made to solve the above problem, is a pointer that is illuminated by a predetermined light source and is rotated by a predetermined angle based on a predetermined measurement value to indicate a predetermined display design on the dial. A tapered needle-shaped pointer light guide portion that guides light from the light source toward the tip portion, and a pointer cap that covers the upper side of the pointer light guide portion with the side facing the dial as an opening surface, A tip covering portion formed so as to cover only a portion corresponding to the tip portion of the pointer light guide portion on the opening surface, and the character in parallel to the tip surface of the pointer cap rather than the tip cover portion. And a tip projecting piece wall projecting like a piece so as to be close to the plate .

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, only the portion corresponding to the distal end portion of the pointer light guide portion on the opening surface of the pointer cap is covered with the distal end covering portion. Thereby, the pointer light guide part can be attached to the pointer cap so that the tip part of the pointer light guide part is inserted into the tip cover covering part. Further, after the attachment, the distal end covering portion prevents the distal end portion of the pointer light guide portion from being deformed.

A piece-like tip protrusion wall is provided in parallel with the tip surface of the pointer cap so as to be closer to the dial plate than the tip cover portion. Therefore, light leaking forward from the lower surface of the tip can also be blocked.

The pointer cap according to claim 2, which is made to solve the above problem, is illuminated by a predetermined light source and is rotated by a predetermined angle based on a predetermined measurement value to indicate a predetermined display design on the dial. used is, there in pointer cap covering above of the pointer light guide portion side opposed to the dial of the tapered needle-shaped pointer light guide portion for light guide toward the distal end as the open face of the light from the light source Te, in the opening surface, and formed tip covering portion so as to cover only the portion corresponding to the tip of the pointer light guide portion, in parallel with the front end surface of the pointer cap, than the tip covering portion And a tip projecting piece wall projecting like a piece so as to be close to the dial .

According to the second aspect of the present invention, only the portion corresponding to the distal end portion of the pointer light guide portion on the opening surface of the pointer cap is covered with the distal end covering portion. Thereby, the pointer light guide part can be attached to the pointer cap so that the tip part of the pointer light guide part is inserted into the tip cover covering part. Further, after the attachment, the distal end covering portion prevents the distal end portion of the pointer light guide portion from being deformed. A piece-like tip protrusion wall is provided in parallel with the tip surface of the pointer cap so as to be closer to the dial plate than the tip cover portion. Therefore, light leaking forward from the lower surface of the tip can also be blocked.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, only the portion corresponding to the distal end portion of the pointer light guide portion on the opening surface of the pointer cap is covered with the distal end covering portion. Thereby, the pointer light guide part can be attached to the pointer cap so that the tip part of the pointer light guide part is inserted into the tip cover covering part. Therefore, assembly work is facilitated. Further, after the attachment, the distal end covering portion prevents the distal end portion of the pointer light guide portion from being deformed. Therefore, it is possible to reliably block light leaking forward from the tip surface.

A piece-like tip protrusion wall is provided in parallel with the tip surface of the pointer cap so as to be closer to the dial plate than the tip cover portion. Therefore, light leaking forward from the lower surface of the tip can also be blocked.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, only the portion corresponding to the distal end portion of the pointer light guide portion on the opening surface of the pointer cap is covered with the distal end covering portion. Thereby, the pointer light guide part can be attached to the pointer cap so that the tip part of the pointer light guide part is inserted into the tip cover covering part. Therefore, assembly work is facilitated. Further, after the attachment, the distal end covering portion prevents the distal end portion of the pointer light guide portion from being deformed. Therefore, it is possible to reliably block light leaking forward from the tip surface. A piece-like tip protrusion wall is provided in parallel with the tip surface of the pointer cap so as to be closer to the dial plate than the tip cover portion. Therefore, light leaking forward from the lower surface of the tip can also be blocked.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a pointer and a pointer cap according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a portion X in FIG. FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the pointer cap when section X of FIG. 1 is viewed from below.

  In FIG. 1, the pointer cap 1 is made of, for example, a black resin, and covers the upper side of the pointer light guide unit 2 with the side facing an unillustrated dial as an opening surface. A slit 12 is formed on the upper surface of the pointer cap 1 to allow the light from the brilliant pointer light guide 2 to pass upward.

  In FIG. 1, the pointer light guide unit 2 is made of a transparent resin as in the above-described conventional example, and receives light from a predetermined light source such as an LED (not shown) by the light receiving unit 2a and directs this light toward the tip. It is formed in the shape of a tapered needle that guides light. A weight (not shown) for stabilizing the rotational movement is loaded on the proximal end portion of the pointer light guide 2. Note that a hot stamp layer (not shown) is formed on the lower surface of the pointer light guide unit 2, and the pointer light guide unit 2 shines based on the color tone of the hot stamp layer.

  In FIG. 1, a fixing portion 3 for fixing the pointer light guide portion 2 to the pointer cap 1 is attached to the proximal end portion of the pointer light guide portion 2. The fixing portion 3 has a cylindrical pointer rod 3a through which a rotation shaft of a movement (not shown) is inserted while serving to fix the pointer light guide portion 2 to the pointer cap 1. Unlike the bottom plate included in the conventional pointer shown in FIG. 8, the fixing portion 3 does not need to cover the entire pointer light guide portion 2, and only the base end portion of the pointer light guide portion 2 may be fixed. This promotes weight reduction and simplification of the entire pointer.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the pointer cap 1 has an inner wall 11 c corresponding to the outer shape of the pointer light guide 2. The tip end portion of the pointer cap 1 is provided with a tip covering portion 11a formed so as to cover only the portion corresponding to the tip end portion of the pointer light guide portion 2 on the opening surface. Specifically, the distal end covering portion 11a has a shape like a bridge constructed at the distal end portion of the opening surface. The tip covering portion 11a is preferably sized so as not to obstruct the attachment of the pointer light guide portion 2. Note that the distal end surface 11 of the pointer cap 1 covers a portion corresponding to the distal end surface 21 of the pointer light guide 2 as in the conventional example.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the dial of the pointer cap 1 has a dial plate parallel to the tip surface 11 of the pointer cap 1 than the tip cover 11 a (when the pointer is attached to the instrument). A piece-like tip protruding piece wall 11b is provided so as to be close to. The tip protrusion piece wall 11b preferably has the same width as the tip surface 11. Further, the tip projecting piece wall 11b needs to have a length that does not come into contact with the dial when the pointer rotates.

  When the pointer light guide 2 is attached to such a pointer cap 1, the pointer light guide 2 is inserted along the inner wall 11c of the pointer cap 1 after the distal end of the pointer light guide 2 is inserted into the distal end covering portion 11a. The part 2 is attached to the pointer cap 1. That is, the assembling work is facilitated by using the tip covering portion 11a. And the fixing | fixed part 3 is attached so that the pointer light guide part 2 may be fixed. That is, since the distal end portion of the pointer light guide portion 2 is fixed by the distal end covering portion 11a, the fixing portion 3 only needs to fix the vicinity of the proximal end portion of the pointer light guide portion 2. Therefore, weight reduction and simplification of the entire pointer are promoted.

  The action of the pointer having such a configuration will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining the action of the pointer according to the embodiment of the present invention.

  Light from a light source (not shown) enters the light receiving portion 2a of the pointer light guide 2 and travels toward the distal end surface 21 of the pointer light guide 2 while being reflected in the pointer light guide 2 as indicated by R in FIG. And proceed. Thereby, the pointer light guide unit 2 shines in a color tone based on the hot stamp layer. The light of this color tone passes through the slit 12 and is visually recognized by a driver or the like. These actions are equivalent to the conventional example.

  Also, as shown in FIG. 4, the light R <b> 1 that has reached the distal end surface 21 of the pointer light guide 2 is blocked by the distal end surface 11 of the pointer cap 1. That is, since the pointer light guide portion 2 is not deformed by the tip covering portion 11a provided on the pointer cap 1, the light R1 that reaches the vicinity of the tip surface 21 is reliably blocked. Strictly speaking, as indicated by R2, a part of the light traveling in the pointer light guide unit 2 may escape from the lower surface of the distal end portion of the pointer light guide unit 2. It is blocked by the wall 11b. Accordingly, the leakage light from the distal end portion of the pointer light guide portion 2 to the dial plate 4 is greatly reduced, so that the appearance of the dial plate and the entire instrument is also greatly improved.

  As shown in the modification of FIG. 5, the pointer cap 1 ′ in which the tip protruding piece wall 11 b of the pointer cap 1 is omitted may be used. Other configurations are the same as those of the pointer cap 1. According to such a pointer cap 1 ′, the light R2 cannot be blocked, but other functions and effects can be obtained in the same manner as the pointer cap 1. In addition, as much as there is no tip protruding piece wall 11b, molding becomes easier than the pointer cap 1, and cost reduction is further promoted.

  As described above, according to the embodiment of the present invention, the assembling work is facilitated, and after the assembling, the distal end portion of the pointer light guide portion 2 is prevented from being deformed, and light leaked forward from the distal end surface is reliably ensured. Can be blocked. In addition, the appearance of the dial and the entire instrument will be greatly improved.

  In addition, although the said embodiment assumes that it is applied to the meter mounted in a motor vehicle, this invention is applicable also to the meter mounted in vehicles other than a motor vehicle.

It is a perspective view of the pointer and pointer cap concerning one embodiment of the present invention. It is sectional drawing of the X section of FIG. It is a perspective view of a pointer cap when X part of Drawing 1 is seen from the bottom. It is a figure for demonstrating the effect | action of the pointer which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the modification of embodiment of FIGS. 1-3. It is a disassembled perspective view which shows the conventional pointer | guide included in this kind of meter. FIGS. 7A and 7B are diagrams for explaining the problems of the conventional pointer. It is a disassembled perspective view which shows the other conventional pointer.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Pointer cap 2 Pointer light guide part 3 Fixing part 11a Tip covering part 11b Tip protrusion piece wall

Claims (2)

A pointer that is illuminated by a predetermined light source and is rotated by a predetermined angle based on a predetermined measurement value to indicate a predetermined display design on the dial,
A tapered needle-shaped pointer light guide that guides light from the light source toward the tip; and
A pointer cap that covers the upper side of the pointer light guide unit with the side facing the dial as an opening surface;
A tip covering portion formed so as to cover only a portion corresponding to the tip portion of the pointer light guide portion in the opening surface;
A tip projecting piece wall projecting in a single piece so as to be closer to the dial plate than the tip covering portion parallel to the tip surface of the pointer cap;
A guideline characterized by having. While being illuminated by a predetermined light source, by a predetermined angle by rotation based on a predetermined measurement value is used in guidance that instructs a given display design on the dial, tapered light guide toward the light from the light source to the distal portion A needle cap that covers the upper side of the pointer light guide unit with the side facing the dial of the needle-shaped pointer light guide unit as an opening surface,
In the opening surface, and it formed tip covering portion to cover only the portion corresponding to the tip of the pointer light guide portion,
A tip projecting piece wall projecting in a single piece so as to be closer to the dial plate than the tip covering portion parallel to the tip surface of the pointer cap;
A pointer cap characterized by comprising:

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