JPH0996550A - Light emitting needle for measuring instrument - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To reduce the number of parts and the assemble man-hour while ensuring the diffusion of transmission light from an empty location provided at a rotation center part to the surface side of a needle part and the lessening of the leaked of reflection light from the reflection wall of the empty location to the outside. SOLUTION: A one-piece member 80 is formed out of a light diffusion material in a shape shown in the figure so that it has both light diffusion plates 81 and 82 and a connection plate 83 for connecting both the light diffusion plates 81 and 82. The light diffusion plate 81 is extended in an L shape in arrow direction from an extension part 83a of the connection plate 83 and is inserted into a slit part 12c of an empty location 12 and is exposed in the empty location 12. The light diffusion plate 82 is extended in an L shape in arrow direction from the left edge of the connection plate 83 and is inserted into the inside of the lower portion of an opening 31 of a cap 30.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an instrument for vehicles and various other industrial equipment, and more particularly to a light emitting pointer suitable for use in the instrument.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as shown in FIG. 5, in a light emitting pointer for an instrument of this type, a pointer portion 1b is provided with a rotation center portion 1a.
Pointer body 1 that extends in the radial direction from the
There is one provided with a cap 2 which covers both side walls and a rear wall located in the vicinity of the rotation center portion 1a of b (Japanese Patent Publication No. 4-781).
No. 24).

A hollow 3 is formed in the center of rotation 1a in the shape of an inverted triangle, and a slit portion 4 formed at a position corresponding to the upper wall of the hollow 3 has The light diffusion plate 5 is inserted so as to face the inside of the space 3. Then, the light introduced from the back surface into the rotation center portion 1a is
It is reflected toward the inside of the pointer portion 1b by the inclined reflection wall 3a of the void 3. As a result, the pointer portion 1b is adapted to emit light over its entire surface.

Further, in order to prevent the light reflected by the reflecting wall 3a from leaking from the opening on the rear surface side of the cap 2,
The back side opening of the cap 2 is closed by a lid 6.

[0005]

However, in such a light emitting pointer, the transmitted light from the cavity 3 to the front surface side of the pointer portion 1b is diffused by the light diffusing plate 5, and the back side opening of the cap 2 is opened. Even if the cover 6 blocks the leakage of the reflected light of the reflection wall 3a to the outside through the cover 6, the light diffusion plate 5 and the cover 6 are configured as separate members, which increases the number of parts and the number of assembly steps. There is.

Therefore, in order to cope with such a situation, the present invention configures the constituent members of the light emitting pointer for an instrument as much as possible so that the pointer portion can be removed from the empty space provided at the center of rotation. An object of the present invention is to reduce the number of parts and the number of assembling steps while ensuring diffusion of transmitted light to the surface side and mitigation of leaked light to the outside of reflected light from the reflective wall of the void.

[0007]

In order to achieve the above object, according to the invention described in claims 1 and 5, there is provided an integral member integrally formed so as to include a light diffusion plate and a light control plate. Therefore, while ensuring the diffusion of the transmitted light from the void provided in the center of rotation to the surface side of the pointer and the relaxation of the leaked light to the outside of the reflected light from the reflective wall of the void, this kind of instrument It is possible to reduce the number of parts of the constituent members of the light emitting pointer for use and the number of assembling steps.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, since the integral member integrally formed so as to include the boss and the light diffusing plate is provided, the hollow portion provided at the center of rotation can be changed to the pointer portion. It is possible to reduce the number of parts and the number of assembling steps of the constituent members of the light emitting pointer for this kind of instrument while ensuring diffusion of transmitted light to the front surface side. Further, according to the invention described in claims 3 and 5, since the integrated member integrally formed to include at least two of the boss, the light diffusing plate and the light control plate is provided,
It is possible to achieve one of the effects of the inventions according to claims 1 and 2.

Further, according to the invention described in claims 4 and 5, since it is provided with an integral member integrally formed so as to include the boss, the light diffusing plate and the dimming plate, claims 1 and 2 are provided. Both effects of the invention described in 1) can be achieved.

[0010]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION A first embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. FIG. 1 shows an example in which the present invention is applied to a light emitting pointer used in a vehicle instrument. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the light emitting pointer includes a pointer main body 10, a cylindrical boss 20, and a cap 30.

The pointer main body 10 is provided with a pointer portion 10a made of a light guide material, and the pointer portion 10a is provided with a cylindrical boss 20 mounted on the back surface of the rotation center portion 11 thereof so as to form an annular plate dial 40. It passes through the central hole portion 41 and the central hole portion 51 of the annular light guide plate 50, and is pivotally supported by the rotating shaft 61 of the instrument main body 60. A hollow 12 having an inverted trapezoidal cross section is formed in the center of rotation 11 of the pointer portion 10a so as to open in the width direction of the pointer portion 10a. The two reflecting walls 12 are inclined so as to face the lower side thereof.
a and 12b are formed.

The light introduced into the light guide plate 50 from both the lamps 70a and 70b is reflected by the inclined reflection wall 51a composed of the peripheral wall of the central hole 51 and travels along the peripheral wall of the boss 20 to guide it. The light enters from the back surface into the center of rotation 11 of the portion 10a. The light thus entered is reflected by both inclined reflection walls 12a and 12b of the cavity 12 of the rotation center 11, and the surface 13 of the pointer 10a is made to emit light over its entire length.

The surface 13 of the pointer portion 10a is covered with a film colored by a hot stamp or the like.
Further, in FIG. 1, reference numeral 70 indicates a circuit board. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the cap 30 is integrally formed of a light-shielding material as shown in FIG. 2 so as to cover both side walls and the rear wall of the pointer portion 10a located in the vicinity of the rotation center portion 11. It is formed in a substantially U shape. The cap 30 has an opening below the pointer portion 10a below the opening 31.

Next, the integral member 8 constituting the essential part of the present invention
0 will be described. The integrated member 80 is formed of a light diffusing material in the shape shown in FIG. 2 so as to have both light diffusing plates 81 and 82 and a connecting plate 83 that connects the both light diffusing plates 81 and 82. There is. The connecting plate 83 has an extending portion 8 that extends upward from the right upper corner portion shown in FIG.
3a, and the light diffusing plate 8 is provided on the extending portion 83a.
1 is formed to extend in an L shape in the direction of the arrow shown in FIG. The light diffusing plate 81 is exposed in the void 12 by being inserted into the slit portion 12c formed on the upper wall of the void 12 as shown in FIG.

The light diffusing plate 82 is the connecting plate 83 shown in FIG.
At the left end in the drawing, the L-shaped member extends in the direction of the arrow and is inserted inside the lower portion of the opening 31 of the cap 30. The light diffusion plate 82 is formed in a direction orthogonal to the light diffusion plate 81. In the first embodiment configured as described above, the integral member 80 is assembled to the pointer portion 10a as follows.

First, as shown in FIG. 2, the pointer main body 10 integrated with the boss 20, the cap 30, and the integrated member 80 are separately prepared. Then, the light diffusion plate 81 of the integrated member 80 is inserted into the slit portion 12c of the void 12 from the direction of the arrow shown in FIG. As a result, the light diffusion plate 82 is
The second reflection wall 12c is located opposite to the second reflection wall 12c. At this time, the connecting plate 83 comes into contact with a portion between the reflection wall 12 a of the rotation center portion 11 and the light diffusion plate 82.

With the integrated member 80 assembled in this way, the center of rotation 1 of the pointer portion 10a from the light guide plate 50.
A part of the light introduced into the inside 1 of the two reflection walls 12a, 12b
When it enters the void 12 without being reflected by
Part of this incident light is diffused by the light diffusion plate 81 and is transmitted to the front surface side of the pointer portion 10a. Therefore, the pointer portion 10a
The brightness of the surface of the part facing the space 12 does not become higher than that of the other parts, and uniform brightness can be maintained over the entire surface of the pointer portion 10a.

A part of the light reflected by the reflection walls 12a and 12b passes through a part of the rotation center 11 toward the opening 31 of the cap 30 without proceeding in the longitudinal direction of the pointer 10a. And is diffused by the light diffusion plate 82.
Therefore, the brightness in the vicinity of the light diffusion plate 82 below the pointer 10a does not become higher than the brightness on the surface of the pointer 10a, and as a result, the visibility of the surface of the pointer 10a is maintained good. it can.

In such a case, as described above, both light diffusion plates 8
Since the components 1 and 82 are integrally formed by the single integral member 83, the number of components can be reduced and the number of assembling steps for the light diffusion plates 81 and 82 can be reduced. A second embodiment of the present invention will be described based on FIGS. 3 and 4. In the second embodiment,
Instead of the integrated member 80 described in the first embodiment, an integrated member 90 is used as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4.

As shown in FIG. 4, the integrated member 90 has a boss 91, both light diffusing plates 92 and 93, and a connecting plate 94.
It is integrally formed of a light diffusing material in the shape shown in FIG. The boss 91 corresponds to the boss 20 described in the first embodiment, and instead of the boss 20, the boss 91 is pivotally supported by the rotating shaft 61 of the instrument main body 60. The light diffusing plate 93 is coaxially integrated with the boss 91 at the center thereof, and the opening center portions 93a and 93b formed in the light diffusing plate 93 are provided with the rotation center portion 11 of the pointer portion 10a. Both projections 11a and 11b formed on the back surface of the are inserted.

Here, the peripheral wall portion 93c of the light diffusing plate 93 corresponding to the opening portion 31 of the cap 30 plays the same role as the light diffusing plate 82 described in the first embodiment. In addition, both the protrusions 11a and 11 of the rotation center portion 11 as described above.
By inserting b into both openings 93a and 93b, the pointer portion 1
0a is pivotally supported by the rotary shaft 61 via the boss 91. The light diffusing plate 92 is connected to the light diffusing plate 93 vertically from the connecting plate 94.
The light diffusing plate 92 is formed by extending in a letter shape.
Instead of the light diffusing plate 81, the light diffusing plate 81 is inserted into the slit portion 12c of the void 12 and plays the same role as the light diffusing plate 81. Other configurations are the same as those of the first embodiment.

In the second embodiment thus constructed, the integral member 90 is assembled to the pointer portion 10a as follows. First, as shown in FIG.
The pointer body 10 (boss 20 is abolished), the cap 30, and the integral member 90 are separately prepared. Then, the light diffusing plate 92 of the integrated member 90 is attached to the slit portion 12c of the void 12.
While being inserted inside, both openings 93a, 93 of the light diffusion plate 93
Both protrusions 11a and 11b of the pointer portion 10a are inserted into b. After that, the boss 91 is pivotally supported on the rotating shaft 61 of the instrument main body 60.

In this case, since the boss 91 and the light diffusing plates 92 and 93 are integrally formed by the single integral member 90 as described above, the number of parts can be further reduced. Of course, both light diffusion plates 92,
The number of assembling steps of 93 can be reduced. Other functions and effects are the same as those of the first embodiment. In carrying out the present invention, the present invention is not limited to the pointers for vehicle instruments, and the present invention may be applied to the pointers for instruments of various industrial equipment.

Further, in carrying out the present invention, if light-shielding paint is applied to each surface of the light diffusing plate 83 and the peripheral wall portion 93c of the light diffusing plate 93 described in each of the above-described embodiments, these light diffusing plates can be applied. It is possible to reliably prevent the leakage of light from the 83 and the peripheral wall portion 93c to the outside. Further, in implementing the present invention, each of the light diffusion plates 83 and 92 may be configured by a light control plate made of a material that dims or blocks light.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a first embodiment of an instrument light emitting pointer of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of a pointer main body, a cap and an integral member of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a second embodiment of the light emitting pointer for instrument of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the pointer main body, the cap, and the integrated member of FIG.

FIG. 5 is a schematic vertical sectional view of a conventional light emitting pointer for measuring instrument.

[Explanation of symbols]

10 ... pointer body, 10a ... pointer portion, 11 ...
Rotation center part, 12 ... void, 12a, 12b ... Reflection wall, 12c ... Slit part, 20, 91 ... Boss, 30 ... Cap, 60 ... Instrument main body, 81 ,
82, 92, 93 ... Light diffusing plate, 80, 90 ... Integrated member, 93c ... Peripheral wall portion.

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A pointer portion (10) extending in a radial direction from a rotation center portion (11) pivotally supported by an instrument body (60).
a) and a light diffusing plate (81, 92) mounted on an inner wall (12c) located on the surface side of the pointer portion of the hollow (12) provided at the center of rotation, The inclined reflection walls (12a, 12b) formed in the void so as to face the longitudinal direction of the portion and the lower side thereof reflect the light introduced from the back surface into the rotation center portion, and thus the pointer Light guide pointer main body (10) for making a part emit light over its entire surface length
A cap (30) that covers both side walls and a rear wall of the pointer portion near the rotation center portion, and an opening portion (31) of the cap that opens at a position facing the inclined reflection wall. A dimming plate (83, 92) that is arranged so as to block the light leaked from the opening to the outside of the light reflected by the inclined reflection wall, and the light diffusing plate and the light dimming plate. An integral member (8) that is integrally formed to include the plate and is assembled to the pointer body.
0, 90) Emission indicator for instrument equipped with. 2. A boss (20, 91) on the instrument body (60).
And a pointer portion (10a) extending in a radial direction from a rotation center portion (11) pivotally supported by a shaft, and a space (12) provided in the rotation center portion on the surface side of the pointer portion. And a light diffusing plate (81, 92) attached to the inner wall (12c) of the pointer, which is formed in the void so as to face the longitudinal direction of the pointer portion and the lower side thereof. 12b), a light guide pointer main body (10) for reflecting the light introduced from the back surface into the rotation center portion to emit the pointer portion over the entire surface length thereof, and the rotation of the pointer portion. A light emitting pointer for an instrument, comprising a cap (30) for covering both side walls and a rear wall located in the vicinity of a central part, which is integrally formed so as to include the boss and the light diffusion plate and is attached to the pointer body. Integrated member (80, 9
0) A light emitting pointer for instrument characterized by comprising: 3. A boss (20, 91) on the instrument body (60).
And a pointer portion (10a) extending in a radial direction from a rotation center portion (11) pivotally supported by a shaft, and a space (12) provided in the rotation center portion on the surface side of the pointer portion. And a light diffusing plate (81, 92) attached to the inner wall (12c) of the pointer, which is formed in the void so as to face the longitudinal direction of the pointer portion and the lower side thereof. 12b), a light guide pointer main body (10) for reflecting the light introduced from the back surface into the rotation center portion and causing the pointer portion to emit light over the entire surface length thereof, and the rotation of the pointer portion. The cap (30) for covering both side walls and the rear wall located near the center, and the cap (30) disposed so as to close the opening (31) of the cap opening at a position facing the inclined reflection wall The light leaking from the opening to the outside of the light reflected by the circular reflection wall An integrated member (80, which includes an optical plate (83, 92) and is integrally formed so as to include at least two of the boss, the light diffusing plate, and the dimming plate and is assembled to the pointer main body. 90) Emitting pointer for instrument equipped with. 4. A boss (20, 91) on the instrument body (60).
And a pointer portion (10a) extending in a radial direction from a rotation center portion (11) pivotally supported by a shaft, and a space (12) provided in the rotation center portion on the surface side of the pointer portion. And a light diffusing plate (81, 92) attached to the inner wall (12c) of the pointer, which is formed in the void so as to face the longitudinal direction of the pointer portion and the lower side thereof. 12b), a light guide pointer main body (10) for reflecting the light introduced from the back surface into the rotation center portion to emit the pointer portion over the entire surface length thereof, and the rotation of the pointer portion. The cap (30) for covering both side walls and the rear wall located near the center, and the cap (30) disposed so as to close the opening (31) of the cap opening at a position facing the inclined reflection wall The light leaking from the opening to the outside of the light reflected by the circular reflection wall A light plate (83, 92), and an integrated member (90) integrally formed to include the boss, the light diffusing plate, and the light control plate and assembled to the pointer body. The luminous pointer for the instrument to be used. 5. The light emitting pointer for instrument according to claim 1, wherein the light control plate is a light diffusing plate.