JPH11258010A - Pointer for instrument - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To effectively utilize light guided to an aperture end of a cap for light emission of a pointer, without forming a base part while losing weight balance of the pointer to distribute a light-incident face ranging over the whole aperture end of the cap for covering the base part, in the pointer of light emission type. SOLUTION: Light not irradiating directly a light-incident surface 33c of a base part 33 of a light transmissive pointer main body is reflected toward the first auxiliary light-incident surface 33f formed in the end face opposing to a pointer skirt 31 of a projected part 33b in the base part 33, and toward the second auxiliary light-incident surfaces formed respectively in the respective side faces of the base part 33, and light reflecting surfaces 53a, 55a, 57b for making the light get incident from the surfaces toward the inside of the base part 33 are formed in a first and second peripheral walls 53, 55 of a cap and its front end plate 57.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a pointer for an instrument,
In particular, the present invention relates to a self-luminous meter pointer which is disposed on a dial portion of a gauge of a vehicle such as an automobile and indicates a scale or the like of the dial.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a vehicle such as an automobile, there is a light emitting type which guides light from a light source inside and shines itself as a guideline of an analog type instrument for displaying a measured value such as a vehicle speed or an engine speed. .

[0003] In general, this light-emitting type pointer has a base portion of a translucent pointer body directly or indirectly connected to the pointer shaft, which has one end opened in the axial direction of the pointer shaft and the other end closed. Covering with a light-shielding cap, extending the pointer of the pointer body extending in the radial direction of the pointer shaft connected to the base to the outside of the cap, from the light incident surface of the base facing the open end of the cap The light incident on the inside of the base is configured to be guided to the distal end side of the pointing unit by reflection inside the pointer main body.

In this type of pointer, a pointer hakama projects from the inner surface of the cap or the base of the pointer body toward the open end of the cap. Is formed so as to be exposed to the outside of the cap from the open end of the cap, and to penetrate through the through hole of the dial from the inner machine behind the dial and project forward of the dial. By attaching the above-mentioned pointer hakama to the tip, with the open end of the cap facing the dial side,
A pointer is arranged in front of the dial.

The light for emitting such a light emitting type pointer is guided from the light source to the base of the pointer main body by a light guide plate made of a transparent member disposed between the dial and the inner unit. .

More specifically, the light guide plate has a substantially mortar-shaped through hole having an inner diameter smaller on the dial side than on the inner side, and the pointer shaft of the inner unit is disposed behind the through hole. Is formed so as to penetrate the dial side, and the inner peripheral surface of the through hole constitutes a light reflecting surface for reflecting the internal light from the light guide plate toward the hands.

[0007] In the light guide plate thus formed,
When light entering the light guide plate from the light source reaches the light reflecting surface, which is the inner peripheral surface of the through hole, while repeating internal reflection,
The light is reflected toward the dial by the light reflecting surface.

Therefore, of the reflected light from the light guide plate reflected by the light reflecting surface of the light guide plate and passing through the inside of the through-hole of the dial, the light reaching the light incident surface of the base of the pointer main body described above is The light enters the inside of the base from the light incident surface and is used for light emission of the indicator of the pointer main body.

As is apparent from the above description, when a light-emitting type pointer is made to emit light by the light guided from the light source by the light guide plate disposed behind the dial, the light is reflected by the light reflecting surface of the light guide plate. Not all of the light reaches the light-incident surface of the base of the pointer main body, and it is not used for light emission of the pointer.Only the light reflected on the light-reflecting surface of the light guide plate facing the light-incident surface of the base is used. The light reaches the light-incident surface of the base and is used for light emission of the pointer.

Therefore, in order to make the pointer emit light efficiently, it is important to make the light from the light guide plate incident on the base of the pointer body without fail.

[0011]

Therefore, it is necessary to form the base such that the light incident surface exists over the entire opening end of the cap so that the light incident surface of the base of the pointer main body has a large area. Although it is conceivable, as described above, not only the base but also the pointer hammer is provided inside the cap, so that the base cannot be disposed in the portion of the pointer hakama.

Since the indicator of the pointer has a certain weight, in order to achieve a balance when the pointer rotates, the indicator is located opposite to the indicator that sandwiches the pointer in the radial direction of the pointer. It is necessary to distribute the weight corresponding to the weight of the indicator on the side, so from the viewpoint of this weight distribution, the base can be concentrated on the opposite side of the indicator in the radial direction of the pointer shaft. desirable.

Therefore, if the base is formed with priority given to the weight distribution of the entire pointer, the light incident surface is limitedly arranged at the opening end of the opening end of the cap opposite to the indicator. The light from the light guide plate that has reached the cap opening end portion on the indicator side with respect to the pointer shaft cannot be effectively used for light emission of the pointer, and is rather wasted.

However, if the base is formed so that the light incident surface exists over the entire open end of the cap,
The above-mentioned weight balance of the entire pointer is lost, and an unbalanced centrifugal force acts on the pointer during rotation of the pointer to cause an inconvenient behavior such as an awkward movement.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances,
An object of the present invention is to provide a light-emitting type pointer such that a light incident surface is widely present over the entire opening end of a cap covering a base, without forming a base until the weight balance of the pointer is broken. It is an object of the present invention to provide an instrument pointer capable of efficiently using light guided to an opening end of a cap for emitting a pointer.

[0016]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a meter pointer according to the present invention, wherein a base portion of a translucent pointer body directly or indirectly connected to a pointer shaft is provided. An end portion in the axial direction of the pointer shaft is covered with a light-shielding cap having an open end, and a pointing portion of the pointer main body, which is connected to the base portion and extends in the radial direction of the pointer shaft, is provided outside the cap. Extending the light incident on the inside of the base from the light incident surface of the base facing the open end of the cap, the instrument pointer guiding the pointer to the distal end side of the indicator by reflection inside the pointer main body. Forming an auxiliary light incident surface on the base portion facing the inner surface of the cap via a gap, and irradiating the inner surface of the cap with light emitted from the open end side of the cap to the inside of the cap. On the auxiliary light incident surface Only, characterized in that the formation of the auxiliary light reflecting surface for reflecting.

In the instrument pointer according to the present invention, the auxiliary light reflecting surface is constituted by a surface of a white light diffusing layer which covers at least a part of an inner surface of the cap. .

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the light reaching the opening end portion of the cap without the base having the light incident surface of the pointer main body reaches the inner surface of the cap as it is and assists. The light is reflected by the light reflecting surface, illuminates the auxiliary light incident surface of the base portion of the pointer body facing the inner surface of the cap via the gap, and is incident from the auxiliary light incident surface to the inside of the base. Light that is conventionally wasted without being irradiated on the surface can be made to enter the inside of the base from the auxiliary light incident surface, and can be used for light emission of the hands.

According to the instrument pointer of the present invention, if the auxiliary light reflecting surface is the surface of the white light diffusing layer, the light applied to the auxiliary light reflecting surface is incident on the auxiliary light. Efficiently reflects light toward the surface, suppresses the attenuation of light when reflected by the auxiliary light reflecting surface, and maintains a high amount of light that enters the interior of the base from the auxiliary light incident surface, which is conventionally wasted. Irradiation light to the inner surface of the cap, which has been used, can be efficiently used for emitting a pointer.

[0020]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a schematic configuration of an instrument pointer according to an embodiment of the present invention. The pointer indicated by reference numeral 1 in FIG. ing.

The pointer main body 3 is formed of a transparent resin capable of transmitting light. As shown in FIG. 2 in a sectional view taken along the line A--A in FIG. It has a base 33 protruding substantially at the center, and a pointing portion 35 connected to the base 33 and extending in the radial direction of the pointer hakama 31. A shaft hole 31a for press-fitting a pointer shaft of an inner machine (not shown) that rotationally drives the main body 3 is formed.

A protruding portion 33b that protrudes in the axial direction of the pointer hammer 31 is formed on a portion of the rear surface 33a of the base 33 opposite to the indicator 35 with the pointer hammer 31 interposed therebetween. A light incident surface 33c for allowing light from a light guide plate (not shown) to enter the inside is formed at the tip of the protruding portion 33b, and light is incident on the surface 33d of the base 33 facing the light incident surface 33c. Projection 33b from entrance surface 33c
A light reflection surface 33e for reflecting the light incident inside the light source toward the indicator 35 is formed.

Further, an end face of the protruding portion 33b on the side opposite to the pointer 31 side is used to allow light from a light guide plate (not shown) not directly radiated to the light incident surface 33c to enter the inside of the base 33. As shown in FIG. 3 in a sectional view taken along the line BB of FIG. 3, each side surface of the base portion 33 has an end surface on the side opposite to the pointer hammer 31 side of the protruding portion 33b. Similarly, a second auxiliary light incident surface 33g for allowing light from a light guide plate (not shown) not directly irradiated to the light incident surface 33c to enter the inside of the base 33.

The cap 5 is made of, for example, a colored resin, such as black, which disables light transmission. As shown in FIG.
The top plate 51, first and second peripheral wall plates 53 and 55 having a two-step arc shape connected to the periphery of the top plate 51, and the top plate 51, the first peripheral wall plate 53, and the second peripheral wall plate 55 As shown in FIG. 3, the front end plate 57 is formed so that one end is opened.

The top plate 51 is formed with a substantially U-shaped slit 51a oriented so that the front end plate 57 side is an open end.
A substantially U-shaped notch 57a into which the hole 5 can be fitted has a slit 51.
It is formed so as to be continuous with a.

As shown in FIG. 2, the first peripheral wall plate 53
Is connected to the top plate 51 at an inclination angle at which the angle formed between the top plate 51 and the light reflection surface 33e is substantially the same as the angle formed between the surface 33d of the base 33 and the light reflection surface 33e. The top plate 51 is connected to the first peripheral wall plate 53 at an inclination angle that is more acute than the first peripheral wall plate 53.

Further, the inner surface of the cap 5 is covered with a white light diffusing layer, and the surface of the light diffusing layer covering the inner surface of the top plate 51 constitutes a light reflecting surface 51 b, and the inner surface of the first peripheral wall plate 53. Light reflecting surface 5 by the surface of the light diffusing layer covering
3a, a light reflecting surface 55a is formed by the surface of the light diffusion layer covering the inner surface of the second peripheral wall plate 55, and a light reflecting surface 57b is formed by the surface of the light diffusion layer covering the inner surface of the front end plate 57. .

In the pointer 1 having such a structure, the indicator 35 near the base 33 of the pointer main body 3 is attached to the front end plate 5 of the cap 5.
7, the base 33 is housed inside the cap 5 while being fitted into the notch 57a, and has a shape corresponding to the back surface 33a except for the protrusion 33b of the base 33, which is indicated by reference numeral 59 in FIGS. The plate is engaged with the inside of the cap 5 so that the base 33 does not fall off from the inside of the cap 5.
It is assembled by holding it with 9.

As shown in FIG. 2, the back surface 35a of the indicator 35 and the back surface 3 corresponding to the slit 51a of the base 33 are provided.
In the portion 3a, light-shielding colored layers 35b and 33h of white, orange, red and the like formed by hot stamping or the like are respectively formed.

In this assembled state, as shown in FIG. 2, the surface 33d of the base 33 is
b, the light incident surface 33 c of the base 33 is in contact with the first peripheral wall plate 5.
3 and the first portion of the base 33.
The auxiliary light incident surface 33f faces the light reflecting surface 55a of the second peripheral wall plate 55 via a gap, and as shown in FIG.
3, the second auxiliary light incident surfaces 33g face the light reflecting surfaces 53a, 55a of the first and second peripheral wall plates 53, 55 via a gap.

In the above-described assembled state, the surface 33d of the base 33 is
1a, the surface 33d of the base 33 exposed to the outside of the cap 5 is exposed to the outside of the cap 5 as shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 5, the display unit is configured to be visually recognized so as to be continuous with the base end side of the pointing unit 35.

Next, the operation of the pointer 1 of the present embodiment configured as described above will be described.

When the leading end of the pointer shaft of the inner machine (not shown) is press-fitted into the through hole 31a of the pointer hakama 31 of the pointer 1, the light guide plate (not shown) disposed on the back side of the dial (not shown). Light from a light source (not shown) enters the inside of the cap 5 through the open end thereof.

Of these, the light directly applied to the light incident surface 33c of the base 33 is, as shown in FIG.
3c, the light enters the protruding portion 33b and enters the light reflecting surface 33e.
And is guided to the front end side of the pointing unit 35.

The light on the side opposite to the pointer 31 from the projection 33b is reflected by the light reflecting surface 55a of the second peripheral wall plate 55 of the cap 5, and is projected from the first auxiliary light incident surface 33f to the projection 33b. And is guided to the tip side of the indicator 35 while repeating internal reflection at the base 33.

Further, as shown in FIG. 3, the light on both sides of the holding plate 59 is applied to the first and second peripheral wall plates 53 and 5 of the cap 5.
5 are reflected by the light reflecting surfaces 53a and 55a of
The light enters the inside of the base 33 from the auxiliary light incident surface 33g, and is guided to the tip end side of the pointing unit 35 while repeating internal reflection at the base 33.

Then, the light reflecting surface 33e of the base 33, the first
Auxiliary light incident surface 33f and each second auxiliary light incident surface 33g
Are respectively incident on the inside of the base portion 33, and are guided to the tip side of the indicating portion 35 while repeating internal reflection at the base portion 33, and are exposed to the indicating portion 35 and the base portion 33 from the slit 51a to the outside of the cap 5. The part is illuminated with the color of the light-shielding colored layers 35b and 33h and is visually recognized.

As is clear from the above description, in the present embodiment, the first and second peripheral wall plates 53 and 55 of the cap 5 are provided.
The light reflecting surfaces 53a, 55a, and 57b of the front end plate 57 correspond to auxiliary light reflecting surfaces in the claims.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, the base 33 of the translucent pointer main body 3 is covered with the light-shielding cap 5 whose one end is open, and is connected to the base 33 so as to be outside the cap 5. The indicator 35 of the pointer main body 3 extending to the inside is incident on the light incident surface 33c of the base 33 from the light guide plate (not shown) through the open end of the cap 5, and then is irradiated to the base 3.
The following configuration is adopted in the pointer 1 which is made to enter the inside of the pointer 3 and emits light by the light guided to the distal end side of the indicating unit 35 by the repetition of the internal reflection at the base 33.

That is, the light not directly applied to the light incident surface 33c of the base 33 is converted into the first auxiliary light incident surface 33 formed on the end surface of the protruding portion 33b of the base 33 opposite to the pointer 31.
f, and the light reflecting surfaces 53a, 55a, and 57b that are reflected toward the second auxiliary light incident surface 33g formed on each side surface of the base 33 and that are incident on the inside of the base 33 from the first and second auxiliary light incident surfaces 33g. The second peripheral wall plates 53 and 55 and the front end plate 57 are formed respectively.

For this reason, even if a light incident surface facing the light guide plate is not formed in a large area covering the entire open end of the cap 5, the light incident surface 33c facing the light guide plate is not formed. The light from the light guide plate, which is supposed to be irradiated to the inner surface of the cap 5 without being directly incident on the base, is incident on the inside of the base 33 without wasting the light as it is, and is effectively used for light emission of the indicator 35 and the like. Can be.

Although the structure in which the inner surface of the cap 5 is covered with the white light diffusing layer may be omitted, by adopting this structure as in the present embodiment, each light reflecting surface 51 is formed.
b, 53a, 55a, and 57b can suppress the attenuation when the light is reflected and can efficiently reflect the light, and accordingly, the light of the first and second peripheral wall plates 53 and 55 and the front end plate 57 of the cap 5 can be correspondingly increased. The first auxiliary light incident surface 33f and the second auxiliary light incident surface 33 are reflected by the reflection surfaces 53a, 55a, and 57b.
g to increase the amount of light incident on the inside of the base 33,
This is advantageous because the light from the light guide plate can be used more efficiently by the light emission of the indicator 35 and the like.

Further, in the present embodiment, the description has been made with reference to the example of the pointer 1 in which the slit 51a is formed in the cap 5 and a part of the base 33 is visually recognized as if the indicator 35. The present invention is applicable even to a pointer having no configuration, and the arrangement of the light reflecting surface formed on the inner surface of the cap, and the arrangement of the auxiliary light incident surface on the pointer main body corresponding to this, Needless to say, the design can be arbitrarily changed according to the shape of the hands.

[0045]

As described above, according to the instrument pointer of the present invention, the base of the translucent pointer main body, which is directly or indirectly connected to the pointer shaft, is connected to the pointer. An end in the axial direction of the shaft is covered with a light-shielding cap that is open, and a pointing portion of the pointer main body, which is connected to the base and extends in the radial direction of the pointer shaft, extends outward from the cap. An instrument pointer that guides light incident on the inside of the base from the light incident surface of the base facing the open end of the cap to the distal end side of the indicator by reflection inside the pointer main body; An auxiliary light incident surface is formed at a base portion facing the inner surface of the cap via a gap, and light emitted from the open end side of the cap to the inside of the cap is formed on the inner surface of the cap by the auxiliary light. Reflected towards the entrance surface That it was configured to form an auxiliary light reflecting surface.

For this reason, the light that reaches the opening end of the cap having no base having the light incident surface of the pointer main body reaches the inner surface of the cap as it is and is reflected by the auxiliary light reflecting surface, leaving a gap in the inner surface of the cap. The auxiliary light incident surface of the base portion of the pointer main body, which is exposed through the auxiliary light incident surface, is incident on the inside of the base from the auxiliary light incident surface, so that the light that was conventionally wasted without being irradiated on the light incident surface of the base portion Is incident on the inside of the base from the auxiliary light incident surface, and can be used for light emission of the hands.

According to the instrument pointer of the present invention described in claim 2, the auxiliary light reflecting surface is constituted by a surface of a white light diffusion layer which covers at least a part of an inner surface of the cap.

For this reason, if the auxiliary light reflecting surface is the surface of the white light diffusing layer, the light applied to the light reflecting surface is efficiently reflected toward the auxiliary light incident surface, so that the light reflected by the light reflecting surface can be efficiently reflected. Light from the auxiliary light incident surface into the inside of the base is maintained at a high level. Can be used.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a schematic configuration of an instrument pointer according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along line AA of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line BB of FIG. 1;

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Instrument pointer 3 Pointer main body 31 Pointer hakama 33 Base 33c Light incident surface 33f First auxiliary light incident surface 33g Second auxiliary light incident surface 35 Pointer 5 Cap 53a, 55a, 57b Light reflecting surface (auxiliary light reflecting surface)

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A base portion of a translucent pointer main body, which is directly or indirectly connected to a pointer shaft, is covered with a light-shielding cap whose one end in the axial direction of the pointer shaft is open, and is connected to the base portion. The indicator of the pointer main body which is provided and extends in the radial direction of the pointer shaft is extended outward of the cap,
An instrument pointer for guiding light incident on the inside of the base from the light incident surface of the base facing the open end of the cap to the distal end side of the indicating section by reflection inside the pointer main body. Forming an auxiliary light incident surface at a base portion facing the inner surface of the cap with a gap therebetween, and applying light emitted from the open end side of the cap to the inside of the cap on the inner surface of the cap; A pointer for an instrument, wherein an auxiliary light reflecting surface for reflecting light toward is formed. 2. The instrument pointer according to claim 1, wherein said auxiliary light reflecting surface is constituted by a surface of a white light diffusing layer covering at least a part of an inner surface of said cap.