MXPA96005087A

MXPA96005087A - Lighting mechanism for a vehic's detention device

Info

Publication number: MXPA96005087A
Application number: MXPA/A/1996/005087A
Authority: MX
Inventors: D Magic Andrew; P Muccioli James; P Person Andrew
Original assignee: Chrysler Corporation
Priority date: 1994-04-25
Filing date: 1996-10-24
Publication date: 1997-08-01

Abstract

The present invention relates to a combination, characterized in that it comprises: an entertainment device having a front plate of material generally opaque to light with exterior and interior surfaces, control buttons extending through the front plate, a slot receiver having two ends on the front plate to receive separate entertainment means, and a plurality of light sources with the entertainment device and away from the receiving slot and the inner surface of the front plate, at least one of the light sources are positioned to illuminate the control buttons, and a lighting mechanism that includes a light guide means having a pair of first end portions, each with a portion externally visible at a respective end of the receiving slot and a second end adjacent to the remote light source, the lighting guide means guides the light emitted from the source of light. remote light to the visible portion of each first part located at each end of the receiving slot, the externally visible portions visually define the ends of the receiving slots into which the entertainment means is to be inserted and direct the light towards the receiver slot

Description

LIGHTING MECHANISM FOR A VEHICLE ENTERTAINMENT DEVICE DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a lighting mechanism for the elongated opening for an entertainment device of a vehicle, such as a compact disc player (CD) for automobiles. More particularly, this invention relates to the use of light conductors to direct light towards the elongated aperture of a compact disc (CD) player, without the need for an additional light source. At present many automobiles have entertainment devices, such as compact disc players (CDs) and audio tape players, integrated or installed under the instrument panel. Such devices are difficult to operate at night unless they are illuminated. It is particularly difficult to insert a compact disc (CD) or cassette into the receiving opening of the player in the dark if the aperture is not illuminated. In addition to the lighting problem is the fact that most of the reception openings of the players have dust guards in the form of door mechanisms. Others have slot-type receiving openings with dust-proof felt guards. These dust guards prevent a light source inside the opening from illuminating the opening when viewed from the outside. REF: 23391 However, a light source located behind the opening is "suitable for illuminating the openings closed by the guards, which allows the light to penetrate, for example where a door mechanism is manufactured from penetrable material to light or where light can penetrate around the edges of the door.This solution is not suitable for slot-type or elongated receiving openings, because the light can not penetrate when the slot is closed.US Patent No. 4,322,780 issued to Murakami et al., describes a lighting mechanism for an automobile sound device.The Murakami mechanism includes an opening that introduces light, formed in a wall located in the cut for a cassette receiving aperture. Through this opening and illuminates the cover, US Patent No. 4,625,263 issued to Strohmeier describes an illuminated control panel for a car radio. ar, Strohmeier describes the use of light guides which at their end faces provide indications of operation, for example ejection, which extend laterally beyond the operating elements, for example push buttons, in order to provide illumination of the controls. The illumination of the elongated openings or door openings, however, is not described. It is an object of the present invention to provide a lighting mechanism for the reception opening of an automotive entertainment device.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide concentrated lighting for an automotive entertainment device without the need for additional lighting means. According to the present invention, a lighting mechanism is provided for the reception opening of a vehicle entertainment device, which comprises at least one light conductor equipped on the face of the entertainment device in close proximity to the be illuminated This light conductor extends from another source of illumination, for example a lamp for backlighting of the instrument panel. As a result, the cost of illuminating an opening of a vehicle entertainment device is kept low and there is no additional power requirement. The foregoing and other features of the present invention will become more fully apparent from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a top left perspective view of the preferred embodiment of a car compact disc player, with a lighting mechanism for the elongated opening; and Figure 2 is a sectional view of the preferred embodiment of the present invention, taken along line 2-2 of Figure 1 and showing a compact disc to be inserted into the elongated opening.

Figure 1 illustrates a CD player 10 with the new lighting mechanism. The compact disc player 10 has a front plate 12 which is generally opaque. On the front plate 12 there is an elongated opening 15 for receiving compact discs 40 (shown in Figure 2) and an opaque frame 13 surrounding the loose opening 15. The elongated opening 15 has a dust guard comprising a top flap 18 and a bottom flap 19, the flaps 18 and 19 are preferably made of a felt material. The flaps 18 and 19 allow a compact disc to be received between them without scratching any surface of the compact disc, but the flaps 18 and 19 are not generally light transmitters. The dust protective means may also comprise an opaque door mechanism as described in U.S. Patent No. 4,322,780 issued to Murakami et al. The present invention provides two light guiding means 20 which can be, for example, light conductors. The light conductors 20 are positioned at both ends of the elongated aperture 15 and housed in the walls 21 of the frame 13 and provide a means for guiding light emitted from a far source located within the CD player 10 to the corners of the the elongated opening 15, whereby it illuminates the corners of the elongated opening 15. It is understood that the light conductors 20 can be located in any position adjacent the elongated aperture 15 and housed within the frame 13 to provide illumination. In addition, the externally visible faces of the light conductors 20 may be provided with location indicia such as an arrow pointing to the elongated aperture 15 or words indicating the presence of the elongated aperture 15. Fig. 2 illustrates a plan view of a cross-section taken along line 2-2 of Fig. 1. The light conductors 20 are preferably made of clear or colored clear hard plastic material, while the front plate 12, frame 13 and flaps 18 and 19 are generally opaque. As shown in Figure 2, the light conductors 20 extend from the light sources 35, which are otherwise used to illuminate features such as the control buttons 22 located on the front plate 12, at the corners of the the opening 15 elongated. Thus, the light conductors 20 provide a lighting means that allows a user to more easily insert a compact disc 40 into the aperture 15 elongated in the dark. It is understood that the new lighting mechanism can also be used in any type of entertainment device that requires the insertion of an entertainment medium, such as a tape recorder and tape players, whether located in a vehicle or elsewhere. It is noted that in relation to this date, the best method known by the applicant to carry out the aforementioned invention is the conventional one for the manufacture of the objects to which it refers. Having described the invention as above, property is claimed as contained in the following

Claims

1. A lighting mechanism for an entertainment device with a receiving slot having two ends and a source of light far from the slot, characterized in that it comprises: at least one light guiding means extending from at least one adjacent position to the receiving slot and the remote light source to guide the light emitted from the remote light source to the positions adjacent to the receiving slot.

2. The lighting mechanism according to claim 1, characterized in that the at least one position adjacent the receiving groove is at one end of the receiving groove.

3. The lighting mechanism according to claim 1, characterized in that the at least one position adjacent to the receiving groove is at both ends of the receiving groove.

4. The lighting mechanism according to claim 1, characterized in that the entertainment device is located in a vehicle and the light guiding means comprises a light conductor.

5. The lighting mechanism according to claim 4, characterized in that the light conductor is made of a clear transparent material.

6. The lighting mechanism according to claim 4, characterized in that the light conductor is made of a colored transparent material.

7. The lighting mechanism according to claim 4, characterized in that the light conductors are made of a hard plastic material.

8. The lighting mechanism according to claim 4, characterized in that the light conductor also comprises location signs.

9. A front plate for an entertainment device of a vehicle having a light source, characterized in that it comprises: a front panel having an elongated opening for receiving the entertainment means; and at least one light conductor housed within the front panel and adjacent the elongated aperture, the light conductor extends from the light source to a point adjacent the elongated aperture.