UNIFORMLY ILLUMINATED METER INDICATOR

• US 3,699,915 A
• Filed: 05/19/1971
• Issued: 10/24/1972
• Est. Priority Date: 05/19/1971
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: William H. Greene
• Original Assignee: William H. Greene
• Inventors: Greene, William H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Capozi, Louis J.
• Application Number:
  US05/144,946
• Time in Patent Office: 524 Days
• Field of Search: 116/129,129L,124.4 240/1EL,2B,2M,2.1 73/431 324/115,156 40/130
• US Class Current: 362/23.15
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 11/28 Structurally-combined illuminating devices
• CPC Class Codes: G12B 11/02 Scales; Dials
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 116/05 using light guides

Abstract

A cup-shaped meter case made of a light conductive material has a light source mounted interior of the bottom surface thereof. The edge of the case is terminated in an inwardly directed, in cross-section generally triangular, rim. The edge of the case is additionally beveled on both the inner and outer surfaces to direct light conducted from the light source through the case side into the triangular rim from where it is dispersed both inwardly and outwardly of the case to illuminate a dial suitably located outwardly of the rim and to illuminate a meter plate and needle located inwardly of the rim. In one alternate embodiment the case side is shown separated from the case bottom so that the rim may be rotated with respect to the light source. In a further embodiment a separate dial plate is shown fitted over the rim and rotatable thereon.

Claims

1. A cup-shaped case made of a light conductive material comprising:

a first section having light receiving means located therein;

a side portion having exterior and interior surfaces and terminating in an end surface, the intersection of said end surface with said exterior surface being beveled; and

, an inwardly directed annular rim section having an outer face generally co-extensive with said end surface and an innerface forming a shallow angle with said outer face and forming an intersection with said side portion interior surface, said side portion in the vicinity of said intersection being inwardly directed at a shallow angle with respect to the interior surface of said side portion generally.

2. The cup-shaped case of claim 1 with additionally indicia placed on said end surface.

3. The cup-shaped case of claim 1 with additionally an annular discontinuity in said case generally perpendicular o the light conductive paths in said material.

4. The cup-shaped case of claim 3 with additionally indicia placed on said end surface.