AUTOMOTIVE GAUGE FLOOD-LIGHTED DIAL

• US 3,867,623 A
• Filed: 10/31/1973
• Issued: 02/18/1975
• Est. Priority Date: 10/31/1973
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Charles R. Widlund
• Original Assignee: Charles R. Widlund
• Inventors: Widlund, Charles R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Queisser, Richard C.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Yasich, Daniel M.
• Application Number:
  US05/411,392
• Time in Patent Office: 475 Days
• Field of Search: 116/129R,129L,DIG.36,129F,129P 240/2.1,8.16,1EL 73/431
• US Class Current: 362/23.19
• CPC Class Codes: G12B 11/00 Indicating elements; Illumination thereof
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 116/36 Illuminated dial and pointer

Abstract

An indicator gauge has a dial face whose peripheral edge is spaced from the wall of a casing and a light source is mounted behind the dial face. A ring having a light reflecting surface is positioned in front of the dial face to receive light through the space between the casing wall and the peripheral edge of the dial face and to reflect this light across the dial face. The reflecting ring is provided with a plurality of spacer posts to position the ring in front of the dial face.

Claims

1. In an indicator instrument, the combination of a casing, a dial face within said casing and having its peripheral edge spaced from the casing wall, a light source mounted within said casing behind said dial face, and light reflecting ring means positioned between the front of the casing and the dial face, said ring means comprising a light reflecting surface facing the light source and a surface portion thereof extending annularly beyond said dial face at a predetermined distance therefrom for receiving light from said light source around and between the casing and dial face edge and for reflecting said light across the entire dial face to illuminate the same, the light reflecting ring means having spacer means for engaging the dial face peripheral edge for maintaining the dial face predetermined distance therefrom.

2. In an indicator instrument as claimed in claim 1 and comprising a bezel ring within said casing at the open end thereof and a viewing window mounted in said bezel ring, said reflecting ring means being positioned between said bezel ring and said dial face.

3. In an indicator instrument as claimed in claim 1 wherein said reflecting ring means has a second annular surface thereon inwardly of said reflecting surface and substantially parallel to the dial face to prevent the escape of light outwardly of the indicator instrument.

4. In an indicator instrument as claimed in claim 1 wherein said spacer means comprises a plurality of axially extending posts on said light reflecting ring means.

5. In an indicator instrument as claimed in claim 4 wherein each of said posts has an inwardly directed shoulder portion upon which the dial face is seated.