Lens retention structure

• US 5,504,660 A
• Filed: 01/03/1994
• Issued: 04/02/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 01/03/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
• Original Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
• Inventors: Heidorn, Richard H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lazarus, Ira S.
• Assistant Examiner(s): NOT, DEFINED
• Application Number:
  US08/176,325
• Time in Patent Office: 820 Days
• Field of Search: 362/800, 362/27, 362/32, 362/246, 362/812, 116/202, 340/815.49, 340/815.45, 340/815.47
• US Class Current: 362/27
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 5/36 using visible light sources
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 362/80 Light emitting diode

Abstract

A display device includes a pair of first and second light sources arranged on a printed circuit board in a spaced-apart but close relationship to each other. A light-shielding tab is interposed between the first and second light sources for shielding light from an illuminated one of the pair of light sources from being transmitted to the other one of the light sources.

Claims

1. A display device, comprising in combination:

an opaque cover member;

a support panel spaced from said opaque cover member so as to define, with said opaque cover member, a space between said support panel and said opaque cover member;

a first light source mounted upon said support panel so as to be disposed within said space defined between said support panel and said opaque cover member;

first light concentrator means, mounted upon said opaque cover member such that a first end portion of said first light concentrator is accessible from a position external to an outer surface portion of said opaque cover member, and a body portion of said first light concentrator means is disposed within said space such that a second end portion of said first light concentrator means is disposed adjacent to said first light source, for evenly distributing and diffusing light from said first light source to said outer surface portion of said opaque cover member;

a second light source mounted upon said support panel so as to also be disposed within said space defined between said support panel and said opaque cover member, and be in a spaced-apart but close relationship with respect to said first light source;

second light concentrator means, mounted upon said opaque cover member such that a first end portion of said second light concentrator means is accessible from a position external to said outer surface portion of said opaque cover member, and a body portion of said second light concentrator means is disposed within said space such that a second end portion of said second light concentrator means is disposed adjacent to said second light source, for evenly distributing and diffusing light from said second light source to said outer surface portion of said opaque cover member; and

opaque light-shielding means integrally formed with said opaque cover member and extending from said opaque cover member to a position immediately adjacent to said support panel so as to be interposed between said first light source and its associated first light concentrator means, and said second light source and its associated second light concentrator means, and to divide said space into first and second cells separated by and defined upon opposite sides of said light-shielding means, for preventing light from being transmitted from one of said first and second light sources disposed within one of said first and second cells to the other one of said first and second light sources and its corresponding light concentrator means disposed within the other one of said first and second cells.

2. A display device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first light source comprises a first light-emitting diode.

3. A display device as claimed in claim 2, wherein said second light source comprises a second light-emitting diode.

4. A display device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said light-shielding means comprises a rectangularly-shaped tab which is formed integrally with an interior surface portion of said cover member.

5. A display device as claimed in claim 4, wherein:

said tab and said cover member comprise a single-piece structure such that both said tab and said cover member are formed from an opaque plastic material.

6. A display device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first light concentrator means comprises a first diffusing lens.

7. A display device as claimed in claim 6, wherein said second light concentrator means comprises a second diffusing lens.

8. A display device as claimed in claim 7, wherein each of said first and second diffusing lenses includes a base portion and an upper flared portion.

9. A display device as claimed in claim 8, wherein said base portion includes lens retention means for fixedly engaging a portion of said cover member so as to retain said diffusing lens in place upon said cover member.

10. A display device as claimed in claim 9, wherein:

each one of said first and second diffusing lenses has a longitudinal extent; and

said lens retention means of each base portion of each diffusing lens comprises a pair of radially extending rib members formed upon said base portion of each diffusing lens and having a step portion for engaging said portion of said cover member.

11. A display device as claimed in claim 7, wherein each of said first and second diffusing lenses is formed of a translucent polycarbonate material.

12. A display device as claimed in claim 8, wherein said flared portion is adapted to be press fitted into a narrow slit formed in said cover member, said flared portion having a top arcuate-shaped edge defining a viewing face where the light from the illuminated one of said first and second light sources can be visually observed.

13. A display device, comprising in combination:

an opaque cover member;

a support panel spaced from said opaque cover member so as to define, with said opaque cover member, a space between said support panel and said opaque cover member;

a first light source disposed upon said support panel and having a first longitudinal extent such that said first light source is disposed within said space defined between said support panel and said opaque cover member;

first light concentrator means, having stepped ribs for fixedly mounting said first light concentrator means within said opaque cover member such that a first end portion of said first light concentrator means is accessible from a position external to an outer surface portion of said opaque cover member, while a body portion of said first light concentrator means is disposed within said space defined between said support panel and said opaque cover member such that a second end portion of said first light concentrator means is disposed adjacent to said first light source, for evenly distributing and diffusing light from said first light source to said outer surface portion of said opaque cover member;

a second light source disposed upon said support panel in a spaced-apart but close relationship with respect to said first light source and having a second longitudinal extent such that said second light source is disposed within said space defined between said support panel and said opaque cover member;

second light concentrator means, having stepped ribs for fixedly mounting said second light concentrator means within said opaque cover member such that a first end portion of said second light concentrator means is accessible from a position external to said outer surface portion of said opaque cover member, while a body portion of said second light concentrator means is disposed within said space defined between said support panel and said opaque cover member such that a second end portion of said second light concentrator means is disposed adjacent to said second light source, for evenly distributing and diffusing light from said second light source to said outer surface portion of said opaque cover member; and

opaque light-shielding means integrally formed with said opaque cover member, having a third longitudinal extent which is at least as great as said first and second longitudinal extents of said first and second light sources, and extending from said opaque cover member to a position immediately adjacent to said support panel so as to be interposed between said first light source and its associated first light concentrator means, and said second light source and its associated second light concentrator means, and to divide said space defined between said support panel and said opaque cover member into first and second cells separated by and defined upon opposite sides of said light-shielding means, for substantially preventing light from being transmitted from an illuminated one of said first and second light sources disposed within one of said first and second cells to the other one of said first and second light sources and its corresponding light concentrator means disposed within the other one of said first and second cells along substantially the entire longitudinal extents of said first and second light sources.

14. A display device as claimed in claim 13, wherein said first light source means comprises a first light-emitting diode.

15. A display device as claimed in claim 14, wherein said second light source means comprises a second light-emitting diode.

16. A display device as claimed in claim 15, wherein said light-shielding means comprises a rectangularly-shaped tab.

17. A display device as set forth in claim 13, wherein:

said opaque cover member and said opaque light-shielding means are integrally formed as a one-piece structure such that both said opaque cover member and said opaque light-shielding means are formed from an opaque plastic material.

19. A display device as claimed in claim 17, wherein said first illumination means comprises a first light-emitting diode.

21. A display device as claimed in claim 19, wherein said light-shielding means comprises a rectangularly-shaped tab.

18. A display device, comprising in combination:

an opaque cover member;

a support panel spaced from said opaque cover member so as to define, with said opaque cover member, a space between said support panel and said opaque cover member;

first illumination means mounted upon said support panel for transmitting light rays when energized and having a first longitudinal extent such that said first illumination means is disposed within said space defined between said support panel and said opaque cover member;

first light concentrator means, having stepped rib members for fixedly mounting said first light concentrator means within said opaque cover member such that a first end portion of said first light concentrator means is accessible from a position external to an outer surface portion of said opaque cover member, while a body portion of said first light concentrator means is disposed within said space defined between said support panel and said opaque cover member such that a second end portion of said first light concentrator means is disposed adjacent to said first illumination means, for evenly distributing and diffusing light from said first illumination means to said outer surface portion of said opaque cover member;

second illumination means mounted upon said support panel in a spaced-apart but close relationship with respect to said first illumination means for transmitting light rays when energized and having a second longitudinal extent such that said second illumination means is disposed within said space defined between said support panel and said opaque cover member;

second light concentrator means, having stepped rib members for fixedly mounting said second light concentrator means within said opaque cover member such that a first end portion of said second light concentrator means is accessible from a position external to said outer surface portion of said opaque cover member, while a body portion of said second light concentrator means is disposed within said space defined between said support panel and said opaque cover member such that a second end portion of said second light concentrator means is disposed adjacent to said second illumination means, for evenly distributing and diffusing light from said second illumination means to said outer surface portion of said opaque cover member; and

opaque light-shielding means, integrally formed with said opaque cover member, having a third longitudinal extent which is at least as great as said first and second longitudinal extents of said first and second illumination means, and extending from said opaque cover member to a position immediately adjacent to said support panel so as to be interposed between said first illumination means and its associated first light concentrator means, and said second illumination means and its associated second light concentrator means, and to divide said space defined between said support panel and said opaque cover member into first and second cells separated by and defined upon opposite sides of said opaque light-shielding means, for substantially preventing light rays from being transmitted from an energized one of said first and second illumination means disposed within one of said first and second cells to the other one of said first and second illumination means and its corresponding light concentrator means disposed within the other one of said first and second cells along substantially the entire longitudinal extents of said first and second illumination means.

20. A display device as claimed in claim 18, wherein said second illumination means comprises a second light-emitting diode.

22. A display device as set forth in claim 18, wherein:

said opaque cover member and said opaque light-shielding means are integrally formed as a one-piece structure such that both said opaque cover member and said opaque light-shielding means are formed from an opaque plastic material.