Automotive meter assembly

• US 5,839,811 A
• Filed: 02/19/1997
• Issued: 11/24/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 02/19/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Kansei Company
• Original Assignee: Kansei Company
• Inventors: Shimura, Koichi
• Primary Examiner(s): CARIASO, ALAN B
• Application Number:
  US08/803,181
• Time in Patent Office: 643 Days
• Field of Search: 362/23, 362/26-30, 362/267, 116/47-49, 116/286-288, 116/DIG. 36
• US Class Current: 362/30
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/28 for instruments which are not visible when inactive
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/14 lighting through the surface to be illuminated
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/16 Circuits; Control arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/85 for manual control of the light, e.g. of colour, orientation or intensity
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 11/28 Structurally-combined illuminating devices
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 116/36 Illuminated dial and pointer

Abstract

A meter assembly for motor vehicle comprises a meter case including rear and front housings which are coupled. The front housing has an opening formed therethrough. A meter unit is installed in the meter case. The meter unit includes a dial board facing toward the opening of the front housing, a transparent pointer movable over the dial board and a light emitting unit located in front of the pointer to emit light to illuminate the transparent pointer from within. A semitransparent dark cover covers the opening of the front housing.

Claims

1. A meter assembly comprising:

a meter case including rear and front housings which are coupled, said front housing having an opening formed therethrough;

a meter unit installed in said meter case, said meter unit including a dial board facing toward the opening of said front housing, a transparent pointer movable over said dial board and a light emitting unit located in front of said pointer to emit a light to illuminate the transparent pointer from within, said light emitting unit including a light emitting diode emitting a light toward a base portion of said transparent pointer, and a raised part of a rigid printed circuit board which supports said light emitting diode while providing an electric connection therebetween; and

a semitransparent dark cover which covers the opening of said front housing,

wherein said rigid printed circuit board is formed with socket openings for holding lamps and said rear housing is formed with openings which are mated with said socket openings in such a manner that the lamps can be removed through the openings.

2. A meter assembly as claimed in claim 1, in which said rigid printed circuit board is attached to a back surface of said front housing.

3. A meter assembly as claimed in claim 2, in which said light emitting unit further comprises a concave mirror positioned behind the light emitting diode to increase the quantity of light directed toward said base portion of said pointer, said mirror being supported by said raised part of the rigid printed circuit board.

4. A meter assembly as claimed in claim 3, in which said light emitting unit further comprises a cut-shaped screen member which screens said light emitting diode and said concave mirror.

5. A meter assembly as claimed in claim 4, in which said cup-shaped screen member is integral with said front housing.

6. A meter assembly as claimed in claim 1, in which said base portion of the pointer is formed with a circular recess.

7. A meter assembly as claimed in claim 1, further comprising means which causes said light emitting unit to emit the light only when an ignition switch of an associated motor vehicle is turned ON.

8. A meter assembly as claimed in claim 1, in which said rear housing is formed with a sealing wall which effects a sealing between the rear and front housings thereby protecting the interior of the meter case from being contaminated with foreign things floating in the open air.

9. A meter assembly comprising:

a meter case including rear and front housings which are coupled, said front housing having an opening formed therethrough;

a meter unit installed in said meter case, said meter unit including a dial board facing toward the opening of said front housing, a transparent pointer movable over said dial board and a light emitting unit located in front of said pointer to emit a light to illuminate the transparent pointer from within; and

a semitransparent dark cover which covers the opening of said front housing,

wherein said rear housing is formed with a sealing wall which effects a sealing between the rear and front housings, thereby protecting an interior of the meter case from being contaminated with air and pollutants external to the meter case.