Gauge with illuminated dial and pointer
First Claim
1. A gauge having an illuminated dial and pointer, comprisinga light-transmitting dial plate having a front surface with indicia for a variable represented by the dial, at least one light source spaced rearwardly from the rear surface of said dial plate for illuminating the rear surface of said dial plate, the light from said light source being transmitted by said dial plate to the front surface thereof, and a light-transmitting pointer mounted for rotational movement about an axis normal to said dial plate, said pointer having a hub concentric with said axis and extending through said dial plate and projecting both forwardly and rearwardly from said plate, and an indicator projecting laterally from said hub across a portion of the front surface of said dial plate, said hub having a small-diameter portion located behind said dial plate, a large-diameter portion extending through said dial plate, and a tapered transition portion between said small-diameter and large-diameter portions, said tapered transition portion being located closer to the rear surface of said dial plate than said light source and forming a tapered outer surface for intercepting light from said light source so that said light enters said hub and propagates forwardly through said hub and laterally from said hub into said indicator for illuminating said indicator.
6 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A gauge with a light-transmitting dial plate having a front surface with indicia for a variable represented by the dial, at least one light source spaced rearwardly from the rear surface of the dial plate for illuminating the dial plate, and a light-transmitting pointer mounted for rotational movement about an axis normal to the dial plate. The pointer has a hub concentric with the axis, extending through the dial plate and projecting both forwardly and rearwardly from the plate, and an indicator projecting laterally from the hub across a portion of the front surface of the dial plate. The portion of the hub extending rearwardly of the dial plate is shaped to capture light directly from the light source so that light enters the hub and propagates forwardly through the hub, and then laterally from the hub into the indicator to illuminate the indicator.
46 Citations
24 Claims
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1. A gauge having an illuminated dial and pointer, comprising
a light-transmitting dial plate having a front surface with indicia for a variable represented by the dial, at least one light source spaced rearwardly from the rear surface of said dial plate for illuminating the rear surface of said dial plate, the light from said light source being transmitted by said dial plate to the front surface thereof, and a light-transmitting pointer mounted for rotational movement about an axis normal to said dial plate, said pointer having a hub concentric with said axis and extending through said dial plate and projecting both forwardly and rearwardly from said plate, and an indicator projecting laterally from said hub across a portion of the front surface of said dial plate, said hub having a small-diameter portion located behind said dial plate, a large-diameter portion extending through said dial plate, and a tapered transition portion between said small-diameter and large-diameter portions, said tapered transition portion being located closer to the rear surface of said dial plate than said light source and forming a tapered outer surface for intercepting light from said light source so that said light enters said hub and propagates forwardly through said hub and laterally from said hub into said indicator for illuminating said indicator.
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11. A light-transmitting pointer for use in a gauge having an illuminated dial plate and a pointer drive mechanism for rotating a pointer around an axis that is normal to the dial plate, said pointer comprising
a hub and an indicator projecting laterally from said hub, said hub having a large-diameter portion joined to said indicator, a small-diameter portion extending rearwardly of said large-diameter portion, and a tapered transition portion between said large-diameter and small-diameter portions, said tapered transition portion forming a tapered outer surface for intercepting light so that said light enters said hub and propagates forwardly through said hub and laterally from said hub into said indicator for illuminating said indicator.
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16. A method of illuminating the dial and pointer of a gauge having a light-transmitting dial plate having a front surface with indicia for a variable represented by the dial, and a light-transmitting pointer mounted for rotational movement about an axis normal to said dial plate, said pointer having a hub concentric with said axis and extending through said dial plate and projecting both forwardly and rearwardly from said plate, and an indicator projecting laterally from said hub across a portion of the front surface of said dial plate, said hub having a small-diameter portion located behind said dial plate, a large-diameter portion extending through said dial plate, and a tapered transition portion between said small-diameter and large-diameter portions, said tapered transition portion being located closer to the rear surface of said dial plate than at least one light source and forming a tapered outer surface said method comprising:
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illuminating said dial plate with said at least one light source spaced rearwardly from the rear surface of said dial plate, capturing light directly from said light source in said tapered outer surface so that said light enters said hub and propagates forwardly through said hub, and directing light laterally into said indicator from a portion of said hub on the front side of said dial plate to illuminate said indicator. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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Specification