Illuminating mechanism of rotary electric component

• US 7,059,735 B2
• Filed: 01/16/2004
• Issued: 06/13/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 01/21/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: ALPS Electric Company Limited (Alps Alpine Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: ALPS Electric Company Limited (Alps Alpine Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Orikasa, Takamichi
• Primary Examiner(s): Ward, John Anthony
• Application Number:
  US10/758,707
• Publication Number:
  US 20040145884A1
• Time in Patent Office: 879 Days
• Field of Search: 362/23, 362/26, 362/30, 200/310, 200/311, 200/313, 200/316, 200/317
• US Class Current: 362/23
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 11/28 Structurally-combined illuminating devices

Abstract

In a rotary electric component, an annular thin faceplate disposed around a rotary knob is provided with an illuminated display portion inner and outer circumferential portions of the rear surface of the faceplate are bonded and fixed to a holder, and the rotary knob and the display portion is assembled in cutout of a front panel. A large-diameter annular portion of the holder adhering to the outer circumferential portion of the faceplate protrudes forward farther than a small-diameter annular portion adhering to the inner circumferential portion. A protruding portion of the front panel extending around the circumferential edge of the cutout presses a region near the outer circumferential portion of the faceplate. As a result, the inner circumferential portion of the faceplate is reliably compressed against the holder a small-diameter annular portion).

Claims

1. An illuminating mechanism of a rotary electric component comprising:

a rotary knob assembled in a cutout of a front panel in an exposed state,

a thin faceplate having a display portion disposed around the rotary knob,

a holder for bonding and fixing an inner circumferential portion and an outer circumferential portion of the rear surface of the faceplate, and

a light source for emitting light from the rear side of the faceplate to the display portion,

wherein a region of the holder bonded to a first outer circumferential portion of the faceplate protrudes forward farther than a region of the holder bonded to the inner circumferential portion of the faceplate, and an area in a second outer circumferential portion of the faceplate is pressed by a protruding portion formed on a rear surface of the front panel.

2. An illuminating mechanism of a rotary electric component according to claim 1, wherein the protruding portion is continuously formed around the circumferential edge of the cutout of the front panel.

3. An illuminating mechanism of a rotary electric component according to claim 1, wherein a first annular portion of the holder is bonded to the first outer circumferential portion of the faceplate and a second annular portion of the holder is bonded to the inner circumferential portion of the faceplate.

4. An illuminating mechanism of a rotary electric component according to claim 3, wherein the circular region of contact between the protruding portion and the faceplate is at a smaller diameter than a region of the first outer circumferential portion of the faceplate that is bonded to the first annular portion of the holder.

5. An illuminating mechanism of a rotary electric component according to claim 1, wherein a first circular contact area between the protruding portion and the second outer circumferential portion faceplate is spaced closer to the knob than a second circular contact area between the holder and the first outer circumferential portion of the faceplate.

6. An illuminating mechanism of a rotary electric component according to claim 1, wherein a first circular contact area between the protruding portion and the second outer circumferential portion faceplate is spaced closer to the knob than a second circular contact area between the holder and the first outer circumferential portion of the faceplate;

and

wherein a first annular portion of the holder is bonded to the first outer circumferential portion of the faceplate and a second annular portion of the holder is bonded to the inner circumferential portion of the faceplate.

7. An illuminating mechanism of a rotary electric component comprising:

a rotary knob assembled in a cutout of a front panel in an exposed state,

a thin faceplate having a display portion disposed around the rotary knob,

a holder for bonding and fixing an inner circumferential portion and an outer circumferential portion of a rear surface of the faceplate, and

a light source for emitting light from a rear side of the faceplate to the display portion,

wherein a region of the holder bonded to a first outer circumferential portion of the faceplate protrudes forward farther than a region of the holder bonded to the inner circumferential portion of the faceplate, and an area in a second outer circumferential portion of the faceplate is pressed by a protruding portion formed on a rear surface of the front panel;

wherein a first annular portion of the holder is bonded to the first outer circumferential portion of the faceplate and a second annular portion of the holder is bonded to the inner circumferential portion of the faceplate; and

wherein the circular region of contact between the protruding portion and the faceplate is at a smaller diameter than the region of the outer circumferential portion of the faceplate that is supported by the first annular portion of the holder.

8. An illuminating mechanism of a rotary electric component comprising:

a rotary knob assembled in a cutout of a front panel in an exposed state,

a thin faceplate having a display portion disposed around the rotary knob,

a holder bonded to a rear surface of the faceplate at an inner circumferential portion and at an outer circumferential portion, and

a light source emitting light from a rear side of the faceplate to the display portion,

wherein a first outer circumferential portion of the faceplate bonded to the holder is vertically spaced relative to an inner circumferential portion of the faceplate bonded to the holder; and

wherein the front surface of the faceplate is pressed at a second outer circumferential portion by a protruding portion formed on a rear surface of the front panel.

9. An illuminating mechanism of a rotary electric component according to claim 8, wherein the protruding portion is continuously formed around the circumferential edge of the cutout of the front panel.

10. An illuminating mechanism of a rotary electric component according to claim 8, wherein a first annular portion of the holder is bonded to the first outer circumferential portion of the faceplate and a second annular portion of the holder is bonded to the inner circumferential portion of the faceplate.

11. An illuminating mechanism of a rotary electric component according to claim 8, wherein a first circular contact area between the protruding portion and the second outer circumferential portion of the faceplate is spaced closer to the knob than a second circular contact area between the holder and the first outer circumferential portion of the faceplate.

12. An illuminating mechanism of a rotary electric component according to claim 8, wherein a first circular contact area between the protruding portion and the second outer circumferential portion of the faceplate is spaced closer to the knob than a second circular contact area between the holder and the first outer circumferential portion of the faceplate;

and

wherein a first annular portion of the holder is bonded to the first outer circumferential portion of the faceplate and a second annular portion of the holder is bonded to the inner circumferential portion of the faceplate.