Instrument device

• US 7,343,687 B2
• Filed: 04/16/2004
• Issued: 03/18/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 04/25/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Nippon Seiki Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Nippon Seiki Company Limited
• Inventors: Fujita, Atsushi, Baba, Hideto
• Primary Examiner(s): SMITH, RICHARD A
• Application Number:
  US10/552,035
• Publication Number:
  US 20060236915A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,432 Days
• Field of Search: 116/288, 116/284, 116/286, 116/287, 116/DIG.5, 116/DIG.6, 116/DIG.36, 116/62.1, 116/62.4, 116/305, 362/26, 362/27, 362/29, 362/30
• US Class Current: 116/286
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/698 Pointers of combined instruments
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 11/28 Structurally-combined illuminating devices
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 13/265 Pointers which conduct light
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 116/36 Illuminated dial and pointer

Abstract

This invention provides an instrument device including: a dial having scale marks; a pointer pointing the scale marks and provided in front of the dial; a light source provided behind the dial and supplying light to the pointer to cause the pointer to emit light; and a cover provided in front of the pointer, the scale marks and the pointer being visually confirmed through the cover, wherein a reflection member is provided at a part of the cover corresponding to a rotation center of the pointer; a reflection part is provided on the dial; and the reflection part is illuminated with light emitted from the pointer and light reflected and scattered by the reflection member after being emitted from the pointer.

Claims

1. An instrument device comprising:

a dial having scale marks;

a light emitting pointer pointing the scale marks and provided in front of the dial; and

a cover provided in front of the pointer, the scale marks and the pointer being visually confirmed through the cover, wherein

a reflection member is provided at a part of the cover corresponding to a rotation center of the pointer;

a reflection part is provided on the dial and/or in the vicinity of the dial; and

the reflection part is illuminated with light emitted from the pointer and light reflected and scattered by the reflection member after being emitted from the pointer.

2. The instrument device according to claim 1, wherein the reflection part is inclined to the reflection member.

3. The instrument device according to claim 2, wherein the reflection part is cone-shaped.

4. The instrument device according to claim 3, wherein the cone-shaped reflection part is provided at a position corresponding to the scale marks of the dial.

5. The instrument device according to claim 1, wherein the cover has a low light transmission rate.

6. An instrument device comprising:

a dial having scale marks;

a pointer pointing the scale marks and provided in front of the dial;

a light source provided behind the dial and supplying light to the pointer to cause the pointer to emit light; and

a cover provided in front of the pointer, the scale marks and the pointer being visually confirmed through the cover, wherein

a reflection member is provided at a part of the cover corresponding to a rotation center of the pointer;

a reflection part is provided on the dial and/or in the vicinity of the dial; and

the reflection part is illuminated with light emitted from the pointer and light reflected and scattered by the reflection member after being emitted from the pointer.

7. An instrument device comprising:

a dial having scale marks;

a light emitting pointer pointing the scale marks and provided in front of the dial;

a cover provided in front of the pointer, the scale marks and the pointer being visually confirmed through the cover, wherein

a reflection member is provided at a rotation center of the pointer;

a reflection part is provided on the dial and/or in the vicinity of the dial; and

the reflection part is illuminated with light emitted from the pointer and light reflected and scattered by the reflection member after being emitted from the pointer.

8. An instrument device comprising:

a dial having scale marks;

a pointer pointing the scale marks and provided in front of the dial;

a light source provided behind the dial and supplying light to the pointer to cause the pointer to emit light; and

a cover provided in front of the pointer, the scale marks and the pointer being visually confirmed through the cover, wherein

a reflection member is provided at a rotation center of the pointer;

a reflection part is provided on the dial inclined toward the reflection member and/or in the vicinity of the dial; and

the reflection part is illuminated with light emitted from the pointer and light reflected and scattered by the reflection member after being emitted from the pointer.