Gauge with illuminated dial and pointer
First Claim
1. A gauge comprising:
- a dial plate including a front surface;
a light-transmitting pointer configured for rotational movement about an axis normal to said dial plate, said pointer extending through the dial plate and having a hub concentric with said axis and an indicator projecting laterally from said hub over the front surface of said dial plate,said hub having a tapered transition portion and a reflective surface configured to direct the light onto said indicator, said tapered transition portion configured to redirected light to said reflective surface of said hub;
at least one light source positioned rearwardly from a rear surface of said dial plate and proximate a perimeter of said dial plate, the at least one light source being configured to illuminate the front surface of the dial plate and the light-transmitting pointer; and
a light shield between said at least one light source and said dial plate and configured to direct light from the at least one light source toward the light-transmitting pointer and block light from transmitting along a direct path from the at least one light source to the dial plate in a direction normal to the dial plate.
6 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A gauge with a light transmitting pointer and a light-transmitting dial plate having a surface with indicia for a variable represented by the dial, at least one light source facing a hub of the pointer and positioned rearwardly from the rear surface of the dial plate for illuminating the dial plate. The light-transmitting pointer is mounted for rotational movement about an axis normal to the dial plate. The pointer hub is 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.
53 Citations
33 Claims
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1. A gauge comprising:
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a dial plate including a front surface; a light-transmitting pointer configured for rotational movement about an axis normal to said dial plate, said pointer extending through the dial plate and having a hub concentric with said axis and an indicator projecting laterally from said hub over the front surface of said dial plate, said hub having a tapered transition portion and a reflective surface configured to direct the light onto said indicator, said tapered transition portion configured to redirected light to said reflective surface of said hub; at least one light source positioned rearwardly from a rear surface of said dial plate and proximate a perimeter of said dial plate, the at least one light source being configured to illuminate the front surface of the dial plate and the light-transmitting pointer; and a light shield between said at least one light source and said dial plate and configured to direct light from the at least one light source toward the light-transmitting pointer and block light from transmitting along a direct path from the at least one light source to the dial plate in a direction normal to the dial plate. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A gauge having an illuminated dial and pointer, comprising:
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a light-transmitting dial plate having a front surface; a light-transmitting pointer configured for rotational movement about an axis normal to said dial plate, said pointer having a hub concentric with said axis, extending through said dial plate, and projecting both forwardly and rearwardly from said plate, and including an indicator projecting laterally from said hub across a portion of the front surface of said dial plate and an illuminating portion configured to redirect light from said hub laterally into said indicator; at least one light source facing towards said hub and positioned rearwardly from a rear surface of said dial plate and proximate an outer perimeter of the dial plate, said light source being configured for illuminating the light-transmitting pointer, wherein said hub intercepts light from said light source, propagates the light forwardly to said illuminating portion, and thereby illuminates said indicator; and a light shield positioned between said at least one light source and said dial plate and configured to direct light from the at least one light source toward the hub and block light from the at least one light source from transmitting along a direct path to the dial plate in a direction normal to the dial plate. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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27. A method of illuminating a gauge having a light-transmitting dial plate and a light-transmitting pointer having a hub and an indicator, said method comprising:
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emitting light from a light source, the light source being provided at a perimeter portion of the gauge and rearward of the light-transmitting dial plate; receiving the light from said light source at the light-transmitting dial plate and at a tapered outer surface of the light-transmitting pointer so that the light enters the light-transmitting dial plate and the light-transmitting pointer and propagates forwardly therethrough; directing light from the light source toward the light-transmitting pointer using a light shield positioned between the light source and the light-transmitting dial plate; and blocking non-reflected light from the light source from transmitting along a direct path to the light-transmitting dial plate in a direction normal to the light-transmitting dial plate. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
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33. A gauge having an illuminated dial face and pointer, comprising:
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a dial plate having a front surface; a hub configured to rotate and extending through the dial plate; an indicator projecting laterally from the hub and over the front surface; an illuminator configured to redirect light from the hub to the indicator; at least one side fire LED light source directed toward said hub and positioned rearward of the dial plate and configured to indirectly illuminate the front surface and the indicator, wherein light from the light source is transmitted via said dial plate to the front surface and via the hub and the illuminator to the indicator; and a light shield between the light source and the dial plate that directs light emitted from the light source toward the hub and prevents light emitted from the light source from transmitting along a direct path to the dial plate in a direction normal to the dial plate.
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Specification