Indication device

• US 9,715,841 B2
• Filed: 04/13/2015
• Issued: 07/25/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 04/14/2014
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Yazaki Corporation
• Original Assignee: Yazaki Corporation
• Inventors: Hori, Takahiro
• Primary Examiner(s): Garcia, Santiago
• Application Number:
  US14/684,822
• Publication Number:
  US 20150294540A1
• Time in Patent Office: 834 Days
• Field of Search: 34081545
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/139 Clusters of instrument input devices
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/34 Backlit symbols
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/96 by assembling
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/139 Clusters of input devices
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/34 Backlit symbols
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/91 Assembly of instruments
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/00 Instruments specially adapted for vehicles; Arrangement of instruments in or on vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/10 Input arrangements, i.e. from user to vehicle, associated with vehicle functions or specially adapted therefor
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 13/0409 Arrangements for homogeneous illumination of the display surface, e.g. using a layer having a non-uniform transparency arrangements of reflectors G09F13/14
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 13/0427 in the form of buttons
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 13/08 using both translucent and non-translucent layers

Abstract

An indication device includes an indication portion made of a light transmitting material and a cover portion made of a light blocking material. The indication portion has a sign including at least one of a character, a symbol and a figure. The cover portion covers a periphery of the sign of the indication portion. The sign is illuminated by light emitted by a light source and guided to the indication portion. The cover portion is configured such that a recess from a surface of the cover portion is provided in a region corresponding to the sign of the indication portion.

Claims

1. An indication device comprising:

an indication portion which internally transmits light, the indication portion comprising a sign which made entirely of a light transmitting material such that the sign internally transmits light, the sign protruding integrally and continuously from a top surface of the indication portion, a top surface of the sign being provided in a shape of at least one of a character, a symbol and a figure; and

a cover portion made of a light blocking material, the cover portion covering a periphery of the sign of the indication portion,

wherein the sign is internally illuminated by light emitted by a light source and guided to the indication portion, and

wherein the cover portion is configured such that a recess from a surface of the cover portion is provided in a region corresponding to the sign of the indication portion.

2. The indication device according to claim 1, wherein a bottom of the recess is opened so that the sign of the indication portion faces an outside.

3. The indication device according to claim 1, wherein the indication portion and the cover portion are integrally formed by two-color molding.

4. The indication device according to claim 3, wherein the indication portion has an inclined surface raised toward a peripheral edge of the recess.

5. An indication device comprising:

an indication portion which internally transmits light, the indication portion comprising a sign which made entirely of a light transmitting material such that the sign internally transmits light, the sign protruding integrally and continuously from a top surface of the indication portion such that a top surface of the sign is raised relative to the top surface of the indication portion, the top surface of the sign being provided in a shape of at least one of a character, a symbol and a figure; and

a cover portion made of a light blocking material, the cover portion covering a periphery of the sign of the indication portion,

wherein the sign is internally illuminated by light emitted by a light source and guided to the indication portion, and

wherein the indication portion has an inclined surface extending between the top surface of the indication portion and a peripheral edge of the top surface of the sign.

6. The indication device according to claim 5, wherein the cover portion is configured such that a recess from a top surface of the cover portion is provided in a region corresponding to the sign of the indication portion.

7. The indication device according to claim 6, wherein a bottom of the recess is opened so that the sign of the indication portion faces an outside.

8. The indication device according to claim 5, wherein the indication portion and the cover portion are integrally formed by two-color molding.