Structure of scale graduation and vehicle instrument

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10260917-B2
Application number	US-201615040232-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 10, 2016
Priority date	Sep 17, 2013
Publication date	Apr 16, 2019
Grant date	Apr 16, 2019

Abstract

A structure of a scale graduation includes: a meter dial plate, a light-guiding body made of a translucent material in a dark color, a three-dimensional graduation disposed in a protruding manner on a front surface of the light-guiding body and made of a translucent material in the dark color disposed on the front side of the meter dial plate, and a light source that makes light enter the three-dimensional graduation through the light-guiding body. When the light source emits outgoing light, the three-dimensional graduation lights on in a light color different from the dark color.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A structure of a scale graduation comprising:
a meter dial plate;
a light-guiding body made of a translucent material in a dark color;
a three-dimensionally designed portion disposed in a protruding manner on a front surface of the light-guiding body, and made of the translucent material in the dark color disposed on the front side of the meter dial plate; and
a light source that makes light enter the three-dimensionally designed portion through the light-guiding body, wherein
when the light source emits outgoing light, the three-dimensionally designed portion lights on in a light color different from the dark color,
a grained surface is provided on a place in the light-guiding body where light enters from the light source, and corresponding to the three-dimensionally designed portion, and
the place in which the grained surface is provided is on a side of the light-guiding body that is away from the front surface of the light-guiding body.

2. The structure of the scale graduation according to claim 1 , wherein
the three-dimensionally designed portion is protruded from a through-hole provided by perforating to the meter dial plate, and is disposed on the front side of the meter dial plate.

3. The structure of the scale graduation according to claim 2 , wherein
a color print in a similar color to that of the light-guiding body is provided on the front surface of the meter dial plate.

4. A vehicle instrument comprising:
the structure of the scale graduation according to claim 2 ; and
a meter housing, wherein
a plurality of the three-dimensionally designed portion in the structure of the scale graduation are disposed and serve as scale graduations of an instrument indicated by a pointer, and
the meter housing houses therein the meter dial plate, the light-guiding body, the three-dimensionally designed portions, and the light source in the structure of the scale graduation, and exposes the meter dial plate and the three-dimensionally designed portion toward a vehicle room.

5. The vehicle instrument according to claim 4 , further comprising:
an annular portion, wherein
the three-dimensionally designed portions are disposed along an outer circumferential edge of the meter dial plate,
the annular portion covers the outer circumferential edge of the meter dial plate and partially covers the three-dimensionally designed portions from the vehicle room side, and
the annular portion is provided as an annular facing integrally formed with the meter housing in a similar color to that of the light-guiding body, or as an annular member independently formed of the meter housing in a similar color to that of the light-guiding body.

6. The structure of the scale graduation according to claim 1 , wherein
a color print in a similar color to that of the light-guiding body is provided on the front surface of the meter dial plate.

7. A vehicle instrument comprising:
the structure of the scale graduation according to claim 1 ; and
a meter housing, wherein
a plurality of the three-dimensionally designed portion in the structure of the scale graduation are disposed and serve as scale graduations of an instrument indicated by a pointer, and
the meter housing houses therein the meter dial plate, the light-guiding body, the three-dimensionally designed portions, and the light source in the structure of the scale graduation, and exposes the meter dial plate and the three-dimensionally designed portion toward a vehicle room.

8. The vehicle instrument according to claim 7 , further comprising:
an annular portion, wherein
the three-dimensionally designed portions are disposed along an outer circumferential edge of the meter dial plate,
the annular portion covers the outer circumferential edge of the meter dial plate and partially covers the three-dimensionally designed portions from the vehicle room side, and
the annular portion is provided as an annular facing integrally formed with the meter housing in a similar color to that of the light-guiding body, or as an annular member independently formed of the meter housing in a similar color to that of the light-guiding body.

9. The structure of the scale graduation according to claim 1 , wherein
a color print in a similar color to that of the light-guiding body is provided on the front surface of the meter dial plate.

10. A vehicle instrument comprising:
the structure of the scale graduation according to claim 9 ; and
a meter housing, wherein
a plurality of the three-dimensionally designed portion in the structure of the scale graduation are disposed and serve as scale graduations of an instrument indicated by a pointer, and
the meter housing houses therein the meter dial plate, the light-guiding body, the three-dimensionally designed portions, and the light source in the structure of the scale graduation, and exposes the meter dial plate and the three-dimensionally designed portion toward a vehicle room.

11. The vehicle instrument according to claim 10 , further comprising:
an annular portion, wherein
the three-dimensionally designed portions are disposed along an outer circumferential edge of the meter dial plate,
the annular portion covers the outer circumferential edge of the meter dial plate and partially covers the three-dimensionally designed portions from the vehicle room side, and
the annular portion is provided as an annular facing integrally formed with the meter housing in a similar color to that of the light-guiding body, or as an annular member independently formed of the meter housing in a similar color to that of the light-guiding body.

12. A vehicle instrument comprising:
the structure of the scale graduation according to claim 1 ; and
a meter housing, wherein
a plurality of the three-dimensionally designed portion in the structure of the scale graduation are disposed and serve as scale graduations of an instrument indicated by a pointer, and
the meter housing houses therein the meter dial plate, the light-guiding body, the three-dimensionally designed portions, and the light source in the structure of the scale graduation, and exposes the meter dial plate and the three-dimensionally designed portion toward a vehicle room.

13. The vehicle instrument according to claim 12 , further comprising:
an annular portion, wherein
the three-dimensionally designed portions are disposed along an outer circumferential edge of the meter dial plate,
the annular portion covers the outer circumferential edge of the meter dial plate and partially covers the three-dimensionally designed portions from the vehicle room side, and
the annular portion is provided as an annular facing integrally formed with the meter housing in a similar color to that of the light-guiding body, or as an annular member independently formed of the meter housing in a similar color to that of the light-guiding body.

14. A structure of a scale graduation comprising:
a meter dial plate;
a light-guiding body made of a translucent material in a dark color;
a three-dimensionally designed portion disposed in a protruding manner on a front surface of the light-guiding body, and made of the translucent material in the dark color disposed on the front side of the meter dial plate; and
a light source that makes light enter the three-dimensionally designed portion through the light-guiding body, wherein
when the light source emits outgoing light, the three-dimensionally designed portion lights on in a light color different from the dark color,
a grained surface is provided on a place in the light-guiding body where light enters from the light source, and correspond

Assignees

• Yazaki Corp

Inventors

• Otani Akihiro
• Takeshita Kouhei

Classifications

• G01D13/28

  with luminescent markings · CPC title

• G01D13/20 Primary

  with luminescent markings · CPC title

• B60K35/00

  Instruments specially adapted for vehicles; Arrangement of instruments in or on vehicles · CPC title

• G01D11/28 Primary

  Structurally-combined illuminating devices · CPC title

• G01D13/04

  Construction · CPC title