US4380043A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Apparatus for illuminating instrument pointers
Assignee: Toyota Motor Corp
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Filing: 1980-12-05
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Granted: 1983-04-12
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Expires: 2000-12-05
Abstract
Abstract An apparatus for illuminating instrument pointers comprises a dial board having a shaft hole, pointer shafts provided perpendicularly to a pointer shaft drive unit and projecting through the shaft hole to the front of the dial board, a light conductive member having a light receiving section and a light transmission section made of a transparent material and disposed behind the dial board, a plurality of instrument pointers each having a collar section and a pointer section made of a transparent material and mounted on the pointer shaft such that a light beam emitted from the light transmission section is introduced through the collar section, and a light emitting member provided oppositely to the light receiving section. A light beam from the light emitting member is propagated through the light conductive member to the collar section and then to the pointer section, so that each instrument pointer is illuminated.
Inventors
- 👤 Mashiro Takamatsu
- 👤 Makoto Nakao
- 👤 Isao Ogawa
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 10:21
CPC Classifications
G; G12; G12B; G12B11/00; G12B11/04; B; B60; B60K; B60K35/00; B60K35/20; B60K35/60; G01; G01D; G01D11/00; G01D11/28; B60K2360/00; B60K2360/20; B60K2360/33; B60K2360/60; B60K2360/68; B60K2360/698
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
235 words
An apparatus for illuminating instrument pointers comprising: a dial board having a shaft hole; pointer shafts extending from a pointer shaft drive unit to pass through said shaft hole to the front of said dial board; a light conductive member made of a transparent material and disposed behind said dial board, said member comprising a light receiving section and a light transmission section; a plurality of instrument pointers each made of a transparent material and comprising a collar section and a pointer section, each of said instrument pointers being mounted on said pointer shaft such that light beam emitted from said light transmission section is introduced through said collar section; and a light emitting member opposing said light receiving section, for emitting light beam being transmitted through said light conductive member to said collar sections and to said pointer sections so as to illuminate said instrument pointers; wherein said instrument pointers include an hour hand and a minute hand, the back surface of the collar section of said hour hand facing said light transmission section, and the back surface of the collar section of said minute hand facing the front surface of the collar section of said hour hand; and wherein the front end surface of the collar section of said hour hand is formed with a slant plane, said light beam being transmitted through said slant plane to said collar of the minute hand.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
235 words
An apparatus for illuminating instrument pointers comprising: a dial board having a shaft hole; pointer shafts extending from a pointer shaft drive unit to pass through said shaft hole to the front of said dial board; a light conductive member made of a transparent material and disposed behind said dial board, said member comprising a light receiving section and a light transmission section; a plurality of instrument pointers each made of a transparent material and comprising a collar section and a pointer section, each of said instrument pointers being mounted on said pointer shaft such that light beam emitted from said light transmission section is introduced through said collar section; and a light emitting member opposing said light receiving section, for emitting light beam being transmitted through said light conductive member to said collar sections and to said pointer sections so as to illuminate said instrument pointers; wherein said instrument pointers include an hour hand and a minute hand, the back surface of the collar section of said hour hand facing said light transmission section, and the back surface of the collar section of said minute hand facing the front surface of the collar section of said hour hand; and wherein the front end surface of the collar section of said hour hand is formed with a slant plane, said light beam being transmitted through said slant plane to said collar of the minute hand.
Claim 3
Independent Claim
272 words
An apparatus for illuminating instrument pointers comprising: a dial board having a shaft hole; pointer shafts extending from a pointer shaft drive unit to pass through said shaft hole to the front of said dial board; a light conductive member made of a transparent material and disposed behind said dial board, said member comprising a light receiving section and a light transmission section; a plurality of instrument pointers each made of a transparent material and comprising a collar section and a pointer section, each of said instrument pointers being mounted on said pointer shaft such that light beam emitted from said light transmission section is introduced through said collar section; and a light emitting member opposing said light receiving section, for emitting light beam being transmitted through said light conductive member to said collar sections and to said pointer sections so as to illuminate said instrument pointers; wherein said instrument pointers include an hour hand and a minute hand, the back surface of the collar section of said hour hand facing said light transmission section, and the back surface of the collar section of said minute hand facing the front surface of the collar section of said hour hand; and wherein said apparatus further comprises a second hand illuminating device which receives on its back surface a light beam propagated through the collars of said hour hand and minute hand so that the second hand is illuminated, the collar of said minute hand being provided with a cylindrical light shield cap, said second hand being formed in the shape of disk having a diameter substantially equal to the diameter of said cap.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
272 words
An apparatus for illuminating instrument pointers comprising: a dial board having a shaft hole; pointer shafts extending from a pointer shaft drive unit to pass through said shaft hole to the front of said dial board; a light conductive member made of a transparent material and disposed behind said dial board, said member comprising a light receiving section and a light transmission section; a plurality of instrument pointers each made of a transparent material and comprising a collar section and a pointer section, each of said instrument pointers being mounted on said pointer shaft such that light beam emitted from said light transmission section is introduced through said collar section; and a light emitting member opposing said light receiving section, for emitting light beam being transmitted through said light conductive member to said collar sections and to said pointer sections so as to illuminate said instrument pointers; wherein said instrument pointers include an hour hand and a minute hand, the back surface of the collar section of said hour hand facing said light transmission section, and the back surface of the collar section of said minute hand facing the front surface of the collar section of said hour hand; and wherein said apparatus further comprises a second hand illuminating device which receives on its back surface a light beam propagated through the collars of said hour hand and minute hand so that the second hand is illuminated, the collar of said minute hand being provided with a cylindrical light shield cap, said second hand being formed in the shape of disk having a diameter substantially equal to the diameter of said cap.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
34 words
An apparatus for illuminating instrument pointers in accordance with claim 2, wherein said second hand being formed in the shape of inverted cone such that the back surface of said second hand is tapered.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
44 words
An apparatus for illuminating instrument pointers in accordance with claim 2 or 3, wherein said second hand is made of a transparent material, with its front surface formed with a light shield film which is partly removed in the shape of second pointer mark.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
22 words
An apparatus for illuminating instrument pointers in accordance with claim 4, wherein a semi-transparent film is provided under said light shield film.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
44 words
An apparatus for illuminating instrument pointers in accordance with claim 2 or 3, wherein said second hand is made of a semi-transparent material, with its front surface formed with a light shield film which is partly removed in the shape of second pointer mark.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1986-04-11 | 1986-10-11 | 1987-04-12 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1990-04-11 | 1990-10-11 | 1991-04-12 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1994-04-11 | 1994-10-11 | 1995-04-12 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |