Abstract: A pointer including a pointer body formed of synthetic resin, and a pointer attachment section formed of a material harder than the synthetic resin and provided in a rotation center portion of the pointer body, in which the pointer attachment section comprises a large-diameter section to which the pointer body is fixed and which includes a positioning section, and a small-diameter section which is provided coaxially with the large-diameter section and to which a pointer shaft is attached.

Abstract: A mechanical component configured to rotate with a shaft member includes a component main body having a through-hole through which the shaft member is passed, and one or more shaft support portions formed on the inner surface of the through-hole to fix the shaft member to the component main body. The one or more shaft support portions protrude from the inner surface of the through-hole and are capable of retaining the shaft member due to an elastic force. The one or more shaft support portions are made of material having a larger elongation percentage than that of the material of the component main body thereby preventing breakage of the mechanical component due to stress created when the shaft member is forced through the through-hole in the component main body.

Abstract: A pointer structure including: a pointer main body having a pointer visualizing portion closer to a pointer tip and a pointer neck portion continuing to the pointer visualizing portion extending along from an edge region of a dial plate to a backside thereof; a main cover having a first sidewall having a bend piece portion covering an inner corner of the pointer bend portion and a second sidewall continuing to and confronting the first sidewall, having trough to sandwich the pointer main body; and a sub-cover having an L-shaped cover portion formed with a window through which the pointer visualizing portion is exposed and covering both side faces of the pointer visualizing portion, an outer corner of the pointer bend portion and both side faces of the pointer neck portion, wherein the L-shaped cover portion continues with a lid portion closing an opening between the first and second sidewalls.

Abstract: A display instrument with an indicating scale, includes a pointer element, and a cover element. The pointer element is formed as a two-piece component including a pointer tip and a body, whereby the pointer tip is arranged in such a manner that it is pivotable and/or rotatable with respect to the body. A method of assembling a display instrument is provided.

Abstract: A disclosed instrument cluster includes dial gauges with an illuminated pointer including light reflecting features for uniformly distributing light within the pointer. The light deflecting structure directs light toward tip of the pointer by reflecting the light of each of the first and second sides. The light deflecting structure provides the desired distribution of luminescence by directing light toward the sides surfaces of the pointer.

Abstract: A meter device is disposed on an upper surface of a fuel tank that is disposed between a steering handlebar and a rider's seat. The meter device includes a dial substrate having a scale and a pointer that is rotated by a drive portion and points to the scale corresponding to a measurement output. The pointer includes a ridge that extends in a longitudinal direction and a spine portion having two surfaces that cross each other so as to form the ridge. An angle ?, at which the two surfaces forming the ridge cross each other, is formed into an acute angle, so that a side farther from the ridge as viewed from a side of a rider is not visible.

Abstract: An instrument system includes a speedometer as an indicating instrument. The speedometer includes a disk-like dial, a movement element, and an indicating needle. The dial includes an indication element indicative of vehicle's speed. The movement element has an output shaft connected to a measurement device measuring the vehicle's speed and configured to rotate based on measurements obtained by the measurement device. The needle is attached to the output shaft by a mounting structure. The needle includes a skirt attached to the output shaft of the movement element, and a pointer extending radially from the skirt, so as to be rotated by the output shaft and indicate a value of interest of the indication element of the dial. The skirt includes a hole into which the output shaft is press-fit. The hole has an elliptical cross section.

Abstract: The invention provides a display instrument, particularly for a motor vehicle, having an indicator that is rotatable about a rotational axis, wherein the indicator has an inner first region that is radial with regard to the rotational axis and that is not visible to a user, and an outer second region that is radial with regard to the rotational axis and that is visible to a user, wherein at a radial distance from the rotational axis an additional mounting of the indicator and/or a stop for receiving tilting moments positioned substantially perpendicular on the rotational axis are provided.

Abstract: An exemplary embodiment of a pointer for a gauge includes a body of transparent material, the body including a hub and an indicator portion extending from the hub. The pointer further includes a fitted cover of transparent material to cover the body, the fitted cover including a visible pattern.

Abstract: According to an exemplary embodiment, a pointer includes an indicator portion including an arm of transparent material and a margin that projects laterally from the arm, the indicator portion also including a rear face that defines thereon a central zone corresponding to the arm and a peripheral zone corresponding to the margin. The rear face includes a first coating of a first color to cover the central zone only and a second coating of a second color to cover at least the peripheral zone.

Abstract: To provide an indicating instrument capable of reducing the number of parts and improving the positioning precision. An indicating instrument 1 comprises: an indicator 3; said dial 4 disposed around said indicator 31 an indicating needle 6 for moving around said indicator 3; and a drive source 7 for driving said indicating needle 6. Said indicating needle 6 moves over said dial 4 while bypassing at least the back of said indicator 3, and said indicator 3 and said dial 4 are held by a holding member 2 constituted of a first holding portion 27 for holding said indicator 3 and a second holding portion 28 for holding said dial.

Abstract: The invention relates to an indicator apparatus (1) having a ring pointer (2), which is mounted such that it can move in the circumferential direction (5), and having a drive unit (3), which drives the ring pointer (2) in the circumferential direction (5), wherein the ring pointer (2) interacts with a stop (10) in a manner limited in terms of its circumferential movement. Particularly in the case of synchronization, radial disengagement often occurs in conventional ring pointer arrangements, and the aim of the invention is to prevent this. In order to solve the problem, the invention proposes arranging the stop (10) directly next to the drive unit (3). The critical advantage of this is that the tangential force on the ring pointer (2) from the drive unit generates an only small disengagement moment on the ring pointer (2).

Abstract: A pointer for an instrument panel which is actively lighted and, more specifically, an actively lighted pointer including a flex circuit.

Abstract: The invention provides a display instrument, particularly for a motor vehicle, having an indicator that is rotatable about a rotational axis, wherein the indicator has an inner first region that is radial with regard to the rotational axis and that is not visible to a user, and an outer second region that is radial with regard to the rotational axis and that is visible to a user, wherein at a radial distance from the rotational axis an additional mounting of the indicator and/or a stop for receiving tilting moments positioned substantially perpendicular on the rotational axis are provided.

Abstract: An indicator for a vehicle instrument cluster is provided. The indicator includes a dial configured to guide light from a light source to a pointer which further guides the light so that it is visible by a user.

Abstract: A pointer assembly includes the pointer and hub that are both illuminatable. The hub includes a main portion with a concave surface. A reflector is partially received within a slot through the concave surface and is supported on top of the hub. The reflector includes a reflective surface that directs light onto the concave surface. Light from a light source is directed by separate reflective surfaces on the pointer and the reflector to illuminate both the hub and the pointer.

Abstract: The pointer illuminator includes: an optically transparent pointer member having a reflecting surface for a pointer, which surface reflects, light incident on a predetermined surface of incidence and guides the light to a tip of the pointer; a light source arranged around a drive shaft of the pointer member; and an optically transparent light-guiding member, which guides light from the light source to the surface of incidence and includes a first light-guiding reflecting surface provided on a face of the light-guiding member, an angle which the face forms with a center axis of the light source becoming smaller as the face leaves the light source so that the first light-guiding reflecting surface reflects the light from the light source to convert the light into approximately parallel light rays, whereby the light-guiding member guides the parallel light rays to the surface of incidence.

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.

Abstract: A dial 21a is positioned in front of an LCD 21c, and has an inner periphery surrounding the LCD 21c. A pointer 21b is rotatable by a drive 21d positioned at a backside of the LCD 21c. The pointer 21b is extended from a rotation center in a direction Y1 against the rotation center along a back surface of the LCD 21c, then bent and extended along an outer periphery of the LCD 21c, and bent and extended in the direction Y2 toward the rotation center via a gap formed between a front surface of the display 21c and a back surface of the dial 21a. Then, the pointer 21b is extended along an inner periphery of the dial 21a, and bent and extended in the direction Y1 along a front surface of the dial 21a.

Abstract: A pointer assembly illuminated by a rear circular light source surrounding a pointer axis includes a pointer having an inner portion surrounding the axis and a tip extending radially from the inner portion, a stem for supporting the pointer on a gauge spindle and including a plate for attenuating light transmission to the inner portion, and a cap surrounding the inner portion to prevent unwanted light escape from the assembly and having an elongated opening aligned with the tip. The tip and elongated opening define the illuminated pointer surface. A light collector portion of the tip located near the axis has a curved reflector for uniformly disseminating received light along the length of the tip.

Abstract: An instrument cluster gauge includes a pointer assembly and a gauge movement. The gauge movement has a staff with a constant diameter. The pointer assembly includes a bushing intended to be placed over the staff when the pointer assembly is mounted on the gauge movement. The bushing has a bore having a lead-in portion providing radial clearance with the staff; a main contact portion with a slight interference with the staff; and a clearance portion providing radial clearance with the staff. The geometry just described facilitates the mounting of the pointer assembly on the gauge movement to a predetermined depth rather than to a predetermined force. Further, the assembly force is defined by design and is therefore more consistent than where a pointer assembly is mounted on a gauge movement staff to a target force. Also, the lead-in eases assembly of the pointer assembly onto the staff, facilitating flexible manufacturing. The bushing further has a face with a stippled surface.

Abstract: Electrical instrument gage that has a pointer indicator member mounted on a rotatable shaft extending from the gage and including an electrically energizable light source mounted on and extending along the pointer portion of the indicator member. The light source is preferably an electroluminescent lamination that contains a pair of flex circuit terminal contacts extending from its base end. The light source is adhesively attached to the pointer portion of the indicator member. The base element of the indicator member contains a socket portion with a cylindrical opening configured to provide a friction fit to the axial shaft extending from the gage. The outer cylindrical surface of the socket contains an electrically conductive area and the gage contains an electrical wiper contact that makes continual electrical interconnection with the conductive portion of the socket over its rotational range.

Abstract: A gauge assembly for a vehicle instrument cluster is provided. The gauge assembly includes a plate member and a pointer assembly that is rotatable relative to the plate member about a first axis. The pointer assembly includes a pointer cap having an internal surface and a pointer arm fixed relative to the cap. A driven surface is provided on at least a portion of the internal surface of the cap. The gauge assembly further includes a motor having a drive shaft. A driver is coupled to the drive shaft for drivingly engaging the driven surface of the pointer cap and rotating the pointer assembly.

Abstract: A self-luminescent indicator which may be employed in a tachometer, a speedometer, or other such gauges in automotive vehicles. The self-luminescent indicator comprises an indicating pointer, a luminescent element, and a semitransparent member. The indicating pointer includes a housing and a cover. The housing has formed therein a groove. The luminescent element is disposed in the groove of the housing. The semitransparent member is arranged within the cover of the indicating pointer for diffusing light emitted from the luminescent element out of the indicating pointer. The semitransparent member has side walls extending substantially parallel to each other in a vertical direction parallel to a given optical path of the luminescent element. With this arrangement, the indicating pointer projects light having uniform and high brightness to an observer without having the light experience total reflection in the semitransparent member so as to improve the visibility of pointer deflection over a dial plate.

Abstract: A gauge includes a transparent pointer driven through gears by a stepper motor offset from the pointer axis. An output gear on the pointer axis is transparent and has a first hub supporting the pointer and a second hub aligned with a lamp, so that light is passed through the output gear to the pointer. The first hub has retention pads molded onto its side. The pointer has a tubular sleeve with axial slots to allow expansion and has retention ribs which ride over the pads upon assembly and snap over the pads to secure the pointer in an axially fixed position. The sleeve also has tapered axial ribs which slide between the pads during assembly to angularly orient the pointer.

Abstract: An automotive instrument cluster has closely spaced face plate and circuit board and a compact gauge including a housing mounted on the side of the circuit board facing the face plate. A light conducting pointer has a two-part snap-together hub extending into the gauge housing and an end face adjacent surface mount LEDs on the circuit board for direct pointer illumination. A gear on the hub is driven by another gear on a stepper motor which is offset from the pointer hub. The stepper motor has a permanent magnet armature supported by the housing and the circuit board, and surface mount electromagnets on the circuit board to provide a motor field.

Abstract: The present invention relates to watch pointers in which it is possible to set variable-size diamonds or other stones, the pointers including at least a recess in which it is possible to engage one or more stones, and also including fixing elements for fixing the set stones.

Abstract: An automobile meter device of the type having a self-acting light-emitting needle or pointer is disclosed in which first and second current supply terminals connected with first and second electrodes of a light-emitting element are disposed on opposite side of a pointer boss. The current supply terminals include plug-in sockets extending parallel to a longitudinal axis of the pointer shaft. When the pointer boss is fitted over a meter shaft to assemble the pointer with a pointer drive unit, the sockets are automatically fitted over connector pins of fourth current supply terminals which are connected with a power source. With this construction, the meter can be assembled efficiently with utmost ease. The pointer boss may be electrically conductive and connected with one of the electrodes of the light-emitting element in which instance one of the current supply terminals may be omitted.

Abstract: An illuminable pointer comprising an at least translucent pointer staff and an at least translucent boss suitable for illumination by a light source, wherein the boss includes a staff hole adapted for mounting the pointer for rotation on a spindle and a cavity for holding a known mass to counterbalance the pointer staff, the boss having reflecting surface shaped so to reflect substantially parallel incoming light along the pointer staff towards a focus point outside the distal end of the pointer that the pointer staff is evenly illuminated.

Abstract: A pointer shaft in an indicating instrument comprises a movement for turning the pointer shaft according to an amount of measurement, a pointer having an engaging hole in a base end portion, an end portion of the pointer shaft is fixedly pushed into the engaging hole of the pointer, a dial for indicating the amount of measurement in cooperation with the pointer, and projection means for bitting an inner wall of said engaging hole to prevent the relative rotation of said pointer and said pointer shaft, said means formed on an outer cylindrical surface of said end portion of said pointer shaft.

Abstract: A dial needle is mounted on a drive shaft of a measuring instrument. The dle includes a body and a support, both mounted on the drive shaft. The body and the support are initially connected in a one-piece construction in which the body is spaced axially from the support. Upon axially moving the body along the shaft to the support, weakened zones break, thereby detaching the body from the support. A pointer on the body is angularly turnable to an indexed position by a peripheral projection and a complementary recess provided on the support and the body.

Abstract: An instrument pointer attaching device has a hub with flat internal side walls that deflect outward in establishing a press fit with a spindle while also acting to limit the assembly force.

Abstract: In a thermostatic bimetallic measuring element, an adjustment lever (5) which bears a thermostatic bimetallic body (6) is held, on the one hand, by a collar (24) of a setting eccentric (12) and, on the other hand, by a holding section (14) which is formed on a section of the adjustment lever (5) which engages through a slot in a rear plate (1) of the thermostatic bimetallic element and rests against the back of the rear plate (1). By turning the setting eccentric (12), displacement of the adjustment lever (5) is possible around an imaginary of actual pivot shaft which engages into the slot.

Abstract: In an indicating instrument, a channel (4) of light-opaque material is fastened on a cap (2) held on a pointer shaft (1), the channel being open towards the observer, a pointer (5) of light-conducting material being inserted into it. The pointer (5) has a detent projection (6) by which it is secured to the cap (2).

Abstract: A tripping torque setting mechanism of an overload clutch having an adjusting nut threadedly engageable with a thread provided on a cylindrical part of a clutch hub, the adjusting nut being tightened against a spring to produce an urging force corresponding to a predetermined tripping torque. A helical line having a pitch coinciding with the pitch of said thread and indicia for indicating the angular positions is provided on one of the adjusting nut or a member which does not rotate relative to the nut, and an indicator is provided on the other. The axially adjacent portions of the helical line are indicated by different colors and the indicia for indicating the angular positions are indicated by the same color as the portion of the helical line to which the indicia correspond.

Abstract: A pointer for an indicating instrument is constructed of material transparent to light, the pointer having an elongated shape and a cross section having two inclined sides directed towards an apex, and a lower side opposite the apex and facing a face of the indicating instrument. The lower surface is provided with a layer of coloring, substantially opaque to the light, and giving a colored appearance to the pointer upon viewing the pointer by looking straight down upon the indicator face or at an angle thereto. The inclination of the pointer sides provides for respective refraction and total internal reflection to viewing rays of light which make visible the coloring.

Abstract: An improved pointer and shaft adapter assembly for use in instruments such as the speedometer of a vehicle including an elongated pointer portion and shaft forming portion connected together by engagement between spaced tabs which project from the pointer lying alongside side wall surfaces of an end connector of the shaft adapter. Cooperative nibs and apertures of the pointer and shaft forming portions secure the parts together and prevent any substantial tilting movement therebetween.

Abstract: A luminant pointer for use in a meter is disclosed, which comprises a finger portion having a trapezoidal sectional shape with the transverse width of its upper face being selected to be longer than that of its lower face, and a layer of color paint provided on the lower face of the finger portion. The entire upper face of the finger portion of the pointer having such a construction can thus glow with the color of the paint in spite of the fact that the color paint layer is provided merely on the lower face having a considerably smaller area than that of the upper face of the finger portion of the pointer. Therefore, the amount of the paint required for the luminant indication purpose is decreased to reduce the rate of absorption of light by the paint, thereby obviating the tendency of sharp reductions in the intensity of light advancing from the radially inner end toward the radially outer end of the finger portion of the pointer on the meter dial.

Abstract: A bimetal element operated indicator includes a bimetal carrying a current measuring winding and having a fixed end mounted on a housing, a dial supported on the housing and carrying scale indicia, and a pointer rotatably supported on a stud shaft mounted on the dial and having a driven end coupled with a driving end of the bimetal element such that the pointer is precisely aligned relative to the scale indicia on the dial to provide accurate indicating movement in response to deflection of the bimetal element with temperature change from current in the measuring winding.

Abstract: A gauge movement includes a tapered plastic output shaft having a member disposed symetrically thereabout. The member has first and second ends and a conical inner surface disposed about and adapted to receive the tapered plastic output shaft. The conical inner surface extends substantially from the first end to the second end and defines a conical bore through the member. The bore has a first inside diameter at the first end and a second inside diameter, smaller than the first inside diameter, at the second end. The member is further provided with a stepped outer surface having a first outside diameter at the first end and a second outside diameter, larger than the first outside diameter, at the second end. The member further includes at least one slot for deforming the tapered plastic output shaft when the member is forced into engagement with the shaft, to thereby prevent relative rotational movement between the member and the shaft.