Pointer for meter

A pointer pivotally mounted in a meter for pointing out the graduations of a scale is disclosed to include a base and a pointing tip extending from the base, which pointing tip having the outside wall extending along the length of the pointing tip and covered with a layer of reflective material and a visible light-penetrable peripheral surface for guiding in external light toward the reflective material.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to pointer for meter and more particularly, to a pointer with a pointing tip that has a visible light-penetrable peripheral surface and a layer of reflective material coated on the pointing tip for reflecting incident light out of the visible light-penetrable peripheral surface in different directions to enhance the visibility of the indication of the pointing tip.

2. Description of the Related Art

A variety of meters and gauges are known for measuring the amount or speed of fluid or gas, or for indicating direction or time. For example, a motor vehicle generally has a fuel indicator/gas gauge to indicate the amount of fuel oil, an oil pressure gauge to indicate the pressure of fuel oil, an engine temperature gauge to indicate engine temperature, a tachometer to measure engine speed, and an odometer to measure the distance traveled by the vehicle. A meter generally uses a pointer to indicate the amount or value measured.

Further, when projects light onto a flat surface, it will be reflected in a particular direction. However, a flat plane may be unable to effectively reflect incident light that comes from an excessively big or small angle, thereby producing dispersed light. The pointer of a meter generally uses external light to produce a reflecting effect, enabling a person to view the indication. The pointer of a meter may have a rectangular or triangular cross section as shown inFIGS. 4 and 5. The pointer A has the bottom wall covered with a layer of reflective material A1. According to the design shown inFIG. 4, the reflective material A1coated bottom wall can only reflect incident light that passes vertically through the top wall toward the bottom wall. According to the design shown inFIG. 5, the reflective material A1coated bottom wall can only reflect incident light that passes perpendicularly through the other two sidewalls. According to the prior art designs shown inFIGS. 4 and 5, the reflective material A1coated bottom wall can only reflect a small mount of external light source, resulting in low visibility of the indication of the pointer A.

In general, conventional pointers have the following drawbacks.1. The sharp turning angles of the rectangular or triangular cross section tend to reflect external light, therefore only a small amount of incident light passes to the inside of the pointer, resulting in low visibility of the indication of the pointer.2. The peripheral sides of the rectangular or triangular cross section of the pointer tend to reflect external light, thereby causing the user unable to well see the location of indication of the pointer.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention has been accomplished under the circumstances in view. It is therefore the main object of the present invention to provide a pointer, which effectively reflects incident light to enhance the visibility of the location of indication. To achieve this and other objects of the present invention, the pointer is pivotally mounted in a meter for pointing out the graduations of a scale, comprising a base and a pointing tip extending from the base. The pointing tip has the outside wall extending along the length of the pointing tip and covered with a layer of reflective material, and a visible light-penetrable peripheral surface for guiding in external light toward the reflective material. Further, a light emitting device, for example, a light emitting diode is mounted in the base of the pointer and adapted to emit light toward the pointing tip.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENT

Referring toFIGS. 1 and 2, a meter1is showing comprising a housing11, a faceplate12at the front side of the housing11, and a pointer2pivotally provided at the faceplate12for pointing out the graduations or signs of a scale or the like on the faceplate12. The pointer2comprises a base21and a pointing tip22extending from the base21. The pointing tip22is made of a material that admits light, having a semicircular cross section, a layer of reflective material221coated on the pointing tip22, and a visible light-penetrable peripheral surface222. Incident light passes through the visible light-penetrable peripheral surface222to the reflective material221that reflects incident light out of the pointing tip22through the visible light-penetrable peripheral surface222in different directions, thereby enhancing the visibility of the indication of the pointing tip22.

Referring toFIG. 3andFIGS. 1 and 2again, a light emitting device, for example, a LED (light emitting diode)211is mounted in the base21and aimed at the pointing tip22. When turned on the LED211to give off light, light passes into the inside of the pointing tip22and is reflected by the reflective material221in different directions to enhance the visibility of the indication of the pointing tip22.

A prototype of pointer has been constructed with the features ofFIGS. 1˜3. The pointer functions smoothly to provide all of the features discussed earlier.