JP2886782B2 - Automotive meter - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to an automotive meter.
In particular, the present invention relates to a vehicle meter which is mounted on an instrument panel of a vehicle and has an instrument or a display on its dial for displaying the speed of the vehicle and the state of each part.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, an instrument panel of an automobile is called a combination meter provided with a speedometer for displaying the speed of the automobile, a fuel gauge, a water temperature gauge, a warning lamp for displaying various warnings, and the like. A car meter is installed.

FIGS. 5 (a) and 5 (b) show the structure of a conventional combination meter for an automobile. FIG. 5 (a) is a front view of the combination meter 50, and FIG. )
It is a local sectional view in the XX line.

In FIG. 5A, reference numeral 10 denotes a dial,
The dial 10 is provided with a tachometer (tachometer) 51, a speedometer 52, a fuel gauge 53, a water temperature gauge 54, a warning lamp 55 for displaying a warning design, and the like.
As shown in FIG. 5 (b), this dial 10 is
0, there is a transparent front plate 61 on the front side of the meter case 60. A dial 57 is provided on the front side of the dial 10, and a drive unit 56 of the tachometer 51, a light guide plate 58 for illuminating the pointer 57, and the dial 10 are illuminated from the back side on the rear side of the dial 10. Light source 59
Etc. are provided.

[0005] The conventional dial 10 of the combination meter 50 configured as described above has a transparent semi-transparent layer such as white as a ground color formed on the surface of a transparent base material such as a synthetic resin. A black opaque layer is formed on a character or a scale portion on the surface of the translucent layer, or conversely, on a portion other than the character or the scale, from a light source 59 provided on the back side of the dial 10. When the back side of the dial 10 is illuminated with the light, the light passes through the characters and the scale portion, or conversely, the ground color portion other than the characters and the scale portion, so that the scale and the characters can be visually recognized even at night or the like. ing.

However, in such a combination meter 50, scales and characters are recognized by color coding of the ground color portion of the dial 10 and characters and scales, so that the dial 10 has poor three-dimensional appearance. The dial 10 having a high-class feeling could not be obtained.

The inventor of the present invention has proposed an automotive meter in which fibers are implanted on a part of the surface of the dial 10 in order to give the dial 10 a three-dimensional appearance or a high-grade appearance (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 3-2).
No. 74417).

FIG. 4A shows the structure of one embodiment proposed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 4-274417. In this embodiment, a bright white translucent layer 13 as a design display color is laminated on the surface side of a transparent base material 12 such as a synthetic resin which constitutes the dial 10. A black opaque layer 14 serving as the ground color of the dial 10 is laminated on the surface side of the surface 13 except for characters and scales. Further, on the surface side of the black opaque layer 14, it is colorless and transparent and has light transmittance, and has a length of about 0.3 to
A large number of fibers 15 made of acrylic or polycarbonate fibers of 0.5 mm are planted.

The flocking is performed by the black opaque layer 1 of the dial 10.
After applying the adhesive 16 to the flocking portion of No. 4, the dial plate 10 is housed in a ground potential portion of an electrostatic flocking room in which the upper portion has a high voltage and the lower portion has a ground potential. The fiber 15 is sprayed.
Can be carried out by an electrostatic flocking method in which is charged to a positive potential, and is stood and adhered to the adhesive 16. In this flocking method, all the adjacent fibers 15 have a positive potential, so that the fibers 15 can be transplanted at a desired density by repulsion of the polarities of each other.

In the dial 10 constructed as described above, when light is irradiated from the back side of the dial 10 at night or the like, the light is transmitted only to the white translucent layer 13 in the characters and scales,
Characters and scales are visually recognized by this light. And
The fibers 15 are implanted in the black opaque layer 14 and the white translucent layer 13 in the characters and scales is formed in a concave shape, so that the three-dimensional appearance of the dial 10 can be obtained.
In addition, when light strikes the dial 10 in the daytime or the like, the light is irregularly reflected by the fiber 15, so that the reflected light is soft and the dial 10 has a high-class appearance.

[0011]

However, in an automobile meter employing the dial 10 having the structure shown in FIG.
5a may fall on the character or scale side, or may be inclined,
In such a case, as shown in FIG. 4B, there is a problem that the outline of the character and the scale becomes unclear due to the fallen fiber 15a, and the character and the scale become unclear.

Therefore, the present invention provides an automobile meter in which fibers are implanted on a part of the surface of the dial in order to give the dial a three-dimensional appearance and a high-grade appearance. It is an object of the present invention to provide an automobile meter provided with a dial having excellent visibility without the outline of characters and scales being blurred by flocking.

[0013]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention, which achieves the above-mentioned object, comprises a dial plate on which a predetermined character, a scale, a warning symbol or the like is formed inside a meter case, and a back side of the dial plate. In a vehicle meter provided with a light source and a meter unit for nighttime illumination and provided with a pointer driven by the meter unit on the front side of the dial, a color is provided on the front side of the base material constituting the dial. A layer, a ground color layer, and a fiber flocking layer are laminated in this order, the color layer is formed with a color that is a display color of the design such as the characters, scales, and warning symbols, and the ground color layer is formed of the design portion. The fiber flocked layer is formed excluding the outline part of the design that is slightly larger than the design part, and the fiber is the same color as the ground color layer. Formed by this The boundary between Aiba flocking layer and the ground-color layer, and wherein the ground-color layer is exposed to the edging shape of the design.

Further, in this automobile meter, a through-hole penetrating the base material of the dial, the color layer, the ground color layer, and the fiber flocking layer is provided, and the fiber flocking layer is provided with the through-hole. Fibers may be planted except for a portion that is slightly larger than the fiber. Furthermore, it is desirable that the width of the ground color layer exposed in a border shape around the design portion and the through hole is at least equal to or higher than the height of the fiber.

The ground color layer may be formed in the same color as that of the fiber only in a portion viewed from the front side of the dial.

[0016]

According to the present invention, a color layer, a ground color layer, and a fiber flocking layer are laminated in this order on the front side of a base material constituting a dial plate of an automobile meter. The ground color layer is formed with the color that becomes the ground color of the dial except for the design portion, and the fiber flocking layer is formed with the same color as the ground color panel, except for the design portion. Since the fibers are formed and planted except for a part that is slightly larger than the design, even if the fibers fall down at the characters on the fiber flocking layer or the contours on the scale side, the fallen fibers may reach the ground color layer. In addition, the outline of the design such as characters, scales, and warning symbols on the ground color layer is not blurred by the fiber.

[0017]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. The same components as those of the dial 10 of the conventional automobile meter described with reference to FIG. I do.

FIGS. 1 (a) and 1 (b) show the structure of a dial 1 of an automotive meter according to the present invention, and are the same as those shown in FIGS. 5 (a) and 5 (b).
0) is arranged at the same position as the dial 1 used in (1).

The dial 1 of the automotive meter according to this embodiment.
In this example, a bright white translucent layer 3 is laminated as a color layer on a surface side of a transparent base material 2 such as a synthetic resin constituting the dial 1 as a color layer. An opaque layer 4 serving as a ground color layer of the dial 1 is laminated on a surface side of the translucent layer 3 except for characters and scales.
The configuration so far is almost the same as the dial 10 of the conventional automobile meter described with reference to FIG.

Conventionally, the opaque layer 4 is a black opaque layer 14. On the surface side of the black opaque layer 14,
It is colorless and transparent and has light transmittance, and the length is about 0.3-0.5mm
Many fibers 1 made of acrylic or polycarbonate fibers
No. 5 was implanted in the black opaque layer 14 to the outline of the characters and the scale. However, in this embodiment, the opaque layer 4
A large number of fibers 5 of about 0.3 to 0.5 mm length made of acrylic or polycarbonate fibers having a color to be the ground color of the dial 1 are planted on the surface side of the dial 1 via an adhesive 6. A flocked layer 7 is provided. The color of the opaque layer 4 is colored to match the color tone of the fiber 5. Therefore, if the color tone of the fiber 5 is black, the color tone of the opaque layer 4 is also black, and if the color tone of the fiber 5 is amber, the color tone of the opaque layer 4 is also amber.

Moreover, in the present invention, the flocked layer 7 on the surface side of the opaque layer 4 is provided only up to the outline part slightly larger than the outline part. The opaque layer 4 is exposed between the outline portion. That is, in the present invention, the fiber 5 is not implanted in a portion of the opaque layer 4 at a predetermined distance A from the contour portion 4a of the character or the scale portion. The predetermined distance A is, for example, about 0.25 to 0.3 mm, and the length is set when the fiber 5 having a length of about 0.3 to 0.5 mm is implanted through the adhesive 6. Fiber 5 exposed above agent 6
Is equivalent to the length of

In the same manner as in the prior art, the adhesive is applied to the flocked portion of the opaque layer 4 of the dial 1 and then the dial 1 is charged with a high voltage on the upper side and a ground potential on the lower side. The fiber 5 to be planted is housed in a ground potential portion of the flocking room, and the fiber 5 to be planted is blown into the room, whereby the fiber 5 is charged to a positive potential, and the fiber 5 can be stuck to the adhesive 6 by an electrostatic flocking method. .

FIG. 1B is a partial plan view of the dial 1 of this embodiment constructed as shown in FIG. 1A, in which the numeral "1" is formed. As mentioned above, the outline part 4 of the number "1"
The opaque layer 4 is exposed at a predetermined distance outside of a. The color tone of the opaque layer 4 is the fiber 5 of the flocking layer 7.
When the dial 1 is viewed from the front side, the boundary between the opaque layer 4 and the flocked layer 7 is hardly seen.

In the dial 1 thus constructed, when light is irradiated from the back side of the dial 1 at night or the like, characters,
Light is transmitted only through the white translucent layer 3 in the scale portion, and the light allows the characters and the scale portion to be visually recognized. Since the fiber 5 is implanted in the fiber layer 7 and the white translucent layer 3 of the character and the scale is formed in a concave shape, the three-dimensional appearance of the dial 1 can be obtained. When the dial 1 receives light, the light is irregularly reflected by the fiber 5, so that the reflected light is softened and the dial 1 has a sense of quality.

In addition, in the dial 1 of the automotive meter according to this embodiment, the fiber 5 is provided between the outline 4a of the characters and the scale of the opaque layer 4 and the outline of the characters and the scale of the flocked layer 7. Since the part of the opaque layer 4 of the same color as that of the fiber 5 is exposed, the fiber 5a adjacent to the character or the scale portion of the fiber 5 of the flocking layer 7 is placed on the character or the scale side as shown in FIG. Even if the fiber 5a falls down or tilts, as shown in FIG. 1 (b), the fiber 5a falls down on the opaque layer 4 of the same color as the fiber 5 and does not reach the outline of the characters or the scale. Therefore,
In the dial 1 of this embodiment, the contours of the characters and the scales are not clear due to the fall of the fiber 5 and the problem of the characters and the scales being unclear does not occur, and the visibility does not deteriorate.

In this embodiment, the color of the opaque layer 4 is the same as the color of the fiber 5;
Means that only the portion (exposed portion) at the distance A is the fiber 5
Any color may be used as long as the portion is covered with the flocking layer 7.

FIG. 2 is a partially enlarged cross-sectional view showing the configuration of an embodiment of a traveling distance display portion of the dial 1 of the automobile meter shown in FIG. 1, and the same components as those in FIG. I have. In the drawing, reference numeral 2 denotes a transparent base material such as a synthetic resin constituting the dial 1, 3 denotes a bright white translucent layer (color layer) serving as a display color of characters and scales, and 4 denotes a character and scale portions. An opaque layer (ground color layer) 7 provided on the removed portion is a flocking layer 7 on which fibers 5 of the same color as the opaque layer 4 are planted by an adhesive 6.

A through-hole 8 is provided at a portion of the dial 1 where the travel distance is displayed.
The dial wheel 11 of the integrator is arranged below the through hole 8. Thus, even in the portion where the through hole 8 is provided in the dial 1, the flocked layer 7 on the surface side of the opaque layer 4 is provided only up to the contour portion slightly larger than the through hole 8, The opaque layer 4 is exposed between the outline of the hole 8 and the outline of the flocking layer 7.

That is, even at the portion of the through hole 8 of the dial 1, a portion of the opaque layer 4 at a predetermined distance B from the contour portion 4 a on the side of the through hole 8 is provided with a flocking layer 7 on which fibers 5 are planted. Absent. The predetermined distance B is about 0.25 to 0.3 mm as in the above-described design part, and the length is
The length of the fiber 5 exposed above the adhesive 6 when the fiber 5 having a length of about 0.3 to 0.5 mm is implanted via the adhesive 6 may be longer than the length of the fiber 5.

The substrate 2 is made of a transparent synthetic resin or the like as described above in the present embodiment, but may be made of an opaque material such as a sheet metal.

FIG. 3A shows an embodiment of the present invention in the warning lamp section C of the dial 1, and FIG.
FIG. 3B is a sectional view of the portion shown in FIG. As in the above-described embodiment, the opaque layer 4 is also exposed outside the contour 4b of the opaque layer 4 by a predetermined distance D in the warning lamp section C. Since the color tone of the opaque layer 4 matches the color tone of the fiber 5 of the flocking layer 7, when the warning lamp portion C of the dial 1 is viewed from the front side, the opaque layer 4 and the flocking layer 7 Is almost invisible.

On the back side of the warning lamp section of the dial 1, there is a warning color printing section 92 such as red. A warning design 91 is printed in white or the like on a portion of the front surface of the dial 1 that overlaps the warning lamp portion C. A lamp cover 93 is provided on the back side of the warning color printing unit 92, and a lamp 94 is provided in the lamp cover 93.

In the warning lamp section C of the dial 1 thus constructed, when the lamp 94 is turned on at night or the like and the dial 1 is irradiated from the back side, light is transmitted to the warning lamp section C, and The warning design 91 is visually recognized in the warning lamp section C by the light. And
In the dial 1 of the automotive meter according to this embodiment, the portion D between the contour portion 4b of the opaque layer 4 and the contour portion on the flocked layer 7 on the character or scale side is provided with the opaque layer 4 of the same color as the fiber 5. Since a part is exposed, the fiber 5a on the side of the warning lamp C among the fibers 5 of the flocking layer 7
As shown in FIG.
As shown in (a), the fallen fiber 5a overlaps the opaque layer 4 of the same color as the fiber 5 and does not reach the contour 4b (warning lamp section C) of the opaque layer 4. Therefore, in the dial 1 of this embodiment, the contour of the warning lamp portion C becomes unclear due to the fall of the fiber 5 and the problem that the edge portion of the warning design 91 becomes unclear does not occur, and the visibility is improved. Does not deteriorate.

[0034]

As described above, according to the present invention,
In an automotive meter with fiber implanted on a part of the surface of the dial, even if the dialed part of the dial falls down, the outline of the characters and scales will not be blurred by the flocking, and the visibility will not be impaired There is.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 (a) is a partially enlarged sectional view showing a configuration of an embodiment of a numeral and a scale portion of a dial of an automobile meter according to the present invention,
(b) is a plan view of the part (a).

FIG. 2 is a partially enlarged cross-sectional view showing a configuration of an embodiment of a portion of an integrator of a dial of an automobile meter according to the present invention.

3 (a) is a partially enlarged plan view showing a configuration of an embodiment of a warning lamp portion of a dial of a vehicle meter according to the present invention, and FIG. 3 (b) is a cross-sectional view of a portion of FIG.

FIG. 4 (a) is a partially enlarged cross-sectional view showing an example of a configuration of a numeral and a scale portion of a dial of a conventional car meter provided with flocking, and FIG. 4 (b) is a plan view of a portion of FIG. is there.

FIG. 5 (a) is a front view of an example of a conventional combination meter, and FIG. 5 (b) is a local sectional view taken along line XX of FIG. 5 (a).

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Dial 2 Base material 3 White translucent layer (color layer) 4 Opaque layer (ground layer) 5 Fiber 6 Adhesive 7 Flooding layer 8 Through hole 10 Dial 11 Dial wheel of integrating meter 21 First ground color layer 22 Second ground color layer 50 Combination meter

Claims (4)

(57) [Claims] A meter plate provided with a dial in which designs such as predetermined characters, scales, and warning symbols are formed;
A light source and a meter unit for night illumination are provided on the back side of the dial, and an indicator for an automobile provided with a pointer driven by the meter unit on the front side of the dial is a base material constituting the dial On the front side, a color layer, a ground color layer, and a fiber flocking layer are laminated in this order, and the color layer is formed of a color that is a display color of a design such as the characters, scales, and warning symbols, and The layer is not provided in the design portion, and the other portions are formed in a color that becomes the ground color of the dial, and the fiber flocking layer is formed except for the outline portion of the design which is slightly larger than the design portion. And the fiber is formed in the same color as the ground color layer, and at the boundary between the fiber flocking layer and the ground color layer, the ground color layer is exposed in a border shape of the design. Characteristic automotive meter . 2. The base material of the dial, a color layer, a ground color layer,
And a through hole penetrating the fiber flocking layer is provided, and the fiber flocking layer is fiber-flocked except for a portion slightly larger than the through hole. Automotive meter. 3. The width of the ground color layer exposed in a border around the design portion and the through hole is at least the height of the fiber.
3. The automotive meter according to claim 1. 4. The ground color layer according to claim 1, wherein only a portion viewed from the front side of the dial is formed in the same color as the fiber. The automotive meter as described.