Gauge with illuminated dial and pointer

A light-transmitting pointer for use in a gauge having an illuminated dial plate and a pointer drive mechanism for rotating a pointer around an axis that is normal to the dial plate, said pointer comprising

• a hub and an indicator projecting laterally from said hub, said hub having a large-diameter portion joined to said indicator, a small-diameter portion extending rearwardly of said large-diameter portion, and a tapered transition portion between said large-diameter and small-diameter portions, said tapered transition portion forming a tapered outer surface for intercepting light so that said light enters said hub and propagates forwardly through said hub and laterally from said hub into said indicator for illuminating said indicator.

A method of illuminating the dial and pointer of a gauge having a light-transmitting dial plate having a front surface with indicia for a variable represented by the dial, and a light-transmitting pointer mounted for rotational movement about an axis normal to said dial plate, said pointer having a hub concentric with said axis and extending through said dial plate and projecting both forwardly and rearwardly from said plate, and an indicator projecting laterally from said hub across a portion of the front surface of said dial plate, said hub having a small-diameter portion located behind said dial plate, a large-diameter portion extending through said dial plate, and a tapered transition portion between said small-diameter and large-diameter portions, said tapered transition portion being located closer to the rear surface of said dial plate than at least one light source and forming a tapered outer surface said method comprising:

• illuminating said dial plate with said at least one light source spaced rearwardly from the rear surface of said dial plate,
• capturing light directly from said light source in said tapered outer surface so that said light enters said hub and propagates forwardly through said hub, and
• directing light laterally into said indicator from a portion of said hub on the front side of said dial plate to illuminate said indicator.