Illuminated indicator and method of manufacturing the illuminated indicator

Abstract

An illuminated indicator and a method of manufacturing the illuminated indicator that can make black the color of an indicator mark formed by irradiation with laser light are provided. In a shift position indicator panel, part of a light-blocking coating material layer and a design coating material layer is removed by irradiation with laser light, and part of an indicator coating material layer, which is created as a result of coating materials of three primary colors being mixed together, is exposed, whereby an indicator mark is formed. As long as the mixed coating material configuring the indicator coating material layer is made black by toning resulting from mixing coating materials of three primary colors, the color of the indicator mark also becomes black.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a plan view showing the configuration of a shift position indicator mark pertaining to an embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing the configuration of an indicator mark of the shift position indicator mark pertaining to the embodiment of the present invention

Claims

1. An illuminated indicator comprising a transparent form;an indicator coating material layer that transmits light and is formed by applying, to a top side of the form, a mixed coating material in which coating materials of three primary colors are mixed together;a light-blocking coating material layer that blocks light and is formed as a result of a coating material including carbon being applied to the surface of the indicator coating material layer; andan indicator mark that is formed as a result of part of the light-blocking coating material layer being removed by irradiation with laser light such that part of the indicator coating material layer is exposed.

2. The illuminated indicator of claim 1, wherein the form includes, on the top side, a white coating material layer that transmits light, andthe light-blocking coating material layer is formed on the surface of the white coating material layer.

3. The illuminated indicator of claim 1, wherein each of the coating materials of three primary colors comprises a single-color pigment that does not include carbon.

4. The illuminated indicator of claim 1, wherein the mixed coating material is configured as a result of coating materials of primary colors being mixed together in substantially the same amount each.

5. The illuminated indicator of claim 1, wherein a design coating material layer comprising a coating material of a design color is formed on the surface of the light-blocking coating material layer.

6. An illuminated indicator comprising: a transparent form;an indicator coating material layer that transmits light and is formed as a result of coating materials, each of which is a mutually different single color of three primary colors, being applied to a top side of the form;a light-blocking coating material layer that blocks light and is formed on the surface of the indicator coating material layer; andan indicator mark that is formed as a result of part of the light-blocking coating material layer being removed such that part of the indicator coating material layer is exposed.

7. The illuminated indicator of claim 6, wherein the indicator coating material layer includes a layer that is formed by applying, to the form, a mixed coating material in which the coating materials are mixed together.

8. The illuminated indicator of claim 6, wherein the indicator coating material layer includes a laminate layer that is configured by layers of the coating materials.

9. The illuminated indicator of claim 6, wherein the light-blocking layer includes a layer that is formed as a result of a coating material including carbon being applied.

10. The illuminated indicator of claim 6, wherein the indicator mark includes part of the indicator coating material layer that is exposed as a result of part of the light-blocking coating material layer being removed by irradiation with laser light.

11. A method of manufacturing an illuminated indicator, the method comprising: providing a transparent form;providing a mixed coating material in which coating materials of three primary colors are mixed together;applying the mixed coating material to a top side of the form to form an indicator coating material layer that transmits light;applying a coating material including carbon to the surface of the indicator coating material layer to form a light-blocking layer that blocks light; andirradiating the light blocking coating material layer with laser light to remove part of the light-blocking coating material layer, such that part of the indicator coating material layer is exposed to form an indicator mark.

12. The illuminated indicator manufacturing method of claim 11, wherein the form includes, on the top side, a white coating material layer that transmits light, andthe light-blocking coating material layer is formed on the surface of the white coating material layer.

13. The illuminated indicator manufacturing method of claim 11, wherein each of the coating materials of three primary colors comprises a single-color pigment that does not include carbon.

14. The illuminated indicator of claim 11, wherein the mixed coating material is configured as a result of coating materials of primary colors being mixed together in substantially the same amount each.

15. The illuminated indicator of claim 11, wherein a design coating material layer comprising a coating material of a design color is formed on the surface of the light-blocking coating material layer.