ILLUMINATION MECHANISM FOR A VEHICLE ENTERTAINMENT DEVICE This invention relates to an illumination mechanism for the slot opening for a vehicle entertainment device such as an automotive compact disk (CD) player. More particularly, this invention relates to the use of light pipes to direct light towards the slot opening of a CD player, without need for an additional light source.

Today, many cars have entertainment devices, such as CD players and cassette players, integrated into or installed below the dashboard. Such devices are difficult to operate at night unless they are illuminated. It is particularly difficult to insert a CD or cassette into the receiving opening of the player in the dark if the opening is not illuminated. Adding to the illumination problem is the fact that most receiving openings of the players have dust protectors in the form of door mechanisms. Others have slot-type receiving openings with felt dust protectors. These dust protectors prevent a light source within the opening from illuminating the opening as viewed from outside. However, a light sou -e located behind the opening is adequate to ill mate openings

closed by protectors that allow light to penetrate, for example where a door mechanism is made of light penetrable material, or where the light can penetrate around the edges of the door. This solution is not adequate for slot type receiving openings because light cannot penetrate when the slot is closed.

U.S. Patent No. 4,322,780 to Murakami et al. discloses an illumination mechanism for a car sound device. The Murakami mechanism includes a light introducing opening formed in a wall located in the cutout for a cassette receiving opening. Light shines through this opening and illuminates the dust cover. U.S. Patent No. 4,625,263 to

Strohmeier discloses an illuminated control panel for a car radio. In particular, Strohmeier discloses the use of light guides which at their end faces provide operating indicia, e.g. eject, which extend laterally beyond operating elements, e.g. push buttons, in order to provide illumination of the controls. Illumination of slot openings or door openings, however, is not disclosed. It is an object of the present invention to provide an illumination mechanism for the receiving opening of an automobile entertainment device.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide spot lighting for an automobile entertainment device without the need for additional illumination means.

In accordance with the present invention, there is provided an illumination mechanism for the receiving opening of a vehicle entertainment device, which is comprised of at least one light pipe fitted in the face of the

- 3 - entertainment device in close proximity to the area to be illuminated. This light pipe extends from another source of illumination, e.g. a lamp for backlighting the instrument panel. As a result the cost of illuminating an opening of a vehicle entertainment device is kept low and there is no additional power requirement.

The foregoing and other features of the present invention will be more readily apparent from the following detailed description of preferred embodiments taken in conjunction with the attached drawings wherein:

Fig. 1 is a top left perspective view of the preferred embodiment of an automotive compact disc player with an illumination mechanism for the slot opening; and

Fig. 2 is a sectional view of the preferred embodiment of the present invention taken along line 2-2 of Fig. 1 and showing a CD disc to be inserted in the slot opening.

Fig. 1 illustrates a compact disc player 10 with the novel illumination mechanism. The compact disc player 10 has a face plate 12 that is generally opaque. In the face plate 12 there is a slot opening 15 for receiving compact discs 40 (shown in Fig. 2) , and an opaque frame 13 surrounding the slot opening 15. The slot opening 15 has a dust protector comprised of a top flap 18 and a bottom flap 19, both flaps 18 and 19 preferably are made of a felt material. The flaps 18 and 19 allow a compact disc to be received therebetween with*" t scratching either surface of the compact die but the flaps 18 and 19 are not generally 1:. .t transmissible. The dust protecting means may also be comprised of an opaque door mechanism as disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 4,322,780 to Murakami et al.

The present invention provides two light guide means 20 which may be, for example, light pipes. The light pipes 20 are positioned at both ends of the slot opening 15 and are recessed in the walls 21 of frame 13 and provide a means for guiding light emitted from a remote source located within the compact disc player 10 to the corners of the slot opening 15, thereby illuminating the corners of the slot opening 15. It is understood that the light pipes 20 may be located in any position adjacent to the slot opening 15 and recessed within frame 13 to provide illumination. Further, the externally visible faces of light pipes 20 may be provided with location indicia such as an arrow pointing to the slot opening 15 or words indicating the presence of the slot opening 15.

Fig. 2 illustrates a plan view of a cross-section taken along 2-2, of Fig. 1. Light pipes 20 are preferably made of a clear or colored transparent hard plastic material while the face plate 12, frame 13, and flaps 18 and 19 are generally opaque. As shown in Fig. 2, the light pipes 20 extend from light sources 35, which are otherwise used to illuminate features such as the control buttons 22 positioned on face plate 12, to the corners of slot opening 15. Thus, light pipes 20 provide an illumination means allowing a user to more easily insert a compact disc 40 into the slot opening 15 in the dark.

It is understood that the novel illumination mechanism may also be used in any type of entertainment device requiring the insertion of an entertainment medium, such as a cassette deck, whether located in a vehicle or elsewhere.