EP0838631B1 - Signal light, especially for vehicles, with improved appearance when turned off - Google Patents

Signal light, especially for vehicles, with improved appearance when turned off Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0838631B1
EP0838631B1 EP97117435A EP97117435A EP0838631B1 EP 0838631 B1 EP0838631 B1 EP 0838631B1 EP 97117435 A EP97117435 A EP 97117435A EP 97117435 A EP97117435 A EP 97117435A EP 0838631 B1 EP0838631 B1 EP 0838631B1
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EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
screen
bands
display according
indicating light
light display
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Expired - Lifetime
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EP97117435A
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German (de)
French (fr)
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EP0838631A1 (en
Inventor
Jean-Paul Ravier
Bernoist Fleury
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Valeo Vision SAS
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Valeo Vision SAS
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    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F21—LIGHTING
    • F21S—NON-PORTABLE LIGHTING DEVICES; SYSTEMS THEREOF; VEHICLE LIGHTING DEVICES SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLE EXTERIORS
    • F21S43/00—Signalling devices specially adapted for vehicle exteriors, e.g. brake lamps, direction indicator lights or reversing lights
    • F21S43/20—Signalling devices specially adapted for vehicle exteriors, e.g. brake lamps, direction indicator lights or reversing lights characterised by refractors, transparent cover plates, light guides or filters
    • F21S43/255—Filters

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to signaling, in particular for motor vehicles according to the preamble of claim 1.
  • Such fires generally carry out several signaling functions (multi-function lights), such as for example that of the vehicle reversing light, that of the fire direction indication, that of direction indication light vehicle braking (commonly called stop function) or that of fog light.
  • multi-function lights such as for example that of the vehicle reversing light, that of the fire direction indication, that of direction indication light vehicle braking (commonly called stop function) or that of fog light.
  • such lights include a source of light and flux recovery means suitable for redirect the light flux emitted by the source according to a first overall direction.
  • a first screen which has optical elements that make converge the light beam towards bands translucent of a second screen that the latter comprises alternating with colored bands. The second screen is visible from the outside.
  • the extinguished aspect of fire is given by the colored bands while the light emitted by the fire is not colored or possibly colored in a different color than the colored bands.
  • the object of the present invention is to improve still the extinguished aspect of such a fire.
  • it aims to give the fire an even more quenched appearance uniform and even more consistent with the color of the bands colored.
  • Another object of the present invention is to give together with what is mentioned above a aspect of depth to fire very appreciated by the stylists.
  • the present invention provides a signaling light, in particular for vehicles, according to the claim 1.
  • a person of average height whose eyes cannot are not in the axis of a light according to the invention (i.e. according to the first direction) but notably above, will therefore see the colored opaque bands from the first screen to through the translucent bands of the second screen, which will give these translucent bands a colorful appearance when the fire is out. The uniform appearance of the fire is thus significantly improved.
  • a signaling light comprises in a housing (not shown) a lamp 6 whose filament 61 creates a light source.
  • the reflector 8 re-emits a light beam spread horizontally but not spread vertically, which means that the projections light rays in a vertical plane form a parallel beam, or that the vertical component light rays is zero.
  • the recovery means 8 could be as a variant a Fresnel recuperator placed at the front of the lamp 6.
  • the fire has a first screen 2 on which lines 21 of optical elements are provided.
  • these lines 21 of elements optics are gadroons, i.e. lenses convex cylindrical, which extend on the turned side towards the reflector 8 in a second direction horizontal essentially perpendicular to the first direction. These optical elements therefore achieve the vertical convergence of the light beam re-emitted by the reflector 8.
  • the light beam thus modified meets the relevant standards, thanks to successive spreads respectively horizontal by the reflector and vertical by the first screen.
  • the lines 21 of optical elements do not occupy not the entire surface of the first screen 2 but are spaced.
  • the first screen 2 consists of opaque bands colored 22 which also extend according to the second direction.
  • opaque band here means that the light cannot pass through the strip of material according to the first direction and out of the light. These opaque bands are in the example described colored in red.
  • the side of the first screen 2 facing outside the light, i.e. forward according to the first direction, is essentially smooth.
  • the opaque colored bands 22 are colored reflectors 22a, projecting towards the reflector 8, which therefore reflect the light they receive from outside the fire.
  • the bands located between lines 21 optical elements are stamped on their face opposite to reflector 8 while they are smooth on their side facing the reflector 8.
  • Marking 22b thus affixed, here in the form of pad printing, makes these bands opaque and additionally gives them color desired views from outside the fire.
  • This second screen 4 consists of a alternating translucent bands (colorless in the example described) 41 and colored bands 42. All of these bands 41, 42 extend essentially along the second direction, that is to say essentially parallel to the opaque colored bands 22 and to the lines 21 of optical elements of the first screen 2.
  • the translucent bands 41 of the second screen 4, here colorless, are located to the right of lines 21 of elements optics of the first screen 2, so as to transmit without modification of the light beam transmitted by the first screen 2.
  • the translucent bands 41 of the second screen 4 are not not colorless but can color the beam emitted by fire.
  • the colored bands 42 of the second screen 4 In front of the colored bands 42 of the second screen 4 so we find the opaque colored bands 22 of the first screen 2.
  • the colored bands 42 of the second screen 4 and the colored opaque bands 22 of the first screen 2 2 will have advantageously the same color, red in the example described.
  • the translucent bands 41 of the second screen 4 have a width significantly less than that of the colored bands 42 of the second screen 4.
  • the surface of the second screen facing the outside of the fire is overwhelmingly colored, which further improves the colored appearance (red in the example) extinguishes the fire.
  • the invention also proposes to place the second screen 4 at a distance of the order of the focal length cylindrical lenses 21 of the first screen. So the second screen 4 is located approximately at the point of convergence of the light beam and the extent of the bands translucent 41 of the second screen 4 is reduced to a minimum.
  • This distance between the two screens 2,4 allows in addition to give the fire an aspect of depth.
  • the faces of the colored bands 42 and translucent 41 of the second screen 4 facing the first screen 2 are smooth in this first mode of production.
  • the faces of the strips colored 42 and translucent 41 of the second screen 4 tours towards the outside of the fire are covered with a layer 44 made of translucent material, preferably colorless and coming from molding with the translucent bands 41 of the second screen.
  • This layer 44 therefore forms the front face 43 of the second screen 4, facing the outside of the light.
  • This layer 44 being translucent and colorless, it does not alter the light emitted by fire or its aspect off. However, it simplifies the molding of the second screen 4 since it makes possible the molding of all the translucent bands 41 of the second screen 4 in a single injection. In addition, the strength of the second screen 4 is increased.
  • the front face 43 of the second screen 4 is advantageously smooth; the second screen 4 4 can then play the role of closing glass for the fire box.
  • a closing glass can be provided separate from the second screen 4 and placed at the front thereof.
  • FIG. 4 A second embodiment of the invention is shown in Figure 4. Items similar to the first embodiment are designated in Figure 4 by references identical to those used in the previous figures.
  • the bands colored opaque 22 of the first screen 2 are produced by marking as in the variant embodiment shown in Figure 3.
  • the faces of the colored bands 42 of the second screen 4 facing the first screen 2 are not smoother but provided with retro-reflectors 45.
  • the opacity of the set colored opaque bands 22 of the first screen 2- colored bands 42 of the second screen 4 is still improved.
  • the opaque colored bands 22 of the first screen 2 may be carried out by colorless retro-reflectors with protruding parts facing the reflector 8 and the molding of strips of a translucent and colored material on the face of the first screen 2 facing the second screen.

Description

La présente invention concerne les feux de signalisation, notamment pour véhicules automobiles d'après le préambule de la revendication 1.The present invention relates to signaling, in particular for motor vehicles according to the preamble of claim 1.

De tels feux réalisent en général plusieurs fonctions de signalisation (feux multi-fonction), comme par exemple celle de feu recul du véhicule, celle de feu d'indication de direction, celle de feu d'indication du freinage du véhicule (communément appelée fonction stop) ou celle de feu de brouillard.Such fires generally carry out several signaling functions (multi-function lights), such as for example that of the vehicle reversing light, that of the fire direction indication, that of direction indication light vehicle braking (commonly called stop function) or that of fog light.

La norme impose une couleur pour chacune de ces fonctions lorsqu'elle est allumée. Un feu multi-fonction devra donc émettre des faisceaux de différentes couleurs. Ã l'inverse, les stylistes demandent un feu dont l'aspect éteint soit le plus uniforme possible.The standard requires a color for each of these functions when it is on. A multi-function light will therefore have to emit beams of different colors. Conversely, stylists ask for a fire whose appearance as uniform as possible.

Plus généralement, on souhaite pouvoir réaliser un feu dont l'aspect éteint (notamment sa couleur) soit différent de l'aspect allumé.More generally, we want to be able to achieve a fire whose extinct aspect (in particular its color) is different from the lit aspect.

Afin de répondre à ces diverses attentes, la Demanderesse a déjà proposé des feux dont la teinte générale (aspect éteint) est différente de la couleur du faisceau émis par le feu (aspect allumé), notamment dans ses demandes de brevet français publiées sous les numéros 2 604 240 et 2 718 824. Ces documents montrent les caractéristiques techniques du préambule de la revendication 1.In order to meet these various expectations, the Applicant has already proposed lights whose color general (aspect off) is different from the color of the beam emitted by fire (lit aspect), especially in its French patent applications published under the numbers 2,604,240 and 2,718,824. These documents show the technical characteristics of the preamble of claim 1.

En général, de tels feux comprennent une source de lumière et des moyens récupérateurs de flux aptes à rediriger le flux lumineux émis par la source selon une première direction d'ensemble. Il est prévu en outre un premier écran qui comporte des éléments optiques qui font converger le faisceau lumineux vers des bandes translucides d'un second écran que ce dernier comporte en alternance avec des bandes colorées. Le second écran est visible depuis l'extérieur.In general, such lights include a source of light and flux recovery means suitable for redirect the light flux emitted by the source according to a first overall direction. There is also a first screen which has optical elements that make converge the light beam towards bands translucent of a second screen that the latter comprises alternating with colored bands. The second screen is visible from the outside.

Ainsi, l'aspect éteint du feu est donné par les bandes colorées alors que la lumière émise par le feu n'est pas colorée ou éventuellemnt colorée dans une couleur différente de celle des bandes colorées. Thus, the extinguished aspect of fire is given by the colored bands while the light emitted by the fire is not colored or possibly colored in a different color than the colored bands.

La présente invention a pour objet d'améliorer encore l'aspect éteint d'un tel feu. En particulier, elle vise à donner au feu un aspect éteint encore plus uniforme et encore plus conforme à la couleur des bandes colorées.The object of the present invention is to improve still the extinguished aspect of such a fire. In particular, it aims to give the fire an even more quenched appearance uniform and even more consistent with the color of the bands colored.

Un autre objet de la présente invention est de donner conjointement à ce qui est mentionné ci-dessus un aspect de profondeur au feu très apprécié des stylistes.Another object of the present invention is to give together with what is mentioned above a aspect of depth to fire very appreciated by the stylists.

Pour ce faire, la présente invention propose un feu de signalisation, notamment pour véhicules, selon la revendication 1.To do this, the present invention provides a signaling light, in particular for vehicles, according to the claim 1.

Une personne de taille moyenne, dont les yeux ne sont pas dans l'axe d'un feu conforme à l'invention (i.e. selon la première direction) mais notablement au-dessus, verra donc les bandes opaques colorées du premier écran à travers les bandes translucides du second écran, ce qui donnera une apparence colorée à ces bandes translucides lorsque le feu est éteint. L'aspect uniforme du feu est ainsi nettement amélioré.A person of average height, whose eyes cannot are not in the axis of a light according to the invention (i.e. according to the first direction) but notably above, will therefore see the colored opaque bands from the first screen to through the translucent bands of the second screen, which will give these translucent bands a colorful appearance when the fire is out. The uniform appearance of the fire is thus significantly improved.

Selon des aspects préférés mais non limitatifs de la présente invention :

  • les bandes translucides du second écran ont une largeur nettement inférieure à celle des bandes colorées du second écran ;
  • les lignes d'éléments optiques sont des lentilles cylindriques convexes qui s'étendent sur la face du premier écran tournée vers les moyens récupérateurs de flux ;
  • la distance qui sépare le premier écran et le second écran est de l'ordre de la distance focale des éléments optiques ;
  • les bandes opaques colorées du premier écran sont réalisées par marquage, notamment par tampographie ;
  • les bandes opaques colorées du premier écran sont réalisées par surmoulage d'un matériau opaque et coloré sur le premier écran ;
  • les bandes opaques colorées du premier écran sont des catadioptres colorés ;
  • les faces des bandes colorées du second écran tournées vers le premier écran sont lisses ;
  • les faces des bandes colorées du second écran tournées vers le premier écran sont pourvues de catadioptres ;
  • les bandes opaques colorées du premier écran et les bandes colorées du second écran ont la même couleur ;
  • les éléments sont réunis dans un boítier ouvert sur l'avant pour le passage de la lumière et le second écran constitue la glace de fermeture dudit boítier.
According to preferred but non-limiting aspects of the present invention:
  • the translucent bands of the second screen have a width much smaller than that of the colored bands of the second screen;
  • the lines of optical elements are convex cylindrical lenses which extend on the face of the first screen facing the flux recovery means;
  • the distance between the first screen and the second screen is of the order of the focal distance of the optical elements;
  • the colored opaque bands of the first screen are produced by marking, in particular by pad printing;
  • the opaque colored bands of the first screen are produced by overmolding of an opaque and colored material on the first screen;
  • the colored opaque bands of the first screen are colored reflectors;
  • the faces of the colored bands of the second screen facing the first screen are smooth;
  • the faces of the colored bands of the second screen facing the first screen are provided with retro-reflectors;
  • the colored opaque bands of the first screen and the colored bands of the second screen have the same color;
  • the elements are assembled in a box open on the front for the passage of light and the second screen constitutes the closing glass of said box.

Des modes de réalisation de la présente invention vont à présent être décrits en référence aux dessins annexés dans lesquels :

  • la figure 1 est une vue en perspective illustrant un premier mode de réalisation de l'invention ;
  • la figure 2 est une vue en coupe d'un écran selon le premier mode de réalisation de l'invention ;
  • la figure 3 est une vue similaire à la figure 2 illustrant une variante de réalisation de l'invention ;
  • la figure 4 est une vue en coupe de deux écrans qui illustre un second mode de réalisation de l'invention.
Embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:
  • Figure 1 is a perspective view illustrating a first embodiment of the invention;
  • Figure 2 is a sectional view of a screen according to the first embodiment of the invention;
  • Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 2 illustrating an alternative embodiment of the invention;
  • Figure 4 is a sectional view of two screens which illustrates a second embodiment of the invention.

Dans toute la description qui suit, on considère à titre d'exemple un feu qui réalise une seule fonction par souci de simplification. Cependant, il doit être bien compris que l'invention trouve aussi application pour des feux multi-fonction ; son plus grand intérêt réside d'ailleurs dans cette application particulière. Il suffit alors de réaliser la fonction considérée conformément aux enseignements de la présente invention.In all of the following description, we consider for example a fire which performs a single function for the sake of simplification. However, it must be fine understood that the invention also finds application for multi-function lights; his greatest interest lies moreover in this particular application. It is enough then to carry out the function considered in accordance with teachings of the present invention.

L'exemple décrit ci-dessous réalise un feu de recul (lumière émise blanche) d'aspect rouge.The example described below achieves a recoil (white light emitted) with red appearance.

Un feu de signalisation comporte dans un boítier (non représenté) une lampe 6 dont le filament 61 réalise une source de lumière. Des moyens récupérateurs de flux, en l'espèce un réflecteur 8, permettent de diriger l'ensemble du flux lumineux émis par la lampe 6 vers l'avant selon une première direction générale, usuellement dénomée axe du feu.A signaling light comprises in a housing (not shown) a lamp 6 whose filament 61 creates a light source. Recovery means flux, in this case a reflector 8, allow direct the entire luminous flux emitted by the lamp 6 forward in a first general direction, usually called the axis of fire.

Avantageusement, le réflecteur 8 ré-émet un faisceau lumineux étalé horizontalement mais non-étalé verticalement, ce qui revient à dire que les projections des rayons lumineux dans un plan vertical forment un faisceau parallèle, ou encore que la composante verticale des rayons lumineux est nulle.Advantageously, the reflector 8 re-emits a light beam spread horizontally but not spread vertically, which means that the projections light rays in a vertical plane form a parallel beam, or that the vertical component light rays is zero.

Les moyens récupérateurs 8 pourraient être à titre de variante un récupérateur de Fresnel placé à l'avant de la lampe 6.The recovery means 8 could be as a variant a Fresnel recuperator placed at the front of the lamp 6.

À l'avant du réflecteur 8 selon la première direction, le feu comporte un premier écran 2 sur lequel sont prévues des lignes 21 d'éléments optiques. Dans le mode de réalisation décrit, ces lignes 21 d'éléments optiques sont des godrons, c'est-à-dire des lentilles cylindriques convexes, qui s'étendent sur la face tournée vers le réflecteur 8 selon une seconde direction horizontale essentiellement perpendiculaire à la première direction. Ces éléments optiques réalisent donc la convergence verticale du faisceau lumineux ré-émis par le réflecteur 8.In front of reflector 8 according to the first direction, the fire has a first screen 2 on which lines 21 of optical elements are provided. In the described embodiment, these lines 21 of elements optics are gadroons, i.e. lenses convex cylindrical, which extend on the turned side towards the reflector 8 in a second direction horizontal essentially perpendicular to the first direction. These optical elements therefore achieve the vertical convergence of the light beam re-emitted by the reflector 8.

Avantageusement, le faisceau lumineux ainsi modifié répond aux normes en la matière, grâce à des étalements successifs respectivement horizontal par le réflecteur et vertical par le premier écran.Advantageously, the light beam thus modified meets the relevant standards, thanks to successive spreads respectively horizontal by the reflector and vertical by the first screen.

Selon une caractéristique essentielle de l'invention, les lignes 21 d'éléments optiques n'occupent pas toute la surface du premier écran 2 mais sont espacées. Entre les lignes 21 d'éléments optiques, le premier écran 2 est constitué de bandes opaques colorées 22 qui s'étendent elles aussi suivant la seconde direction. Le terme "bande opaque" signifie ici que la lumière ne peut pas traverser la bande de matière selon la première direction et vers l'extérieur du feu. Ces bandes opaques sont dans l'exemple décrit colorées en rouge. According to an essential characteristic of the invention, the lines 21 of optical elements do not occupy not the entire surface of the first screen 2 but are spaced. Between the lines 21 of optical elements, the first screen 2 consists of opaque bands colored 22 which also extend according to the second direction. The term "opaque band" here means that the light cannot pass through the strip of material according to the first direction and out of the light. These opaque bands are in the example described colored in red.

Ainsi, lorsque le feu est allumé, le faisceau lumineux issu du réflecteur 8 ne traverse l'écran qu'au niveau des lignes 21 d'éléments optiques.So when the fire is lit, the beam light from reflector 8 only crosses the screen level of lines 21 of optical elements.

La face du premier écran 2 tournée vers l'extérieur du feu, c'est-à-dire vers l'avant selon la première direction, est essentiellement lisse.The side of the first screen 2 facing outside the light, i.e. forward according to the first direction, is essentially smooth.

Selon le mode de réalisation représenté à la figure 2, les bandes opaques colorées 22 sont des catadioptres colorés 22a, saillants vers le réflecteur 8, qui réfléchissent par conséquent la lumière qu'ils reçoivent de l'extérieur du feu. Dans ce mode de réalisation, il peut être en outre avantageux de prévoir des bandes masquantes entre le premier écran 2 et le réflecteur 8 afin qu'aucun rayon issu du réflecteur ne vienne frapper les catadioptres 22a.According to the embodiment shown in the Figure 2, the opaque colored bands 22 are colored reflectors 22a, projecting towards the reflector 8, which therefore reflect the light they receive from outside the fire. In this mode of implementation, it may also be advantageous to provide masking strips between the first screen 2 and the reflector 8 so that no ray coming from the reflector come and strike the reflectors 22a.

Dans une variante de réalisation représentée à la figure 3, les bandes situées entre les lignes 21 d'éléments optiques sont tampographiées sur leur face opposée au réflecteur 8 alors qu'elles sont lisses sur leur face tournée vers le réflecteur 8. Le marquage 22b ainsi apposé, ici sous forme de tampographie, rend opaques ces bandes et leur confère en outre la couleur désirée vues de l'extérieur du feu.In an alternative embodiment shown in Figure 3, the bands located between lines 21 optical elements are stamped on their face opposite to reflector 8 while they are smooth on their side facing the reflector 8. Marking 22b thus affixed, here in the form of pad printing, makes these bands opaque and additionally gives them color desired views from outside the fire.

On peut aussi réaliser ces bandes opaques colorées 22 par surmoulage de bandes d'un matériau opaque et coloré sur le premier écran 2.You can also make these opaque bands colored 22 by overmolding strips of opaque material and colored on the first screen 2.

À l'avant du premier écran 2 2 est disposé un second écran 4. Ce second écran 4 se compose d'une alternance de bandes translucides (incolores dans l'exemple décrit) 41 et de bandes colorées 42. Toutes ces bandes 41, 42 s'étendent essentiellement suivant la seconde direction, c'est-à-dire essentiellement parallèlement aux bandes opaques colorées 22 et aux lignes 21 d'éléments optiques du premier écran 2. At the front of the first screen 2 2 is arranged a second screen 4. This second screen 4 consists of a alternating translucent bands (colorless in the example described) 41 and colored bands 42. All of these bands 41, 42 extend essentially along the second direction, that is to say essentially parallel to the opaque colored bands 22 and to the lines 21 of optical elements of the first screen 2.

Les bandes translucides 41 du second écran 4, ici incolores, sont situées au droit des lignes 21 d'éléments optiques du premier écran 2, de façon à transmettre sans modification le faisceau lumineux transmis par le premier écran 2.The translucent bands 41 of the second screen 4, here colorless, are located to the right of lines 21 of elements optics of the first screen 2, so as to transmit without modification of the light beam transmitted by the first screen 2.

À titre de variante, on pourrait envisager que les bandes translucides 41 du second écran 4 ne soient pas incolores mais puissent colorer le faisceau émis par le feu.Alternatively, one could consider that the translucent bands 41 of the second screen 4 are not not colorless but can color the beam emitted by fire.

Au droit des bandes colorées 42 du second écran 4 on trouve donc les bandes opaques colorées 22 du premier écran 2. Les bandes colorées 42 du second écran 4 et les bandes opaques colorées 22 du premier écran 2 2 auront avantageusement la même couleur, rouge dans l'exemple décrit.In front of the colored bands 42 of the second screen 4 so we find the opaque colored bands 22 of the first screen 2. The colored bands 42 of the second screen 4 and the colored opaque bands 22 of the first screen 2 2 will have advantageously the same color, red in the example described.

De façon préférée, les bandes translucides 41 du second écran 4 ont une largeur nettement inférieure à celle des bandes colorées 42 du second écran 4. Ainsi, la surface du second écran tournée vers l'extérieur du feu est en large majorité colorée, ce qui améliore encore l'aspect coloré (rouge dans l'exemple) éteint du feu.Preferably, the translucent bands 41 of the second screen 4 have a width significantly less than that of the colored bands 42 of the second screen 4. Thus, the surface of the second screen facing the outside of the fire is overwhelmingly colored, which further improves the colored appearance (red in the example) extinguishes the fire.

L'invention propose aussi de placer le second écran 4 à une distance de l'ordre de la distance focale des lentilles cylindriques 21 du premier écran. Ainsi, le second écran 4 se situe approximativement au point de convergence du faisceau lumineux et l'étendue des bandes translucides 41 du second écran 4 est réduite au minimum.The invention also proposes to place the second screen 4 at a distance of the order of the focal length cylindrical lenses 21 of the first screen. So the second screen 4 is located approximately at the point of convergence of the light beam and the extent of the bands translucent 41 of the second screen 4 is reduced to a minimum.

Cette distance entre les deux écrans 2,4 permet en outre de donner au feu un aspect de profondeur.This distance between the two screens 2,4 allows in addition to give the fire an aspect of depth.

Les faces des bandes colorées 42 et translucides 41 du second écran 4 tournées vers le premier écran 2 sont lisses dans ce premier mode de réalisation.The faces of the colored bands 42 and translucent 41 of the second screen 4 facing the first screen 2 are smooth in this first mode of production.

De façon préférée, les faces des bandes colorées 42 et translucides 41 du second écran 4 tournées vers l'extérieur du feu sont recouvertes d'une couche 44 réalisée en matière translucide, de préférence incolore et venue de moulage avec les bandes translucides 41 du second écran. Cette couche 44 forme donc la face avant 43 du second écran 4, tournée vers l'extérieur du feu.Preferably, the faces of the strips colored 42 and translucent 41 of the second screen 4 tours towards the outside of the fire are covered with a layer 44 made of translucent material, preferably colorless and coming from molding with the translucent bands 41 of the second screen. This layer 44 therefore forms the front face 43 of the second screen 4, facing the outside of the light.

Cette couche 44 étant translucide et incolore, elle n'altère pas la lumière émise par le feu ni son aspect éteint. Par contre, elle permet de simplifier le moulage du second écran 4 puisqu'elle rend possible le moulage de l'ensemble des bandes translucides 41 du second écran 4 en une seule injection. De plus, la solidité du second écran 4 s'en trouve accrue.This layer 44 being translucent and colorless, it does not alter the light emitted by fire or its aspect off. However, it simplifies the molding of the second screen 4 since it makes possible the molding of all the translucent bands 41 of the second screen 4 in a single injection. In addition, the strength of the second screen 4 is increased.

La face avant 43 du second écran 4 est avantageusement lisse ; le -second écran 4 4 peut alors jouer le rôle de glace de fermeture du boítier du feu. À titre de variante, on peut prévoir une glace de fermeture distincte du second écran 4 et placée à l'avant de celui-ci.The front face 43 of the second screen 4 is advantageously smooth; the second screen 4 4 can then play the role of closing glass for the fire box. AT as a variant, a closing glass can be provided separate from the second screen 4 and placed at the front thereof.

Un second mode de réalisation de l'invention est représenté à la figure 4. Les éléments semblables au premier mode de réalisation sont désignés sur la figure 4 par des références identiques à celles utilisées dans les précédentes figures.A second embodiment of the invention is shown in Figure 4. Items similar to the first embodiment are designated in Figure 4 by references identical to those used in the previous figures.

Dans ce second mode de réalisation, les bandes opaques colorées 22 du premier écran 2 sont réalisées par marquage comme dans la variante de réalisation représentée à la figure 3.In this second embodiment, the bands colored opaque 22 of the first screen 2 are produced by marking as in the variant embodiment shown in Figure 3.

Par contre, les faces des bandes colorées 42 du second écran 4 tournées vers le premier écran 2 ne sont plus lisses mais pourvues de catadioptres 45. L'opacité de l'ensemble bandes opaques colorées 22 du premier écran 2- bandes colorées 42 du second écran 4 est encore améliorée.On the other hand, the faces of the colored bands 42 of the second screen 4 facing the first screen 2 are not smoother but provided with retro-reflectors 45. The opacity of the set colored opaque bands 22 of the first screen 2- colored bands 42 of the second screen 4 is still improved.

Bien sûr, l'invention ne se limite pas aux modes de réalisation décrits ici. On pourra notamment combiner ces modes de réalisation sans sortir du cadre des revendications ; par exemple, les bandes opaques colorées 22 du premier écran 2 pourront être réalisées par des catadioptres incolores dont les parties saillantes sont tournées vers le réflecteur 8 et le surmoulage de bandes d'un matériau translucide et coloré sur la face du premier écran 2 tournée vers le second écran.Of course, the invention is not limited to modes described here. We can in particular combine these embodiments without departing from the framework of claims; for example, the opaque colored bands 22 of the first screen 2 may be carried out by colorless retro-reflectors with protruding parts facing the reflector 8 and the molding of strips of a translucent and colored material on the face of the first screen 2 facing the second screen.

Claims (11)

  1. An indicating light display, especially for vehicles, which includes:
    a light source (61),
    flux recuperating means (8) adapted to direct the flux emitted by the source (61) in a general first direction corresponding to the direction in which the light beam is propagated,
    a first screen (2) which includes, on an input face directed towards the said flux recuperating means (8), lines (21) of optical elements extending parallel to a second direction which is substantially at right angles to the first direction, the lines of optical elements being further disposed parallel to each other in a third direction at right angles to the first direction and second direction, and causing the light beam issuing from the flux recuperating means (8) to converge,
    a second screen (4) having, within at least part of its thickness, a plurality of coloured bands (42) and translucent bands (41), oriented substantially in the second direction, the said translucent bands (41) receiving the light beam transmitted by the first screen (2),
    characterised in that:
    the lines (21) of optical elements are spaced apart along the said third direction,
    between the lines (21) of optical elements, the first screen includes opaque coloured bands (22),
    the face of the first screen (2) which is directed towards the second screen is substantially smooth,
    the opaque coloured bands (22) of the first screen (2) are situated in register with the coloured bands (42) of the second screen (4).
  2. An indicating light display according to Claim 1, characterised in that the translucent bands (41) of the second screen (4) are of a width which is generally smaller than that of the coloured bands (42) of the second screen (4).
  3. An indicating light display according to Claim 1 or Claim 2, characterised in that the lines (21) of optical elements are cylindrical convex lenses.
  4. An indicating light display according to one of Claims 1 to 3, characterised in that the distance by which the first screen (2) and second screen (4) are separated is of the same order as the focal distance of the optical elements.
  5. An indicating light display according to one of Claims 1 to 4, characterised in that the opaque coloured bands (22) of the first screen (2) are made by marking, in particular by printing.
  6. An indicating light display according to one of Claims 1 to 4, characterised in that the opaque coloured bands (22) of the first screen (2) are made by moulding an opaque, coloured material in position on the first screen (2).
  7. An indicating light display according to one of Claims 1 to 4, characterised in that the opaque coloured bands (22) of the first screen (2) are coloured catadioptric elements (22a).
  8. An indicating light display according to one of Claims 1 to 7, characterised in that the faces of the coloured bands (42) of the second screen (4) directed towards the first screen (2) are smooth.
  9. An indicating light display according to one of Claims 1 to 7, characterised in that the faces of the coloured bands (42) directed towards the second screen (4) are provided with catadioptric elements (45).
  10. An indicating light display according to one of Claims 1 to 9, characterised in that the opaque coloured bands (22) of the first screen (2) and the coloured bands (42) of the second screen (4) are of the same colour.
  11. An indicating light display according to one of Claims 1 to 10. the elements of which are arranged together in a housing which is open at the front to allow the light to pass, characterised in that the second screen (4) constitutes the cover lens of the said housing.
EP97117435A 1996-10-25 1997-10-09 Signal light, especially for vehicles, with improved appearance when turned off Expired - Lifetime EP0838631B1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
FR9613160 1996-10-25
FR9613160A FR2755077B1 (en) 1996-10-25 1996-10-25 SIGNAL LIGHT, PARTICULARLY FOR VEHICLES, WITH IMPROVED EXTINGUISHED APPEARANCE

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0838631A1 EP0838631A1 (en) 1998-04-29
EP0838631B1 true EP0838631B1 (en) 2002-08-07

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EP97117435A Expired - Lifetime EP0838631B1 (en) 1996-10-25 1997-10-09 Signal light, especially for vehicles, with improved appearance when turned off

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US (1) US5933084A (en)
EP (1) EP0838631B1 (en)
DE (1) DE69714546T2 (en)
ES (1) ES2181967T3 (en)
FR (1) FR2755077B1 (en)

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Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
EP0838631A1 (en) 1998-04-29
DE69714546T2 (en) 2003-04-10
FR2755077A1 (en) 1998-04-30
US5933084A (en) 1999-08-03
FR2755077B1 (en) 1999-01-08
ES2181967T3 (en) 2003-03-01
DE69714546D1 (en) 2002-09-12

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