GB2285121A

GB2285121A - A vehicle lamp

Info

Publication number: GB2285121A
Application number: GB9425439A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Kazunori Natsume
Original assignee: Koito Manufacturing Co Ltd
Current assignee: Koito Manufacturing Co Ltd
Priority date: 1993-12-21
Filing date: 1994-12-16
Publication date: 1995-06-28
Anticipated expiration: 2014-12-16
Also published as: GB2285121B; JPH07230706A; GB9425439D0; JP3160835B2

Abstract

The front opening of a lamp body 2 with a bulb 3 attached thereto is covered with a lens 5. The lens 5 includes a plurality of areas alternately including horizontal and vertical part cylindrical steps 7 and 8 formed thereon. <IMAGE>

Description

VEHICULAR LAMP The present invention relates to a vehicular lamp with an outer lens which makes the lamp present a so called glittering look.

In the conventional motor vehicular lamp, fisheye steps are formed on an outer lens to distribute vertically and horizontally light beams passing therethrough.

The conventional vehicular lamp with fisheye steps formed over the entire surface looks flat as a whole and creates a poor visual impression.

The present invention was made in view of the foregoing disadvantage associated with the conventional vehicular lamp. Accordingly, an object of the invention is to provide a vehicular lamp having an outer lens capable of making the lamp present a glittering look and a good visual impression.

The above object can be achieved by a provision of a vehicular lamp which, according to the present invention, comprises a cup-shaped lamp body having a reflector and a front opening; a light source mounting at a substantially central portion of the lamp body; and an outer lens covering the front opening of the lamp body, the outer lens having a plurality of areas each presenting part cylindrical steps with the axes of the steps of different areas extending in different, substantially orthogonal directions.

In the vehicular lamp thus constructed, the two types of part cylindrical steps of which the axial directions are oriented orthogonally to each other, create a number of focal lines extending in the orthogonal directions to each other. These focal lines give of the lamp a glittering look.

In the accompanying drawings Fig. 1 is a front view of an embodiment of an identification lamp for vehicles according to the present invention; Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view of the lamp; Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectional view of the lamp; Fig. 4 is a front view showing a second embodiment in the form of a vehicular marker lamp for according to the present invention; Fig. 5 is a sectional area cut along a line V-V in Fig. 4; Fig. 6 is a sectional area cut along a line VI-VI in Fig. 4; Fig. 7 is a front view of a reflector; Fig. 8 is a left side view of the reflector; Fig. 9 is a partially enlarged perspective view of the reflector; Fig. 10 is a front view of an inner lens; Fig. 11 is a rear view of the inner lens; Fig. 12 is a left side view of the inner lens; and Fig. 13 is a rear view of an outer lens.

A preferred embodiment of a vehicular lamp according to the present invention is shown in Figs. 1 to 3 in the form of a marker lamp 1 for a motor vehicle.

The marker lamp 1 is provided with a lamp body 2 made of synthetic resin. The lamp body 2 is cup-shaped having a front opening. An inner surface 3 of the lamp body 2 serves as a reflector having a reflecting surface. A bulb 4 is disposed at the central part of the rear portion of the lamp body 2.

An outer lens made of a transparent synthetic resin, is attached to the lamp body 2 such that the front opening of the lamp body 2 is covered with the outer lens 5. A lamp space 6 is defined by the lamp body 2 and the outer lens 5.

A surface of the outer lens 5 is segmented into five sectional areas, one above the other. Horizontal part cylindrical, riblike steps 7, i.e. extending with their axes horizontal are formed on the rear surface of three of the sectional areas, i.e., the top, bottom, and middle sectional areas. Vertical part cylindrical, riblike steps 8, i.e. extending with their axes vertical, are formed on the rear surface of the other two sectional areas. In the marker lamp 1 thus constructed, the focal lines of the horizonal part cylindrical steps 7 and the vertical part cylindrical steps 8, which are alternately formed in the areas, are orthogonal to each other, thereby presenting a glittering look to the lamp.

The two types of the horizonal and vertical part cylindrical steps 7 and 8 may be designed such that the radius of curvature of the first type of the step 7 is different from that of the second type of the step 8, for example, the radius of curvature of the former is larger than that of the latter. By so doing, when looking at the identification lamp, one sees the glittering reflecting surface 3 through the horizonal steps 7, and see the glittering vertical steps 8. As a result, the identification lamp appears to have depth.

The five areas could, alternatively be arranged side by side horizontally, instead of one above the other vertically.

Figs. 4 to 13 show a marker lamp 1A for a motor vehicle according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

The marker lamp 1A is provided with a lamp body 9 made of synthetic resin, which is cup-shaped having openings at front and left sides thereof. A lens mounting groove 10 is provided at an opening edge of the lamp body 9 for attaching an outer lens described below.

A reflector 11 made of synthetic resin includes a cupshaped main portion 12 having a front opening and a side portion 13 projecting towards a left-rear direction from a left edge of the main portion 12.

The main portion 12 of the reflector 11 is sectioned in the vertical direction into three areas in which an upper sectional area 12u and a lower sectional area 12d are formed as curved surfaces having no step whereas a central area 12c is formed with many diffusion steps like fisheye steps as described below. An inner surface of the main portion 12 is a reflection surface formed by an aluminum deposition or the like.

A bulb 14 is mounted in the reflector 11 at a position slightly shifted leftward from a rear centre thereof.

Each of the diffusion steps 15 formed on the centre sectional area 12c is substantially rectangular as viewing from the front having a curved surface a centre of which projects forwards. A plurality of the diffusion steps 15 arranged in the vertical direction constitute a single step group 16, and a plurality of the step groups 16 are arranged in the horizontal direction. A recess 17 is disposed between adjacent step groups 16 and 16.

Flat sections 16a are formed at positions in the vicinity of the bulb 14 where light emitting from the bulb 14 is shadowed by the recesses 17 of the adjacent step groups 16. By this structure, the direct light beam emitting from the bulb 14 is effectively irradiated to each of the diffusion steps 15 so that the light diffused by the diffusion steps 15 is distributed evenly. The flat section 16a is not formed on an area of the remaining step groups 16 in the vicinity of the bulb 14 because it is not shadowed.

Further, the curvature of the fisheye-like curved surface of the diffusion steps 15 decreases with distance from the bulb 14 so that the diffusion angle of the reflected light beam passing through the diffusion steps 15 positioned far from the bulb 14 is small.

The light flux emitted from the bulb 14 is diffused by the diffusion steps 15 in the vertical and horizontal directions, and the brightness at each point of the central area 12c is substantially the same regardless of the distance from the bulb 14 because the diffusion angle of the reflected light beam passing through the diffusion steps 15 positioned far from the bulb 14 is small, to thereby achieve a desired distribution of light passing through an inner lens and an outer lens described below.

Although the upper sectional area 12u and the lower sectional area 12d are formed on the reflection surface, the light beam reflected thereby is not controlled and, therefore, does not contribute to the light distribution of the lamp 1A.

A side portion 13 of the reflector 11 faces substantially left-front of the lamp and is formed thereon with vertically extending convex part cylindrical steps 18.

A lower one-fifth part 13d of the side portion 13 is provided with convex cylindrical steps 18d which are smaller in pitch than convex cylindrical steps 18u formed on an upper four-fifth part 13u of the side portion 13.

The light flux emitting from the bulb 14 does not reach the convex cylindrical steps 18. The cylindrical steps 18 provide a good design when viewed from outside the lamp in combination with lens steps of the outer lens described later.

An inner lens 19 is mounted on the reflector 11 to cover a front opening of the main portion 12 thereof. The inner lens 19 engages with the reflector 11 by engaging, for example, an engaging pawl (not shown) formed on an edge of the inner lens 19 with an engaging hole (not shown) formed on a predetermined portion of the reflector 11.

The inner lens 19 is sectioned in the vertical direction into three areas like the main portion 12 of the reflector 11, that is, an upper area l9u, a centre sectional area l9c and a lower sectional area l9d, which correspond to the upper area 12u, central area 12c and lower area 12d, respectively, of the main portion 12.

The central area l9c of the inner lens 19 is provided with a front and rear smooth surfaces through which the light flux diffused by the diffusion steps 15 formed on the central area 12c of the main portion 12 passes.

Vertically extending concave part cylindrical steps 20 are formed on the front surfaces of the upper area 19u and the lower area 19d of the inner lens 19 whereas direct-type prism lens steps 21 are formed on the rear surface of the areas 19u and 19d.

The light flux emitting from the bulb 14 to the upper area 19u and the lower area 19d of the inner lens 19 is controlled by the prism lens steps 21 to irradiate substantially parallel to the optical axis, and then controlled by the concave part cylindrical steps 20 to diffuse in the lateral direction.

An outer lens 22 located in front of the inner lens 19 is mounted on the lamp body 9 to cover the front of the main portion 12 and the side portion 13 of the reflector 11. The outer lens 22 is coupled to the lamp body 9 by engaging with adhesive a projection 23 protruding rearwards from an outer edge of the outer lens 22 with the lens mounting groove 10 formed on an edge of an opening of the lamp body 9.

The outer lens 22 is sectioned in the vertical direction into three areas like the main portion 12 of the reflector and the inner lens 19, which areas consisting of an upper area 22u, a central area 22c and a lower area 22d which correspond to the upper area 12u, central area 12c and lower sectional area 12d, respectively, of the main portion 12 and to the upper area 19u, central area 19c and lower area 129, respectively, of the inner lens 19.

The outer lens 22 has a whole smooth front surface. A rear whole surface of the upper area 22u and an approximately left-half part of a rear surface of the lower area 22d are provided with horizontal convex part cylindrical steps 24 and 25, while a rear surface of an approximately right-half part of the lower area 22d is formed with a smooth surface.

On the other hand, a rear surface of the central area 22c of the outer lens 22 is sectioned in the vertical direction into seven areas. Three areas, that is, a second, fourth and sixth sectional areas from a top area are formed with horizontal part cylindrical, riblike steps 26 whereas the remaining four areas, that is, a first, third, fifth and seventh sectional areas are provided with vertical part cylindrical, riblike steps 27.

A reflex reflector 28 is disposed on a rear surface of a right-half part of the lower area 22d of the outer lens 22, which reflects incident light from a front side of the vehicular marker lamp 1A.

When the bulb 14 is turned on, the light beam reflected by the central area lic of the reflector 11 is diffused in the vertical and horizontal directions by the diffusion steps 15 of the reflector 11, then passes through the central area l9c of the inner lens 19 and, further, diffused in the vertical and horizontal directions by the horizontal part cylindrical steps 26 and the vertical part cylindrical steps 27 of the central area 22c of the outer lens 22, to thereby provide the light distribution of the lamp 1A.

Because the focal lines of the horizontal part cylindrical steps 26 and that of the vertical part cylindrical steps 27, formed at the central areas 22 extend perpendicular to each other, the light beam presents a glittering appearance.

On the other hand, the direct incident light from the bulb to the upper area l9u and the lower area l9d of the inner lens 19 extends in the direct-type prism lens steps 21 substantially in parallel with the optical axis, and then diffused in the lateral direction by the concave part cylindrical steps 20 when irradiated from the surface of the inner lens 19. The light beam thus diffused is further diffused in the vertical direction by the convex part cylindrical steps 24 and 25 formed on the upper area 22u and the lower area 22d, respectively, of the outer lens 22, to thereby contribute to the light distribution of the lamp 1A.

As seen from the foregoing description, in the identification lamp for vehicles according to the present invention, an outer lens covers a front opening of a lamp body in which a light source is disposed, and the outer lens includes a plurality of sectional areas each consisting of part cylindrical steps, the cylindrical steps of the adjacent areas being axially oriented orthogonally to each other.

In the marker lamp thus constructed, two types of part cylindrical steps of which the axial directions are oriented orthogonal to each other, present a number of focal lines extending in the directions orthogonal to each other. These focal lines give the lamp a glittering look.

It should be understood that the form of the invention herein shown and described is to be taken as a preferred example of the invention and that various changes in the shape, size and arrangement of parts may be resorted to.

For example, it is evident that the number of the areas including the part cylindrical steps formed therein and the directions of the part cylindrical steps formed therein may be properly changed. The direction of the part cylindrical steps may be inclined with respect to the lamp and form like a character " X ".

Claims

1. A vehicular lamp comprising a cup-shaped lamp body having a reflector and a front opening; a light source mounting at a substantially central portion of the lamp body; and an outer lens covering the front opening of the lamp body, the outer lens having a plurality of areas each presenting part cylindrical steps with the axes of the steps of different areas extending in different, substantially orthogonal directions.

2. A lamp according to claim 1, wherein the axes of first ones of the steps extend substantially horizontally and the axes of second ones of the steps extend substantially vertically.

3. A lamp according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the outer lens has five areas one above the other, or side by side, the steps of adjacent ones of the areas extending in the different, substantially orthogonal, directions.

4. A lamp according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the radius of curvature of the steps extending in one direction is different from that of the steps extending in the other direction.

5. A lamp according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the outer lens is made of a transparent synthetic resin.

6. A lamp according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the reflector comprises a main portion which has an upper area and a lower area, both formed with a curved surface having no step, and a central area formed with diffusion steps.

7. A lamp according to claim 6, wherein each of the diffusion steps formed on the central area is substantially rectangular when viewed from the front and has a curved surface, a centre of which projects forwards.

8. A lamp according to claim 7, wherein a plurality of the diffusion steps arranged in a vertical direction constitute a single step group, and a plurality of the step groups are arranged in a horizontal direction, a recess being disposed between adjacent step groups.

9. A lamp according to claim 8, further comprising a flat section formed at positions in the vicinity of the light source where light emitting from the light source is shadowed in a recess by an adjacent step group.

10. A lamp according to any one of claims 6 to 9, wherein the curvature of the diffusion steps decreases with distance from the light source.

11. A lamp according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein a side portion of the reflector is formed with convex part cylindrical steps the axes of which extend substantially vertically.

12. A lamp according to claim 11, wherein a lower substantially one-fifth part of the side portion comprises first convex part cylindrical steps and an upper substantially four-fifth part of the side portion comprises second convex part cylindrical steps, the first steps being smaller in pitch than the second steps.

13. A lamp according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising an inner lens mounted on the reflector to cover a front opening of the reflector.

14. A lamp according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the inner lens is formed with three areas comprising an upper area, a central area and a lower area.

15. A lamp according to claim 14, wherein the central area of the inner lens comprises front and rear smooth surfaces, concave part cylindrical steps being formed on the front surfaces of the upper and lower areas of the inner lens with the axes of these steps extending substantially vertically, and direct-type prism lens steps being formed on the rear surface of the upper and lower areas of the inner lens.

16. A vehicular lamp, substantially as described with reference to the accompanying drawings.