JP2006205750A - Lighting system for vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a lighting system with waterproofness for a vehicle capable of illuminating a flat part of a side step part extended to the outside of a vehicle. <P>SOLUTION: A kicking plate 1 for decorating a vehicle body door step part of an automobile is coated astride a vertical wall part 20 to be a butting part of a side sill 10 and a vehicle body panel 11. In a flat part 2c of a kicking plate main body 2, an ornament 4 is mounted. On a vertical wall surface 2a of the kicking plate 1, a light transmitting body 3 emitting light by a LED 5 to be a light source disposed in the kicking plate 1 is disposed in a liquid-tight state. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a vehicle lighting device that can illuminate a side step portion of a vehicle.

  Conventionally, scuff plate illumination devices (see Patent Document 1), vehicle interior illumination devices (see Patent Document 2), and the like have been proposed as illumination devices that illuminate a side step portion of a vehicle. The scuff plate illumination device described in Patent Document 1 has a configuration shown in FIG. FIG. 8 shows a state before the scuff plate illumination device is assembled.

  The scuff plate illumination device 31 is generally composed of a light guide 32, a light source unit 33, a dial plate 34, and a light transmissive sheet 35. A groove 39 is provided on one surface of the light guide 32 so as to be substantially along the peripheral wall, whereby a frame-shaped peripheral edge 40 and an island-shaped light guide 36 are formed. A light emitting surface 37 is formed on the surface of the central portion of the light guide portion 36, and light introducing portions 38 are formed at both ends of the light guide portion 36. The light emitting surface 37 is formed at a position lower than the peripheral edge portion 40.

  Indentations 41 and 42 are formed at both end portions of the groove portion 39 toward the outside, and the substrates 45 and 46 of the light source unit 33 are accommodated, respectively. A light reflection layer (not shown) is provided on the surface of the light guide 32 opposite to the side on which the groove is formed, and the light from the LEDs 43 and 44 can be collected and reflected in the light emission direction.

  The light source unit 33 includes LEDs 43 and 44, substrates 45 and 46 on which the LEDs are mounted, and wiring 47 that supplies power to the LEDs. The dial plate 34 is a plate-like member having light-transmitting holes 48 to 50 having a desired shape, shields part of light emitted from the light emitting surface 37 of the light guide 32, and only from the light transmitting holes 48 to 50. It functions as a mask member that emits light to the outside.

  The dial plate 34 is mounted on the light emitting surface 37 so as to cover the light emitting surface 37 of the light guide 32 after the light source unit 33 is assembled to the light guide 32. The dial plate 34 is fixed to the light emitting surface 37 using an adhesive, a tape, or the like. The light emitting display surface side of the dial plate 34 is covered with a light transmissive sheet 35. The upper surface of the light transmissive sheet 35 is subjected to a hard coat treatment or the like for the purpose of preventing scratches or preventing dirt.

  The peripheral portion 51 of the light transmissive sheet 35 is bonded to the light guide 32. The light transmission sheet 35 and the light guide 32 have substantially the same planar view shape, and the peripheral edge 51 of the light transmission sheet 35 is bonded to the peripheral edge 40 of the light guide 32. This prevents dust, water, etc. from entering the light guide 32 from the light emission observation surface side.

  The scuff plate illumination device 31 described in Patent Document 1 is placed on a side step portion of a vehicle and used as an illumination device when getting on and off the vehicle.

  The vehicle interior lighting device described in Patent Document 2 can be disposed in the opening 63 of the seam formed between the kicking plate 64 and the floor carpet 65 disposed on the side sill 66 as shown in FIG. it can. The illumination member 62 which comprises an illuminating device becomes a structure as shown in FIG.

  As shown to Fig.10 (a), the illuminating member 62 has a long shape, and as shown in FIG.10 (b) which is a BB cross section of Fig.10 (a), the elongate illuminating member 62 of FIG. A light source 60 is provided at the end via a socket 61. As the light source, an LED, an incandescent lamp, a halogen lamp, a semiconductor laser, or the like is used. The long illuminating member 62 is composed of an optical fiber made of a core and a clad having a lower refractive index than that of the core. The inner surface of the clad or the outer surface of the core is specially processed, and light transmitted through the core A part of the light is transmitted through the cladding, and uniform light can be emitted from the side surface of the long illumination member 62.

As shown in FIG. 9, the opening is formed inside the longitudinally extending opening 63 formed between the kicking plate 64 and the floor carpet 65, that is, in an internal space formed by the kicking plate 64 and the floor carpet 65. A long illumination member 62 capable of emitting uniform light over the entire area 63 is disposed. Thereby, the light from the long illuminating member 62 is radiated into the room through the opening 62.
JP 2002-96680 A JP 2000-142218 A

  In the scuff plate illumination device described in Patent Document 1, since the thick scuff plate illumination device is disposed in the side step portion, the scuff plate illumination device is stepped on by a passenger when getting on and off the vehicle. For this reason, the scuff plate lighting device is required to be rigid. If rigidly configured, there arises a problem that the height of the scuff plate illumination device becomes high.

  In addition, since the scuff plate illumination device itself has a bulky structure in which the light guide 10 and the light source unit 20 are stacked, when the height of the scuff plate illumination device becomes high, the passenger's feet are placed on the scuff plate illumination device when getting on and off the vehicle. In addition to being easily caught on the ground, there is a problem that the step height with respect to the ground becomes high, and the boarding / exiting cannot be performed smoothly.

  In addition, during rainy or snowy weather, there has been a high risk that rainwater may fall on the lighting device from umbrellas or shoes, or snow may accumulate on the lighting device, causing water to enter the lighting device. In addition, since it is required to disassemble the LED easily during maintenance, etc., it is now easy to disassemble the scuff plate lighting device by increasing its rigidity and liquid tightness. The problem of being unable to do so has arisen.

  In the vehicle interior lighting device described in Patent Document 2, the interior of the vehicle interior is illuminated by the long illumination member 62. The location where the illumination member 62 is disposed is in contact with the carpet in the vehicle interior. For this reason, the lighting member 62 must be sufficiently waterproofed during rainy or snowy weather. However, the waterproofing measures for the lighting member 62 are not particularly taken.

  In addition, since the long illumination member 24 is disposed in the opening formed in the joint portion between the adjacent trim members, and the illumination member 24 is configured as an apparatus for illuminating the vehicle interior. The illumination member 62 cannot be disposed at a portion that illuminates a flat portion extending outside the side step portion where rainwater or the like directly falls.

  In the present invention, it is an object of the present invention to provide a vehicular illumination device that solves these conventional problems and has a waterproof property and can illuminate a flat portion extending outside the vehicle in a side step portion.

The object of the present invention can be achieved by the inventions described in claims 1 to 5.
That is, according to the present invention, as described in claim 1, the flat light source has a light source disposed on the vertical wall portion of the side sill in the side step portion of the vehicle and is extended from the vertical wall portion to the outside of the vehicle by the light source. The main feature is that it illuminates the department.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, the main feature is that a plate-like member is disposed on the flat portion and the plate-like member is illuminated by the light source.
Furthermore, as described in claim 3, the main feature is that the plate-like member is a decorative member.

Furthermore, as described in claim 4, the vertical wall portion is formed as a butt portion between the side sill and the vehicle body panel, and the plate-like member is provided on a kicking plate that covers the vertical wall portion. Is a key feature.
According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, the main feature is that the light source further illuminates the vehicle interior side.

  In the present invention, since the light source is disposed on the vertical wall portion of the side sill in the side step portion of the vehicle, the light source can be disposed with less influence on the vehicle body design including the door. And since the light source is arrange | positioned in the vertical wall part of the side sill, the liquid-tightness with respect to a light source part is securable.

  In addition, the light from the light source disposed on the vertical wall portion of the side sill irradiates the flat portion of the kicking plate in the vehicle in which the kicking plate is disposed on the side step portion. The light from the light source can be irradiated to the step portion of the vehicle.

  A plate-like member can be provided in the step portion of the vehicle, and the plate-like member can have a function of preventing slippage and a design function when getting on and off. In addition, since the illumination can be applied to the plate-like member, the safety of the passengers when getting on and off can be improved.

  As a light source, a light guide is disposed on the standing wall on the door side of the kicking plate, and the back side of the light guide, that is, the surface opposite to the front side of the light guide facing the inside of the door Can be arranged. At this time, the light source can be disposed in a space covered by the kicking plate and the light guide, and liquid tightness with respect to the light source unit can be secured by the kicking plate and the light guide.

  Further, at this time, illumination can be applied to the plate-like member disposed on the flat portion extending outside the vehicle from the vertical wall portion of the side sill by irradiation through the light guide. At this time, a character etc. can also be displayed on the surface of a light guide, and the design property can also be improved with the plate-shaped member used as the decoration member.

  Further, by illuminating the plate-like member, it is possible to give light to the feet when getting on and off the vehicle, and to ensure the safety of the occupant when getting on and off. In addition, since the light source is arranged on the vertical wall of the side sill, it is possible to prevent the lighting light source from being stepped on directly or when an umbrella or the like is in contact with the vehicle when getting on or off the vehicle. This can be prevented and can be used for a long time.

  The light source may be configured to be exposed from the standing wall on the door side of the kicking plate without interposing a light guide even when disposed in the kicking plate. At this time, the front surface of the exposed portion of the light source can be filled with a transparent resin material or the like to ensure liquid-tightness against the light source and to protect against impacts and the like. When the light source is arranged on the kicking plate, the light source can be attached simultaneously with the attachment of the kicking plate to the vehicle body, and the attachment workability can be improved.

  Further, the light source can be disposed in the vicinity of both ends of the kicking plate in the vehicle length direction without being disposed in the kicking plate. Even in this case, it is desirable to fill the front surface of the exposed portion of the light source with a transparent resin material or the like to ensure liquid-tightness with respect to the light source and to protect against impact or the like.

  Since the light from the light source can be illuminated to the plate-like member disposed on the flat portion extending from the vertical wall portion of the side sill, the pattern of the plate-like member configured as a decorative plate, characters, etc. Can be visually recognized at night.

  The vehicular lighting device according to the present invention has a simple structure, and can be disposed in a step portion of the vehicle as a lighting device that is excellent in maintainability, recyclability, and easy disassembly. In particular, since the step height at the step portion is not increased, even an elderly person, a child, or a physically handicapped person does not hinder getting on and off the vehicle.

  As a light source, an LED, an incandescent lamp, a halogen lamp, a semiconductor laser, a black light (ultraviolet light with a long wavelength), etc. can be used. However, an LED that has high durability, can withstand long-time use, and uses less power. It is a desirable configuration to use. On the back side of the kicking plate, EL can also be used as a light source through a semiconductor circuit board. At this time, it is also possible to display characters or the like on the light guide by controlling the semiconductor circuit board.

  A decorative plate can be used as the plate-like member disposed on the flat portion extending outside the vehicle in the side step portion of the vehicle. Moreover, as a plate-shaped member, it can also comprise with resin-made or it can comprise with the elastic material etc. which had cushioning properties. Further, the plate-like member can be made of a metal material, a fiber material, or the like. By configuring the plate-like member as a decorative member, it is possible to exhibit excellent decorativeness, particularly when getting on and off at night.

  Printing using ink that emits black light on the surface of the plate-like member may be performed, and black light may be used as the light source. In this case, in the state where the light from the black light is not projected in the daytime, the printed characters are not recognized in the state where the black light is projected at night or the like without recognizing the printed character portion. You will be able to recognize.

  Since the plate-like member is disposed on the flat portion extending from the vertical wall portion of the side sill to the outside of the vehicle, the step height of the step portion is increased even if the plate-like member is disposed on the flat portion. Can be prevented. Moreover, as a plate-shaped member, it can also be set as the structure embed | buried under the flat part of the kicking plate.

  In addition to irradiating the light from the light source to the plate-like member disposed on the flat portion extending outside the vehicle from the vertical wall portion of the side sill, it may be disposed as a light source for illuminating the floor side in the vehicle interior. it can. In this case, for example, when a kicking plate is used, a light guide is disposed on the standing wall on the vehicle interior side of the kicking plate, and a light source is disposed on the back side of the light guide. Can do.

  Thus, by interlocking the opening / closing of the door and the turning on / off of the light source, it becomes possible to illuminate the feet in the floor when the door is opened. The structure in which the opening and closing of the door and the on / off of the light source are linked is performed as an on / off control for the light source that irradiates the plate-like member disposed on the flat portion extending outside the vehicle from the vertical wall portion of the side sill. You can also. Alternatively, the light source can be turned on / off by a switch disposed on a door or the like.

  Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be specifically described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. As the configuration of the vehicular lighting device of the present invention, each shape and arrangement configuration is adopted as long as it can solve the problems of the present invention other than the shape and arrangement configuration described below. Is something that can be done. For this reason, this invention is not limited to the Example demonstrated below, A various change is possible.

  FIG. 1 is a perspective view in which a vehicular lighting device according to an embodiment of the present invention is disposed at a butt portion between a side sill and a vehicle body panel. 2 shows a cross-sectional view taken along the line II-II in FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 shows a cross-sectional view taken along the line III-III in FIG. FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing an exploded view before assembling the vehicle lighting device and a positional relationship between the side sill and the butted portion of the vehicle body panel. FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing an example of formation as a decorative member.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the kicking plate 1 that decorates the vehicle body door step portion of the automobile straddles the vertical wall portion 20 that is a butt portion of the side sill 10 and the vehicle body panel 11 on the vehicle lower end side. It arrange | positions so that it may coat | cover. A mounting recess 2d for attaching the ornament 4 is formed in the flat portion 2c of the kicking plate body 2, and a light guide for irradiating light from the LED 5 which is a light source disposed in the kicking plate 1 is formed on the standing surface 2a of the kicking plate. The body 3 is disposed in a liquid-tight state.

  The ornament 4 can be mounted in the mounting recess 2d using an adhesive, a double-sided tape or the like. As the ornament 4, for example, a polycarbonate sheet can be used, and surface treatment of a hard coat can be performed in order to prevent damage according to the characteristics required for the surface. As for the design on the surface of the ornament 4, printing with high-brightness ink using silk screen or gravure printing, pasting of a reflective sheet, printing using a reflective paint, printing using a fluorescent pigment, printing on the surface of the ornament 4 Appropriate designs, such as formation of an uneven surface, can be applied.

  As shown in FIG. 2 showing a state in which the door 17 is closed, a sealing material 18 that seals between the side sill 10 and the door 17 is disposed between the side sill 10 and the door 17. Further, the standing wall surface 2 a of the kicking plate 1 has a substantially U-shaped cross section, and is configured to be able to straddle the vertical wall 20 that is a butt portion between the side sill 10 and the vehicle body panel 11. .

  The locking / fixing of the kicking plate 1 and the vertical wall portion 20 is performed by engaging the locking claw 8 of the clip 7 and the vertical wall portion 20 disposed inside the standing wall surface 2a of the kicking plate 1 as shown in FIG. Can be performed. As shown in FIG. 4, the clip 7 has a substantially U-shape, and can be attached by press-fitting a substantially U-shaped portion to the back side of the kicking plate body 2. The kicking plate fixed to the vertical wall portion 20 also functions as an end presser for the carpet 9 disposed in the vehicle interior.

  As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the LED 5 is disposed on the back side of the light guide 3, and a recess 12 is formed between adjacent LEDs 5 on the back side of the light guide 3. The light emitted from the LED 5 by the concave portion 12 can be dispersed while being reflected by the surface of the concave portion 12 and emitted from the front surface of the light guide 3. Thereby, the light guide 3 can light-emit the light of LED5 planarly. A configuration in which a reflection film or the like is formed in the recess 12 or a reflection film or the like is formed on the back surface side of the light guide 3 without forming the recess 12 to increase the amount of light emitted from the surface of the light guide 3. It can also be.

  As thickness of the light guide 3, it can be set as thickness of about 3-5 mm, for example. By setting the light guide 3 to such a thickness, a slight clearance is provided between the vertical wall 20 and the light guide window 2b formed on the standing wall 2a of the kicking plate body 2 is liquid-tight. It becomes possible to arrange in a state.

  The shape of the LED 5 can be a bullet type as shown in the drawing, or a chip type. A wiring 6 for supplying current to the LED 5 is connected to the rear end of the LED 5. In the wiring 6, an insulating tube 6 a is disposed for bundling the wiring 6 and preventing a short circuit.

  An example in which the LED 5 is used as a light source will be described. As the light source, a suitable light emitter such as a bulb light bulb, a fluorescent lamp, EL (electroluminescence), and black light can be used in addition to the LED. By using the LED 5 as the light source, advantages such as high luminous efficiency, no heat generation, and long life, which are the characteristics of the LED, can be used effectively. In particular, the above-described advantages of the LED can be achieved by reducing the power consumption of the LED 5, eliminating the influence of heat on the peripheral components, and eliminating the need to replace the LED over a long period of time. it can.

  In particular, as shown in FIG. 4, the wiring 6 is disposed on the indoor side of the vertical wall portion 20 through the panel recess 13 formed in the vertical wall portion 20. The wiring 6 of each LED 5 provided is connected to a switch or the like provided in the passenger compartment while being bundled by an insulating tube 6a. In the illustrated example, a configuration in which two wires 6 connected to each LED 5 are bundled is shown. However, one of the wires of each LED 5 is connected to the vehicle body or the like as a ground wire and is connected via a switch. The other wiring may be connected to the positive electrode of the battery.

  By turning on the LED 5, the light from the light guide 3 can be irradiated onto the ornament 4. In addition, since the light guide 3 is in the surface light emitting state, it is possible to illuminate the feet of the occupant over a wide range when getting on and off at night or the like. And since shoes, an umbrella, etc. do not contact | abut LED5 directly at the time of boarding / alighting, it can prevent that LED5 is damaged or disconnected.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the light guide 3 can be provided with a design such as characters. In this case, the design formed on the light guide 3 and the design formed on the ornament 4 can be integrated into two. Further, the design formed on the light guide 3 and the design formed on the ornament 4 may be different designs.

  Also, if black light is used as the light source and pictograms are printed on the surface of the light guide 3 and the surface of the ornament 4 using ink that reacts with the black light, the light guide 3 and the ornament 4 are respectively printed. Separately printed pictograms can be expressed when the black light is turned on.

  FIG. 6 relates to the second embodiment according to the present invention, and shows an example in which the light guide 3 is not disposed on the kicking plate main body 2. Regarding other configurations, the configuration is the same as that of the first embodiment, and the description of the same configuration as that of the first embodiment is omitted by using the same reference numerals as those used in the first embodiment. .

  In the second embodiment, a plurality of LEDs 5 are arranged along the longitudinal direction of the kicking plate 1 so that light is exposed from the standing wall surface 2a of the kicking plate body. It is desirable to fill the exposed surface of the standing wall 2a with a transparent resin material or the like so that an external impact or the like does not directly act on the LED 5.

  The resin material or the like can be formed on the surface in a fine pyramid-shaped convex portion, a hemispherical lens shape, or the like. The wiring etc. in LED5 can be made into the wiring similar to Example 1. FIG. The ornament 4 can be illuminated by the light from the LED 5.

  Moreover, LED can also be arrange | positioned also to the surface at the side of the compartment of the standing wall surface 2a. In this case, it is possible to use the LED disposed on the surface of the standing wall surface 2a on the vehicle interior side as a footlight in the vehicle interior.

  Instead of providing the LED 5 on the kicking plate main body 2, the LED 5 can be provided on an interior resin molded product or the like around the part where the kicking plate 1 is provided. FIG. 7 shows a modification of the second embodiment in which the LEDs 5 are arranged on the rear wheel house 16, the center pillar lower 15, the dash side 14, and the like.

  In the exposed portion of the LED 5, a member formed into a fine pyramid-shaped convex portion, a hemispherical lens shape, or the like can be disposed on the surface. The member can be formed in advance or filled on the surface of the LED 5 with a resin material or the like.

  The light emitted from the LED 5 can illuminate the surface of the ornament 4. When black light is used instead of the LED 5, pictograms or the like can be printed on the ornament 4 with ink or the like that emits light by ultraviolet rays.

  Further, instead of using the LED 5, a bulb bulb or the like can be used as in the first embodiment. Furthermore, it is possible to illuminate the step portion of the vehicle using the light source of the present invention without using the kicking plate.

  Illumination can be given to the vehicle step portions other than the kicking plate according to the present invention.

It is the perspective view which has arrange | positioned the illuminating device for vehicles in the butt | matching part of a side sill and a vehicle body panel. Example 1 It is II-II sectional drawing of FIG. Example 1 It is III-III sectional drawing of FIG. Example 1 It is a perspective view which shows the arrangement | positioning relationship between the exploded view before the assembly of a vehicle illuminating device, and the butt | matching part of a side sill and a vehicle body panel. Example 1 It is a perspective view which shows the example of formation as a decoration member. Example 1 It is the perspective view which has arrange | positioned the illuminating device for vehicles in the butt | matching part of a side sill and a vehicle body panel. (Example 2) It is the perspective view which has arrange | positioned the illuminating device for vehicles in the butt | matching part of a side sill and a vehicle body panel. Example 3 It is a perspective view which shows the state before the assembly of a scuff plate illuminating device. (Conventional example 1) It is sectional drawing which has arrange | positioned the illuminating member between the kicking plate and the floor carpet. (Conventional example 2) It is a perspective view which shows the structure of an illumination member. (Conventional example 2)

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Kicking plate 2 Kicking plate main body 2a Standing wall surface 2b Light guide body window part 2c Flat part 2d Mounting recessed part 3 Light guide body 4 Ornament 5 LED
6 Wiring 6a Insulating tube 7 Clip 8 Locking claw 9 Carpet 10 Side sill 11 Car body panel 12 Light guide body recess 13 Panel recess 14 Dash side 15 Center pillar lower 16 Rear wheel house 17 Door 18 Sealing material 20 Vertical wall 31 Scuff plate lighting device 32 Light guide 33 Light source unit 34 Dial 35 Light source transmissive sheet 36 Light guide 37 Light emission surface 38 Light introduction part 39 Groove part 40 Peripheral part 41, 42 Depression 43, 44 LED
45, 46 Substrate 47 Wiring 48-50 Light transmission hole 51 Perimeter 60 Light source 61 Socket 62 Illumination member 63 Opening 64 Kicking plate 65 Floor carpet

Claims (5)

A light source disposed on a vertical wall portion of a side sill in a side step portion of the vehicle;
The vehicular lighting device, wherein the light source illuminates a flat portion extending from the vertical wall portion to the outside of the vehicle.   The vehicle lighting device according to claim 1, wherein a plate-like member is disposed on the flat portion, and the plate-like member is illuminated by the light source.   The vehicular lighting device according to claim 2, wherein the plate-shaped member is a decorative member. The vertical wall portion is formed as a butt portion between the side sill and the vehicle body panel,
The vehicle lighting device according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the plate-like member is provided on a kicking plate that covers the vertical wall portion.   The vehicular illumination device according to claim 1, wherein the light source further illuminates a vehicle interior side.

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