JP2009140729A - Vehicular lamp - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To improve appearance of a vehicular lamp. <P>SOLUTION: The vehicular lamp is equipped with a lamp housing 7 which is supported by a car body 2 and has a bulb 5 inside and in which an opening 6 is formed in an illumination direction A by the bulb 5, a transparent lens 8 installed so as to close the opening 6, and a locking protrusion 18 which is integrally protruded toward the lamp housing 7 side from the lens 8, and which is locked to a locking part 16 formed on the lamp housing 7 side. In a free state of the lens 8 viewed at a line-of-view orthogonal to the illumination direction A by the bulb 5, the lens 8 is formed in a circular arc shape having the arc center on the bulb 5 side, and in a state that the lens 8 is resiliently deformed from its circular arc shape toward a flat shape, by a resilience based on its resiliency, the locking protrusion 18 is press-contacted and locked to the locking part 16. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a vehicle lamp provided with a lens that is locked to a lamp housing side having a bulb and closes an opening of the lamp housing.

  Conventionally, the above-described vehicle lamp is disclosed in Patent Document 1 below. According to this publication, a vehicular lamp is supported by a vehicle body, has a bulb and has an opening formed in an irradiation direction by the bulb, and a transparent lens provided to close the opening. And a locking projection protruding integrally from the lens toward the lamp housing side and locked to a locking portion formed on the lamp housing side. The light emitted from the bulb passes through the lens and is emitted toward the outside of the lamp.

When assembling the lamp, the lens is brought close to the opening of the lamp housing having the bulb. At this time, the locking protrusion protruding from the lens is elastically bent and locked to the locking portion on the lamp housing side. Then, the opening of the lamp housing is closed by the lens, the lens is attached to the lamp housing, and the assembling work is finished.
JP-A-9-99777

  By the way, in the above assembling operation, when the locking protrusion is locked to the locking portion, it is required that the locking protrusion be elastically bent as described above. For this reason, in order to sufficiently obtain this deflection, it is required that the protrusion dimension of the locking projection from the lens be increased to some extent.

  However, when the protruding dimension of the locking projection is increased, the following problems arise. That is, the locking protrusion protrudes toward the lamp housing, and this protruding direction substantially matches the direction of the line of sight when a person looks at the lamp. Further, as described above, the lens of the lamp is a transparent body.

  For this reason, when the lens of the lamp is viewed with the line of sight, if the protrusion size of the locking protrusion is large, the color tone of the lens portion at the protruding position of the locking protrusion is increased accordingly. It tends to be darker than the color tone. Therefore, when the lens is viewed as a whole, the color tone of each part of the lens becomes unnecessarily non-uniform, and the appearance of the lamp may be deteriorated.

  The present invention has been made paying attention to the above-described circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to improve the appearance of the vehicular lamp.

The invention of claim 1 is a lamp housing 7 that is supported by the vehicle body 2 and has a bulb 5 in which an opening 6 is formed in an irradiation direction A by the bulb 5, and a transparent lens that is provided so as to close the opening 6. 8 and a locking projection 18 that protrudes integrally from the lens 8 toward the lamp housing 7 and is locked to a locking portion 16 formed on the lamp housing 7 side. ,
When the lens 8 is in a free state as viewed in a line of sight orthogonal to the irradiation direction A of the bulb 5 (a chain line in FIG. 1), the lens 8 has an arc shape having an arc center on the bulb 5 side. In a state in which it is elastically deformed from its arc shape to a flat shape (solid line in FIG. 1), the locking projections 18 are pressed and locked to the locking portions 16 by the restoring force based on the elasticity. This is a vehicle lamp characterized by the above.

  In addition, in this section, the reference numerals and drawing numbers appended to the above terms are not intended to limit the technical scope of the present invention to the “Example” section and the contents of the drawings described later.

  The effects of the present invention are as follows.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a lamp housing which is supported by a vehicle body and has a bulb and an opening is formed in an irradiation direction by the bulb, a transparent lens provided so as to close the opening, and the lens to the lamp. In a vehicle lamp provided with a locking projection that protrudes integrally toward the housing side and is locked to a locking portion formed on the lamp housing side,
In the free state of the lens as seen from the line of sight orthogonal to the direction of irradiation by the bulb, the lens has an arc shape having an arc center on the bulb side, and the lens is elastically deformed so as to go from the arc shape to a flat shape. In this state, a locking projection is pressed against and locked to the locking portion by a restoring force based on the elasticity.

  For this reason, the locking of the lens to the lamp housing side by the locking portion and the locking projection is achieved by utilizing the elasticity of the lens itself. Therefore, in the conventional technique, in order to obtain the above-mentioned locking, it has been required to increase the protruding dimension of the locking protrusion to some extent in order to elastically bend the locking protrusion. According to this, by utilizing the elasticity of the lens itself, the above-mentioned elastic deflection of the locking projection is made almost unnecessary, whereby the projecting dimension of the locking projection can be suppressed small.

  As a result, firstly, when the lens of the lamp is viewed with substantially the same line of sight as the protruding direction of the locking projection, the projection size of the locking projection is small, so that the lens portion at the protruding position of the locking projection It is prevented that the color tone becomes dark. For this reason, even if the color tone of other portions around the lens portion is thin, the color tone of each portion of the lens is prevented from being unnecessarily non-uniform, and the appearance of the lamp is improved.

  Second, as described above, since it is almost unnecessary to flex the locking projection elastically, a weak portion is provided on the locking projection to make the locking projection easy to bend. No complicated processing is required. Therefore, the lamp can be easily formed accordingly.

  The best mode for carrying out the present invention is as follows in order to realize the object of improving the appearance of the vehicle lamp with respect to the vehicle lamp of the present invention.

  That is, the vehicle lamp is supported by the vehicle body, has a bulb, and has a lamp housing in which an opening is formed in the irradiation direction of the bulb, a transparent lens provided to close the opening, and the lens to the lamp. And a locking projection that protrudes integrally toward the housing side and is locked to a locking portion formed on the lamp housing side.

  In the free state of the lens as seen from the line of sight orthogonal to the direction of irradiation by the bulb, the lens has an arc shape having an arc center on the bulb side, and the lens is elastically deformed so as to go from the arc shape to a flat shape. In this state, a locking projection is pressed against and locked to the locking portion by a restoring force based on the elasticity.

  In order to describe the present invention in more detail, Example 1 will be described with reference to FIGS.

  1 to 3, reference numeral 1 denotes an automobile which is an example of a vehicle, and each drawing shows a rear right side portion of the automobile 1. An arrow Fr indicates the front in the traveling direction of the automobile 1. Moreover, left and right shall mean the width direction of the vehicle body 2 toward the front.

  The rear right side portion of the automobile 1 includes a sheet metal body 2 and a rear combination lamp 3 attached to the body 2. This lamp 3 is supported on the vehicle body 2 by a fastener 4 and has a bulb 5 and supports it, and an opening 6 is formed in an irradiation direction (rear of the vehicle body 2) A by the bulb 5. A lamp housing 7, a transparent lens 8 provided so as to close the opening 6 from the rear thereof and allowing the irradiation light of the bulb 5 to be transmitted rearward, and the lens 8 to the lamp housing And a locking tool 9 for attaching the lens 8 to the lamp housing 7 so as to be detachably locked to the opening edge 6 a of the opening 6.

  The lens 8 is made of resin, and each part thereof has rigidity, but as a whole, some elastic deformation is possible. Reference numeral 10 denotes a transparent resin outer cover that is detachably attached to the lamp housing 7 and covers the lens 8 so as to be openable and closable from the outside.

  The optical axis 12 of the bulb 5 is substantially horizontal and extends rearward, and the axial direction of the optical axis 12 and the irradiation direction A substantially coincide with each other. Thus, the opening 6 is formed. The bulb 5 may be supported by the lamp housing 7 with the optical axis 12 perpendicular to the irradiation direction A or inclined. The lens 8 includes a plate-shaped lens main body 14 extending in the width direction and the vertical direction of the vehicle body 2 so as to close the opening 6, and the opening of the opening 6 of the lamp housing 7 from the outer edge of the lens main body 14. And a flange portion 15 integrally projecting toward the edge portion 6a.

  In the free state of the lens 8 as viewed in the line of sight orthogonal to the irradiation direction A by the bulb 5 (the chain line in FIG. 1), the lens 8 has an arc shape having an arc center on the bulb 5 side. Specifically, the outer surface side of the lens 8 is formed in an arc convex shape. On the other hand, the inner surface side of the lens 8 is formed to have an arc concave shape and faces the lamp housing 7 side. Here, since the lens 8 has an arc shape as described above, the visual stereoscopic effect of the lamp 3 is improved, thereby improving the appearance of the lamp 3.

  The locking device 9 includes a pair of left and right locking protrusions 16, 16 formed on the opening edge 6 a of the opening 6 of the lamp housing 7, and a pair of left and right locking protrusions respectively formed in the middle in the longitudinal direction. Another locking portion 17 which is a locking recess formed on one side (right side) of the opening edge 6a of the opening 6 and the upper and lower portions of the lens 8 when viewed from the line of sight (FIG. 1). Are provided with locking projections 18 that are a pair of left and right hooks that integrally project from the middle in the longitudinal direction of each flange portion 15 toward the lamp housing 7 side. These locking projections 18 have the same shape and the same size, and have a plate shape with the same thickness as the flange portion 15. The hook portions at the protruding end portions of the locking projections 18 protrude in the same direction in the longitudinal direction of the flange portion 15.

  The protruding end of the flange portion 15 on one side portion (right side portion) of the lens 8 is locked to the other locking portion 17, and each end portion side 20 in the longitudinal direction of the flange portion 15 of the lens 8. , 20 are in contact with the opening edge 6a of the opening 6 of the lamp housing 7 and elastically deformed so that the middle part in the longitudinal direction of the lens 8 is directed toward the lamp housing 7, that is, in a flat shape. In a state of being elastically deformed toward each other, the respective locking projections 18 are press-contacted to the respective locking portions 16 and are detachably locked by the restoring force based on the elasticity (solid lines in FIG. 1). In this case, as seen from the line of sight (FIG. 1), the radius R1 of the outer surface of the lens body 14 of the lens 8 that is elastically deformed and attached to the lamp housing 7 as described above is set to the lens 8 in the free state. This is larger than the radius R2 of the outer surface of the lens body 14 (R1> R2).

  The locking state of the locking part 16 and the locking projection 18 is maintained by the frictional force between the two locking parts 16 and 18 and the locking of the flange part 15 to the other locking part 17. . In this locked state, the midway portion in the longitudinal direction of the flange portion 15 of the lens 8 is in contact with or brought close to the opening edge portion 6 a of the opening 6. Thereby, the protrusion dimension of each said locking protrusion 18 is kept to the minimum necessary. In addition, an unnecessary gap is prevented from being generated between the lamp housing 7 and the lens 8.

  As seen from the line of sight (FIG. 1), a pair of positioning projections 22, 22 project integrally from the middle in the longitudinal direction of the upper and lower flanges 15 toward the lamp housing 7. Each of these positioning protrusions 22 positions the left and right positions of the lens 8 with respect to the lamp housing 7 to some extent. The positioning protrusions 22 may not be provided.

  According to the above configuration, when the lens 8 is in a free state as viewed in a line of sight orthogonal to the optical axis 12 in the irradiation direction A by the bulb 5 (a dashed line in FIG. 1), the lens 8 In the state where the lens 8 is elastically deformed so as to go from the arc shape to a flat shape (solid line in FIG. 1), the locking projection 18 is formed on the locking portion 16 by the restoring force based on the elasticity. It is designed to be pressed and locked.

  For this reason, the locking of the lens 8 to the lamp housing 7 by the locking portion 16 and the locking projection 18 is achieved by utilizing the elasticity of the lens 8 itself. Therefore, in the conventional technique, in order to obtain the above-mentioned locking, it has been required to increase the protruding dimension of the locking protrusion to some extent in order to elastically bend the locking protrusion. Therefore, by utilizing the elasticity of the lens 8 itself, the elastic deflection of the locking projection 18 is almost unnecessary, and the protruding dimension of the locking projection 18 can be suppressed to be small.

  As a result, firstly, when the lens 8 of the lamp 3 is viewed with substantially the same line of sight as the protruding direction of the locking protrusion 18 (FIG. 2), the locking protrusion 18 has a small protruding dimension. The color tone of the portion of the lens 8 at the 18 protruding positions is prevented from becoming dark. For this reason, even if the color tone of the other parts around the lens 8 portion is thin, the color tone of each part of the lens 8 is prevented from being unnecessarily uneven, and the appearance of the lamp 3 is improved in appearance. To do.

  Second, as described above, since it is almost unnecessary to bend the locking projection 18 elastically, a fragile portion is formed on the locking projection 18 so as to make the locking projection 18 easy to bend. Complex processing such as providing is unnecessary. Therefore, the lamp 3 can be easily formed accordingly.

  In addition, although the above is based on the example of illustration, the said lamp | ramp 3 may be provided in the front part of the vehicle body 2. FIG. Further, the locking portion 16 may be formed on the vehicle body 2 on the lamp housing 7 side. The line of sight orthogonal to the irradiation direction A by the bulb 5 may correspond to a side view of the lamp 3. Further, the hook portions of the locking projections 18 may be protruded so as to face each other in the longitudinal direction of the flange portion 15 or may be protruded so as to be separated from each other. The locking protrusion 18 may be single or three or more.

  4 and 5 below show Examples 2 and 3. FIG. Each of these embodiments is common in many respects to the configuration and operational effects of the first embodiment. Therefore, regarding these common items, common reference numerals are attached to the drawings, and redundant description thereof is omitted, and different points are mainly described. In addition, the configurations of the respective parts in each of these embodiments may be variously combined in light of the object and the effect of the present invention.

  In order to describe the present invention in more detail, Example 2 will be described with reference to FIG.

  The locking portion 16 is a shaft having a circular cross section. Further, the locking protrusion 18 is provided as a single unit.

  In order to describe the present invention in more detail, Example 3 will be described with reference to FIG.

  The hook portions of the locking projections 18 are protruded so as to face each other in the longitudinal direction of the flange portion 15. As seen from the line of sight (FIG. 5), the end portions 20 and 20 in the longitudinal direction of the lens 8 do not have to contact the lamp housing 7. In this case, in a state where the lens 8 is elastically deformed (solid line in FIG. 5), the locking protrusions 18 are pressed and locked to the locking portions 16 by a restoring force based on the elasticity.

FIG. 3 is a partial cross-sectional view taken along the line I-I in FIG. 1 is a partial rear view of a rear surface of an automobile, showing Example 1. FIG. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a lens and a locking projection according to the first embodiment. FIG. 3 shows a second embodiment and corresponds to a part of FIG. 1. FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating Example 3 and corresponding to a part of FIG. 1.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Automobile 2 Car body 3 Lamp 5 Bulb 6 Opening 6a Opening edge 7 Lamp housing 8 Lens 9 Locking tool 12 Optical axis 14 Lens body 15 Flange 16 Locking 18 Locking protrusion 20 End side A Irradiation direction R1 Radius R2 radius

Claims (1)

A lamp housing that is supported by the vehicle body and that has a bulb with an opening formed in the irradiation direction of the bulb, a transparent lens that is provided so as to close the opening, and the lens that is integrated toward the lamp housing side. In a vehicle lamp provided with a locking projection protruding to the locking portion formed on the lamp housing side.
In the free state of the lens as seen from the line of sight orthogonal to the direction of irradiation by the bulb, the lens has an arc shape having an arc center on the bulb side, and the lens is elastically deformed so as to go from the arc shape to a flat shape. A vehicular lamp characterized in that, in a state, a locking projection is pressed against and locked to the locking portion by a restoring force based on its elasticity.

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