JP2009280064A - Assist grip lighting system for vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an assist grip lighting system for a vehicle lighting an assist grip to show the position to an occupant without complicating a structure or lowering appearance. <P>SOLUTION: This assist grip lighting system 1 includes a thin portion 6 formed in a roof liner 4 located around the assist grip 2 of the vehicle, and a light source 7 (light guide pipe and LED arranged at the end part) installed on a back side of the thin portion 6. Light beam from the light source 7 transmits the thin portion 6 to light the assist grip 2. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a vehicular assist grip lighting device that mainly illuminates an assist grip provided on a ceiling of a vehicle such as an automobile. More specifically, the light from a light source provided inside a roof flyer passes through the roof flyer. The present invention relates to an assist grip lighting device for a vehicle that illuminates an assist grip.

Conventionally, in a passenger compartment of an automobile or the like, an assist grip is provided on a roof liner located above the window. When driving at night, passengers try to grab the assist grip, but the passenger compartment is dark, so it cannot be found right away. For this reason, it has been desired to install an illuminating device so that the position of the assist grip can be understood.
As an apparatus 100 for illuminating various apparatuses in a vehicle compartment, for example, as shown in FIG. 6, an inside door handle bezel 101 is formed with a thin portion 102 and an LED is installed therein (patent). Reference 1). In the illumination device 100, the light from the LED passes through the thin portion 102, so that the occupant can know the position of the inside door handle bezel 101.
Further, as the device 103 for illuminating the interior of the vehicle gently, for example, as shown in FIG. 7, a plate-shaped light guide 105 is provided in a part of the roof flyer 104, and a light guide tube 106 is provided on the end face thereof. It is known (see Patent Document 2). In the illuminating device 103, the light beam from the light guide tube 106 is diffused from the entire light guide 105 into the vehicle interior, and the interior of the vehicle is brightened.

However, when the lighting device 100 including the thin portion 102 described above is applied to an assist grip, an LED is built in the assist grip, the internal structure becomes complicated, and the assist grip itself is large in terms of strength and the like. It will become.
In addition, when the assist grip is illuminated by the illumination device 103 including the plate-shaped light guide 105 described above, a light guide made of a material different from the roof liner is exposed at a part of the roof liner, so that a separate feeling is provided. It feels strong and looks bad. Moreover, since the light guide is fitted in the roof liner, the structure becomes complicated.

JP 2001-191845 A Special table 2007-504039 gazette

  The present invention has been made in view of the above situation, and provides a vehicle assist grip illumination device that can illuminate an assist grip and show its position to an occupant without complicating the structure or deteriorating the appearance. The purpose is to do.

The present invention is as follows.
1. A thin portion formed in a roof liner located around the assist grip of the vehicle, and a light source installed on the back side of the thin portion,
The assist grip lighting device for a vehicle, wherein a light beam from the light source passes through the thin portion and illuminates the assist grip.
2. The roof flyer includes a housing portion that houses the assist grip, and the thin-walled portion is formed at a portion that protrudes toward the vehicle interior side of the housing portion. The assist grip lighting device for vehicles as described.
3. The projecting part forming the thin part is the part located above the assist grip. The assist grip lighting device for vehicles as described.
4). The assist grip includes a support shaft that rotatably supports the roof flyer side and the vehicle interior side, and biasing means that biases the roof flyer side.
When used, the user rotates it toward the vehicle interior side, and when it is not used, it is rotated and accommodated by the biasing means toward the roof liner side. To 3. The assist grip lighting device for a vehicle according to any one of the above.

  According to the vehicle assist grip lighting device of the present invention, a thin portion is formed in the roof liner, and a light source is installed on the back side of the thin portion. As compared with the case where a certain light guide is provided, it is possible to prevent a decrease in appearance. In addition, since only the light source is necessary as the necessary separate member and the back surface of the roof liner has a simple structure, compared to the conventional case where a separate light guide is provided or the light source is provided inside the assist grip, the component The increase in the number of points can be suppressed to the minimum, and the complexity of the mechanism can be prevented.

  In addition, when the thin wall portion is formed in a portion protruding to the vehicle interior side of the housing portion, the light source can be installed using the empty space on the back side of the portion, so that the light source can be installed. There is no need to create a special space, and the dead space can be effectively used. Furthermore, in such a projecting part, the part can be simultaneously stretched at the time of press processing in the step of manufacturing the roof liner, and can be easily thinned, so that a thin part can be formed. A special process is not required, and an increase in the processing cost of the roof liner can be suppressed. Moreover, since the housing portion is formed in the roof liner, the rigidity is increased due to the uneven shape, so that the rigidity necessary for the roof liner can be maintained even if the thin portion is formed there.

In addition, when the portion that forms the thin portion is positioned above the assist grip, the light from the thin portion can illuminate the handle of the assist grip, so that the occupant can easily recognize the handle of the assist grip. become able to.
In addition, when the assist grip is not used, if it is a retractable type that is rotated and accommodated to the roof flyer side by the urging means, it is stored when not used and it is difficult for the passenger to see at night. The position can be easily recognized.

The assist grip lighting device for a vehicle according to the present embodiment includes a thin portion formed in a roof liner located around the assist grip of the vehicle, and a light source installed on the back side of the thin portion.
The “assist grip” is not particularly limited in structure, size, shape, material, quantity, etc. as long as it is attached to the ceiling of the vehicle and can be held by an occupant. The assist grip may be of a retractable type including a support shaft that is rotatably supported on the roof flyer side and the vehicle interior side, and biasing means that biases the roof flyer side.

As long as the above-mentioned “roofliner” can be formed as a ceiling material in the vehicle interior and can form a thin portion that transmits light from the light source, its structure, size, shape, material, quantity, etc. are not particularly limited. The roof liner includes an accommodating portion (see FIG. 1 and the like) for accommodating the assist grip formed so as to be recessed when viewed from the vehicle interior side by projecting the periphery of the assist grip toward the vehicle interior side. You can
As a roof liner, it can have at least a skin exposed to the vehicle interior side and a base material that ensures cushioning. Non-woven fabrics, woven fabrics, knits, etc. can be used as the skin, and composite materials combining these, or composite materials in which non-woven fabrics, woven fabrics, knits, etc. are laminated and bonded to the surface of resin foam sheets such as polyurethane foam sheets. Etc. can also be adopted. As the substrate, a resin foam material such as polyurethane foam, a fiber molded body, or the like can be used. This roof liner can be obtained by laminating a skin, a base material, and a backing material made of a non-woven fabric with a thermosetting glass mat and performing molding by press molding.

The “thin wall portion” is not particularly limited in structure, size, shape, quantity, or the like as long as the light from the light source is transmitted and illuminates the assist grip. When the roof liner is press-molded with the skin, the base material, and the backing material overlapped, all of the skin, the base material, and the backing material can be thinned at the thin portion. Moreover, when the accommodating part is formed in the roof liner, the thin-walled part can be formed at a portion protruding to the vehicle interior side of the accommodating part. In this case, the thin portion can be a portion located on the upper side of the assist grip.
The “light source” is not particularly limited in its structure, size, shape, material, quantity, etc., as long as the emitted light is transmitted through the thin-walled portion. As a light source, it can be set as the light guide tube by which LED was arrange | positioned at the edge part, single LED, a light bulb, a fluorescent lamp, etc. This light source can be turned on when the vehicle lights.

  Hereinafter, the present invention will be specifically described with reference to the drawings. In the present embodiment, a case where the vehicle assist grip lighting device 1 is applied to an assist grip 2 of an automobile is described. That is, in this embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the roof liner 4 is attached to the interior side of the metal body 3 constituting the ceiling of the automobile, and the door glass 5 is respectively above the door glass 5. An assist grip 2 is provided. A vehicle assist grip lighting device 1 is installed for each assist grip 2.

(1) Configuration of Example As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the vehicle assist grip lighting device 1 according to this example includes a thin portion 6 formed in a roof flyer 4 positioned around the assist grip 2, and And a light source 7 installed on the back side of the thin portion 6. Then, the light from the light source 7 passes through the thin portion 6 to illuminate the assist grip 2.
The installation location of the assist grip 2 of the roof liner 4 has a recessed shape, and an accommodating portion 8 for accommodating the assist grip 2 is formed. A thin portion 6 is formed in a linear portion projecting toward the vehicle interior side located above the assist grip 2 of the housing portion 8. A roof side airbag 9 is accommodated on the back side of the portion protruding into the vehicle below the accommodating portion 8.
The light source 7 is a light guide tube provided along the back side of the thin-walled portion 6 and an LED disposed at the end thereof. The light source 7 is turned on when the vehicle lights.

  The assist grip 2 includes a support shaft 10 that is rotatably supported on the roof flyer 4 side and the vehicle interior side, and biasing means (not shown) that biases the roof flyer 4 side. The support shaft 10 is fixed to and supported by the vehicle body 3 by a support member 16. That is, the assist grip 2 is used by being rotated by the user toward the vehicle interior side when used (indicated by an imaginary line in FIG. 1), and when not in use, the roof gripper 2 is lifted so that the handle 11 is raised by the urging means. It is a retractable type that is rotated and accommodated on the 4 side. When the assist grip 2 is not used, the handle 11 of the assist grip 2 comes close to the thin portion 6 so that the light beam from the thin portion 6 can directly illuminate the handle 11.

(2) Operation of the embodiment A method for manufacturing the roof liner 4 of the embodiment described above will be described with reference to FIG.
The roof liner 4 here is a thermosetting glass mat comprising a skin 12 made of a nonwoven fabric exposed on the vehicle interior side, a base material 13 made of a polyurethane foam material that ensures cushioning properties, and a backing material 14 made of a nonwoven fabric. 15 and 15 and are formed by press molding. At the time of pressing, the thin portion 6 is made thinner by extending the constituent members 12, 13, and 14 than the other portions. As a result, not only the base material 13 but also the skin 12 and the backing material 14 are thinned.

Next, the operation of the above-described embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.
When the assist grip 2 is not used, the assist grip 2 is accommodated in the accommodating portion 8. The light source 7 is also turned on in conjunction with turning on the vehicle light at night or the like. Light emitted from the light source 7 passes through the thin portion 6 and illuminates the handle 11 of the assist grip 2. Some of the transmitted light illuminates the interior of the vehicle. Since all the transmitted light is transmitted through the thin portion 6, it is a faint and weak light beam.
When the occupant looks at the upper side of the door glass 5 to grip the assist grip 2, the position of the handle 11 can be easily recognized because the handle 11 is dimly illuminated.

(3) Effects of Example According to this example, the light source 7 is installed on the back side of the thin portion 6 that is the same member as the roof liner 4, so that the appearance does not change from that of the normal roof liner 4 when it is turned off. For this reason, the fall of appearance can be prevented compared with the case where the light guide which is another member is provided conventionally. Further, since only the light source 7 is sufficient as an additional member and the back side of the roof flyer 4 has a simple structure, a separate light guide is provided as in the prior art, or the light source 7 is provided inside the assist grip 2. Compared to the case, the complexity of the mechanism can be suppressed. In addition, the assist grip 2 is dimly illuminated and emerges, and some of the light rays dimly illuminate the interior of the vehicle, thereby improving the design of the interior lighting.

  Moreover, since the thin part 6 is formed in the site | part which protrudes in the vehicle interior side of the accommodating part 8, the light source 7 can be installed using a vacant space. For this reason, it is not necessary to create a special space for installing the light source 7, and the dead space can be effectively used. Further, since the protruding portion can be easily thinned by simply extending it during press working, a separate process for forming the thin portion 6 is not required, and the processing cost of the roof liner 4 is increased. Can be suppressed. In addition, since the housing portion 8 is formed in the roof liner 4, the rigidity is increased due to the uneven shape, so that the rigidity required for the roof liner 4 can be maintained even if the thin portion 6 is formed there.

Furthermore, since the site | part which forms the thin part 6 is located above the assist grip 2, and the assist grip 2 is retractable, when the assist grip 2 is not used, the thin part 6 and the handle 11 can be very close to each other. For this reason, the light beam from the thin wall portion 6 can reliably illuminate the handle 11 of the assist grip 2, and the occupant can easily recognize the position of the handle 11.
Further, when the roof liner 4 is press-molded, the thin-walled portion 6 is made thinner by extending the constituent members 12, 13, and 14 than the other portions, so that not only the base material 13 but also the skin 12 and the backing material 14 are provided. The light transmittance can be increased by thinning. And since the base material 13 is not crushed, the fall of the light transmittance by the densification of the base material 13 can be prevented.

  In the present invention, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and various modifications can be made within the scope of the present invention depending on the purpose and application. That is, in the said Example, although the light source 7 was provided separately in each assist-grip lighting apparatus 1 for vehicles, it is not limited to this, For example, as shown in FIG. A single light guide tube may be used in the assist grip lighting devices 1 and 1 for use. Further, in this case, the design is improved by forming a thin portion 6 in the roof liner 4 between the assist grips 2 and 2 positioned at the front and the rear to emit light linearly over the front and rear of the vehicle. Good.

In the above embodiment, the light guide tube and the LED arranged at the end thereof are used as the light source 7, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, a single LED, a light bulb, a fluorescent lamp, or the like is used. You may do it.
Furthermore, in the said Example, although the nonwoven fabric was employ | adopted as the skin 12 of the roof liner 4, it is not limited to this, For example, you may use as a woven fabric or a knit.

Moreover, in the said Example, although the assist grip 2 was made into retractable type, it is not limited to this, It is good also as fixed type as shown in FIG. Also in this case, the light from the thin portion 6 provided on the upper side of the assist grip 2 can irradiate the assist grip 2.
Furthermore, in the said Example, although the thin part 6 is formed in the upper side of the assist grip 2, it is not limited to this, A lower side may be sufficient. Or in the said Example, although the roof flyer 4 was equipped with the accommodating part 8, it is not limited to this, The accommodating part 8 does not need to be provided.

  The present invention can be widely applied as a vehicle assist grip lighting device, and is particularly suitable as a vehicle assist grip lighting device with a retractable assist grip.

It is sectional drawing cut | disconnected by the II line | wire in FIG. 2 which shows the assist-grip lighting apparatus for vehicles which concerns on a present Example. It is a top view which shows a roof liner. It is a figure which shows the structural material of a roof flyer. It is a top view which shows the assist-grip lighting apparatus and roof flyer for vehicles which concern on another Example. It is sectional drawing which shows the assist grip illuminating device for vehicles which concerns on another Example. It is a figure which shows the conventional illuminating device. It is sectional drawing which shows the other conventional illuminating device.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1; Assist grip lighting apparatus for vehicles, 2; Assist grip, 4; Louflyer, 6; Thin part, 7; Light source, 8;

Claims (4)

A thin portion formed in a roof liner located around the assist grip of the vehicle, and a light source installed on the back side of the thin portion,
The assist grip lighting device for a vehicle, wherein a light beam from the light source passes through the thin portion and illuminates the assist grip.   The assist grip lighting device for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the roof flyer includes a housing portion for housing the assist grip, and the thin portion is formed at a portion protruding toward a vehicle interior side of the housing portion.   The assist grip lighting device for a vehicle according to claim 2, wherein the projecting portion forming the thin portion is a portion located above the assist grip. The assist grip includes a support shaft that rotatably supports the roof flyer side and the vehicle interior side, and biasing means that biases the roof flyer side.
The vehicle assist grip illumination according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the vehicle is used while being rotated by the user when in use, and is rotated and accommodated by the biasing means toward the roof flyer when not in use. apparatus.

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