JP2022064168A - Vehicular lamp fitting - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a vehicular lamp fitting having a novel design.SOLUTION: A vehicular lamp fitting (100) includes: a light source (23); a housing (30) including the light source (23) therein; and an outer lens (10) which defines a lamp chamber with the housing (30). An entire portion, which is exposed to at least the outside of a vehicle body, of an outer surface of the outer lens (10) includes a semi-translucent metallic layer (12).SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

The present invention relates to a vehicle lamp, and more particularly to a vehicle lamp that is externally attached to a vehicle such as a truck, a taxi, or a bus.

Conventionally, a side marker lamp is known as a vehicle lamp that is externally attached to a truck or the like. Generally, a side marker lamp includes a housing, a light source unit, and a bullet-shaped outer lens, and has the function of a marker lamp that lights up at night to indicate the width of the vehicle.

For this reason, the side marker lamp of Patent Document 1 is provided with an annular reflector in the vicinity of the housing, but the outer lens is a general transparent or functional color lens, and the appearance when not lit in the daytime changes. There was a problem that it didn't look good.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2004-155389

Therefore, there has been a demand for the development of a novel vehicle lamp that has an appearance different from that of a general outer lens when it is not lit in the daytime while ensuring visibility when it is lit at night.
The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a vehicle lamp having a novel design.

In order to achieve the above object, the vehicle lighting fixture according to one aspect of the present invention includes a light source, a housing including the light source inside, and an outer lens that defines the lighting chamber together with the housing, and the outer. A semi-translucent metal layer is provided on the outer surface of the lens, at least the entire portion exposed to the outside of the vehicle body.

In the above aspect, since the semi-translucent metal layer (half mirror vapor deposition film) is formed on the outer surface of the outer lens, it makes it feel like a mirror decoration when it is not lit, and it functions as lighting when it is lit. Sometimes it can provide unexpectedness as a design. In addition, since the translucent metal layer is formed directly on the outer surface of the outer lens, it is possible to achieve an impressive appearance such as plating, which is not found in conventional vehicle lamps. In addition, since no additional protective cover is provided, the cost can be reduced.

In the above aspect, it is also preferable that the outer lens has a shape in which the light chamber projects forward and is attached so as to be exposed from the vehicle body.

With this configuration, the illumination light from other vehicles is reflected when the vehicle is not lit at night, so that visibility is ensured even when the vehicle is not lit.

Further, in the above aspect, it is also preferable that an optical step is formed on the inner surface of the outer lens.

With such a configuration, the appearance of the mirror surface is obtained when the light is not turned on, and the pattern due to the optical step can be visually recognized only when the light is turned on.

Further, in the above aspect, it is also preferable that the outer lens is made of a colored transparent material.

With this configuration, it has a mirror surface (metal color) appearance when it is not lit, and emits colored light when it is lit, so that the appearance changes greatly, and it is possible to give a more novel impression to the consumer.

Further, in the above aspect, it is also preferable that the outer lens is provided with the translucent metal layer on the entire outer surface.

With this configuration, when the lamp is not lit, the entire lamp has an integrated, mirror-like appearance, so that it does not look like a lamp at first glance and can give a more novel impression.

According to the vehicle lighting equipment according to the above aspect, it is possible to provide a vehicle lighting equipment having a novel design.

It is a figure which shows the state which attached the lighting equipment for vehicle which concerns on embodiment of this invention to a truck as a side marker lamp. It is an exploded perspective view including the mounting plate of the lamp for the vehicle. It is a top view of the lamp for the vehicle. It is sectional drawing which follows the line IV-IV of FIG. 3 of the lighting equipment for the vehicle. It is a photograph showing the state when the lamp for the vehicle is not lit and when it is lit. It is a figure which shows the state which attached the lamp for a vehicle which concerns on another Embodiment of this invention to a vehicle as an accessory lamp. (A) is a front view of the lamp for the vehicle, and (B) is a cross-sectional view of the lamp for the vehicle along the line BB of (A). It is sectional drawing which follows the line VIII-VIII of FIG. 7A of the lamp for the vehicle. It is an exploded perspective view including the mounting plate of the lamp for the vehicle. It is a figure which shows the state when the lamp for the vehicle is not lit and is lit.

Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings showing examples. The embodiments described below are not limited to the invention, but are exemplary, and all the features and combinations thereof described in the embodiments are not necessarily essential to the invention. Equivalent components and members shown in the drawings will be given the same name, and duplicated explanations will be omitted as appropriate. Further, in the cross-sectional view, for convenience of explanation, the members visible in the back of the cross-sectional view are appropriately omitted.

In addition, the scale and shape of each part shown in each figure are set for convenience in order to facilitate explanation, and are not limitedly interpreted unless otherwise specified.

(Example 1)
The vehicle lamp 100 according to the first embodiment is the one in which the present invention is applied to the side marker lamp of the truck 2. As shown in FIG. 1, the vehicle lighting fixture 100 is attached to both sides (however, only the left side is shown) outside the truck 2 so as to be exposed from the vehicle body to the outside of the vehicle via the mounting plate 3. .. Alternatively, it may be attached directly to the vehicle body.

As shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, the vehicle lamp 100 generally includes an outer lens 10, a light source unit 20, and a housing 30.

The outer lens 10 is made of, for example, a yellow transparent resin. As the material of the outer lens 10, it is preferable to use a colorless or colored acrylic resin (PMMA), a transparent resin such as polycarbonate, or the like. Further, as the material of the outer lens 10, a colorless or colored translucent resin may be used.

The outer lens 10 has a cannonball shape that protrudes forward from the housing 30 and opens rearward.

The housing 30 has a disk shape having a wall on the outer periphery, which is made of an opaque resin such as polypropylene or polyethylene. By closing the opening of the outer lens 10 with the housing 30, the lighting chamber of the vehicle lighting fixture 100 is defined. As a result, the light chamber has a shape that protrudes forward.

As shown in FIG. 2, the housing 30 has a disk shape having the same diameter as the outer diameter of the opening of the outer lens 10, and has an outer peripheral wall 30a extending in the front-rear direction on the outer periphery. At the center of the housing 30, ribs 31 extending in the front-rear direction are formed in a spider web shape to reinforce the strength of the housing 30.

Further, a hole 37 for passing the wiring cord 34 is opened in the central portion of the housing 30. Further, two screw holes 35 on the left and right for passing the mounting screw 26, which will be described later, are opened slightly inside the outer peripheral portion of the housing 30 so as to face each other in the radial direction.

The light source unit 20 is configured by mounting a substrate 22 on a disk-shaped pedestal 21. On the substrate 22, four LED (light emitting diode) light sources 23 and four resistors 24 are alternately mounted at equal intervals in the circumferential direction and connected by wiring 25. A wiring cord 34 is attached to the central portion of the pedestal 21 via a wiring holding portion 33, and the wiring 25 is connected to the wiring cord 34 at the central portion of the pedestal 21.

Screw holes 26a for inserting mounting screws 26 (threads are omitted in the drawing) are provided at both left and right ends of the pedestal 21.

In the light source unit 20, the mounting screw 26 is fixed to the housing 30 with a nut 27 with a washer. Instead of the nut 27 with a washer, a separate nut and washer may be used. The outer lens 10 and the housing 30 are bonded by ultrasonic welding.

The vehicle lamp 100 is usually distributed in a fixed state by assembling a housing 30, a light source unit 20 and an outer lens 10 and screwing a nut 36 with a washer with a mounting screw 26, and is distributed via a mounting plate 3 for a truck. It is attached to 2 externally. Instead of the nut 36 with a washer, a separate nut and washer may be used.

Generally, the mounting plate 3 has a semicircular lower end along the lower part of the housing, and the upper end of the metal plate whose width is substantially equal to the width of the housing 30 is bent at a right angle. On the vertical surface of the mounting plate 3, two mounting holes 3a are formed at positions corresponding to the mounting screws 26, and openings 3b for passing the wiring cord 34 are formed between the mounting holes 3a. Further, on the upper surface of the mounting plate 3, two mounting holes 3c for the truck 2 are formed.

In the vehicle lamp 100, the mounting plate 3 can be mounted by passing the wiring cord 34 through the opening 3b, passing the mounting screw 26 through the mounting hole 3a, and fastening the nut 36 with a washer. Then, in a state where the vehicle lamp 100 is attached to the attachment plate 3, it is screwed to the truck 2 through the attachment hole 3c.

As shown in FIG. 4, a semi-translucent metal layer 12 that reflects a part of the incident light and transmits a part of the incident light is directly formed on the outer surface (surface) of the outer lens 10. The semi-translucent metal layer 12 is a so-called half-mirror vapor-deposited film, and aluminum, silver, titanium, gold, or the like can be used as the metal material.

Further, the transmittance of the semi-translucent metal layer 12 becomes a mirror surface when not lit, making it difficult for the inside of the vehicle lamp 100 to be visually recognized from the outside, and is arbitrary within a range in which the amount of light required as a marker lamp is transmitted when lit. Can be set to. Considering the balance between the light transmittance and the concealing property, it is preferably in the range of, for example, 5 to 60%, and particularly preferably about 15%.

Further, on the surface of the translucent metal layer 12, for example, in order to prevent flaws, a protective film known as a protective film for plating or a vapor-deposited film made of silicon dioxide (SiO ₂ ) or the like is formed. May be good.

Optical steps 13 and 14 are formed on the inner surface of the outer lens 10. The optical step 14 is formed at the front end portion of the outer lens 10, and is formed so that a plurality of square pyramids are continuously arranged concentrically. The optical step 13 is formed in a radial pattern extending rearward from the peripheral edge of the optical step 14.

The surface of the outer peripheral wall 30a of the housing 30 is subjected to a metallic surface treatment having the same color tone as the translucent metal layer 12 by plating or metal coating. By doing so, the entire lamp has a metallic mirror-like appearance when it is not lit, which contributes to giving a novel impression without giving the impression of the lamp.

Next, the operation of the vehicle lamp 100 will be described. As shown in the left figure of FIG. 5, when the light is not lit, the light from the outside is reflected by the translucent metal layer 12 to have a mirror surface appearance.

On the other hand, at the time of lighting, among the light from the LED light source 23, the light incident on the optical step 14 is diffused in the optical step 14, passes through the semitransparent metal layer 12, and is irradiated toward the front of the lamp. In the optical step 14 incident on the optical step 13, the lamp is diffused in the circumferential direction of the lamp, passes through the semitransparent metal layer 12, and is irradiated in the front-rear direction of the vehicle. As a result, as shown in the right figure of FIG. 5, it shines reflecting the patterns of the optical steps 13 and 14, and has an appearance according to the function as a marker lamp showing a predetermined light distribution pattern.

As described above, according to the above configuration, it is possible to provide a vehicle lamp having a novel appearance that the appearance of the mirror surface is shown when the lamp is not lit and the appearance according to the function is shown when the lamp is lit. Since the vehicle lamp according to this embodiment has a mirror surface appearance as a whole when it is not lit, it is not conspicuous as a lamp in the daytime when it is turned off. In particular, drivers of large vehicles such as trucks prefer to use metal-plated decorative parts that have a mirrored appearance, but can exhibit a unified aesthetic with such decorative parts.

Further, in the vehicle lamp 100 according to the embodiment, the semitransparent metal layer 12 is formed by direct vapor deposition on the surface of the outer lens 10. Therefore, since a transparent cover made of resin, for example, is not provided on the outer side of the vapor-filmed layer, it is possible to provide an appearance that has not been conventionally seen as a lamp such as a so-called plated finish. Further, since it is not necessary to provide a protective cover made of resin or the like, the number of parts can be reduced and the manufacturing cost can be suppressed.

Further, at night, even when the vehicle is not lit, the vehicle lighting tool 100 reflects light from the outside such as headlights and street lights of other vehicles, so that a certain degree of visibility can be ensured. At this time, since the translucent metal layer 12 is formed on the entire portion exposed to the outside of the vehicle, it does not become a blind spot. In particular, the outer lens 10 is advantageous because it has a shape in which the light chamber projects forward and is exposed from the vehicle body. When applied to a side marker lamp such as a vehicle lamp 100, the vehicle width can be easily recognized even when the vehicle lamp 100 is turned off and parked / stopped to prevent an accident. Can be done.

Further, as described above, the transmittance of the semi-translucent metal layer 12 becomes a mirror surface when the vehicle lamp 100 is not lit, making it difficult for the inside of the vehicle lamp 100 to be visually recognized from the outside, and as a marker lamp when the vehicle lamp 100 is lit. It can be set arbitrarily within the range in which the required amount of light is transmitted. Considering the balance between the light transmittance and the concealing property, it is preferably in the range of, for example, 5 to 60%, and particularly preferably about 15%. This is because, within such a range, the internal structure is usually invisible under natural light even when the light is not lit, and the unexpectedness of the change in appearance can be ensured.

Further, the optical steps 13 and 14 applied to the inner surface of the outer lens 10 are not indispensable, and the function as an indicator lamp is ensured by controlling the light distribution by another method such as a reflector or an inner lens. It may be. However, by forming the optical step, the lamp itself can show a pattern according to the optical step at the time of lighting, so that the change in appearance can be strongly impressed.

Further, as described above, as the material of the outer lens 10, a colored or colorless, transparent or translucent resin can be used, but when the colored transparent resin is used, the appearance of the metal color when not lit is obtained. , The change from the appearance at the time of lighting is remarkable, which is particularly advantageous.

(Example 2)
The vehicle lamp 200 according to the second embodiment is an application of the present invention to an accessory lamp externally attached to a vehicle such as a taxi. As shown in FIG. 6, the vehicle lighting tool 200 is attached to the bumper of the vehicle 5 so as to be symmetrical, and is used decoratively, and also has a function of a marker light for improving the visibility of the vehicle 5. Have.

As shown in FIGS. 7 to 9, the vehicle lamp 200 generally includes an outer lens 210, a light source unit 220, and a housing 230.

Further, the vehicle lamp 200 has a horizontally long rod shape with both ends sharpened when viewed from the front.

The outer lens 210 has a shape in which the front view follows the overall shape of the vehicle lamp 200, and has a box-like shape that protrudes forward and opens rearward. As a result, the light chamber has a shape protruding forward from the housing. In this example, the outer lens 210 is made of a colorless transparent resin. The material of the outer lens 210 can be selected from the same materials as the outer lens 10.

The housing 230 is made of an opaque resin such as polypropylene or polyethylene and has a shape that matches the opening of the outer lens 210. By closing the opening of the outer lens 210 with the housing 230, the lighting chamber of the vehicle lighting fixture 200 is defined.

Screw holes 235 for inserting the light source mounting screws 226 are formed in the vicinity of both ends of the housing 230. A through hole 237 for passing a wiring cord (not shown) is formed in the central portion of the housing 230. Further, on the back surface of the intermediate portion between the through hole 237 and the screw holes 235 on both sides, a screw hole 238 to be screwed with the mounting screw 205 for mounting on the mounting plate 203 is provided.

The light source unit 220 includes a substrate 221 having a shape corresponding to the front shape of the lamp, and a plurality of (20 in the illustrated example) LED light sources 223 are arranged in a row at equal intervals in the left-right direction on the substrate 221. ing. Further, through holes 227 for inserting the light source mounting screws 226 are formed at both ends of the substrate 221.

The light source unit 220 is fixed to the housing 230 by screwing the light source mounting screw 226 into the screw hole 235 via the through hole 227. Further, the outer lens 210 and the housing 230 are bonded by ultrasonic welding.

The vehicle lamp 200 is usually distributed in a state where the housing 230, the light source unit 220, and the outer lens 210 are assembled.

The vehicle lamp 200 is attached to the vehicle 5 via the attachment plate 203. Specifically, the mounting screw 205 is inserted into the mounting hole 203a of the mounting plate 203, the mounting plate 203 is screwed, and then the vehicle body mounting screw 206 is screwed to the mounting plate 203 for mounting.

As shown in FIGS. 7B and 8, the same semitransparent metal layer 212 as the semitransparent metal layer 12 of the vehicle lamp 100 is formed on the entire surface of the outer lens 210. Further, as shown in FIGS. 7A and 7B, a plurality of optical steps 213 extending in a wavy line in the left-right direction are formed in parallel on the inner surface of the outer lens. Although the optical step 213 is shown by a broken line in FIG. 7A, it does not appear when the light is off.

As a result, as shown in the upper figure of FIG. 10, when the light is not lit, the light from the outside is reflected by the translucent metal layer 212 to show the appearance of the mirror surface.

On the other hand, when lit, as shown in the lower figure of FIG. 10, the light from the LED light source 223 is incident on the optical step 213 and diffused, passes through the semitransparent metal layer 212, and is irradiated forward to be irradiated to the optical step. It will have an appearance according to the function as a shining indicator light reflecting the pattern of 213.

As described above, even in the vehicle lamp 200 having a shape different from that of the first embodiment, the same effect as that of the vehicle lamp 100 can be obtained.

Although the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the above-described embodiment is an example of the present invention, and these can be combined based on the knowledge of those skilled in the art, and such embodiments are also the present invention. Included in the range.

Further, in the above embodiment, an example in which the present invention is applied to a side marker lamp and an accessory lamp has been described, but the present invention is not limited to this, and as far as the law permits, a head lamp, a clearance lamp, a tail lamp, and a side turn. It can be widely applied to various vehicle lighting fixtures such as signal lamps, stop lamps, daytime running lamps, cornering lamps, hazard lamps, position lamps, back lamps, and fog lamps.

In the above embodiment, the outer lens is provided with the semi-translucent metal layers 12, 212, but the semi-translucent metal layers 12, 212 are formed at least on the entire portion exposed to the outside of the vehicle. If the outer lens extends to a portion that is not exposed to the outside of the vehicle, the translucent metal layer 212 does not necessarily have to be formed on the surface of the entire outer lens.

2: Truck (vehicle)
5: Vehicle 100: Vehicle lamp 10: Outer lens 12: Semi-translucent metal layer 13: Optical step 14: Optical step 23: LED light source (light source)
30: Housing 200: Vehicle lamp 210: Outer lens 212: Semi-translucent metal layer 213: Optical step 223: LED light source (light source)
230: Housing

Claims (5)

Light source and
A housing having the light source inside and
It is equipped with an outer lens that defines the light room together with the housing.
A vehicle lighting fixture characterized in that a semitransparent metal layer is provided on at least the entire portion of the outer surface of the outer lens exposed to the outside of the vehicle body. The outer lens has a shape in which the lamp chamber protrudes forward.
The vehicle lighting fixture according to claim 1, wherein the lamp is attached so as to be exposed from the vehicle body. The vehicle lamp according to claim 1 or 2, wherein an optical step is formed on the inner surface of the outer lens. The vehicle lamp according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the outer lens is made of a colored transparent material. The vehicle lamp according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the outer lens is provided with the semitransparent metal layer on the entire outer surface.

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