JPH04366501A - Vehicle lighting fixture - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide a vehicle lighting fixture with good appearance having no inconvenience such as the lighting of an area laid along the upper and lower side edge parts of an outer lens and causing no snacks eye phenomenon. CONSTITUTION:Within a transversely long lamp chamber space having a wide cross width, compared with the longitudinal width, which is formed of a lamp body 10 and an outer lens 12, a light source 14 is received, and an inner lens 16 is disposed between the outer lens 12 and the light source 4. A diffusion step 13 is formed on the outer lens 12, and a Fresnel step 17 is formed in the area just opposite to the light source 14 of the inner lens 16, and prism steps 18 are formed on the side parts of the Fresnel step-formed area. In such a vehicle lighting fixture, the prism steps 18 are formed on the upper and lower side edge parts of the area just opposite to the light source 14 of the inner lens 16 to reduce the longitudinal width of the Fresnel step-formed area 16a, and light shielding parts 20 for shielding the light directing diffusion step non- formed areas 13a laid along the upper and lower side walls of the outer lens front surface are extended and formed on the upper and lower side walls 11a, 11b of a lamp body.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

0001

[Industrial Field of Application] The present invention relates to a horizontally long vehicle lamp whose length is smaller than its width, and in particular, an inner lens having a Fresnel step is provided inside an outer lens having a diffusion step. Regarding vehicle lights.

0002

2. Description of the Related Art As shown in FIGS. 9 to 11, a conventional lamp of this kind has a bulb 5, which is a light source, located in a horizontally long lamp chamber space formed by a lamp body 2 and an outer lens 3.
An inner lens 6 having a Fresnel step for forming parallel light is arranged in front of the bulb 5, a diffusing step 4 is formed in the outer lens 3, and the light emitted from the bulb 5 passes through the inner lens 6. The light becomes substantially parallel light, is diffused by the diffusion step 4, and is emitted and distributed from the outer lens 3. That is, in the inner lens 6, a Fresnel step 7a is formed in a region where the incident angle θ of the direct light is small, that is, a region A directly facing the bulb 5, and a Fresnel step 7a is formed in the region where the incident angle θ of the direct light is large, that is, from the left and right from the bulb 5. A prism step 7b is formed in a spaced apart area so that all the light emitted from the inner lens 6 becomes substantially parallel light and is guided to the outer lens 3.

0003

However, in the above-mentioned conventional lamp, when the lamp is turned on, a so-called serpentine phenomenon occurs in which the approximately center portion of the outer lens 3 of the lamp appears to bulge in the left-right direction, as shown by reference numeral 8 in FIG. The first problem is that the brightness occurs, and the second problem is that the upper and lower side edges of the outer lens 3 appear to shine intensively, as shown by reference numeral 9 in FIG.

[0004] The inventor has investigated and found that the first problem is that the Fresnel step 7a and the prism step 7
It was confirmed that this was due to a difference in the amount of light emitted from the light source b. That is, as shown in FIG. 12, the Fresnel step 7a
In this case, substantially the entire surface of the step element serves as an effective incidence surface for incident light, but in the prism step 7b, only approximately half of the step element serves as an effective incidence surface for incident light. Therefore, the ratio between the amount of light La emitted from the Fresnel step 7a and the amount of light emitted from the prism step Lb is 10:6, and the center portion of the outer lens 3 in the left-right direction (the area directly facing the bulb) is larger than the left and right areas. Because the amount of light increases significantly, a serpentine phenomenon occurs and the appearance is poor.

Further, the outer lens 3 is formed with a side wall 3b for forming a seal leg 3a that engages with the seal groove 2a on the lamp body side, and the area along this side wall 3b on the front surface of the outer lens is There is a band-shaped non-step region 4a in which no diffusion step 4 is formed. In addition, the inner lens 6 is fixed to the lamp body 2,
A minute gap 6a is formed between the inner lens 6 and the lamp body 2, and the light from the bulb 5 is transmitted through this gap 6a as shown in FIG.
The light leaks as indicated by the arrow 1, and this leaked light is emitted from the non-step region 4a which has no diffusion effect. Since this non-step region 4a has no light diffusing effect, this region appears to shine intensively.

The present invention has been made in view of the problems of the prior art, and its purpose is to eliminate the problem of brightness in the areas along the upper and lower side edges of the outer lens, and to provide an excellent appearance without the appearance of the serpentine phenomenon. The purpose is to provide good vehicular lighting.

[0007]

[Means for Solving the Problems] In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the vehicle lamp according to claim 1 is provided with a horizontally elongated lamp whose width is longer than the vertical width formed by the lamp body and the outer lens. A light source is housed in the room space, an inner lens is disposed between the outer lens and the light source, a diffusion step is formed on the outer lens, and
In a vehicle lamp in which a Fresnel step is formed in a region of the inner lens that directly faces the light source, and a prism step is formed on the side of the Fresnel step formation region, the upper and lower side edges of the region of the inner lens that directly faces the bulb. A prism step is formed in the upper part of the lamp body so that the vertical width of the Fresnel step forming area is smaller than the vertical width of the lateral prism step forming area, and a prism step is formed on the upper and lower side walls of the lamp body along the upper and lower side walls of the front surface of the outer lens. In this embodiment, a light blocking portion is formed to extend to block light directed toward the region where the diffusion step is not formed.

Further, in the vehicle lamp according to claim 2, the light source is housed in a horizontally long light chamber space formed by the lamp body and the outer lens, and the width is longer than the vertical width. An inner lens is arranged between the inner lens and the outer lens, and a diffusion step is formed on the outer lens, a Fresnel step is formed in the area of the inner lens directly facing the light source, and a prism step is formed on the side of this Fresnel step forming area. In the vehicle lamp thus formed, prism steps are overlaidly formed on the upper and lower side edges of the region directly facing the bulb of the inner lens on the side opposite to the Fresnel step formation side, so that the region where only the Fresnel steps are formed is The vertical width is made smaller than the vertical width of the lateral prism step formation area, and a light shield is provided on the upper and lower side walls of the lamp body to block light directed toward the diffusion step non-formation area along the upper and lower side walls of the front surface of the outer lens. The portion is formed to extend.

Further, in the vehicle lamp according to claim 3, the light source is housed in the horizontally long light chamber space formed by the lamp body and the outer lens, and the width is longer than the vertical width. An inner lens is arranged between the inner lens and the outer lens, and a diffusion step is formed on the outer lens, a Fresnel step is formed in the area of the inner lens directly facing the light source, and a prism step is formed on the side of this Fresnel step forming area. In the formed vehicle lamp, the upper and lower side edges of the region directly facing the bulb of the inner lens are cut out in a horizontal band shape to make the vertical width of the Fresnel step forming region smaller than the vertical width of the prism step forming region. In addition, a light shielding part is provided on the upper and lower side walls of the lamp body for blocking light directed toward the band-shaped notch of the inner lens and blocking light directed toward the diffusion step non-forming area along the upper and lower side walls of the front surface of the outer lens. It is designed to extend and form.

0010

According to claim 1, in the region of the inner lens directly facing the bulb, the amount of light emitted from the prism step forming regions formed at the upper and lower side edges is greater than the amount of light emitted from the Fresnel step forming region at the vertical center. Small compared to the amount of light. Therefore, the amount of light at the upper and lower side edges of the region of the inner lens that directly faces the bulb decreases, and the distribution of the amount of light in the left-right direction of the light emitted from the inner lens is smoothed. Further, the light shielding portion extending from the lamp body blocks light from the light source toward the diffusion step non-forming region along the upper and lower side walls of the front surface of the outer lens, so that the upper and lower side edges of the outer lens are not particularly illuminated.

In the second aspect of the present invention, in the region of the inner lens directly facing the bulb, the light emitted from the Fresnel step and prism step overlapping formation regions formed on the upper and lower side edges is refracted toward the optical axis side in the vertical direction. . Therefore, the amount of light at the upper and lower side edges of the region of the inner lens that directly faces the bulb decreases, and the distribution of the amount of light in the left-right direction of the light emitted from the inner lens is smoothed. In addition, the light shielding part extending from the lamp body blocks light from the light source toward the non-diffusion step area along the upper and lower side walls of the front surface of the outer lens, making the upper and lower side edges of the outer lens particularly bright. do not have.

[0012] In claim 3, in the region of the inner lens directly facing the bulb, upper and lower side edges are cut out,
Furthermore, since the light-shielding ribs block the light directed toward this cutout area, the amount of light emitted from the Fresnel step formation area is reduced by the vertical width of the upper and lower side edges compared to the side prism step formation areas. As a result, the light intensity distribution in the left-right direction of the light emitted from the inner lens is smoothed. In addition, the light shielding part extending from the lamp body blocks light from the light source toward the non-diffusion step forming area along the upper and lower side walls of the front surface of the outer lens, so that the upper and lower side edges of the outer lens do not particularly shine. .

[0013]

Embodiments Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described based on the drawings. 1 to 4 show one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 is a front view of a tail-and-stop lamp according to the first embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a horizontal sectional view of the lamp (FIG. 1). 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of the same lamp (a sectional view taken along line III-III shown in FIG. 1),
FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the inner lens seen from the back side.

In these figures, reference numeral 10 denotes a lamp body in the shape of an oblong container whose width (width in the horizontal direction) is longer than its width (vertical width), and an outer lens 12 is provided at the front opening of the lamp body 10. are assembled to form a light chamber space inside. A bulb 14, which is a light source, is inserted into the bulb insertion hole 11 of the lamp body and is disposed approximately at the center in the left-right direction of this lamp chamber space. A fisheye step 13 for diffusing light is formed on the outer lens 12, and between the bulb 14 and the outer lens 12,
A horizontally long inner lens 16 on which a Fresnel step 17 and a prism step 18 are formed is arranged. The Fresnel step 17 is formed approximately at the center of the inner lens 16 in the left-right direction, and the prism steps 18 are formed on both sides of the inner lens 16 in the left-right direction. That is, a Fresnel step 17 is formed on the back side of a region 16A of the inner lens 16 that directly faces the bulb 14 (a region where the incident angle of direct light from the bulb is small), and the regions on the left and right of this Fresnel step formation region (areas from the bulb) Prism steps 18 are installed in areas 16B and 16B (areas where the angle of incidence of direct light is large).
is formed so that the direct light from the bulb 14 is transmitted through the inner lens 16 to become substantially parallel light and guided to the outer lens 12.

Prism step formation regions 16b1 and 16 in which prism steps 18 are formed in the shape of bands are formed on the upper and lower side edges of the bulb-facing region 16A of the inner lens 15.
b2 is provided. That is, prism steps 18 whose output light quantity is smaller than that of the Fresnel steps 17 are formed above and below the Fresnel step forming region 16a. Therefore, the amount of light emitted from the upper and lower side edge regions of the bulb directly facing area 16A is smaller than when Fresnel steps are formed over the entire bulb directly facing area. In the valve directly facing area 16A, prism step forming areas 16b1, 1
6b2 is provided, the amount of emitted light is smaller, and the difference between the amount of emitted light from the bulb directly facing area 16A and the amount of emitted light from the prism step forming areas 16B, 16B on the left and right sides of the bulb directly facing area is small. Then, the horizontal distribution of the amount of light emitted from the inner lens is smoothed, and in particular, the light amount does not become extreme only in the area directly facing the bulb 16A. Therefore, the brightness of the outer lens 12 is made uniform in the left and right directions, and The structure is such that this phenomenon does not occur.

Further, on the upper wall 11a and the lower wall 11b of the lamp body 10, light shielding ribs 20, 20 are provided extending along the seal groove 11 and projecting inward in the vertical direction. The upper and lower side edges of the inner lens 16 and the protruding ends 21 of the light-shielding ribs overlap in the front-rear direction to ensure that the light L1 directed toward the fisheye step non-forming region 13a along the upper and lower side walls of the outer lens 12 is It is now possible to block it. Therefore, a gap is formed between the inner lens 16 and the lamp body 10, but the light shielding rib 20
Since this reliably prevents light from leaking through this gap, direct light does not reach the fisheye step non-forming area 13a, which eliminates the problem that the upper and lower side edges of the front surface of the outer lens shine like in conventional lamps. There is no.

FIG. 5 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of a tail and stop lamp which is a main part of a second embodiment of the present invention. In this figure, a Fresnel step 17 is formed on the entire back side (side facing the bulb) of a region 16A of the inner lens 16 that directly faces the bulb 14, and on the other hand, a Fresnel step 17 is formed on the entire back side (side facing the bulb) of the region 16A that directly faces the bulb 14.
On the front side of 6A, areas on the left and right of the valve facing area 16A (
A prism step 18 similar to the prism step formed in the area (area where the angle of incidence of direct light from the bulb is large)
are formed in a band shape along the upper and lower side edges of the inner lens 16. In the band-shaped region 19 where the Fresnel step 17 and the prism step 18 are formed by overlapping,
The light incident on the inner lens 16 is transmitted through the Fresnel step 17.
After being made substantially parallel to the optical axis L0 by the prism step 18, the light is refracted toward the optical axis L0 in the vertical direction when exiting from the prism step 18, and is guided toward the center of the outer lens 12 in the vertical direction. Therefore, the amount of light in the upper and lower side edge areas of the area directly facing the bulb of the outer lens 12 is reduced, and the brightness of the outer lens is made uniform in the left-right direction, thereby creating a structure in which the serpentine phenomenon does not occur. The rest is the same as the first embodiment described above, and the explanation thereof will be omitted by giving the same reference numerals.

6 to 8 show a third embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 6 is a vertical sectional view of a tail and stop lamp according to the third embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 7 is a longitudinal sectional view of the tail and stop lamp according to the third embodiment of the present invention FIG. 8 is a front view of the inner lens, which is a main part of the lens, and FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing the arrangement of the cutout portion of the inner lens and the light-shielding ribs. In these figures, the upper and lower side edges of a region 16A of the inner lens 16 directly facing the bulb 14 in which the Fresnel step is formed are cut out in a strip shape in the lateral direction. code 30
indicates a notch. In addition, the light-shielding rib 20 protrudingly formed on the lamp body 10 has a band-shaped notch 3 on the inner lens side.
A protrusion 22 corresponding to 0 is formed to have a structure that blocks light directed toward the notch 30.

For this reason, the bulb 14 of the inner lens 16
The effective area in the region 16A directly facing the bulb is smaller due to the cutout, and the amount of light in the upper and lower side edge regions of the bulb directly facing region 16A of the inner lens is reduced.
The difference in the amount of light emitted from the bulb facing area 16A of the inner lens where the Fresnel steps are formed and the left and right prism step forming areas 16B is small. This makes the brightness of the outer lens uniform in the left and right direction,
It has a structure that prevents the serpentine phenomenon from occurring.

[0020]

Effects of the Invention As is clear from the above description, according to the vehicle lamp according to the present invention, the amount of light emitted from the upper and lower side edges of the area directly facing the bulb of the inner lens is reduced. Since the distribution of the amount of emitted light in the horizontal direction is smoothed, the outer lens has approximately uniform brightness in the horizontal direction, eliminating the occurrence of the serpentine phenomenon and improving the appearance when the light is turned on. In addition, the light-shielding rib blocks light directed toward the non-diffusion step area of the outer lens.
There is no problem with the upper and lower side edges of the outer lens shining.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

[Fig. 1] Front view of a tail-and-stop lamp that is an embodiment of the present invention.

[Figure 2] Horizontal sectional view of the lamp (line II-I shown in Figure 1)
sectional view along I)

[Fig. 3] Longitudinal cross-sectional view of the lamp (line III-I shown in Fig. 1)
sectional view along II)

[Figure 4] Perspective view of the inner lens seen from the back side

[Figure 5]
A vertical cross-sectional view of an inner lens housed in a tail-and-stop lamp according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

[Figure 6]
A vertical sectional view of a tail and stop lamp according to a third embodiment of the present invention

[Figure 7] Front view of the inner lens used in the lamp

[Fig. 8] A perspective view showing the arrangement of the notch formed in the inner lens and the light shielding rib on the lamp body side.

[Figure 9] Front view of conventional lighting equipment

[Figure 10] Horizontal cross-sectional view of the lamp

[Figure 11] Longitudinal cross-sectional view of the lamp

[Fig. 12] Explanatory diagram showing the light refraction effect in Fresnel steps and prism steps

[Explanation of symbols]

10 Lamp body 11a, 11b Upper and lower side walls 12 of the lamp body
Outer lens 13 Fisheye step 13a which is a diffusion step Diffusion step non-forming area 14 along the upper and lower side walls of the outer lens Bulb 16 which is a light source Inner lens 16A Area 16 directly facing the bulb of the inner lens
a Fresnel step forming area 16B Side area of the bulb facing area of the inner lens (side prism step forming area) 17 Fresnel step 18 Prism step 19 Fresnel step and prism step overlapping forming area 20 Light shielding part

Claims (3)

[Claims] Claim 1: A light source is housed in a horizontally long lamp chamber space formed by a lamp body and an outer lens, the width of which is longer than the length thereof, and an inner lens is disposed between the outer lens and the light source, In the vehicle lamp, a diffusion step is formed on the outer lens, a Fresnel step is formed in a region of the inner lens directly facing the light source, and a prism step is formed on the side of the Fresnel step formation region. Prism steps are formed at the upper and lower side edges of the area of the lens that directly faces the light source, and the vertical width of the Fresnel step forming area is smaller than the vertical width of the lateral prism step forming area, and the vertical width of the Fresnel step forming area is made smaller than the vertical width of the lateral prism step forming area. A vehicular lamp characterized in that a light shielding portion is formed on the side wall of the outer lens to block light directed toward a diffusion step non-forming area along the upper and lower side walls of the front surface of the outer lens. 2. A light source is housed in a horizontally long lamp chamber space formed by the lamp body and the outer lens, the width of which is longer than the length thereof, and the inner lens is disposed between the outer lens and the light source, In the vehicle lamp, a diffusion step is formed on the outer lens, a Fresnel step is formed in a region of the inner lens directly facing the light source, and a prism step is formed on the side of the Fresnel step formation region. Prism steps are overlapped and formed on the upper and lower side edges opposite to the Fresnel step forming side of the area directly facing the light source of the lens, so that the vertical width of the area where only the Fresnel steps are formed is the lateral prism step forming area. The length of the lamp body is smaller than the vertical width of the lamp body, and a light shielding portion is formed extending from the upper and lower side walls of the lamp body to block light directed toward the diffusion step non-forming area along the upper and lower side walls of the front surface of the outer lens. Vehicle lighting equipment featuring: 3. A light source is housed in a horizontally long lamp chamber space formed by the lamp body and the outer lens, the width of which is longer than the length thereof, and the inner lens is disposed between the outer lens and the light source, In the vehicle lamp, a diffusion step is formed on the outer lens, a Fresnel step is formed in a region of the inner lens directly facing the light source, and a prism step is formed on the side of the Fresnel step formation region. The upper and lower side edges of the area of the lens that directly faces the light source are cut out in horizontal strips, so that the vertical width of the Fresnel step forming area is smaller than the vertical width of the prism step forming area, and the upper and lower side edges of the lamp body are cut out. A light blocking portion is formed on the side wall to extend and block light directed toward the band-shaped cutout of the inner lens and to block light directed toward the diffusion step non-forming region along the upper and lower side walls of the front surface of the outer lens. Vehicle lighting equipment featuring: