JPH07230704A - Illumination device for vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide an illumination device which has 3 region for a user to be capable-Of designing freely, C&]1 be installed on a vehicle with a sense of playing, and nevertheless functions satisfactorily in practical terms. CONSTITUTION:A fog light 1 is equipped with a housing 10 having a large bore and a projector type lamp of small bore mounted approx. in the center of the housing 10. Accordingly the projecting surface 21 positioned in the center of a lens 20 and in front of the lamp 30 exerts the function of fog light, and user can design at his discretion the transmission surface 22 which spreads around the projecting surface 21.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a lighting device for automobile headlights, fog lights and the like.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, in addition to a headlight as a main lighting device, an auxiliary lighting device such as a fog light or a driving light is often mounted on a vehicle. Some of these auxiliary lighting devices are already installed in the vehicle, and some are optionally installed by the user. Further, as a mechanism of the illuminating device, in addition to a conventional type in which the reflecting mirror has a substantially parabolic cross section, a projector type light in which the reflecting mirror has a substantially elliptical cross section has been put into practical use. This projector-type lamp can efficiently guide the light from the bulb to the convex lens in front of the lamp by utilizing the fact that the substantially elliptical reflecting mirror has a short focal length. Therefore, a sufficient amount of light can be obtained even if the diameter of the reflecting mirror is small, so that the size of the entire lighting device can be reduced.

[0003]

In recent years, vehicles using a projector-type lamp as a headlight and realizing a body with low air resistance are commercially available. On the other hand, conventional lights are also very popular due to their presence, and there is no way to replace the lights of a vehicle with projector-type lamps.

As described above, there are various user preferences for automobiles. However, the lighting devices used in automobiles are designed by the manufacturer with a focus on performance, and the range that the user can select is small. Of course, it is possible for the user to individually design and modify the vehicle body or the lighting device, but this requires a great deal of cost and is not easy for general users.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide an illuminating device which can be easily designed and which can be designed to match the tastes of individual users. And
It is an object of the present invention to provide a lighting device that allows a user to easily select and change a design that matches his or her senses.

[0006]

As a lighting device which has a region where a user can freely design with a sense of play and can also perform a sufficient function as a headlight, a vehicle lighting device according to the present invention is a vehicle lighting device. It is characterized by having a light projecting surface that emits illumination light to the front and a transmissive surface spreading around the light projecting surface. With such a lighting device,
Since the original function of the lighting device is satisfied by the illumination light projected from the light projecting surface, the user can use the transmitting surface in various ways. For example, the transmitting surface may be painted, or the transmitting surface may be removed and the transmitting surface may be covered with a cover. Various designs are possible for this cover,
If the user selects a favorite one and attaches it to the lighting device, it can be transformed into a vehicle body that matches the user's individuality. It is also possible to provide a cover for covering such a lighting device at a low cost according to the user's wishes.

As described above, in the lighting device according to the present invention, how to use the transmissive surface is completely left to the user, and various expressions suitable for the individuality of the user can be made. Since various designs can be performed without changing the vehicle body or the lighting device itself, it is possible to attach a design or change the design that the user likes at low cost and easily. Further, this transparent surface can be used for improving the function of the vehicle. For example, an auxiliary small output lamp may be installed on the transparent surface to be used as a position lamp. It is also possible to turn a part of the light projected from the light projecting surface to the transmitting surface. It is also possible to give each vehicle a distinctive function by changing the color or pattern of the transparent surface.

If a projector-type lamp that is small and can perform a sufficient function as an illuminating device is used as the light projecting unit that projects the illumination light from the light projecting surface, the light projecting surface can be made small.
Therefore, even if the front surface of the lighting device according to the present invention has the same area as a conventional lamp, if a part of the front surface is divided as a light projecting surface, the remaining area can be opened to the user as a transmissive surface.

In an auxiliary lighting device provided with a housing part which can be optionally attached directly to the vehicle body or indirectly via a roof carrier or the like, a part of the front surface of the housing part is used as a light projecting surface. The design of the housing itself can be diversified. Therefore, the user can select or change the design of the housing portion according to his / her individuality. That is, if a small-diameter light projecting portion is installed inside the housing portion, the user can freely select a housing portion having a cross section of various shapes such as a circle or a quadrangle. Then, the entire lighting device such as the housing portion and the front surface thereof can be selected from those that match the taste of the user. If a project type lamp is used as the light projecting portion, the light projecting portion may be small, so that it is possible to design a housing portion having various shapes with substantially the same dimensions as a conventional lamp.

The cover of such a vehicle lighting device according to the present invention may be any cover as long as it covers the front surface of the housing portion and at least the light projecting surface corresponding to the front surface of the light projecting portion is opened. The portion of the cover that covers the transparent surface other than the light projecting surface can be designed in any manner by the individual covers.

[0011]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIG. 1 shows an outline of a fog light according to an embodiment of the present invention. Further, FIG. 2 shows the structure of the fog lights by using a cross section. The fog light 1 of this example is
It is a lighting device that can be mounted in front of a vehicle bumper or roof carrier. The fog light 1 of this example includes a front surface 2 mounted toward the front of the vehicle and a rear surface 3 facing the front surface 2. The front surface side is substantially cylindrical, and the housing has a shape gradually narrowed toward the rear surface. 10 and a substantially disc-shaped lens 20 attached to the front side of the housing 10.
Is equipped with. The housing 10 is internally provided with a reflector 11 having a substantially parabolic cross section that opens toward the front surface, and a projector-type lamp 30 that is mounted coaxially with the housing 10 in the approximate center thereof. A shaft 12 for mounting on the vehicle body is attached to the lower part of the. The power line of the project type lamp 30 and the power line of the position lamp 13 provided on the reflector 11 extend through the inside of the shaft 12.

The projector-type lamp 30 has a substantially cylindrical shape as a whole, and a mirror portion 31 having a substantially semi-elliptical cross section mounted on the rear surface side of the reflection plate 11 of the housing 10 and installed inside the mirror portion 31. Bulb 32, a cylindrical lamp holder portion 33 connected to the front side of the mirror portion 31, and a lamp holder portion 3
3 and a convex lens 34 installed on the front side of the lens 3.
The convex lens 34 is located on the rear surface side of the lens 20 of the housing 10 substantially in the center. In addition, the lamp holder portion 3 of this example
A part of 3 has a prism shape, and light emitted from the bulb 32 can be emitted to the front surface side of the reflection plate 11 via the prism portion.

The lens 20 of this embodiment is disk-shaped, and has a circular light-projecting surface 21 in front of the convex lens 34 of the projector-type lamp at approximately the center thereof. The lens 20 around the light projecting surface 21 is a transmitting surface 22 that receives the light reflected by the reflecting plate 11. The light projecting surface 21 of the lens 20 has a substantially uniform thickness so that the light for illumination projected from the projector type lamp 30 can be efficiently transmitted and the front can be illuminated. The illumination light projected through the light projecting surface 21 can sufficiently function as a fog light. Transmission surface 22
Is an area where the light from the position lamp 13 and the light leaking from the lamp holder portion 33 of the projector type lamp 30 can be recognized from the front. Therefore, although any design is possible, a plurality of small concave lenses 23 are formed side by side in the vertical direction of the lens 20 on the transmitting surface 22 of this example.

When the fog light 1 of this example having such a configuration is turned on, illumination light is projected from the projector type lamp 30, and this light is emitted in front of the fog light 1 through the light projecting surface 21 of the lens 20. It Then, the fog light 1 of this example functions as a fog light by this illumination light. On the other hand, light leaking from the lamp holder portion 33 of the projector type lamp 30 to the front surface side of the reflection plate 11 is reflected by the reflection plate 11 to the transmission surface 22 of the lens 20 and illuminates the transmission surface 22. The light applied to the transmissive surface 22 is emitted forward through a small concave lens 23 on the transmissive surface 22 or is diffusely reflected by another transmissive surface 22. Therefore, for example, if the portion where the light leaks from the lamp holder 33 is colored or the transmitting surface 22 is colored, the illumination light as a fog light is projected from the light projecting surface 21. On the other hand, the transmissive surface 22 will shine with colored light. If the projector type lamp 30 and the position lamp 13 can be turned on at the same time, the transmissive surface 22 can be similarly illuminated without leaking light from the projector type lamp 30 to the reflecting plate 11 side.

Without turning on the projector type lamp 30,
When the position lamp 13 mounted on the reflection plate 11 is turned on, the transmission surface 22 shines. At this time, no illumination light is emitted from the light emitting surface 21. The position lamp 13 may be turned on at dusk or the like, or may be provided with a function of interlocking with a direction indicator.

Since the projector type lamp 30 employs the mirror surface 31 having a substantially elliptical cross section, the light emitted from the bulb 32 can be efficiently focused on the front convex lens 34. Therefore, a small lamp can achieve substantially the same capacity as a conventional lamp that employs a radial mirror surface. Therefore, the fog light 1 of this example has a diameter of about 22 cm.
Then, although the large-diameter housing 10 having substantially the same size as that of the conventional type with an output of 100 W is employed, the function as a fog light is that the small-sized, small-diameter projector lamp 30 arranged in the substantially center of the housing 10 Is playing. The projector lamp 30 may have a diameter of about 7 cm, for example. Therefore, in the fog light 1 of this example, the lens 2
The diameter of the light projecting surface 21 at the center of 0 may be about 7 cm, and the remaining surface can be opened to the user as the transmitting surface 22. Therefore, the usage and design of the transmissive surface 22 can be freely decided by the user. For example, if the transmissive surface 22 is colored as described above, various colors can be emitted. Further, the transparent surface 22 may be designed by using paint or the like.

The lens 20 may be covered with a cover 24 or 25 having various designs as shown in FIG. The covers 24 and 25 of this example are of a type that covers substantially the entire lens 20, but the portion 26 corresponding to the light projecting surface at the center of the lens is open. Therefore, the projection surface 22
The illumination light projected from is not blocked by the cover 24 or 25, and can function as a fog light even with the cover attached. On the other hand, the portion 27 corresponding to the transparent surface of the cover 24 can be designed in various ways. For example, in FIG. 3A, the vertical stripe openings 28 are provided. Further, in FIG. 3B, a pupil-shaped opening 29 is provided in the portion 27 corresponding to the transmission surface. Therefore, when the fog light is turned on at night or the like, such a pattern can be made to stand out on the transparent surface of the fog light 1. Even if the fog light is not turned on, the front surface 2 of the fog light 1 can be freely designed by the cover 24 or 25, so that the individuality of the user can be expressed. Also, since the light projecting surface is open, the cover 2 is turned on every time the fog light is turned on.
There is no need to remove 4 and 25.

Such a cover is not limited to the above design, and various designs are possible. Further, since it functions as a fog light, it is not necessary for the light projecting surface to be located at the center of the lens, and it is possible to change the design of the surface of the lens itself.

Since the cover itself to be mounted on the lamp can be easily made of plastic or the like, the unit price is low and the work is easy. Therefore, the user can mold the cover with his / her favorite design. Alternatively, the manufacturer may prepare covers of various designs, and the user may select a cover that suits his / her taste from among them. The user can change the image of the fog light simply by changing the cover without having to buy a new fog light, so the atmosphere of the car can be easily changed at a low cost.
Further, by changing the color and design of the transmission surface of the lamp for each vehicle, it is possible to easily identify each vehicle regardless of day or night. Therefore, there is an advantage that the mutual vehicles can be easily identified when traveling in a group.

Further, in the fog light 1 of this example, the housing 1 having a presence similar to that of the conventional large fog light is used while using the small and high performance projector type lamp 30.
0 is adopted. Therefore, the shape is suitable for users such as large four-wheel drive vehicles who prefer fog lights with a strong presence. As described above, in the fog light of this example, the function as the fog light is realized by the small projector-type lamp incorporated in the housing, so that the design of the housing 10 can be variously changed. The housing is not limited to the cylindrical shape as described above, and various designs such as a rectangular cross section and a polygonal cross section can be obtained. Therefore, the fog light having the configuration according to the present invention can provide fog lights of various shapes regardless of the function of the fog light. Can be selected.

Although the fog lights have been described as an example in the above, the same applies to other auxiliary lighting devices for automobiles such as spotlights and driving lights. Further, the number of projector-type lamps corresponding to the light projecting section is not limited to one, and may be two or more. Furthermore, even for lighting devices such as headlights that are built into the vehicle body, the user can play by providing a light projecting surface that exhibits the function as a headlight and a transmissive surface that spreads around it as described above. It is possible to provide an area in which the user can feel the design or add a function.

[0022]

As described above, the lighting device according to the present invention was developed under the concept of providing a small light projecting portion in a large housing, which is different from the conventional concept, and has a different presence and lighting device from the conventional one. In addition to the above functions, a product that can be designed by the user can be provided. The user's sensitivity and personality can be freely expressed using the lighting device according to the present invention through the lighting device of the vehicle. Of course, the same function as the conventional lighting device is not lost, and the function can be improved by adding different functions around the light projecting unit.

As described above, the lighting device according to the present invention is suitable for the user himself to design a car that makes the best use of his own personality. In addition, since it can be easily purchased and its design can be changed, it is a lighting device that many users regardless of age or sex can use as their own expression.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an outline of a fog light according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing the structure of the fog light shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a front view showing an example of a lens cover of the fog light shown in FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 ... fog light 2 ... front of fog light 3 ... rear surface of fog light 10 ... housing 11 ... reflector 12 ... mounting shaft 13 ... position lamp 20 ... lens 21 ... projecting surface 22 ...・ Transparent surface 24, 25 ・ ・ Lens cover 30 ・ ・ Projector type lamp

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A vehicle lighting device for illuminating the front of a vehicle, comprising: a light-projecting surface for emitting illumination light to the front and a transmissive surface spreading around the light-projecting surface. Lighting equipment. 2. A housing part that can be attached to a vehicle body, and a front surface of the housing part has a light projecting surface that emits illumination light to the front of the housing, and a transmissive surface that spreads around the light projecting surface. A lighting device for a vehicle, comprising: 3. A housing portion having a transparent front surface,
An illumination device for a vehicle, which is provided inside the housing portion, and has a light projecting portion that projects illumination light forward of the housing portion through a part of the front surface. 4. A substantially cylindrical housing part that can be attached to a vehicle body, and a substantially cylindrical shape that is installed inside the housing part and has a smaller diameter than the housing part, and emits illumination light to the front of the housing part. An illumination device for a vehicle, comprising: a light projecting unit capable of projecting. 5. The vehicle lighting device according to claim 3, wherein the light projecting portion is a projector lamp.