JPH11329014A - Vehicular lamp - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To increase luminous energy used for an additional function in a vehicular lamp equipped with the additional function other than the main function without increasing labor or cost. SOLUTION: In a headlamp 1 for an automobile wherein a reflector 5 that has a recessively curved reflecting surface and supports a bulb 6 is arranged in a lamp chamber 4 partitioned by a lamp housing 2 having a recessed part opened forward and a lens 3 that is so attached to the lamp housing 2 as to cover its front opening, and an extension 8 to cover the gap between an opening edge part 5a of the reflector 5 and the inside peripheral surface of the lamp chamber 4 when viewed from the front side is installed, the extension 8 is formed from a transparent material, a reflecting film is formed on its surface 8b, a small bulb 10 is supported on the back side of the reflector 5, and not only the direct light out of the light emitted from the small bulb 10 but also the reflected light that is originally entered from the back surface of the extension 8 and is reflected by the back surface of the reflecting film are irradiated into a gap 9 between the extension 8 and the opening edge of the reflector 5.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a novel vehicle lamp. More specifically, the present invention relates to a technology for increasing the amount of light used for an additional function in a vehicle lamp having an additional function in addition to the main function by using an inexpensive configuration.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art There is a vehicular lamp having an additional function in addition to a main function.

For example, in a headlamp for an automobile, in addition to a headlamp function of irradiating a front road surface or the like,
Some have a position lamp function for visualizing the vehicle width and the like.

A conventional automotive headlamp having a position lamp function as described above includes, for example, a lamp housing having a recess opened forward and a lens mounted on the lamp housing so as to cover the front opening. A reflector having a concave curved reflecting surface and supporting a light source for a headlamp is arranged in the lamp chamber defined by the above, and between the opening edge of the reflector and the peripheral surface of the lamp chamber when viewed from the front. An extension that covers the gap is provided, and a light source for the position lamp is supported on the back side of the reflector.Light emitted from the light source for the position lamp is emitted from the gap between the extension and the opening edge of the reflector. There is something like that.

Accordingly, in the above-mentioned conventional vehicle headlamp, the light from the position lamp light source, which is applied to the reflecting surface of the reflector from between the extension and the opening edge of the reflector, passes through the lens. Will be visible.

[0006]

By the way, in the above-mentioned conventional vehicle headlamp, light for performing a function as a position lamp is transmitted from the position lamp light source to the extension and the opening edge of the reflector. There is a problem that the amount of light is insufficient even in the case of a position lamp because only the light is directly incident on the gap between them.

In order to utilize the reflected light for the position lamp function, it is conceivable to form a reflective film on a portion of the back surface of the extension which faces the light source for the position lamp. (When viewed from the front, a reflective film is often formed on the surface of the extension to create a sense of unity with the reflector.) However, there is a problem that the number of man-hours is increased and the cost is increased.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to increase the amount of light used for an additional function in a vehicle lamp having an additional function in addition to the main function without increasing man-hours and costs.

[0009]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention provides a vehicular lamp in which an extension is formed of a transparent material and a reflection film is formed on at least a part of the surface thereof. The second light source is supported on the back surface side, and not only the direct light but also the reflected light incident from the back surface side of the extension and reflected by the back surface of the reflection film out of the light emitted from the second light source is reflected by the extension and the reflector. Irradiation is performed on the gap between the opening edge portion of the light emitting element.

Therefore, in the vehicle lamp according to the present invention, not only the direct light emitted from the second light source to the gap between the extension and the opening edge of the reflector, but also the incident light from the back side of the extension. The light reflected by the back surface of the reflection film is also irradiated to the gap between the extension and the opening edge of the reflector to contribute to the function performed by the second light source. The amount of light used for the function by the light source increases.

[0011]

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a vehicular lamp according to an embodiment of the present invention. In the illustrated embodiment, the present invention is applied to an automobile headlamp.

An automobile headlamp 1 has a lamp housing 2 opened to the front, and a lens 3 is attached to the lamp housing 2 so as to cover the front opening.

In a lamp chamber 4 defined by the lamp housing 2 and the lens 3, a reflector 5 having a concave curved surface which is concave toward the front and having the concave curved surface as a reflecting surface is disposed to be tiltable. A light source for a headlamp, that is, a light bulb 6 as a first light source is attached to the reflector 5. Reference numeral 7 denotes a light-shielding cap provided on the front side (the lens 3 side) of the light bulb 6.

In the lamp room 4, an extension 8 is provided between the front opening edge of the reflector 5 and the peripheral surface of the front end of the lamp room 4.

Since the reflector 5 is disposed in the lamp room 4 so as to be tiltable, the reflector 5 is tilted.
The lamp housing 2 is provided with a margin. Therefore, when the vehicle headlamp 1 is viewed from the front through the lens 3, the front opening edge 5 a of the reflector 5 is formed.
If the inside is seen through the space between the lamp housing 2 and the inner surface of the lamp housing 2, the appearance is impaired. Therefore, the extension 8 is provided as a blind to prevent the appearance. Therefore, when viewed from the front, the extension 8 has a substantially annular shape, and its inner peripheral edge 8 a is located slightly inside the front opening edge of the reflector 5 and the inner peripheral edge of the extension 8. A slight clearance 9 is provided in the front-rear direction between 8 a and the front opening edge 5 a of the reflector 5.

The extension 8 is made of a transparent material, and a reflective film is formed on the surface, that is, the surface 8b facing the lens 3 by an appropriate means such as an aluminum vapor deposition method.

The lamp housing 2 has a light source for a position lamp, that is, a small light bulb 10 as a second light source.
The light emitting portion 10a of the small light bulb 10 is positioned so as to be close to and oppose a part of the back surface of the extension 8.

A portion of the extension 8 facing the light emitting portion 10a of the small bulb 10 has a thick portion 11
Is formed, and the light emitting portion 10 of the small bulb 10 having the thick portion 11 is formed.
The surface 11a facing a is a concave spherical surface.

When the small light bulb 10 is turned on in the automobile headlamp 1, the direct light is reflected from the clearance 9 between the front opening edge 5 a of the reflector 5 and the inner peripheral edge 8 a of the extension 8. In addition to the light emitted to the inner surface (reflection surface) side of the extension 5, the light emitted to the opposite side of the clearance 9 also enters the thickness of the extension 8 from the back surface of the extension 8, and further, the surface 8 b of the extension 8 The light is reflected by the back surface of the reflection film formed on the surface of the reflector 5 and returned toward the light emitting portion 10a, and then is irradiated to the reflection surface side of the reflector 5 through the clearance 9.

Accordingly, the amount of light emitted to the outside as the position lamp increases, and a sufficient visual recognition function can be exhibited.

Further, in the above-mentioned automobile headlamp 1, the light emitting portion 10a of the small light bulb 10 of the extension 8 is provided.
Since the thick portion 11 is formed at a portion facing the extension 8, it is possible to prevent the extension 8 from being deformed by heat generated by the light emission of the small light bulb 10.

The reflection film formed on the surface 8b of the extension 8 does not need to be formed over the entire surface of the extension 8, but a part thereof, that is, the light emitting portion 10a of the small light bulb 10 in the extension 8. What is necessary is just to form in a part.

[0023]

As is apparent from the above description, the vehicular lamp according to the present invention comprises a lamp housing having a recess opened forward, and a lens mounted on the lamp housing so as to cover the front opening. A reflector having a concave curved reflecting surface and supporting a first light source is disposed in a lamp chamber defined by a light source, and a gap between an opening edge of the reflector and a peripheral surface of the lamp chamber when viewed from the front In a vehicle lighting device provided with an extension that covers the light source, the extension is formed of a transparent material, a reflection film is formed on at least a part of the surface, and a second light source is supported on the back side of the reflector. Of the light emitted from the second light source, not only the direct light but also the reflected light incident from the back surface of the extension and reflected by the back surface of the reflective film. Characterized in that so as to be irradiated to the gap between the emission and the opening edge portion of the reflector.

Therefore, in the vehicle lamp according to the present invention, not only the direct light emitted from the second light source to the gap between the extension and the opening edge of the reflector, but also the incident light from the back side of the extension. The light reflected by the back surface of the reflection film is also irradiated to the gap between the extension and the opening edge of the reflector to contribute to the function performed by the second light source. The amount of light used for the function by the light source increases.

In addition, the number of steps and costs do not increase.

Further, there has conventionally been a lamp in which a bulb of a position lamp has been penetrated through a reflector. However, in comparison with this, the vehicular lamp of the present invention can improve the appearance since the bulb is not visible from the outside. .

According to the second aspect of the invention, since the thick portion is formed in the portion of the extension facing the second light source, the extension is deformed by the lighting heat of the second light source. Is prevented.

It should be noted that the shapes and structures of the respective parts shown in the above-described embodiments are merely examples of the specific embodiments to be carried out when carrying out the present invention, and the technical scope of the present invention is not limited thereto. Should not be interpreted restrictively.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view showing an embodiment in which the present invention is applied to an automobile headlamp.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Automotive headlamp (vehicle lamp), 2 ... Lamp housing, 3 ... Lens, 4 ... Light room, 5 ... Reflector,
5a: front opening edge (opening edge), 6: light bulb (first light source), 8: extension, 8b: surface, 9: clearance (gap between opening edge of reflector and extension), 10 ... Small bulb (second light source), 11 ... Thick wall

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A lamp housing having a concave reflecting surface in a lamp chamber defined by a lamp housing having a concave portion opened forward and a lens attached to the lamp housing so as to cover a front opening of the lamp housing. 1. A vehicular lamp in which a reflector supporting the light source is disposed, and an extension for covering a gap between an opening edge of the reflector and a peripheral surface of the lamp compartment when viewed from the front is provided. A reflector is formed on at least a part of the surface thereof, and a second light source is supported on the back surface of the reflector. Of the light emitted from the second light source, not only the direct light but also the back surface of the extension And the reflected light reflected by the back surface of the reflective film is also applied to the gap between the extension and the opening edge of the reflector. Vehicle lamp characterized by and. 2. The vehicular lamp according to claim 1, wherein a thick portion is formed in a portion of the extension facing the second light source.