JP2011121504A - Vehicle lighting system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To improve the accuracy of positioning between an upper surface panel and a lens, while preventing the end of a light emitting part from being locally brightened. <P>SOLUTION: A vehicle lighting system includes the upper surface panel 20 attached to the upper part of a console body 10; the lens 40 arranged beneath the upper surface panel 20 in parallel therewith; and a light source 50 installed above the lens 40. The lens 40 includes a light guide part 43 that receives light from the light source 50 and emits the light in a different direction from the light receiving direction; a light emitting part 44 having an upper end 44A continuous to a rear end 43C of the light guide part 43; and a groove 45 disposed at the rear end 43C of the light guide part 43. The upper surface panel 20 includes a rib 21 fitted into the groove 45. The rib 21 performs the positioning between the upper surface panel 20 and the lens 40, and blocks off the light traveling to the upper end 44A of the light emitting part 44. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a vehicle lighting device.

  Conventionally, as a vehicular illumination device, for example, those described in Patent Documents 1 and 2 below are known. The thing of patent document 1 provides the illuminating device in the back side of the console box. This illuminating device includes an illuminating case having an opening that opens to the rear of the vehicle, and an LED is disposed on the back side (front side of the vehicle) of the illuminating case. In addition, a lamp cover having an illumination slit is attached to the opening of the illumination case, and light emitted from the LED is emitted to the outside through the illumination slit.

  Thus, although it is ideal to arrange the LED so as to face the back side (vehicle front side) of the lamp cover, the LED installation space may not be freely secured depending on the shape of the vehicle. Therefore, a method is adopted in which light emitted from the LED is guided to a predetermined location using a lens having a light guide portion and a light emitting portion. For example, in Patent Document 2, a plate-like lens is arranged on the upper surface of a console box. Light from the LED is received by the light guide unit, guided in a predetermined direction inside the light guide unit, and then emitted from the light emitting unit.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2002-104067 JP 2007-203959 A

  By the way, when the light emitting unit is provided in a form that continues downward from the end of the light guide, light tends to gather at the end of the light guide, and the end of the light emitting unit that is continuous with the end of the light guide Becomes brighter locally. As a countermeasure, a method of blocking light by forming a rib extending downward from the upper panel disposed above the lens and covering the end of the light emitting portion with this rib is conceivable. However, according to this method, the position of the parting line between the top panel and the lens shifts, and cannot be adopted due to a design problem.

  Another possible method is to provide a groove at the end of the light guide to cut off the light path. With this method, the parting line between the top panel and the lens does not shift, so that a design problem does not occur. However, even if the groove is provided, the position where light is likely to gather moves from the end of the light guide unit to the groove, and the light emitted from the groove enters the lens again, and the end of the light emitting unit only emits light. Absent. In addition, the positioning accuracy between the top panel and the lens may be reduced due to deformation of the groove.

  The present invention has been completed based on the above-described circumstances, and an object thereof is to improve the positioning accuracy between the top panel and the lens while avoiding that the end portion of the light emitting portion is locally brightened. And

  The vehicular lighting device of the present invention includes a top panel attached to an upper part of a console body, a lens arranged side by side below the top panel, and a light source attached above the lens. A light guide unit that receives light from the light source and emits light in a direction different from the light receiving direction, a light emitting unit having an end portion connected to an end portion of the light guide unit, and a groove provided at an end portion of the light guide unit The top panel has a rib that fits into the groove, and the rib is configured to position the top panel and the lens and to block the light toward the end of the light emitting unit. However, it has characteristics.

  According to such a structure, the light which goes to the edge part of a light emission part can be interrupted | blocked by the rib fitted to the groove | channel. Here, examples of the light traveling toward the end of the light emitting unit include light traveling from the light source toward the end of the light emitting unit, light traveling from the end of the light guide unit toward the end of the light emitting unit, and the like. Thereby, it can avoid that the edge part of a light emission part becomes bright locally.

  Further, the rib on the upper panel side is fitted into the groove on the lens side, so that the groove is prevented from being deformed and the upper panel and the lens are accurately positioned, so that the positioning accuracy can be improved.

The following configuration is preferable as an embodiment of the present invention.
Moreover, it is good also as a structure provided with the reflection member provided facing the light emission part, and reflecting the light emitted from the light guide part to the light emission part side.

  According to such a configuration, the light emitted from the light guide unit can be reflected by the reflecting member and directed toward the light emitting unit side. In other words, light is refracted at two places, that is, the light guide portion and the reflecting member, and light from the light source can be guided freely, which is effective when the installation space for the light source cannot be secured freely.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to improve the positioning accuracy between the top panel and the lens while avoiding that the end portion of the light emitting portion is locally brightened.

Exploded perspective view before assembly of lighting device in embodiment An exploded perspective view showing a state where the reflecting member is attached to the console body and the LED is attached to the lens. Exploded sectional view before assembly of lighting device Exploded sectional view showing the state before the top panel is attached to the console body Exploded sectional view showing the state after the top panel is attached to the console body Partial enlarged view of FIG.

<Embodiment>
An embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings of FIGS. As shown in FIG. 1, the vehicular lighting device according to the present embodiment includes an upper panel 20 that is attached to the upper portion of the console body 10, a reflection member 30, a lens 40, and a light source 50. The console body 10 has a shape that is long in the vehicle front-rear direction, and is disposed between the left and right front seats of the vehicle. The vehicle lighting device according to the present embodiment is mounted in a mounting recess 11 provided in the rear surface portion of the console body 10. The console body 10 and the upper panel 20 are made of a synthetic resin such as polypropylene and made of a non-transmissive material that does not transmit light.

  The reflection member 30 and the lens 40 are sequentially mounted in the mounting recess 11. As shown in FIG. 3, the reflecting member 30 is mounted along the standing wall portion 12, the upper surface portion 13, and the lower surface portion 16 that constitute the mounting recess 11. On the upper surface portion 13 of the mounting recess 11, a protrusion 14 is erected upward. On the other hand, a mounting hole 31 is formed at a position corresponding to the protrusion 14 in the reflecting member 30. When the protrusion 14 is fitted into the attachment hole 31, the reflection member 30 is attached to the mounting recess 11 in a positioned state. The reflecting member 30 is made of PET.

  The light source 50 is a light source unit incorporating an LED, and a cylindrical irradiation unit 51 is provided at the rear end thereof. The irradiation unit 51 is configured to open obliquely downward, and an LED is built in the back wall of the irradiation unit 51. The light source 50 is attached to the mounting opening 41 provided in the upper part of the lens 40 in an oblique direction. A pair of attachment projections 52 are provided on the left and right side surfaces of the light source 50. On the other hand, a mounting recess 42 is provided at a position corresponding to both mounting protrusions 52 in the mounting opening 41. For this reason, as shown in FIG. 4, when the light source 50 is mounted from the rear with respect to the mounting opening 41 in a forward tilting posture in which the front end portion of the light source 50 faces downward, both mounting protrusions 52 are fitted into both mounting recesses 42. The light is emitted obliquely downward and rearward from the irradiation unit 51.

  Further, the front end portion of the light source 50 is in a state of entering the opening 15 formed in the upper portion of the console body 10. On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 5, the rear end portion of the light source 50 is in contact with the receiving portion 22 formed on the inner surface of the upper panel 20 by attaching the upper panel 20 to the upper portion of the console body 10. Become. As a result, the light source 50 is sandwiched between the mounting opening 41 and the receiving portion 22 in the vertical direction, and is stably attached and fixed.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the lens 40 is configured by integrally including a light guide portion 43 in which a mounting opening 41 is formed and a light emitting portion 44 that extends downward from the rear edge of the light guide portion 43. The light emitting unit 44 is arranged in a state of being opposed to the reflecting member 30 when the lens 40 is properly attached to the mounting recess 11 and is arranged in a form that is flush with the rear surface portion of the console body 10.

  Further, the lens 40 is arranged side by side below the top panel 20 when the top panel 20 is properly attached to the top of the console body 10. At this time, the light emitting unit 44 is configured to be flush with the rear surface portion of the top panel 20. Therefore, when the top panel 20, the lens 40, and the console body 10 are assembled together, one continuous surface that is continuous in the vertical direction is formed.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 2 or FIG. 3, a plurality of hook portions 46 that are hooked on the upper surface portion 13 of the mounting recess 11 and support the light guide portion 43 are formed at the front end portion of the light guide portion 43. . On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 2, a plurality of fixing claws 47 that are fixed to the lower surface portion 16 of the mounting recess 11 are formed at the lower end portion of the light emitting portion 44. When the plurality of hooks 46 and the plurality of fixing claws 47 are engaged with the upper surface portion 13 and the lower surface portion 16 of the mounting recess 11, the lens 40 is fixed to the mounting recess 11 at a proper mounting position. The lens 40 is made of a light-transmitting hard member such as polycarbonate or acrylic.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the light guide 43 has a light receiving surface 43 </ b> A that receives light emitted from the irradiation unit 51, and light that has entered the light guide 43 from the light receiving surface 43 </ b> A is a light exit surface. Light exits from the light guide 43 from 43B. Here, the light receiving surface 43A is an inclined surface that is substantially parallel to the forward inclined posture of the light source 50, while the light exit surface 43B is an approximately horizontal plane. Therefore, the light received by the light receiving surface 43A is refracted inside the light guide portion 43 and is emitted from the light exit surface 43B in a direction different from the light receiving direction.

  Further, since the light exit surface 43B is formed in an embossed shape, the light emitted from the light exit surface 43B travels in a plurality of directions. That is, as shown in FIG. 5, the light emitted from the light exit surface 43 </ b> B includes light L <b> 4 toward the light emitting unit 44, light L <b> 3 toward the reflecting member 30, and the like. Furthermore, the light L3 that travels toward the reflecting member 30 is reflected by the reflecting member 30 and travels toward the light emitting unit 44. Thus, the entire light emitting unit 44 is set to emit light uniformly.

  Now, as shown in FIG. 2, the rear end portion 43 </ b> C of the light guide portion 43 is connected to the front side of the upper end portion 44 </ b> A of the light emitting portion 44. A slit-like groove 45 is formed along the upper end portion 44 </ b> A of 44. In other words, the groove 45 is disposed in front of the upper end portion 44 </ b> A of the light emitting unit 44. Therefore, the groove 45 is not exposed on the rear surface of the light emitting unit 44. If it does in this way, the rib 21 mentioned below does not become the form which covers the rear surface (surface) of the light emission part 44, and since the position of the parting line of the upper surface panel 20 and the lens 40 does not shift | deviate, it does not become a trouble on a design.

  Specifically, the rear end portion 43C of the light guide portion 43 is configured by three sides including one side located behind the mounting opening 41 and two sides located on the left and right sides of the mounting opening 41. , Mainly formed on one side located behind the mounting opening 41. On the other hand, the rib 21 is provided at a position corresponding to the groove 45 in the top panel 20 in a form of protruding downward. For this reason, when the top panel 20 is attached to the upper part of the console body 10 at a proper mounting position, the ribs 21 fit into the grooves 45 as shown in FIG. 20 and lens 40 are accurately positioned.

  Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 6, when the groove 45 is provided, light is easily collected at the front side portion of the groove 45, and the light L <b> 1 emitted from the groove 45 enters the lens 40 again and the upper end portion 44 </ b> A of the light emitting unit 44 is formed. It is possible to brighten locally. In this respect, since the light L1 is blocked by the rib 21, the light L1 does not enter the upper end portion 44A of the light emitting unit 44. Moreover, the case where the light L <b> 2 emitted from the irradiation unit 51 goes directly to the upper end 44 </ b> A of the light emitting unit 44 without passing through the light guide unit 43 is also conceivable. Also in this case, since the light L2 is blocked by the rib 21, the light L2 does not enter the upper end portion 44A of the light emitting unit 44. Therefore, it can be avoided that the upper end portion 44A of the light emitting portion 44 is locally brightened.

  The present embodiment is configured as described above, and its operation will be described subsequently. First, as shown in FIG. 1, the reflecting member 30 is attached to the mounting recess 11. At the time of attachment, the reflection member 30 is attached to the mounting recess 11 at a normal attachment position by inserting the attachment hole 31 into the protrusion 14. At the same time, when the light source 50 is inserted into the mounting opening 41 of the lens 40 in a forward tilted posture and the both mounting projections 52 are locked to the both mounting recesses 42, the light source 50 is moved to the lens 40 as shown in FIG. Is attached at a regular attachment position.

  Next, the lens 40 is attached to the mounting recess 11 by engaging the plurality of hooks 46 and the plurality of fixing claws 47 with the upper surface portion 13 and the lower surface portion 16 of the mounting recess 11. As a result, the lens 40 is fixedly attached to the mounting recess 11 at a proper mounting position. Thereafter, when the top panel 20 is attached to the upper portion of the console main body 10, the receiving portion 22 comes into contact with the rear end portion of the light source 50 and the rib 21 fits into the groove 45 as shown in FIG. 5. Thereby, the upper surface panel 20 is attached to the lens 40 in a positioned state. Thus, the vehicle lighting device is completed. In this state, since the lights L1 and L2 toward the upper end 44A of the light emitting unit 44 are blocked by the rib 21, it is possible to prevent the upper end 44A of the light emitting unit 44 from becoming bright locally.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, the groove 45 is provided in the rear end portion 43 </ b> C of the light guide portion 43 and the rib 21 is provided in the top panel 20, so that the rib 21 is attached by attaching the top panel 20 to the upper portion of the console body 10. The upper panel 20 is accurately positioned on the lens 40 by fitting into the groove 45. Further, since the light L1 collected at the front portion of the groove 45 and the light L2 from the irradiation unit 51 toward the upper end 44A of the light emitting unit 44 are blocked by the rib 21, the upper end 44A of the light emitting unit 44 is locally brightened. Can be avoided. Further, since the light L3 traveling from the light guide 43 toward the reflecting member 30 can be reflected by the reflecting member 30 and guided to the light emitting unit 44, the entire light emitting unit 44 can emit light uniformly. Further, the light source 50 can be refracted by the light guide unit 43 and refracted by the reflecting member 30, so that the installation location of the light source 50 can be freely set.

<Other embodiments>
The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described with reference to the above description and drawings. For example, the following embodiments are also included in the technical scope of the present invention.
(1) Although the vehicle illumination device is provided on the rear end side of the console main body 10 in the above embodiment, the vehicle illumination device may be provided on the front end side of the console main body 10 according to the present invention. In this case, the upper end 44 </ b> A of the light emitting unit 44 may be connected to the front end of the light guide 43.

(2) Although the LED unit is illustrated as the light source in the above embodiment, a halogen lamp or the like may be used as the light source according to the present invention.
(3) In the above-described embodiment, the vehicle illumination device includes the reflection member 30. However, according to the present invention, the vehicle illumination device may not include the reflection member 30.

(4) In the above embodiment, the light source 50 is provided on the upper portion of the lens 40. However, according to the present invention, the light source 50 may be provided on the upper panel 20 or the light source 50 may be provided on the console body 10. Good.
(5) In the above embodiment, the upper end portion 44A of the light emitting portion 44 is connected to the rear end portion 43C of the light guiding portion 43. However, according to the present invention, the light emitting portion 44 is connected to the side end portion of the light guiding portion 43. The upper end 44A may be connected.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Console main body 20 ... Top panel 21 ... Rib 30 ... Reflective member 40 ... Lens 43 ... Light guide part 43C ... Rear end part (end part)
44 ... Light emitting part 44A ... Upper end part (end part)
45 ... groove 50 ... light source L1, L2, L3 ... light

Claims (2)

A top panel attached to the top of the console body;
A lens arranged side by side below the top panel;
A light source mounted above the lens,
The lens includes a light guide unit that receives light from the light source and emits light in a direction different from the light reception direction, a light emitting unit having an end portion that is continuous with an end portion of the light guide unit, and the light guide unit. And a groove provided at the end,
The top panel has a rib that fits into the groove, and the rib positions the top panel and the lens and blocks light directed toward an end of the light emitting unit. Vehicle lighting device.   The vehicular illumination device according to claim 1, further comprising a reflecting member that is provided facing the light emitting unit and reflects light emitted from the light guide unit toward the light emitting unit.

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