JP7306356B2 - containment box - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a containment box.

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in a storage tool such as a console box for a vehicle, when the lid is open, light from a light source is applied to the interior of the storage tool body, and when the lid is closed, the lid is illuminated. It is known that light from a light source is guided to a light guide plate included in a portion and emitted to the outside (see, for example, Patent Document 1). According to the storage tool described in Patent Document 1, the inside and outside of the storage tool body can be illuminated with a common light source.

Also, conventionally, a box-shaped storage unit lighting device attached to a center console of an automobile, etc., is arranged in a box-shaped housing in a state in which a light-transmitting lid subjected to optical processing is closed on the housing. It is known that when the lid is irradiated with light from a light source, the light is refracted and reflected by an optical treatment to produce a decorative effect (see, for example, Patent Document 2). According to the box-shaped storage section lighting device described in Patent Document 2, the appearance of the lid can be changed depending on whether the light source is turned on or off, and the design can be improved.

JP 2010-132031 A JP 2002-298615 A

If a function to change the appearance of the lid when the light source is turned on and off is added to the container described in Patent Document 1, which can illuminate the inside and outside of the container body with a common light source, the design will be improved. can be made However, the box-shaped storage unit lighting device described in Patent Document 2 is completely different in the structure of the lid from the storage tool described in Patent Document 1, so that the effects of both cannot be obtained by simply combining them.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a storage box which can illuminate the inside and the outside with a common light source and can change the appearance of the lid depending on whether the light source is on or off.

One aspect of the present invention provides storage boxes [1] to [8] below in order to achieve the above object.

[1] A box-shaped housing portion having an opening, a light guide layer on the surface, and an opaque layer provided on the light guide layer on the side of the housing portion, wherein the light guide layer and the a lid that is openable and closable at the opening, the lid having a predetermined pattern on the interface of the opaque layer; a light source that emits visible light; and a light guide rod that irradiates the inside of the housing part, and in a state where the lid is closed, a part of visible light propagating in the light guide rod is guided to the light guide layer, and the interface A storage box that is reflected by the unevenness of the container and emitted to the outside from the surface of the lid.
[2] In the above [1], wherein part of the visible light guided to the light guide layer is emitted to the outside from the end face of the light guide layer opposite to the end face of the light guide rod side Containment box as described.
[3] The storage box according to [1] or [2] above, wherein the color of the opaque layer and the color of the visible light emitted from the light source are different, and both are chromatic.
[4] The light guide bar has a rod-shaped main body installed outside the housing portion and a protruding portion protruding from a part of the first side surface of the main body, and the protruding portion is the housing portion. in a state in which the tip of the light guide layer penetrates the side wall of the body and is exposed to the inside of the accommodating portion, and the lid is closed, the end surface of the light guide layer of the lid on the light guide rod side facing the side surface of the main body and facing the protrusion on the side surface opposite to the first side surface of the main body for reflecting visible light propagating in the light guide rod toward the protrusion side One linear groove group is provided, and a second groove for reflecting visible light propagating in the light guide rod to the light guide layer side is provided on the side surface opposite to the second side surface of the main body. The storage box according to any one of [1] to [3] above, which is provided with a group of linear grooves.
[5] The storage box according to [4] above, wherein the width of the main body-side end portion of the protruding portion in the lengthwise direction of the main body is in the range of 5 mm or more and 10 mm or less.
[6] The projecting portion has a plate-like shape with a trapezoidal planar shape in which the width in the longitudinal direction of the main body increases as the distance from the main body increases, and the first side surface of the main body and the The storage box according to the above [4] or [5], wherein the angle formed by the first side surface of the protrusion and the continuous surface is in the range of 45° or more and 60° or less.
[7] The width in the length direction of the main body in the region where the first linear groove group is provided is 1 of the width in the length direction of the main body at the end of the protrusion on the side of the main body. .The storage box according to any one of [4] to [6] above, which is 1 time or less.
[8] The region provided with the second linear groove group includes a narrow-pitch region in which the pitch of the second linear groove group is narrower than other regions, and the main body of the narrow-pitch region Any one of the above [4] to [7], wherein the width in the length direction of the end of the protrusion on the body side is 1.1 times or less the width in the length direction of the body. containment box described in .

ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, the storage box which can illuminate the inside and the outside by a common light source, and can change the appearance of a lid|cover by the time of lighting of a light source, and light extinction can be provided.

1(a) and 1(b) are vertical sectional views of a storage box according to an embodiment of the present invention. 2(a) and 2(b) are respectively a top view and a bottom view of a storage box according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3(a) is a perspective view showing only the light source, the light guide rod and the lid of the storage box with the lid closed, and FIG. 3(b) is a perspective view showing only the light source and the light guide rod of the storage box. 1 is a perspective view of FIG. FIG. 4 is an enlarged perspective view of the vicinity of the center of the light guide rod viewed from below. FIG. 5(a) is a graph showing the relationship between the width _W1 of the projection obtained by measurement and the luminous flux on the surface of the tip of the projection. FIG. 5(b) is a graph showing the measured relationship between the width _W1 of the projection and the luminous flux and uniformity on the second side surface of the main body. FIG. 6(a) is a graph showing the relationship between the width _W2 of the projection obtained by measurement and the luminous flux on the surface of the tip of the projection. FIG. 6(b) is a graph showing the relationship between the measured protrusion width _W2 and the luminous flux and uniformity on the second side surface of the main body. FIG. 7A is a graph showing the relationship between the angle θ between the protrusion and the main body obtained by measurement and the luminous flux on the tip surface of the protrusion. FIG. 7(b) is a graph showing the relationship between the measured angle θ between the projection and the main body and the luminous flux and uniformity on the second side surface of the main body. FIG. 8(a) is a graph showing the relationship between the width _W3 of the region in which the first linear groove group is provided and the luminous flux on the surface of the tip of the protrusion obtained by measurement. FIG. 8(b) is a graph showing the relationship between the width _W3 of the region in which the first linear groove group is provided and the luminous flux and uniformity on the second side surface of the main body obtained by measurement. FIG. 9(a) is a graph showing the relationship between the width _W4 of the narrow-pitch region and the luminous flux on the surface of the tip of the protrusion obtained by measurement. FIG. 9(b) is a graph showing the measured relationship between the width _W4 of the narrow pitch region and the luminous flux and uniformity on the second side surface of the main body.

[Embodiment]
(Structure of storage box)
1(a) and 1(b) are vertical sectional views of a storage box 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. 2(a) and 2(b) are a top view and a bottom view of the storage box 1, respectively. The cross section of the storage box 1 shown in FIGS. 1(a) and 1(b) is taken along the cutting line AA in FIG. 2(a). In FIG. 2(a), the positions of some of the members that are hidden behind the upper members and are not visible are indicated by dotted lines.

The storage box 1 includes a box-shaped storage portion 10 having an opening 101 , a lid 11 openable and closable at the opening 101 , a light source 13 emitting visible light, and a visible light emitted from the light source 13 . A light guide rod 12 for propagating light and irradiating the inside of the housing part 10 is provided.

1(a), 2(a), and 2(b) show the storage box 1 with the lid 11 closed, and FIG. 1(b) shows the storage box 1 with the lid 11 opened. showing. The lid 11 has a light guide layer 111 on the surface and an opaque layer 112 provided on the side of the light guide layer 111 on the housing portion 10 side. are provided.

The light guide layer 111 is continuous with the main body 111a that covers the opening 101 of the housing portion 10 when the lid 11 is closed, and the main body 111a for taking in the light from the light guide rod 12 and propagating it to the main body 111a. and a relay portion 111b. The opaque layer 112 is provided so as to overlap the main body 111 a of the light guide layer 111 .

The light guide layer 111 is made of a material transparent to the light emitted from the light source 13, such as polycarbonate (PC) or polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA). The opaque layer 112 is made of a material that is opaque to the light emitted from the light source 13, such as colored polycarbonate (PC) or PC+ABS (polycarbonate-acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene blend). The opaque layer 112 may be formed by applying an opaque paint to the lower surface of the light guide layer 111 (the surface on the housing portion 10 side). Further, the lid 11 may have a slide layer 114 made of ABS or the like for opening and closing the lid, as shown in FIGS. 1(a) and 1(b). The slide layer 114 is provided so as to be in contact with the lower surface of the opaque layer 112 (the surface on the housing section 10 side).

For example, the storage box 1 is attached so as to be fitted into an opening of a plate-shaped object to be attached. In the example shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, it is fixed by being fitted into the opening of the mounting panel 50 . The mounting panel 50 has a recess 51 into which a finger or the like can be inserted to facilitate opening the lid 11 when the lid 11 is opened. The mounting panel 50 is, for example, an upper panel of a center console provided in an automobile.

In the housing box 1, with the lid 11 closed, part of the visible light emitted from the light source 13 and propagating through the light guide rod 12 is guided to the light guide layer 111 of the lid 11, where the light is guided. The light is reflected by the irregularities 13 at the interface between the body layer 111 and the opaque layer 112 and emitted from the surface of the lid 11 to the outside. A specific mechanism for guiding light from the light guide rod 12 to the light guide layer 111 will be described later.

In addition, part of the visible light guided from the light guide rod 12 to the light guide layer 111 is transferred to the light guide rod 12 side (relay portion 111b side) of the light guide layer 111 opposite to the end surface 111c (main body 111 side). side) is emitted to the outside from the end face 111d. Since the visible light emitted from the end face 111d illuminates the surface of the recess 51 of the mounting panel 50, the position of the recess 51 can be easily recognized and the lid 11 can be easily opened even in a dark environment. In order to irradiate the concave portion 51 with the visible light emitted from the end surface 111d, at least the region adjacent to the concave portion 51 of the end surface 111d of the light guide layer 111 should be exposed to the outside.

That is, in the storage box 1 , the visible light emitted from the light source 13 illuminates the space inside the storage section 10 inside the storage box 1 , the upper portion of the lid 11 outside the storage box 1 and the concave portion 51 of the mounting panel 50 . 3 places can be illuminated.

Also, the appearance of the lid 11 from the outside can be changed depending on whether the light source 13 is on or off. First, when the light source 13 is turned on, the visible light guided to the light guide layer 111 through the light guide rod 12 is reflected at the interface between the light guide layer 111 and the opaque layer 112, emitted upwards. Therefore, a pattern due to unevenness 113 of the interface having a mixed color of the color of the opaque layer 112 (the color of reflected light when irradiated with white light) and the color of the visible light emitted from the light source 13 is visually recognized.

On the other hand, when the light source 13 is turned off, the lid 11 is visually recognized by external light such as sunlight or light from the vehicle interior lighting. External light enters the light guide layer 111 mainly from above the lid 11 and is reflected upward at the interface between the light guide layer 111 and the opaque layer 112 . Therefore, a pattern due to unevenness 113 of the interface having a mixed color of the color of the opaque layer 112 and the color of the external light is visually recognized. However, since part of the external light is reflected on the surface of the light guide layer 111 , the visible pattern due to the unevenness 113 becomes lighter than when the light source 13 is turned on. In particular, when the opaque layer 112 has a dark color such as black, the visible pattern of the unevenness 113 becomes lighter.

Table 1 below shows examples of the color of visible light (light source color) emitted from the light source 13, the color of the opaque layer 112, and the color of the lid 11 visually recognized when the light source 13 is turned on and off in each case. . It is assumed that sunlight (white light) is applied to the lid 11 as outside light when the light source 13 is turned off.

Regarding how the recessed portion 51 of the mounting panel 50 looks, when the light source 13 is lit, the color of the recessed portion 51 and the color of the visible light emitted from the light source 13 are visually mixed, and the light source 13 is turned off. Sometimes, a mixture of the color of the concave portion 51 and the color of the outside light is visually recognized.

As shown in the example of Table 1, when the color of the opaque layer 112 and the color of the visible light emitted from the light source 13 are different and both are chromatic colors, when the light source 13 is turned on and when the light source 13 is turned off The appearance of the lid 11 can be greatly changed.

3(a) is a perspective view showing only the light source 13, the light guide rod 12, and the lid 11 of the storage box 1 with the lid 11 closed, and FIG. 3(b) is the light source of the storage box 1. 13 and a light guide rod 12 only.

The light guide rod 12 includes a rod-shaped main body 121 installed outside the housing portion 10, and a protruding portion 122 protruding from a part of a side surface (referred to as a first side surface) 121c of the main body 121 on the side of the housing portion 10. have. Here, the side surface of the main body 121 means a surface along the length direction of the main body 121 .

The light guide rod 12 is installed so that the main body 121 is horizontal and the length direction of the main body 121 is parallel to the width direction of the accommodating portion (vertical direction in FIG. 2). 1(a), 1(b), 3(a), and 3(b), the main body 121 has a rectangular cross section perpendicular to the longitudinal direction. The light guide rod 12 is made of a material transparent to the light emitted from the light source 13, such as polycarbonate (PC) or polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA).

As shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B, the projecting portion 122 penetrates the side wall 102 of the housing portion 10 and the tip thereof is exposed inside the housing portion 10 . Therefore, the visible light emitted from the surface of the tip of the projecting portion 122 illuminates the inside of the accommodating portion 10 . Since the projecting portion 122 illuminates the inside of the housing portion 10 evenly, as shown in FIGS. is preferably located in the center of In addition, it is preferable that the surface of the tip of the projecting portion 122 serving as the light extraction surface is subjected to processing such as diamond cutting or embossing for diffusing the emitted light.

At a position facing the projecting portion 122 on the side surface 121e opposite to the first side surface 121c of the main body 121, there is a first linear projection for reflecting visible light propagating in the light guide rod 12 toward the projecting portion 122 side. A groove group 121a is provided. The linear grooves forming the first linear groove group 121 a are provided along the direction perpendicular to the length direction of the main body 121 .

As shown in FIGS. 1(a) and 3(a), when the lid 11 is closed, the end surface 111c of the light guide layer 111 on the light guide rod 12 side faces one side surface (second side surface) of the main body. side) 121d. A second linear groove group 121b for reflecting visible light propagating in the light guide rod 12 toward the light guide layer 111 is provided on the side surface 121f opposite to the second side surface 121d of the main body 121. ing. The linear grooves forming the second linear groove group 121b are provided along the direction perpendicular to the length direction of the main body 121. As shown in FIG.

Visible light emitted from the light source 13 and propagating in the main body 121 is reflected by the second linear groove group 121b, emitted from the second side surface 121d, and emitted from the light guide layer 111 (of the relay portion 111b). It is taken in from the end surface 111c and propagates to the main body 111a.

As shown in FIGS. 1A, 1B, and 3A, the relay portion 111b of the light guide layer 111 is a plate-like member perpendicular to the main body 111a, and the end surface 111c faces downward. I'm on my way. A second side surface 121d facing the end surface 111c is a side surface of the main body 111a facing upward.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged perspective view of the vicinity of the center of the light guide rod 12 viewed from the side 121f side (lower side). In order to increase the brightness of the housing portion 10 and the lid 11 when the light source 13 is turned on, the width _W1 of the end of the projecting portion 122 on the main body 121 side in the length direction of the main body 121 should be 5 mm or more. , 10 mm or less.

As shown in FIGS. 3B and 4, the protruding portion 122 has a trapezoidal plate-like shape in plan view, with the width in the longitudinal direction of the main body 121 increasing with distance from the main body 122 side. preferably. In particular, in order to increase the brightness of the housing portion 10 and the lid 11 when the light source 13 is turned on, the first side surface 121c of the main body 121 and the surface 122a continuous with the first side surface 121c of the projecting portion 122 is preferably in the range of 45° or more and 60° or less.

In order to increase the brightness of the inside of the housing portion 10 and the lid 11 when the light source 13 is turned on, the lengthwise The width _W3 of the protrusion 122 is preferably 1.1 times or less the width _W1 of the end of the protruding portion 122 on the main body 121 side in the longitudinal direction of the main body 121 .

As shown in FIG. 4, the area of the side surface 121f where the second linear groove group 121b is provided includes a narrow pitch area 121g in which the pitch of the second linear groove group 121b is narrower than that of other areas. It may be In particular, in order to increase the brightness of the housing portion 10 and the lid 11 when the light source 13 is turned on, the width _W4 of the narrow pitch region 121g in the length direction of the main body 122 should It is preferably 1.1 times or less the width _W1 of the side end in the longitudinal direction of the body. The narrow-pitch region 121g is provided at a position overlapping the center of the light guide layer 111 of the lid 11 in the width direction (vertical direction in FIGS. 2(a) and 2(b)). positions overlap.

The light source 13 is a unit having a light emitting element such as an LED that emits visible light, and a fixing portion 131 for fixing the light source 13 to the end portion of the main body 121 of the light guide rod 12 in the length direction. In the examples shown in FIGS. 2(b), 3(a), and 3(b), the longitudinal ends of the main body 121 are inserted into and fixed to the fixing portions 131 of the light source 13, and are included in the light source 13. Visible light emitted from the light emitting element is incident on the longitudinal end surface of the main body 121 and enters the main body 121 . The light source 13 increases the brightness of the illuminated area and reduces unevenness in brightness. It is preferably provided at both ends of the longitudinal end. Also, the number of light sources 13 may be increased according to the desired brightness.

(Effect of Embodiment)
According to the above embodiment, it is possible to provide a storage box that can illuminate the inside and the outside with a common light source and that can change the appearance of the lid depending on whether the light source is on or off.

When the width _W1 of the projecting portion 122 is changed, the luminous flux on the surface of the tip of the projecting portion 122 that determines the brightness in the housing portion 10 when the light source 13 is turned on, and the brightness when the light source 13 is turned on. Changes in luminous flux and uniformity (ratio of maximum to minimum illumination) on the second side 121d of the body 121, which determine the brightness of the lid 11, were measured.

In this measurement, the width _W2 of the protrusion 122 was 15 mm, the length L of the protrusion 122 was 15 mm, the width _W3 of the region where the first linear groove group 121a was provided was 16 mm, and the width of the narrow pitch region 121g was 16 mm. _W4 was fixed at 0 mm, and the width _W1 of the protrusion 122 was varied between 2.5 and 15 mm. As the width _W1 of the projection 122 changes, the angle θ between the projection 122 and the main body 121 changes between 67.4 and 90°.

FIG. 5A is a graph showing the relationship between the width _W1 of the protrusion 122 and the luminous flux on the tip surface of the protrusion 122 obtained by measurement. FIG. 5(b) is a graph showing the relationship between the width _W1 of the protruding portion 122 and the luminous flux and uniformity on the second side surface 121d of the main body 121 obtained by measurement. Table 2 below shows the numerical values of the plotted points in the graphs of FIGS. 5(a) and 5(b). 5(a) and 5(b) and Table 2, the "receiving part side light flux" is the light flux on the surface of the tip of the projecting part 122, and the "cover side light flux" is the light flux on the second side surface 121d of the main body 121. "Lid side uniformity" means the uniformity of the second side surface 121d of the main body 121; The same applies to FIGS. 6 to 9 and Tables 3 to 6 below.

FIG. 5A shows that the luminous flux on the tip surface of the protrusion 122 increases when the width _W1 of the protrusion 122 is in the range of 5 mm or more and 10 mm or less. FIG. 5(b) also shows that as the width _W1 of the protruding portion 122 increases, the luminous flux on the second side surface 121d of the main body 121 decreases, and the uniformity increases (worsens). .

From these results, it is found that the width _W1 of the projecting portion 122 is in the range of 5 mm or more and 10 mm or less in order to increase the brightness of the housing portion 10 and the lid 11 when the light source 13 is turned on. It can be said that it is preferable.

When the width _W2 of the projecting portion 122 is changed, the luminous flux on the surface of the tip of the projecting portion 122 that determines the brightness in the housing portion 10 when the light source 13 is turned on, and the brightness when the light source 13 is turned on. The change in luminous flux and uniformity on the second side 121d of the body 121, which determines the brightness of the lid 11, was measured.

In this measurement, the width _W1 of the protrusion 122 is 7.5 mm, the angle θ between the protrusion 122 and the main body 121 is 76.0°, and the width _W3 of the region where the first linear groove group 121a is provided. was fixed at 16 mm, the width _W4 of the narrow pitch region 121g was fixed at 0 mm, and the width _W2 of the protrusion 122 was varied between 12.5 and 20 mm. Note that the length L of the protrusion 122 varies between 10 and 25 mm as the width _W2 of the protrusion 122 changes.

FIG. 6A is a graph showing the relationship between the width _W2 of the protrusion 122 and the light flux on the tip surface of the protrusion 122 obtained by measurement. FIG. 6B is a graph showing the relationship between the width _W2 of the protrusion 122 and the luminous flux and uniformity on the second side surface 121d of the main body 121 obtained by measurement. Table 3 below shows the numerical values of the plotted points in the graphs of FIGS. 6(a) and 6(b).

FIG. 6(a) shows that even if the width _W2 of the protrusion 122 changes, the change in the luminous flux on the tip surface of the protrusion 122 is small. FIG. 5(b) also shows that even if the width _W2 of the protruding portion 122 changes, the change in the luminous flux and uniformity on the second side surface 121d of the main body 121 is small.

From these results, it can be said that the width _W2 of the protruding portion 122 has little effect on the brightness of the housing portion 10 and the lid 11 when the light source 13 is turned on.

When the angle θ between the projection 122 and the main body 121 is changed, the luminous flux on the surface of the tip of the projection 122 and the light source 13 determine the brightness inside the housing 10 when the light source 13 is turned on. The change in luminous flux and uniformity on the second side 121d of the body 121, which determines the brightness of the lid 11 when lit, was measured.

In this measurement, the width _W1 of the protrusion 122 is 7.5 mm, the length L of the protrusion 122 is 15 mm, the width _W3 of the region where the first linear groove group 121a is provided is 16 mm, and the narrow pitch region 121g The width _W4 of each was fixed at 0 mm, and the angle θ between the protrusion 122 and the main body 121 was varied between 30 and 90°. The width _W2 of the protrusion 122 varies between 59.5 and 7.5 mm as the angle θ between the protrusion 122 and the main body 121 changes.

FIG. 7A is a graph showing the relationship between the angle θ between the projection 122 and the main body 121 obtained by measurement and the luminous flux on the tip surface of the projection 122 . FIG. 7B is a graph showing the relationship between the angle θ between the projecting portion 122 and the main body 121 obtained by measurement, and the light flux and uniformity on the second side surface 121 d of the main body 121 . Further, Table 4 below shows the numerical values of plotted points in the graphs of FIGS. 7(a) and 7(b).

FIG. 7A shows that the luminous flux on the tip surface of the protrusion 122 increases when the angle θ between the protrusion 122 and the main body 121 is in the range of 45° or more and 60° or less. there is Also, FIG. 7B shows that even if the angle θ between the projecting portion 122 and the main body 121 changes, the change in the luminous flux and the degree of uniformity on the second side surface 121d of the main body 121 is small.

From these results, in order to increase the brightness of the housing portion 10 and the lid 11 when the light source 13 is turned on, the angle θ It can be said that it is preferable to be within the range.

On the surface of the tip of the projecting portion 122, which determines the brightness in the housing portion 10 when the light source 13 is turned on when the width _W3 of the region in which the first linear groove group 121a is provided is changed The change in luminous flux and uniformity on the second side 121d of the body 121, which determines the luminous flux and brightness of the lid 11 when the light source 13 is turned on, was measured.

In this measurement, the width _W1 of the protrusion 122 is 7.5 mm, the width _W2 of the protrusion 122 is 37.5 mm, the length L of the protrusion 122 is 15 mm, and the angle θ between the protrusion 122 and the main body 121 is 45°, the width _W4 of the narrow pitch region 121g was fixed at 0 mm, and the width _W3 of the region provided with the first linear groove group 121a was varied between 8 and 24 mm.

FIG. 8A is a graph showing the relationship between the width _W3 of the region in which the first linear groove group 121a is provided and the luminous flux on the surface of the tip of the protrusion 122 obtained by measurement. FIG. 8(b) is a graph showing the relationship between the width _W3 of the region in which the first linear groove group 121a is provided and the luminous flux and uniformity on the second side surface 121d of the main body 121 obtained by measurement. be. Further, Table 5 below shows the numerical values of plotted points in the graphs of FIGS. 8(a) and 8(b).

FIG. 8(a) shows that even if the width _W3 of the region in which the first linear groove group 121a is provided changes, the change in the luminous flux on the tip surface of the projecting portion 122 is small. FIG. 8B shows that even if the width _W3 of the region where the first linear groove group 121a is provided changes, the change in the luminous flux on the second side surface 121d of the main body 121 is small. This indicates that the greater the width _W3 of the region in which one linear groove group 121a is provided, the higher (worse) the uniformity. In order to efficiently guide the light toward the projecting portion 122 by the first linear groove group 121a, the width _W3 of the region where the first linear groove group 121a is provided should be equal to the width W of the projecting portion 122. It must be ₁ or more.

From these results, in order to increase the brightness of the housing portion 10 and the lid 11 when the light source 13 is turned on, the width _W3 of the region in which the first linear groove group 121a is provided should It can be said that the closer to the width _W1 of 122, the better. For example, the W ₃ /W ₁ ratio is about 1.1 or less, which is the W ₃ /W ₁ ratio when the width W ₃ at the measurement point in the graphs of FIGS. 8A and 8B is closest to the width W ₁ . That is, the width _W3 is preferably 1.1 times or less than the width _W1 , and more preferably the width _W3 is equal to the width _W1 .

When the width _W4 of the narrow pitch region 121g is changed, the luminous flux on the surface of the tip of the projecting portion 122, which determines the brightness in the housing portion 10 when the light source 13 is turned on, and when the light source 13 is turned on. The changes in luminous flux and uniformity on the second side 121d of the main body 121, which determine the brightness of the lid 11, were measured.

In this measurement, the width _W1 of the protrusion 122 is 7.5 mm, the width _W2 of the protrusion 122 is 37.5 mm, the length L of the protrusion 122 is 15 mm, and the angle θ between the protrusion 122 and the main body 121 is 45°, the width _W3 of the region provided with the first linear groove group 121a was fixed at 8 mm, and the width _W4 of the narrow pitch region 121g was varied between 8 and 24 mm.

FIG. 9A is a graph showing the relationship between the width _W4 of the narrow-pitch region 121g and the luminous flux on the tip surface of the projection 122 obtained by measurement. FIG. 9(b) is a graph showing the relationship between the width _W4 of the narrow pitch region 121g and the light flux and uniformity on the second side surface 121d of the main body 121 obtained by measurement. Further, Table 6 below shows numerical values of the plotted points in the graphs of FIGS. 9(a) and 9(b).

FIG. 9A shows that the luminous flux at the tip surface of the protrusion 122 decreases as the width _W4 of the narrow pitch region 121g increases. In addition, FIG. 9B shows that as the width _{W4 of} the narrow pitch region 121g increases, the luminous flux on the second side surface 121d of the main body 121 increases slightly. This indicates that the degree of uniformity increases (worsens) as a matter of fact. It should be noted that the luminous flux at the tip surface of the protrusion 122 decreases as the width _W4 of the narrow pitch region 121g increases, and this is effective when the width _W4 of the narrow pitch region 121g is larger than the width _W1 of the protrusion 122. This is probably because the light is not guided to the projecting portion 122 side.

From these results, it is preferable that the width _W4 of the narrow pitch region 121g is closer to the width _W1 of the projecting portion 122 in order to increase the brightness of the inside of the housing portion 10 and the lid 11 when the light source 13 is turned on. I can say. For example, the W ₄ /W ₁ ratio is about 1.1 or less, which is the W ₄ /W ₁ ratio when the width W ₄ at the measurement point in the graphs of FIGS. 9A and 9B is closest to the width W ₁ . That is, the width _W4 is preferably 1.1 times or less than the width _W1 , and more preferably the width _W4 is equal to the width _W1 .

Although the embodiments and examples of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments and examples, and various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention. Moreover, the constituent elements of the above embodiments and examples can be arbitrarily combined without departing from the gist of the invention.

Moreover, the above embodiments and examples do not limit the invention according to the scope of claims. Also, it should be noted that not all combinations of features described in the embodiments and examples are essential to the means for solving the problems of the invention.

1 Storage Box 10 Storage Part 101 Opening 102 Side Wall 11 Lid 111 Light Guide Layer 111d End Face 112 Opaque Layer 12 Light Guide Rod 121 Body 121a First Linear Groove Group 121b Second Linear Groove Group 121c First Side 121d second side surface 121g narrow pitch region 122 protrusion 122a surface 13 light source

Claims (8)

a box-shaped container having an opening;
It has a light guide layer on the surface and an opaque layer provided on the light guide layer on the side of the accommodating portion, and unevenness having a predetermined pattern is provided on the interface between the light guide layer and the opaque layer. and a lid that is openable and closable at the opening;
a light source that emits visible light;
a light guide rod that propagates visible light emitted from the light source and irradiates the inside of the housing;
with
When the lid is closed, part of the visible light propagating in the light guide rod is guided to the light guide layer, reflected by the unevenness of the interface, and emitted to the outside from the surface of the lid. to be
containment box. A part of the visible light guided to the light guide layer is emitted to the outside from the end surface of the light guide layer opposite to the end surface on the light guide rod side,
The storage box according to claim 1. The color of the opaque layer and the color of the visible light emitted from the light source are different, and both are chromatic colors.
The storage box according to claim 1 or 2. The light guide bar has a rod-shaped main body installed outside the housing portion and a projection projecting from a portion of a first side surface of the main body, and the projection extends along the side wall of the housing portion. penetrates and the tip is exposed inside the housing,
When the lid is closed, the end surface of the light guide layer of the lid on the light guide rod side faces the second side surface of the main body,
A first linear groove group for reflecting visible light propagating in the light guide rod toward the protrusion side at a position facing the protrusion on the side surface opposite to the first side surface of the main body. is provided,
A second linear groove group for reflecting visible light propagating in the light guide rod to the light guide layer side is provided on the side surface opposite to the second side surface of the main body,
The storage box according to any one of claims 1-3. The width of the body-side end of the protrusion in the length direction of the body is in the range of 5 mm or more and 10 mm or less.
The storage box according to claim 4. the projecting portion has a plate-like shape with a trapezoidal planar shape in which the width in the longitudinal direction of the main body increases as the distance from the main body increases;
The angle formed by the first side surface of the main body and the surface of the protrusion that is continuous with the first side surface is in the range of 45° or more and 60° or less.
The storage box according to claim 4 or 5. The width in the length direction of the main body in the region where the first linear groove group is provided is 1.1 times the width in the length direction of the main body at the end portion of the protruding portion on the main body side. is the following
The storage box according to any one of claims 4-6. The region provided with the second linear groove group includes a narrow pitch region in which the pitch of the second linear groove group is narrower than other regions,
The width of the narrow-pitch region in the length direction of the main body is 1.1 times or less the width of the end of the protrusion on the main body side in the length direction of the main body.
The storage box according to any one of claims 4-7.

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