Vehicle lighting fixtures and their manufacturing method

Abstract

To provide a lamp for a vehicle which can properly fix a housing and an outer lens by screw fastening.SOLUTION: In a lamp 1 for a vehicle in which a light source unit is arranged inside a lamp body 4 which is constituted of a housing 2 opened at a front face, and an outer lens 3 for covering an opening of the housing 2, the lamp has a fixing part 10 for fixing either the housing 2 and the outer lens 3 to the other member by screw fastening, and the fixing part 10 has a boss 31 protruded from the one member side, a screw hole 32 for screwing a screw to a tip of the boss 31, a boss receiving part 21 which is formed by recessing the other member side, and a pin 22 protruded from the inside of the boss receiving part 21. The boss 31 is fit into the boss receiving part 21, and in a state that the pin 22 is inserted into the screw hole 32, a clearance between the boss receiving part 21 and the boss 31 is sealed by a seal member S.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a vehicle lamp and a method for manufacturing the same.

Background Art

[0002] For example, a vehicle lamp mounted on a vehicle is composed of a housing with an open front and an outer lens covering the opening of the housing. Inside the lamp body, components such as a light source, an inner lens, a reflector, and an extension are arranged as a light source unit, and these components are attached via brackets or the like.

[0003] By the way, in order to prevent water such as rain from entering from the outside, the lamp body has a structure in which the space between the housing and the outer lens is sealed by a sealing member over the entire circumference. Also, the lamp body fixes the outer lens to the housing by screwing.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document ①

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] However, in such a lamp, if the sealing member arranged in the housing enters the screw hole that the screw engages with, there is a risk that the sealing member will prevent the screw from properly engaging with the screw hole, and there is a risk that the outer lens cannot be fixed to the housing because the screw cannot be properly screwed into the screw hole.

[0006] The present invention has been proposed in view of such conventional circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide a vehicle lamp and a method for manufacturing the same that enable proper fixing of the housing and the outer lens by screwing.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0007] To achieve the above objective, the present invention provides the following means. [1] A vehicle lighting fixture comprising a housing with an open front and an outer lens covering the opening of the housing, wherein a light source unit is arranged inside the light body, The housing and the outer lens have a fixing portion for fixing one of the components to the other component by screw fastening, The fixing portion has a boss protruding from one of the member sides, a screw hole for screwing a screw into the tip of the boss, a boss receiving portion recessed on the other member side, and a pin protruding from the inside of the boss receiving portion. A vehicle light fixture characterized in that the boss is fitted inside the boss receiving portion, the pin is inserted inside the screw hole, and the space between the boss receiving portion and the boss is sealed by a sealing member. [2] The fixing portion has a thin-walled portion that is recessed on the side of the boss receiving portion opposite to the pin side, The vehicle light fixture according to [1], characterized in that the screw is screwed into the thin-walled portion, and the pin is destroyed by the screw that has penetrated the thin-walled portion, and the screw is screwed into the screw hole. [3] The vehicle light fixture according to [2], characterized in that the other member is provided with the thin-walled portion having a larger outer diameter than the pin when viewed from the direction in which the screw is screwed in. [4] A method for manufacturing a vehicle lighting device, wherein a light source unit is arranged inside a lighting body composed of a housing with an open front and an outer lens covering the opening of the housing, When fixing either the outer lens or the housing to the other member by screw fastening, A step of preparing the housing and the outer lens, which are provided with a boss protruding from one of the member sides, a screw hole for screwing a screw into the tip of the boss, a boss receiving portion recessed on the other member side, a pin protruding from the inside of the boss receiving portion, and a thin-walled portion recessed on the side of the boss receiving portion opposite to the pin side, The process involves fitting the boss into the inside of the boss receiving portion and inserting the pin into the inside of the screw hole, and then sealing the space between the boss receiving portion and the boss with a sealing member. A method for manufacturing a vehicle light fixture, characterized by including the step of screwing the screw into the thin-walled portion, destroying the pin with the screw that has penetrated the thin-walled portion, and then screwing the screw into the screw hole. [Effects of the Invention]

[0008] As described above, the present invention makes it possible to provide a vehicle lighting fixture and a method for manufacturing the same that enables proper fixing of the housing and outer lens by screw fastening. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0009] [Figure 1] This is a front view showing the configuration of a vehicle lighting device according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] Figure 1 is an exploded perspective view showing the configuration of the vehicle lighting system. [Figure 3] Figure 1 shows the configuration of the lamp body's fixing part indicated by line segment AA, and is a cross-sectional view showing the state before the boss is fitted into the boss receiving part. [Figure 4] Figure 1 shows a cross-sectional view illustrating the configuration of the lamp's mounting section as indicated by line segment AA, with the pins inserted into the screw holes. [Figure 5] Figure 1 shows a cross-sectional view illustrating the configuration of the lamp's fixing part as indicated by line segment AA, with screws screwed into the screw holes. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0010] Embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. In the drawings used in the following explanation, the dimensions of each component may be shown on a different scale to make them easier to see, and the dimensional ratios of each component may not necessarily be the same as in reality.

[0011] As one embodiment of the present invention, for example, the vehicle lamp 1 shown in FIGS. 1 to 5 and its manufacturing method will be described. Note that FIG. 1 is a front view showing the configuration of the vehicle lamp 1. FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view showing the configuration of the vehicle lamp 1. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing the configuration of the fixing portion 10 of the lamp body 4 along the line segment A-A shown in FIG. 1, showing the state before the boss 31 is fitted into the boss receiving portion 21. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing the configuration of the fixing portion 10 of the lamp body 4 along the line segment A-A shown in FIG. 1, showing the state where the pin 22 is inserted into the screw hole 32. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing the configuration of the fixing portion 10 of the lamp body 4 along the line segment A-A shown in FIG. 1, showing the state where the screw B is screwed into the screw hole 32.

[0012] In addition, in the drawings shown below, an XYZ orthogonal coordinate system is set, and the X-axis direction is the front-rear direction of the vehicle lamp 1, the Y-axis direction is the left-right direction of the vehicle lamp 1, and the Z-axis direction is the up-down direction of the vehicle lamp 1, and each is shown.

[0013] Note that in the following description, the front-rear direction of the vehicle lamp 1 may be described as the length direction, the left-right direction of the vehicle lamp 1 may be described as the width direction, and the up-down direction of the vehicle lamp 1 may be described as the height direction.

[0014] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the vehicle lamp 1 of the present embodiment has a structure in which a light source unit (not shown) is disposed inside a lamp body 4 composed of a housing 2 having an open front surface and an outer lens 3 covering the opening of the housing 2. Both the housing 2 and the outer lens 3 are made of resin molded parts made of synthetic resin.

[0015] The light source unit is not particularly limited. For example, a structure in which components such as a light source, an inner lens, a reflector, and an extension are arranged and these components are attached inside the lamp body 4 via a bracket or the like can be mentioned.

[0016] As shown in FIGS. 1 to 5, the lamp body 4 has an outer lens 3 disposed on the front side in the front-rear direction and a housing 2 disposed on the rear side. The lamp body 4 is provided with fixing portions 10 around it for connecting the housing 2 and the outer lens 3 with screws B. A plurality of fixing portions 10 are provided on the outer periphery of the lamp body 4. Further, the space between the housing 2 and the outer lens 3 is sealed by a sealing member S over the entire circumference.

[0017] The fixing portion 10 has a boss receiving portion 21 provided on the housing 2 side so as to be recessed rearward and a boss 31 protruding rearward on the outer lens 3 side. In the state where the outer lens 3 is attached to the housing 2, the boss 31 is inserted into the boss receiving portion 21. Then, in the state where the boss 31 is inserted into the boss receiving portion 21, the outer lens 3 is fixed to the housing 2 by screwing the screw B from the rear side of the housing 2.

[0018] The boss receiving portion 21 has a boss bottom surface 21a, and a pin 22 and a thin portion 23 are provided on the boss bottom surface 21a. The pin 22 is provided so as to protrude forward from the boss bottom surface 21a. The thin portion 23 is provided on the opposite side of the pin 22 so as to recess the boss bottom surface 21a forward.

[0019] The boss 31 has a screw hole 32 provided in a boss end portion 31a which is the rear end surface. The screw hole 32 is recessed forward from the boss end portion 31a and the screw B is screwed into it.

[0020] The boss receiving portion 21 is located on the outer peripheral portion of the front side of the housing 2 and constitutes a part of the recess into which the sealing member S is injected.

[0021] The pin 22 is intended to prevent the sealing member S injected into the boss receiving portion 21 from entering the screw hole 32. The pin 22 protrudes conically from the bottom surface 21a of the boss and is inserted into the screw hole 32 when the outer lens 3 is attached to the housing 2. The maximum outer diameter of the pin 22 is set to block the screw hole 32. The protruding length of the pin 22 is set to protrude from the bottom surface of the boss receiving portion 21 so that it fits into the screw hole 32.

[0022] The thin-walled portion 23 is located on the opposite side of the pin 22 in the front-rear direction, at the position where the screw B is screwed in. The thin-walled portion 23 is formed by recessing the rear side of the boss bottom surface 21a, and is thinner than the surrounding area. Also, when viewed from the direction in which the screw B is screwed in, the outer diameter (inner diameter of the recess) of the thin-walled portion 23 is larger than that of the pin 22. On the other hand, the pin 22 is located in the center of the thin-walled portion 23 when viewed from the direction in which the screw B is screwed in.

[0023] The boss 31 is located on the outer periphery of the back side of the outer lens 3 and is provided protruding from the back side of the outer lens 3 toward the rear in the front-to-back direction.

[0024] The screw hole 32 is a hole into which screw B is screwed, and is formed in a bag-like shape extending forward from the boss end 31a, with the front end closed. The screw hole 32 is provided with an inner diameter and depth sufficient for screwing screw B.

[0025] Furthermore, the depth dimension d of the screw hole 32 is formed to be longer than the length dimension of the screw B, and is formed to a length that allows the pin 22 to be housed at the tip when the screw B is screwed in, as will be described later.

[0026] Next, we will explain how to attach the housing 2 and the outer lens 3 using the fixing part 10. First, as shown in Figure 2, a fluid sealing member S is applied to the recess provided on the outer circumference of the front side of the housing 2, including the boss receiving portion 21.

[0027] Next, as shown in Figure 3, the boss 31 is fitted inside the boss receiving portion 21, and the pin 22 is inserted inside the screw hole 32. The sealing member S is pressed against the pin 22, the boss bottom surface 21a, and the boss end portion 31a, and expands to seal the space between the boss receiving portion 21 and the boss 31.

[0028] At this time, the pin 22 is inserted into the inside of the screw hole 32, thereby sealing the screw hole 32. This makes it possible to prevent the sealing member S from entering the screw hole 32.

[0029] Furthermore, in the fixing part 10, the sealing member S has adhesive properties, and by inserting the pin 22 into the inside of the screw hole 32, the outer lens 3 can be temporarily fixed in a state that prevents it from adhering to the housing 2 in an unintended position.

[0030] Next, as shown in Figure 4, screw B is screwed into the thin-walled portion 23 from the rear side of the housing 2, physically destroying the pin 22 with screw B as it penetrates the thin-walled portion 23, while screw B is screwed into the screw hole 32. The destroyed pin 22 is then housed in the front side of the screw hole 32.

[0031] As described above, in the vehicle lighting device 1 of this embodiment, the outer lens 3 can be fixed to the housing 2 by screw fastening via such fixing part 10.

[0032] In the vehicle light fixture 1 of this embodiment, the boss 31 is fitted inside the boss receiving portion 21 described above, and the pin 22 is inserted inside the screw hole 32, with the space between the boss receiving portion 21 and the boss 31 sealed by the sealing member S.

[0033] As a result, in the vehicle light fixture 1 of this embodiment, it is possible to properly seal the space between the housing 2 and the outer lens 3 with the sealing member S around the entire circumference, while preventing the sealing member S injected into the boss receiving portion 21 from entering the inside of the screw hole 32.

[0034] Furthermore, in the vehicle light fixture 1 of this embodiment, a screw B is screwed into the thin-walled portion 23 described above, and the screw B is screwed into the screw hole 32 in a state where the pin 22 is destroyed by the screw B that has penetrated the thin-walled portion 23.

[0035] As a result, in the vehicle lighting device 1 of this embodiment, screws B can be screwed into the screw holes 32 in the fixing part 10 described above, and the housing 2 and the outer lens 3 can be properly fixed by screw fastening.

[0036] Furthermore, if a fluid sealing member S enters the inside of the screw hole 32, the sealing member S will clog the screw hole 32, making it difficult to screw the screw B into the screw hole 32 to a sufficient depth. In contrast, the pin 22 inserted inside the screw hole 32 is physically destroyed by the screw B, making it possible to screw the screw B into the screw hole 32 to a sufficient depth. After the screw B is screwed into the screw hole 32, threads (female threads) corresponding to the threads (male threads) of the screw B will be formed in the hole that penetrates the thin-walled portion 23 and in the screw hole 32.

[0037] It should be noted that the present invention is not necessarily limited to the embodiments described above, and various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. For example, in the above-mentioned fixing part 10, a boss receiving part 21, a pin 22, and a thin-walled part 23 are provided on the housing 2 side, and a boss 31 and a screw hole 32 are provided on the outer lens 3 side. However, it is also possible to configure it so that the boss receiving part 21, a pin 22, and a thin-walled part 23 are provided on the outer lens 3 side, and the boss 31 and a screw hole 32 are provided on the housing 2 side.

[0038] Furthermore, the fixing part 10 is not limited to the multiple configuration described above; it may be just one, or it may be combined with other fixing means.

[0039] Furthermore, the vehicle lighting fixtures to which the present invention applies are not particularly limited, and the present invention can be broadly applied to vehicle lighting fixtures in which a light source unit is arranged inside a lighting body composed of a housing with an open front and an outer lens that covers the opening of the housing.

[0040] Furthermore, examples of light source units include vehicle headlights (headlamps), taillights, position lamps, auxiliary headlights (sub-headlamps), front (rear) fog lamps, daytime running lights (DRL), lid lamps, brake lamps (stop lamps), reverse lamps, and turn signals (indicator lamps). [Explanation of symbols]

[0041] 1...Vehicle light fixture 2...Housing 3...Outer lens 4...Light body 10...Fixing part 21...Boss receiving part 22...Pin 23...Thin-walled part 31...Boss 32...Screw hole B...Screw S...Sealing material

Claims

1. A vehicle light fixture comprising a housing with an open front and an outer lens covering the opening of the housing, wherein a light source unit is arranged inside the light body, The housing and the outer lens have a fixing portion for fixing one of the components to the other component by screw fastening, The fixing portion has a boss protruding from one of the member sides, a screw hole for screwing a screw into the tip of the boss, a boss receiving portion recessed on the other member side, and a pin protruding from the inside of the boss receiving portion. A vehicle light fixture characterized in that the boss is fitted inside the boss receiving portion, the pin is inserted inside the screw hole, and the space between the boss receiving portion and the boss is sealed by a sealing member.

2. The fixing portion has a thin-walled portion that is recessed on the side of the boss receiving portion opposite to the pin side, The vehicle light fixture according to claim 1, characterized in that the screw is screwed into the thin-walled portion, and the pin is destroyed by the screw that has penetrated the thin-walled portion, with the screw screwed into the screw hole.

3. The vehicle light fixture according to claim 2, characterized in that the other member is provided with the thin-walled portion having a larger outer diameter than the pin when viewed from the direction in which the screw is screwed in.

4. A method for manufacturing a vehicle lighting device, wherein a light source unit is arranged inside a lighting body composed of a housing with an open front and an outer lens covering the opening of the housing, When fixing either the outer lens or the housing to the other member by screw fastening, A step of preparing the housing and the outer lens, which are provided with a boss protruding from one of the member sides, a screw hole for screwing a screw into the tip of the boss, a boss receiving portion recessed on the other member side, a pin protruding from the inside of the boss receiving portion, and a thin-walled portion recessed on the side of the boss receiving portion opposite to the pin side, The process involves fitting the boss into the inside of the boss receiving portion and inserting the pin into the inside of the screw hole, and then sealing the space between the boss receiving portion and the boss with a sealing member. A method for manufacturing a vehicle light fixture, characterized by including the step of screwing the screw into the thin-walled portion, destroying the pin with the screw that has penetrated the thin-walled portion, and then screwing the screw into the screw hole.

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