Light element for car body component made of injection-molded polycarbonate

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of motor vehicle body parts. The invention relates more specifically to body parts comprising a luminous element visible from outside the vehicle, for example forming a luminous signature.

[0002] A lighting element is a device capable of diffusing light towards the exterior of the vehicle. Such lighting elements can constitute aesthetic pieces, placed for example on the front face, or on the doors of a vehicle in order to create a light signature.

[0003] It is known to produce body parts comprising a luminous element, for example to form a light signature. In such cases, the light source is protected by a portion of the part made of transparent plastic. The light source can for example be placed in a recess made in the external face of the body part and behind the transparent portion or sandwiched between two parts of the transparent portion. The transparent portion can then be mounted on a body part, for example opaque. This produces an opaque body part comprising a transparent portion capable of letting through the light emitted by the light source protected by the transparent portion.

[0004] However, body parts such as those described above have some disadvantages.

[0005] Indeed, the transparent portion is made of a relatively rigid material. Therefore, the latter can be brittle, which leads to limiting its dimensions in order to reduce the risk of breakage. It is therefore difficult to obtain a transparent portion with particular dimensions, for example a significant length and a reduced width. This difficulty in handling a transparent portion with dimensions such as those mentioned above can particularly pose a problem in the context of producing a light signature, which is generally long and thin. The manufacturing process can be uneconomical and the assembly process more complex (manufacturing a portion of the part in isolation, a portion added to the main body of said part).

[0006] To overcome this problem, there are known lighting elements made of flexible material (FR 1854470). However, with this type of element, it is difficult to obtain uniform lighting when the length is significant.

[0007] Furthermore, this type of device has many disadvantages. Indeed, a transparent or translucent element provides good lighting, but the light source is then visible when it is off, which is not always desirable from an aesthetic point of view. Furthermore, an element that is too opaque certainly allows the light source to be hidden when it is off, but does not provide satisfactory brightness when lighting. In addition, semi-opaque materials are also sometimes considered unsightly and do not offer satisfactory lighting results.

[0008] Another disadvantage of this type of lighting and / or signaling device is that the light source constitutes a hot spot. The resulting light is generally considered unaesthetic, aggressive and unpleasant by a person observing it.

[0009] Document EP 3 190 006 A1 discloses a grille for a motor vehicle radiator grille comprising LED lights enabling the grille to illuminate and a light guide forming a profile with an open cross-section and comprising a first element defining over substantially the entire length of the profile an area transparent to the light emitted by the light source, a second element defining over substantially the entire length of the profile an area opaque to the light emitted by the light source, the light source emitting light from the interior of the profile towards the transparent and opaque areas.

[0010] Document US 2015 / 138807 A1 discloses a grille for a motor vehicle grille comprising a plurality of light sources. Documents JP 2012 037963 A (lamp), WO 03 / 066374 A2 (brake light) and WO 2017 / 059431 A1 (lighting elements) disclose structures for a motor vehicle comprising one or more light sources.

[0011] The aim of the invention is to provide an alternative lighting element to previous solutions, and making it possible to obtain uniform lighting over the entire length of the lighting element.

[0012] To this end, the invention relates to a light element for a motor vehicle body part, comprising at least one light source and a light guide, characterized in that the light guide constitutes a profile with an open cross-section. The light element comprises: a first element made of injected transparent polycarbonate, defining over substantially the entire length of the profile an area transparent to the light emitted by the light source; at least one second element made of injected black polycarbonate, defining over substantially the entire length of the profile an area opaque to the light emitted by the light source; the light source emitting light from inside the profile towards the transparent and opaque areas, the light source being integrated in the first element (40), at one end of the profile.

[0013] The luminous element according to the invention may further comprise at least one of the following characteristics: the opening of the profile is intended to face the bodywork part, and the profile has an inner face intended to face the bodywork part, and an outer face opposite the inner face; the light source emits light directly into the first element; the first element has on the inner face grooves capable of reflecting the light emitted by the light source along the first element; the grooves are arranged at regular intervals to locally diffuse the light, and are increasingly closer to each other as they move away from the light source; the first element constitutes a profile with an open cross-section; the first element has an excess thickness at the median axis of the profile of the element; the light element has two second elements on either side of the excess thickness, covering the inner faces of the profile of the first element;each second element comprises a means of attachment to the bodywork part. each attachment element constitutes a clip; the second elements form side walls of the light guide profile. the light element comprises a thermoformed decorative film capable of letting light pass through and covering at least part of the outer face; the thermoformed decorative film has a thickness preferably between 5 and 20 micrometers; the thermoformed decorative film is covered with a varnish; the light element constitutes a radiator grille outline.; Brief description of the figures

[0014] The invention will be better understood on reading the following description, given solely by way of example and with reference to the appended drawings in which: [ Fig. 1 ] is a perspective view of a light guide of a light element according to one embodiment; [ Fig. 2] illustrates a cross-section of the light guide of the figure 1 ; [ Fig. 3 ] illustrates a cross-section of a luminous element according to a variant of the embodiment of the Figures 1 and 2 , wherein the second elements comprise means for attachment to the bodywork part, such as clips; [ Fig. 4 ] illustrates a detail of the succession of layers forming the wall of the light guide of the luminous element of the figures 1, 2 And 3 ; [ Fig. 5 ] is a perspective view of a luminous element according to a first embodiment of the invention; [ Fig. 6 ] is a part of a median section of the luminous element of the Figure 5 ; [ Fig. 7 ] is a perspective view of a luminous element according to a second embodiment of the invention; [ Fig. 8 ] illustrates a cross-section of a luminous element according to a device not covered by the invention. Detailed description

[0015] The invention relates to a light element 10, for a bodywork part 100, comprising at least one light source 20 and a light guide 30.

[0016] We now refer to the figure 1 which illustrates an example of a light guide 30 of a light element 10.

[0017] The light guide 30 constitutes a profile with an open cross-section. According to the example of the figure 1 , the profile forms a gutter.

[0018] The opening of the gutter is intended to be turned towards the bodywork part 100, and the profile comprises an inner face 32 intended to be turned towards the bodywork part 100, and an outer face 34 opposite the inner face.

[0019] We now refer to the figure 2 which illustrates a cross-section of the light guide 30 of the figure 1 .

[0020] The light guide 30 comprises a first element 40 made of injected transparent polycarbonate. According to this first embodiment, the first element 40 constitutes a profile with an open cross-section. As illustrated in figure 1 , the first element 40 defines over substantially the entire length of the profile a zone ZT transparent to the light emitted by the light source 20.

[0021] The light guide 30 comprises at least one second element 50 made of injected black polycarbonate. According to the example of Figures 1 and 2 , the light guide comprises two second elements, positioned on the side walls of the gutter formed by the first element 40. Thus, the second elements are inside the profile, on the first element 40, and therefore do not constitute the external face of the light guide 30. As illustrated in figure 1, each second element 40 defines over substantially the entire length of the profile a zone ZO opaque to the light emitted by the light source 20.

[0022] According to an alternative embodiment, the first element 40 has an excess thickness 42 at the level of the zone ZT. According to the example of Figures 1 and 2 , the excess thickness is located at the level of the median axis of the profile of the first element 40. The luminous element 10 comprises two second elements 50 on either side of the excess thickness 42. The second elements 40 cover the interior faces of the profile of the first element 40.

[0023] According to an alternative embodiment, the second elements 50 carry means 80 for fixing to the bodywork part 100. According to the example of the figure 3, these fixing means are clips positioned at one end of each second element 50, and extending outside the gutter, beyond the inner faces of the first element 40. Thus, the fixing of the light element 10 to the bodywork part 100 is not visible from the outside, because only the first element 40 is flush with the bodywork part and visible from the outside.

[0024] According to an alternative embodiment, the luminous element 10 comprises a thermoformed decorative film 60 capable of letting light pass through and covering at least part of the outer face 34. The thermoformed decorative film 60 has a thickness preferably between 5 and 20 micrometers. It is advantageously covered with a varnish 70. The decorative film may for example be a chrome-colored film.

[0025] THE figures 1 to 4, illustrate an alternative embodiment according to which the thermoformed decorative film 60 covers a part (the side walls of the gutter) of the first element 40. They are therefore not in contact with the second elements 50. In particular the figure 4 , illustrates a detail of the succession of layers forming a side wall of the light guide of the luminous element of the figures 1, 2 And 3 .

[0026] The light source 20 emits light from the inside of the gutter towards the transparent ZT and opaque ZO zones. Indeed, the light source is positioned in the gutter, and the light therefore radiates onto the bottom of the gutter and onto the internal walls thereof (side walls and bottom of the gutter).

[0027] We now refer to the Figure 5 which illustrates a luminous element 10 according to a first embodiment of the invention.

[0028] According to this embodiment, the first element 40 has an excess thickness 42 at the level of the zone ZT. According to the example of Figures 1 and 2 , the excess thickness is located at the level of the median axis of the profile of the first element 40. The luminous element 10 comprises two second elements 50 on either side of the excess thickness 42. The second elements 40 cover the interior faces of the profile of the first element 40.

[0029] As illustrated on the Figures 5 and 6 , at one end of the light guide, the excess thickness 42 comprises a housing 44 carrying the light source 20. The housing 44 has an orientation allowing the light to be emitted into the thickness of the first element 40, at the level of the zone ZT. Thus, the light source 20 is integrated into the first element 40, at one end of the profile, it emits light directly into the first element 40.

[0030] In order for this light to be diffused homogeneously throughout the ZT zone, the inner face 32, forming the bottom of the gutter and formed by the first element 40, comprises grooves 46 capable of reflecting the light emitted by the light source 20 along the first element 40, in the ZT zone.

[0031] The streaks 46 are arranged at regular intervals to locally diffuse the light, and are increasingly closer to each other as they move away from the light source 20.

[0032] There figure 6 illustrates in detail the presence of the housing 44 and the light diffusion grooves 46.

[0033] We now refer to the figure 7 which illustrates a luminous element 10 according to a second embodiment of the invention.

[0034] This second embodiment differs from the first in that the second elements 50 form the side walls of the gutter. Thus, the first element 40 no longer constitutes a profile with an open cross-section. The first element 40 is reduced to the transparent zone ZT. The second elements 50 are thus positioned on either side of the first element 40.

[0035] We now refer to the figure 8 which illustrates a light element 10 according to a device not covered by the invention, in which the light source 20 comprises a set of light-emitting diodes positioned on a support 90 closing the profile, the diodes being capable of diffusing light through the transparent zone ZT. The light thus emitted by the diodes is blocked by the second elements 50, at the opaque zones 50 forming the side walls of the profile.

[0036] Such light elements may constitute aesthetic parts, arranged for example on the front face, or on the doors of a vehicle in order to create a light signature. For example, the light element 10 may constitute a radiator grille outline. List of references

[0037] 10: light element for body part 100 20: light source of the light element 10 30: light guide of the light element 10 32: inner face of the profile of the light guide 30 34: outer face of the profile of the light guide 30 40: first element of the light guide 30, in injected transparent polycarbonate 42: extra thickness of the first element 40 at the median axis of the profile of the element 10 44: housing integrated in the first element 40 carrying the light source 20 46: ridges of the inner face of the first element 40, at the transparent zone ZT ZT: zone of the light guide 30 transparent to the light emitted by the light source 20 50: second element of the light guide 30,in injected black polycarbonate ZO: light guide zone 30 opaque to the light emitted by the light source 20 60: thermoformed decorative film 70: varnish 80: element for fixing the light element 10 to the body part 100 90: light-emitting diode support 100: motor vehicle,

Claims

1. Light element (10) for a bodywork component (100) of a motor vehicle, comprising at least one light source (20) and a light guide (30), the light guide (30) forming a profile of open cross-section, and comprising: - a first element (40) made of injection-molded transparent polycarbonate, defining, along substantially the entire length of the profile, a zone (ZT) that is transparent to the light emitted by the light source (20); - at least one second element (50) made of injection-molded black polycarbonate, defining, along substantially the entire length of the profile, a zone (ZO) that is opaque to the light emitted by the light source (20); the light source (20) emitting light from inside the profile toward the transparent (ZT) and opaque (ZO) zones, characterized in that the light source (20) is integrated into the first element (40), at one end of the profile.

2. Light element (10) according to claim 1, wherein the opening of the profile is intended to be turned toward the bodywork component (100), and the profile comprises an inner face (32) intended to be turned toward the bodywork component (100), and an outer face (34) opposite the inner face.

3. Light element (10) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the light source (20) emits light directly into the first element (40).

4. Light element (10) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the first element (40) comprises, on the inner face (32), ridges (46) capable of reflecting the light emitted by the light source (20) along the first element (40).

5. Light element (10) according to the preceding claim, wherein the ridges (46) are arranged at regular intervals to locally diffuse the light, and are brought closer to each other as they move away from the light source (20).

6. Light element (10) according to one of the preceding claims, in which the first element (40) constitutes a profile with an open cross-section.

7. Light element (10) according to the preceding claim, wherein the first element (40) comprises an extra thickness (42) at the median axis of the profile of the element (10).

8. Light element (10) according to the preceding claim, comprising two second elements (50) on either side of the extra thickness (42), covering the inner faces of the profile of the first element (40).

9. Light element (10) according to the preceding claim, wherein each second element (50) comprises means (80) for attachment to the bodywork component (100).

10. Light element (10) according to the preceding claim, wherein each attachment element (80) constitutes a clip.

11. Light element (10) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the second elements (50) form side walls of the profile of the light guide (30).

12. Light element (10) according to one of the preceding claims, comprising a thermoformed decorative film (60) capable of allowing light to pass and covering at least part of the outer face (34).

13. Light element (10) according to the preceding claim, wherein the thermoformed decorative film (60) has a thickness preferably between 5 and 20 micrometers.

14. Light element (10) according to one of claims 12 and 13, wherein the thermoformed decorative film (60) is covered with a varnish (70).

15. Light element (10) according to one of the preceding claims, constituting an outline of a radiator grille.