LIGHTED GRILLE WITH HOMOGENEOUS LOGO LIGHTING, FOR A VEHICLE

Abstract

A luminous grille equips a vehicle and comprises a housing at least partially delimiting a cavity housing a central part (PCL) comprising a logo (LV) and a lighting device (DE) comprising a light diffuser (DL) installed behind this central part (PCL), having at least one lateral edge (BL1, BL2) to which a light source (SL1, SL2) is coupled and arranged so as to diffuse the light generated by the latter towards a rear face of the central part (PCL). Figure 2

Description

Title of the invention: LUMINOUS GRILLE WITH HOMOGENEOUS LIGHTING OF THE LOGO, FOR A VEHICLE Technical field of the invention

[0001] The invention relates to luminous grilles intended to be installed in the front ends of certain vehicles. State of the art

[0002] Certain vehicles, generally of the automobile type, comprise a luminous grille installed in their front end, and comprising in particular a housing which at least partially delimits a cavity housing a central part comprising a logo and a lighting device comprising at least one light source capable of generating a light intended to illuminate this central part.

[0003] Generally, the light source comprises at least one light-emitting diode or (LED) installed opposite the rear face of the central part so as to provide direct backlighting. This results in partial visibility of the light source and generally inhomogeneous lighting of the logo (in particular around its perimeter), which doubly harms the impression of quality of the vehicle.

[0004] The invention therefore aims in particular to improve the situation. Presentation of the invention

[0005] It proposes in particular for this purpose a luminous grille suitable for equipping a front end of a vehicle, and comprising a housing delimiting at least partially a cavity housing a central part comprising a logo and a lighting device comprising at least one light source suitable for generating a light intended to illuminate this central part.

[0006] This luminous grille is characterized by the fact that its lighting device comprises a light diffuser installed behind its central part, having at least one lateral edge to which a light source is coupled and arranged so as to diffuse the light generated by the latter towards a rear face of the central part.

[0007] Thanks to this light diffuser with light supply from at least one side edge, very good illumination of the entire logo (and in particular its perimeter) is obtained, and each light source is now completely invisible, which gives an impression of quality of the vehicle.

[0008] The luminous grille according to the invention may include other characteristics which may be taken separately or in combination, and in particular:

[0009] - its light diffuser may include a rear face provided with micro-prisms arranged to reflect light evenly towards the rear face of the room central;

[0010] - in the presence of the first option, its light diffuser may comprise a front face opposite its back face, oriented towards the back face of the central part, and smooth;

[0011] - its light diffuser may have two opposite side edges to which are respectively coupled two light sources;

[0012] - each light source can be mounted on an electronic card which is so lidarized fixedly to an associated side edge of the light diffuser;

[0013] - in the presence of one of the last two options, its light diffuser may have a curved shape with its two side edges offset backwards relative to a central sub-portion located opposite an area of the central part where the LV logo is defined;

[0014] - each light source may comprise at least one light-emitting diode nescent;

[0015] -its light diffuser can have a crystal color;

[0016] - it can also include a protective glass fixedly attached to the housing by closing the cavity in front of the central piece.

[0017] The invention also provides a vehicle, possibly of the automobile type, and comprising a front end in which is installed a luminous grille of the type presented above. Brief description of the figures

[0018] Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will appear on examining the detailed description below, and the attached drawings (obtained for the most part in CAD / CAM (“Computer Aided Design / Computer Aided Drawing”)), in which:

[0019] [Fig-1] schematically illustrates, in a top view, an exemplary embodiment of a luminous grille according to the invention,

[0020] [Fig.2] schematically illustrates, in a sectional view in a horizontal plane, elements of the light grille of [Fig.l], after their assembly but before their installation in the housing of the light grille of [Fig.l],

[0021] [Fig.3] schematically illustrates, in a perspective view, elements of the light grille of [Fig.l], before their assembly,

[0022] [Fig.4] schematically illustrates, in a perspective view from the rear side, a sub-part of the left part of the light grille of [Fig.l], in the absence of the housing, and

[0023] [Fig.5] schematically illustrates, in a perspective view from the rear side, a part of an exemplary embodiment of a diffusion part of the luminous grille of [Fig.l]. Detailed description of the invention

[0024] The invention aims in particular to propose a luminous grille CL intended to be installed in a front end of a vehicle, and providing uniform illumination of its LV logo.

[0025] In the following, it is considered, by way of non-limiting example, that the vehicle is of the automobile type. It is for example a car. But the invention is not limited to this type of vehicle. It in fact concerns any vehicle comprising a front end which must accommodate a luminous grille.

[0026] In Figures 1 to 5, the X direction is intended to be parallel to the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, which is substantially parallel to the lateral (or longitudinal) sides comprising the side doors, the Y direction is intended to be parallel to the transverse direction of the vehicle, which is perpendicular to the longitudinal direction X, and the Z direction is intended to be parallel to the vertical direction of the vehicle, which is perpendicular to the longitudinal X and transverse Y directions.

[0027] Furthermore, in the foregoing and the following, the concept of "front" is defined in relation to the front end of the vehicle, and the concept of "rear" is defined in relation to the rear end of the vehicle (opposite the front end). Consequently, the front part of an element is (intended to be) oriented towards the front end of the vehicle, while the rear part of this element is (intended to be) oriented towards the rear end of the vehicle.

[0028] Figures 1 to 5 schematically illustrate, at least partially, an example of an embodiment of a luminous grille CL according to the invention (assembled ( [Fig.l]) or unassembled (Figures 2 to 5)), intended to be installed in the front end of a vehicle (here a car).

[0029] As illustrated at least partially in Figures 1 to 5, a luminous grille CL, according to the invention, comprises at least one housing BC, a central part PCL comprising a logo LV (representative of the vehicle brand), and a lighting device DE, as well as a possible protective glass GP.

[0030] The housing BC at least partially delimits a cavity CB which houses in particular the central part PCL and the lighting device DE (see [Fig.4]). The lighting device DE comprises at least one light source SLk, which is capable of generating light intended to illuminate the central part PCL, and a light diffuser DL.

[0031] This light diffuser DL is installed behind the central piece PCL and has at least one side edge BLk to which a light source SLk is coupled. In addition, this light diffuser DL is arranged so as to diffuse the light generated by each light source SLk towards the rear face FRI of the central part PCL. It will be understood that the light generated by the (each) light source SLk is injected by the (one) associated lateral edge BLk, then propagates inside the light diffuser DL where it is subject to internal reflection(s) which, for a good number of them, reflect it towards the rear face FRI of the central part PCL in order to illuminate it homogeneously. This results in very good illumination of the entire LV logo (and in particular its perimeter), which contributes to the impression of quality of the vehicle. In addition, this supply of light by at least one lateral edge BLk makes the (each) light source SLk totally invisible, which also contributes to the impression of quality of the vehicle.

[0032] For example, and as illustrated non-limitingly in [Fig. 5], the rear face FR2 of the light diffuser DL may be provided with micro-prisms which are arranged so as to return the light generated by the (each) light source SLk homogeneously towards the rear face FRI of the central part PCL. These micro-prisms may be defined at the same time as the entirety of the light diffuser DL, in particular when the latter (DL) is produced by molding, for example from a plastic material. But as a variant they could be produced in a machining operation (for example by laser) or chemical etching subsequent to molding.

[0033] Also for example, the light diffuser DL may comprise a front face FV2, opposite its rear face FR2, oriented towards the rear face FRI of the central part PCL, and smooth. This makes it possible to limit internal reflections at the level of the front face FV2 of the light diffuser DL, and therefore to further improve the homogeneity of the lighting of the rear face FRI of the central part PCL.

[0034] Also for example, and as illustrated non-limitingly in Figures 2 and 3, the light diffuser DL can have two opposite lateral edges BLk (k = 1 or 2) to which two light sources SLk are coupled respectively. This makes it possible to further improve the homogeneity of the illumination of the rear face FRI of the central part PCL. But it could be envisaged to have only one edge through which the light generated by a single light source SLk penetrates into the light diffuser DL. It will be noted that in the example illustrated non-limitingly in the figures, each lateral edge BLk is substantially vertical. But in a variant not illustrated, each lateral edge BLk could be substantially horizontal.

[0035] Also for example, and as illustrated non-limitingly in Figures 2 and 4, each light source SLk can be mounted on an electronic card CEk which is fixedly secured to an associated lateral edge BLk of the light diffuser DL. Also for example, each electronic card CEk can be a printed circuit board of the PCB type (“Printed Circuit Board”).

[0036] Also for example, each light source SLk may comprise at least a light-emitting diode (or LED). But alternatively, each SLk light source can include at least one laser diode or a gas laser.

[0037] Also for example, and as illustrated non-limitingly and at least partially in Figures 2 to 5, the light diffuser DL may have a curved shape with its two lateral edges BLk offset rearwardly (along the longitudinal direction X) relative to a central sub-part SPC which is located opposite the area of the central part PCL where the logo LV is defined. It will be understood that the lateral sub-parts comprising the lateral edges BLk are further away from the rear face FRI of the central part PCL than the central sub-part SPC. The light diffuser DL therefore here has a section in a horizontal plane XY in the general shape of a U with flattened edges which facilitates the local installation of the electronic cards CEk. But other more or less flat shapes may be envisaged for the light diffuser DL, depending on the needs (and depending on the local space requirement).

[0038] Also for example, and as appears in [Fig.5], the light diffuser DL can have a crystal color.

Claims

Claims

1. Luminous grille (CL) suitable for equipping a front end of a vehicle, and comprising a housing (BC) at least partially delimiting a cavity (CB) housing a central part (PCL) comprising a logo (LV) and a lighting device (DE) comprising at least one light source (SL) suitable for generating a light intended to illuminate said central part (PCL), characterized in that said lighting device (DE) comprises a light diffuser (DL) installed behind said central part (PCL), having at least one lateral edge (BLk) to which a light source (SLk) is coupled and arranged so as to diffuse said light generated by the latter (SLk) towards a rear face (FRI) of said central part (PCL).

2. Light grille according to claim 1, characterized in that said light diffuser (DL) comprises a rear face (FR2) provided with micro-prisms arranged to return said light homogeneously towards said rear face (FRI) of the central part (PCL).

3. Light grille according to claim 2, characterized in that said light diffuser (DL) comprises a front face (FV2) opposite said rear face (FR2), oriented towards said rear face (FRI) of the central part (PCL), and smooth.

4. Light grille according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that said light diffuser (DL) has two opposite lateral edges (BLk) to which two light sources (SLk) are respectively coupled.

5. Light grille according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that each light source (SLk) is mounted on an electronic card (CEk) fixedly secured to a lateral edge (BLk) associated with said light diffuser (DL).

6. Light grille according to claim 4 or 5, characterized in that said light diffuser (DL) has a curved shape with its two lateral edges (BLk) offset rearwardly relative to a central sub-part (SPC) located opposite an area of said central part (PCL) where the LV logo is defined.

7. Luminous grille according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that it comprises a protective glass (GP) fixedly secured to said housing (BC) by closing said cavity (CB) in front of said central part (PCL)

8. Vehicle comprising a front end, characterized in that it further comprises a luminous grille (CL) according to one of claims 1 to 7, installed in said front end.

9. Vehicle according to claim 8, characterized in that it is of the automobile type.

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