LIGHTED GRILLE WITH INDEPENDENT LIGHTING, FOR A VEHICLE

Abstract

A luminous grille (CL) equips a vehicle and comprises: - a central part (PCL) comprising a logo, - a first lighting device (DE1) generating first photons illuminating the central part (PCL), - two lateral parts (PLB2) installed to the right and left of the central part (PCL), - a second lighting device generating second photons illuminating the lateral parts (PLB2), and - isolating elements (EI) capable of preventing the passage of first photons towards the lateral parts (PLB2) and second photons towards the central part (PCL). Figure 3

Description

Title of the invention: LUMINOUS GRILLE WITH INDEPENDENT LIGHTING, FOR A VEHICLE Technical field of the invention

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

[0002] Some vehicles, generally of the automobile type, include a luminous grille installed in the central area of their front end, and comprising a central part comprising a logo and a lighting device capable of generating photons intended to illuminate this central part (possibly from the rear). Sometimes, the central part is housed in a cavity defined by a housing of the luminous grille and closed by a protective glass fixedly secured to the housing, for example by welding or gluing.

[0003] This lighting is mainly intended to highlight the logo of the luminous grille, and therefore does not allow one or more other parts of the luminous grille to be specifically highlighted. As a result, certain technical or stylistic effects cannot be obtained, and the diversity of the light signatures of the vehicles is very severely limited.

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

[0005] For this purpose, it proposes in particular a luminous grille suitable for equipping a central zone of a front end of a vehicle, and comprising a central part including a logo and a first lighting device suitable for generating first photons intended to illuminate the central part.

[0006] This luminous grille is characterized by the fact that it also includes:

[0007] - two side parts installed to the right and left of the central part,

[0008] - a second lighting device capable of generating second photons intended for illuminate the side parts, and

[0009] - isolation elements suitable for preventing the passage of first photons towards the side parts and second photons towards the central part.

[0010] Thanks to these independent lights, dedicated respectively to the specific highlights of the central part and the two side parts, and not interfering with each other, it is now possible to obtain certain technical or style effects, and to increase the diversity of the light signatures of the vehicles.

[0011] The luminous grille according to the invention may include other characteristics which may be taken separately or in combination, and in particular:

[0012] - its central part may comprise two external lateral edges each provided with a insulating element, and / or each of its lateral parts may comprise an internal lateral edge oriented towards one of the external lateral edges and provided with an insulating element;

[0013] - in the presence of the first option, each external lateral edge may comprise a rear wall extending rearwardly and then behind the corresponding side portion defining a cavity housing a corresponding internal side edge and defining an insulating element;

[0014] - each of its lateral parts may comprise, on the one hand, a rear mask installed to the right or left of its central part and suitable for masking technical parts of the light grille, and, on the other hand, an internal window installed to the right or left of its central part in front of the rear mask. In this case, the second lighting device may be suitable for generating second photons intended to illuminate these internal windows;

[0015] - in the presence of the last option, each of the internal windows can comprise a front face on which three-dimensional elements are defined, together defining a radiator grille;

[0016] - the first lighting device may comprise an installed light diffuser behind the central part and suitable for diffusing the first photons generated towards a rear face of the latter;

[0017] - in the presence of the last two options, the first lighting device can comprise at least one photon source capable of generating the first photons for the light diffuser, and the second lighting device may comprise two photon sources capable of generating the second photons respectively for the internal lenses;

[0018] - in the presence of the last option, each photon source can comprise at least minus one light-emitting diode.

[0019] The invention also provides a vehicle, possibly of the automobile type, and comprising, on the one hand, a front end comprising a central zone, and, on the other hand, a luminous grille of the type presented above and installed in the central part of this front end. Brief description of the figures

[0020] Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will appear on examining the detailed description below, and the attached drawings (obtained in CAD / CAM (“Computer Aided Design / Computer Aided Drawing”)), in which:

[0021] [Fig-1] schematically and functionally illustrates, in a perspective view on the front side, an example of an embodiment of a luminous grille according to the invention,

[0022] [Fig.2] schematically and functionally illustrates, in a perspective view, elements of the luminous grille of [Fig.l], before their assembly, and

[0023] [Fig.3] schematically illustrates, in a sectional view in a horizontal plane, a part of the light 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 central zone of a front end of a vehicle, and having independent lighting.

[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 relates in fact to any vehicle comprising a front end having a central zone to accommodate a luminous grille.

[0026] In Figures 1 to 3, 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 3 schematically illustrate, at least partially, an example of an embodiment of a luminous grille CL according to the invention (assembled (Figures 1 and 3) or unassembled ([Fig.2])), intended to be installed in the central zone of the front end of a vehicle (here a car).

[0029] As illustrated at least partially in Figures 1 to 3, a luminous grille CL, according to the invention, comprising at least one central part PCL comprising a logo LO (representative of the vehicle brand), first DE1 and second DE2 lighting devices, right and left lateral parts PLBj (j = 1 or 2), and insulating elements EL

[0030] Preferably, the luminous grille CL also comprises a housing BC which at least partially delimits a cavity CB which houses in particular the central part PCL, the first DE1 and second DE2 lighting devices, the side parts PLBj and the insulation elements El (see [Fig.3]).

[0031] As illustrated at least partially in Figures 1 to 3, the light grille CL may also comprise a protective glass GP fixedly secured to the housing BC by closing the cavity CB in front of the central part PCL and the lateral parts PLBj. This fixed fastening may be done, for example, by welding or gluing. But it could also be done by screwing and / or clipping.

[0032] In the presence of a BC housing, the luminous grille CL is installed in a central part PCB of this BC housing, while the lateral parts PLBj are respectively installed to the right and left of the central part PCL in right and left lateral sub-parts of the BC housing.

[0033] The first lighting device DE1 is arranged so as to generate first photons which are intended to illuminate the central part PCL.

[0034] The second lighting device DE2 is arranged to generate second photons which are intended to illuminate the lateral parts PLBj.

[0035] As illustrated at least partially in [Fig. 3], the isolation elements El are suitable for preventing the passage of first photons towards the lateral parts PLBj and of second photons towards the central part PCL. They therefore provide an “anti-light leakage” function.

[0036] We thus have two independent lights dedicated respectively to the specific highlighting of the central part PCL (and its LO logo) and to the specific highlighting of the two lateral parts PLBj, and which do not interfere with each other thanks to the EL isolation elements. This makes it possible to obtain certain technical or style effects, and to increase the diversity of the light signatures of the vehicles.

[0037] For example, and as illustrated non-limitingly and at least partially in Figures 2 and 3, the central part PCL may comprise two external lateral edges BLEj which are opposite each other and each provided with an insulating element El, and / or each of the lateral parts PLBj may comprise an internal lateral edge BLIj which is oriented towards one of the external lateral edges BLEj and provided with an insulating element. It will be noted that in the example illustrated non-limitingly in [Fig.2] only the central part PCL comprises two external lateral edges BLEj provided with isolating elements EL But in embodiment variants not illustrated only the lateral parts PLBj could comprise internal lateral edges BLIj provided with isolating elements, or the central part PCL could comprise two external lateral edges BLEj provided with isolating elements El and the lateral parts PLBj could comprise internal lateral edges BLIj provided with isolating elements (cooperating possibly and respectively with the isolating elements El).

[0038] Also for example, and as illustrated non-limitingly and at least by Specifically in Figures 2 and 3, each external lateral edge BLEj may comprise a rear wall which extends towards the rear and then behind the corresponding lateral part PLBj, defining a cavity housing the corresponding internal lateral edge BLIj, and which defines an isolation element El. It will be understood that thus each internal lateral edge BLIj is surrounded (here over its entire height) by an isolation element El corresponding to the central part PCL, which makes it possible to distinguish them from one another and above all to prevent the transfer of photons from one to the other (and vice versa).

[0039] Also for example, and as illustrated non-limitingly and at least partially in [Fig. 3], each rear wall El can be fixedly secured to the internal face of the housing BC so as to prevent it (El) from striking the corresponding internal lateral edge BLIj. In addition, this makes it possible to reinforce the immobilization of the central part PCL relative to the housing BC. But this is not an obligation. It will be noted that in the example illustrated non-limitingly in [Fig. 3], the securing is done by screwing. But it could be done by clipping.

[0040] Also for example, and as illustrated non-limitingly and at least partially in Figures 2 and 3, each of the lateral parts PLBj may comprise a rear mask MRj and an associated internal glass Glj. Each rear mask MRj is installed to the right (j = 1) or to the left (j = 2) of the central part PCL and is suitable for masking technical parts of the luminous grille CL. It will be noted that each rear mask MRj may also provide a function of auxiliary isolation element (or anti-light leakage) which prevents the passage of second photons towards the rear, and thus prevents these second photons from reaching the central part PCL. Each internal glass Glj is installed to the right or to the left of the central part PCL in front of the associated rear mask MRj. In the presence of such lateral parts PLBj, the second lighting device DE2 may be suitable for generating second photons which are intended to illuminate the internal glass Glj.

[0041] Thus, almost the entire front part of the luminous grille CL, observable through its possible protective glass GP, is illuminated (or illuminated), possibly by backlighting (as will be seen later).

[0042] For example, each back mask MRj may have a black color.

[0043] Also for example, and as illustrated non-limitingly in [Fig.l], each internal windows Glj may comprise a front face FV, oriented (here) towards the protective window GP, and on which are defined three-dimensional elements ET which together define a radiator grille. It will be noted that in the example illustrated the three-dimensional elements ET extend substantially in the vertical direction Z in order to define lines parallel to each other. But three-dimensional elements ET could extend substantially in the vertical direction Z and other elements three-dimensional AND elements could extend substantially along the transverse direction Y, in order to define a grid, for example. We could also have three-dimensional AND elements extending substantially along two directions perpendicular to each other and different from the vertical direction Z and transverse direction Y, in order to define a grid, for example.

[0044] These three-dimensional elements ET can have a rectangular or triangular or even trapezoidal cross-section, for example.

[0045] Also for example, and as illustrated non-limitingly and at least partially in Figures 2 and 3, the first lighting device DE1 may comprise a light diffuser DL which is installed behind the central part PCL (here in the central part PCB of the housing BC). This light diffuser DL is capable of diffusing the first photons generated by the first lighting device DE1 towards the rear face FR of the central part PCL. This light diffuser DL may be a flat-type light guide which returns the first photons (or light), injected into at least one of its sides by the first lighting device DE1, towards the rear face FR of the central part PCL in order to illuminate it from the rear in a substantially homogeneous manner. But in an alternative embodiment, it would be possible to do without a light diffuser DL and to carry out illumination of the front face of the central part PCL (opposite its rear face FR).

[0046] Also for example, and as illustrated non-limitingly and partially in [Fig.2], the first lighting device DE1 may comprise at least one photon source SPk capable of generating the first photons for the light diffuser DL, and the second lighting device DE2 may comprise two photon sources SP'm capable of generating the second photons respectively for the internal glass units Glj.

[0047] It will be noted that in the example illustrated non-limitingly and partially in [Fig. 2], the first lighting device DE1 comprises two photon sources SPk (k = 1 or 2). These first SP1 (k = 1) and second SP2 (k = 2) photon sources are suitable for generating first photons respectively for two opposite sides (and here substantially vertical (parallel to the vertical direction Z)) of the light diffuser DL. The second lighting device DE2 comprises two photon sources SP'm (m = 1 or 2). These first SP' 1 (m = 1) and second SP'2 (m = 2) photon sources are suitable for generating second photons respectively for the two internal glass panes Glj.For this purpose, the first SP1 and second SP2 photon sources can be mounted respectively on two support plates which are fixedly secured to the two opposite sides (here vertical) of the light diffuser DL, and the first SP' 1 and second SP' 2 photon sources can be mounted respectively on two electronic cards CEI and CE2 coupled to the two support plates and controlling the generation of the first and second photons.

[0048] For example, the two electronic cards CEI and CE2 can be installed respectively on two transverse sides (here substantially parallel to the transverse direction Y and upper) of the internal windows Glj. Also for example, each electronic card CEI, CE2 can be a printed circuit board of the PCB type (“Printed Circuit Board”).

[0049] Also for example, each photon source SPk or SP'm can comprise at least one light-emitting diode (or LED). But as a variant each photon source SPk or SP'm can comprise at least one laser diode or a gas laser.

[0050] It will also be noted that the photon sources SPk and the photon sources SP'm can operate simultaneously or either one (SPk) or the other (SP'm), depending on a choice made by a user of the vehicle.

Claims

Claims

1. Luminous grille (CL) suitable for equipping a central zone of a front end of a vehicle, and comprising a central part (PCL) comprising a logo (LO) and a first lighting device (DE1) suitable for generating first photons intended to illuminate said central part (PCL), characterized in that it further comprises a) two lateral parts (PLBj) installed to the right and left of said central part (PCL), b) a second lighting device (DE2) suitable for generating second photons intended to illuminate said lateral parts (PLBj), and c) isolating elements (El) suitable for preventing the passage of first photons towards said lateral parts (PLBj) and second photons towards said central part (PCL).

2. Luminous grille according to claim 1, characterized in that said central part (PCL) comprises two external lateral edges (BLEj) each provided with an insulating element (El), and / or each of said lateral parts (PLBj) comprises an internal lateral edge (BLIj) oriented towards one of said external lateral edges (BLEj) and provided with an insulating element.

3. Luminous grille according to claim 2, characterized in that each external lateral edge (BLEj) comprises a rear wall (PR) extending towards the rear then behind said corresponding lateral part (PLBj) by defining a cavity housing a corresponding internal lateral edge (BLIj) and defining an insulating element (El).

4. Luminous grille according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that each of said lateral parts (PLBj) comprises a rear mask (MRj) installed to the right or left of said central part (PCL) and capable of masking technical parts of said luminous grille (CL), and ii) an internal glass (Glj) installed to the right or left of said central part (PCL) in front of said rear mask (MRj), and in that said second lighting device (DE2) is capable of generating second photons intended to illuminate said internal glass (Glj).

5. Luminous grille according to claim 4, characterized in that each of said internal windows (Glj) comprises a front face (FV) on which three-dimensional elements (ET) are defined together defining a grille grid.

6. Luminous grille according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that said first lighting device (DE1) comprises a diffuser light (DL) installed behind said central part (PCL) and capable of diffusing said first photons generated towards a rear face (FR) of the latter (PCL).

7. Luminous grille according to claim 4 or 5 taken in combination with claim 6, characterized in that said first lighting device (DE1) comprises at least one photon source (SPk) capable of generating said first photons for said light diffuser (DL), and said second lighting device (DE2) comprises two photon sources (SP'm) capable of generating said second photons respectively for said internal windows (Glj).

8. Luminous grille according to claim 7, characterized in that each photon source (SPk, SP'm) comprises at least one light-emitting diode.

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

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

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