Bracket attachment structure

Abstract

To provide a bracket attachment structure that detachably attaches a bracket to which a radar unit is attached, to an outer lens.SOLUTION: A bracket attachment structure detachably attaches a bracket to an outer lens attached to a lighting fixture housing, and constituting a lighting chamber in which a lighting fixture unit is arranged between itself and the lighting fixture housing. The outer lens includes a recessed part recessed toward the side of the lighting fixture housing, and an engaged part formed in an inner wall of the recessed part. The bracket comprises: a bracket body arranged in the recessed part; an engaging part provided on one end side of the bracket body, and inserted into the engaged part; an extending part extending to the outside of the recessed part from the other end side opposite to the one end side of the bracket body, and detachably fixed to an attachment counterpart; and at least one spring part arranged between a rear surface of the bracket body and a bottom surface of the recessed part.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a bracket mounting structure that detachably mounts a bracket, to which a radar unit is attached, to an outer lens. [Background technology]

[0002] Patent Document 1 describes a bracket mounting structure for detachably mounting a bracket (support member) on which a radar unit is mounted to a housing (see, in particular, FIG. 2 of Patent Document 1). The radar unit is used to detect objects by transmitting high-frequency electromagnetic waves (e.g., millimeter waves) to the vicinity of the vehicle and receiving reflected waves from objects present within the transmission range. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2022-001451 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, Patent Document 1 does not describe or suggest a bracket mounting structure for detachably mounting a bracket (support member) to which a radar unit is attached to the outer lens, and there is room for improvement.

[0005] The present disclosure has been made to solve such problems, and has an object to provide a bracket mounting structure that detachably mounts a bracket, on which a radar unit is mounted, to an outer lens. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The bracket mounting structure according to the present disclosure is a bracket mounting structure for detachably mounting a bracket to an outer lens that is attached to a lamp housing and that constitutes a lamp chamber in which a lamp unit is disposed between the outer lens and the lamp housing, the outer lens including a recess that is recessed toward the lamp housing, the bracket including a front surface to which a radar unit is detachably mounted and a rear surface opposite the front surface, a bracket main body that is disposed within the recess with the rear surface facing a bottom surface of the recess, and a bracket extending from the other end side opposite the one end side of the bracket main body to the outside of the recess and detachably fixed to a mounting partner. and at least one spring portion arranged between the rear surface of the bracket main body and the bottom surface of the recess, an engaged portion is provided on one of the inner wall of the recess and one end side of the bracket main body, and an engaging portion that engages with the engaged portion is provided on the other of the inner wall of the recess and one end side of the bracket main body, the spring portion elastically deforms by being urged toward the bracket main body by the bottom surface of the recess with the engaging portion engaging with the engaged portion and the extension portion being removably fixed to the mounting partner, and the engaging portion engages with the engaged portion due to the reaction force of the elastically deformed spring portion. With this configuration, it is possible to provide a bracket mounting structure that detachably mounts the bracket, to which the radar unit is attached, to the outer lens.

[0007] This is because the bracket has an engaging portion that engages with the engaged portion due to the reaction force of the elastically deformed spring portion, and an extension portion that extends from the other end of the bracket body to the outside of the recess and is detachably fixed to the mounting part. This realizes a bracket mounting structure that is less likely to cause misalignment of the bracket with respect to the outer lens even when vibrations (mainly vibrations when the vehicle is running) are applied.

[0008] In the above bracket mounting structure, the spring portion may be formed integrally with the bracket body by forming a U-shaped through hole penetrating the bracket body from the front surface to the rear surface.

[0009] Furthermore, in the above bracket mounting structure, the extension portion is configured to elastically deform when the engaging portion engages with the engaged portion and when the extension portion is removably fixed to the mounting partner, and the engaging portion may engage with the engaged portion due to the reaction force of the elastically deformed spring portion and the reaction force of the elastically deformed extension portion.

[0010] In this way, the engaging portion is further urged against the inner wall of the engaged portion by the reaction force of the elastically deformed extension portion, and is fixed in an even more firmly engaged state. This realizes a bracket mounting structure in which the bracket is even less likely to become misaligned with respect to the outer lens even when vibrations (mainly vibrations while the vehicle is traveling) are applied.

[0011] In the bracket mounting structure, the extension portion may include a curved portion having a U-shaped cross section.

[0012] In the above bracket mounting structure, the bracket body, the engaging portion, the extension portion and the spring portion may be integrally molded using a synthetic resin having spring properties.

[0013] Furthermore, in the above bracket mounting structure, the engaged portion may be a groove portion, the engaging portion may be a protrusion inserted into the groove portion, and the protrusion may be biased against the inner wall of the groove portion by the reaction force of the elastically deformed spring portion and fixed in an engaged state. Effect of the Invention

[0014] The present disclosure makes it possible to provide a bracket mounting structure that detachably mounts a bracket, to which a radar unit is attached, to an outer lens. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0015] [Figure 1] 1 is a perspective view of a vehicle lamp 10 mounted on a vehicle and its surroundings. [Diagram 2] 2 is a view seen in the direction of arrow Ar1 in FIG. 1. [Diagram 3]FIG. 2 is a top view of the vehicle lamp 10. [Figure 4] 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA in FIG. 2. [Diagram 5] 3 is a cross-sectional view of FIG. 2 taken along line B-B. [Figure 6] FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the vehicle lamp 10. [Figure 7] This is a modified example of the groove portion 33. [Figure 8] FIG. [Figure 9] 1A is a front view of the bracket 50, and FIG. [Figure 10] 2 is an enlarged perspective view of the bracket 50 and the radar cover 60. FIG. [Figure 11] (a) Modification example 1 of bracket 50, and (b) Modification example 2 of bracket 50. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0016] Hereinafter, a vehicle lamp to which a bracket mounting structure according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is applied will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. In each drawing, corresponding components are given the same reference numerals, and duplicated explanations will be omitted.

[0017] The vehicle lamp 10 of this embodiment is a vehicle lamp that functions as a headlamp and is mounted on both the left and right sides of the front end of a vehicle such as an automobile (not shown). Since the vehicle lamps 10 mounted on both the left and right sides have a symmetrical configuration, the vehicle lamp 10 mounted on the left side of the front end of the vehicle (the left side when facing the front of the vehicle) will be described below as a representative example.

[0018] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the vicinity of a vehicle lamp 10 mounted on a vehicle, FIG. 2 is a view seen from the direction of arrow Ar1 in FIG. 1, FIG. 3 is a top view of the vehicle lamp 10, FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA in FIG. 2, FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along line BB in FIG. 2, and FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view of the vehicle lamp 10.

[0019] As shown in Fig. 3 to Fig. 6, the vehicle lamp 10 includes a lamp housing 20 (see Fig. 5), an outer lens 30, a lamp unit 40, a bracket 50, a radar cover 60, and a radar unit 70. Reference numeral 90 in Fig. 1 and Fig. 6 denotes a bumper. Reference numeral 100 in Fig. 3 denotes a vehicle body.

[0020] The outer lens 30 is attached to the lamp housing 20, and forms a lamp chamber in which the lamp unit 40 is disposed between the outer lens 30 and the lamp housing 20. The lamp unit 40 may have any configuration as long as it is a lamp unit that irradiates light that functions as a headlamp. For example, the lamp unit 40 may be a projector type lamp unit, a reflector type lamp unit, a direct projection type lamp unit, a lamp unit using a light guide (light guide rod, light guide plate), or a lamp unit other than these.

[0021] The outer lens 30 is made of a transparent resin (synthetic resin) such as acrylic or polycarbonate, and includes a lens portion 31 through which the light emitted by the lamp unit 40 passes, a recess 32 recessed from the front side toward the rear side (the lamp housing 20 side), and a groove portion 33 (see the enlarged view of the circle C1 in FIG. 4) formed on an inner wall 32b (upper inner wall 32b1) of the recess 32. The groove portion 33 is an example of an engaged portion of the present disclosure.

[0022] The lens portion 31 is disposed on the inner side in the vehicle width direction, and the recessed portion 32 is disposed on the outer side in the vehicle width direction (see FIG. 3). The recessed portion 32 is composed of a bottom surface 32a on the rear side, and inner walls 32b (upper inner wall 32b1, lower inner wall 32b2, inner inner wall 32b3, and outer inner wall 32b4) (see FIGS. 4 and 6).

[0023] The groove 33 is a groove into which the protrusion 52 provided on the upper side of the bracket 50 (bracket body 51) is inserted. The groove 33 is formed in the inner wall 32b (upper inner wall 32b1) of the recess 32 (see the enlarged view in the circle C1 in FIG. 4). Specifically, the groove 33 is formed between the first protrusion 33a on the front side protruding from the inner wall 32b (upper inner wall 32b1) and the second protrusion 33b on the rear side. The groove 33 extends in a direction perpendicular to the paper surface in FIG. 4. The groove 33 may be formed directly in the inner wall 32b (upper inner wall 32b1) of the recess 32 as shown in FIG. 7. FIG. 7 shows a modified example of the groove 33.

[0024] Next, the bracket 50 will be described.

[0025] FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the bracket 50, FIG. 9(a) is a front view, and FIG. 9(b) is a side view.

[0026] 8 and 9, bracket 50 includes a bracket body 51, a protruding portion 52, an extension portion 53, and a spring portion (first spring portion) 54 (54a, 54b). Bracket 50 is integrally molded from synthetic resin having elasticity such as PC (polycarbonate), PBT (polybutylene terephthalate), POS (polyoxymethylene), etc.

[0027] The bracket body 51 includes a radar unit mounting surface 51a (front surface) and a rear surface 51b on the opposite side (see FIG. 4). The radar unit mounting surface 51a is provided with screw bosses 51a1 (three locations) to which the radar unit 70 is screwed (see FIGS. 8 and 9(a)).

[0028] The protrusion 52 is provided on the upper side (an example of one end side of the present disclosure) of the bracket main body 51. The protrusion 52 is inserted into a groove 33 formed in an inner wall 32b (upper inner wall 32b1) of the recess 32, and is biased against a first protrusion 33a (inner wall of the groove 33) and fixed in an engaged state (see the enlarged view of the circle C1 in FIG. 4). This point will be described further below. The protrusion 52 is an example of an engagement portion of the present disclosure.

[0029] The extension portion 53 is provided on the lower side (an example of the other end side of the present disclosure) opposite to the upper side of the bracket body 51. As shown in FIG. 4, the extension portion 53 is provided on the lower side of the bracket body 51, and has an elastically deformable U-shaped curved portion C 53 (second spring portion) and is detachably fixed (for example, by screw fixing) to a mounting mating portion 80 outside the recess 32. The mounting mating portion 80 is the lamp housing 20 or the outer lens 30. The elastically deformable U-shaped curved portion C 53 (The second spring portion) may be omitted.

[0030] The spring portion 54 (54a, 54b) is disposed between the rear surface 51b of the bracket body 51 and the bottom surface 32a of the recess 32 (see FIG. 5). At least one spring portion 54 is required. The spring portion 54 (54a, 54b) is disposed in a U-shaped through hole H that penetrates the radar unit mounting surface 51a of the bracket body 51 and the rear surface 51b on the opposite side. 54a , H 54b 8 and 9(a) are formed, so that the bracket body 51 is integrally formed with the bracket body 51.

[0031] Specifically, the spring portion 54a includes a fixed portion 54a1 that is fixed to the bracket body 51 and a curved portion C that extends upward from the fixed portion 54a1. 54a and an extension portion 54a2 extending upward and toward the bottom surface 32a of the recess 32 via the recess 32. Similarly, the spring portion 54b includes a fixed portion 54b1 fixed to the bracket body 51 and a curved portion C extending downward from the fixed portion 54b1. 54b and an extension portion 54b2 extending downward and toward the bottom surface 32a side of the recess 32 via the spring portion 54. The spring portion 54 (54a, 54b) elastically deforms in a state in which the extension portion 53 is fixed to the mounting mating portion 80. This point will be described in further detail later.

[0032] The bracket 50 having the above configuration is detachably attached to the outer lens 30 (recess 32). Specifically, first, with the rear surface of the bracket 50 facing the bottom surface 32a of the recess 32 of the outer lens 30, the protrusion 52 formed on the upper side of the bracket main body 51 is inserted into and engaged with the groove 33 formed on the inner wall 32b (upper inner wall 32b1) of the recess 32. For example, the protrusion 52 is brought into contact with the inner wall of the groove 33 (see the enlarged view in the circle C1 in FIG. 4). Next, the bracket 50 (bracket main body 51) is rotated in the direction of the arrow Ar2 (see FIG. 5) with the inserted and engaged protrusion 52 as a fulcrum. As a result, the spring portion 54 (54a, 54b) is brought into contact with the bottom surface 32a of the recess 32 (the protruding portion 32a1 that is provided on the bottom surface 32a of the recess 32 and protrudes toward the bracket 50. See FIG. 4). Further, the spring portion 54 (54a, 54b) and the extension portion 53 (the curved portion C 54a ) is elastically deformed while bringing extension portion 53 provided on the lower side of bracket 50 closer to mounting counterpart 80, and then fixing (for example, by screw fixing) to mounting counterpart 80.

[0033] The spring portion 54 (54a, 54b) is elastically deformed by being biased toward the bracket main body 51 by the bottom surface 32a of the recess 32 (the protruding portion 32a1 that is provided on the bottom surface 32a of the recess 32 and protrudes toward the bracket 50. See FIG. 4) when the protruding portion 52 is inserted into the groove portion 33 and the extension portion 53 is removably fixed to the mounting mating portion 80 as described above. 54a ) elastically deforms when the protrusion 52 is inserted into the groove 33 as described above and the extension 53 is removably fixed to the mounting mating part 80.

[0034] At that time, the protrusion 52 is subjected to the reaction force (elastic force) of the spring portion 54 (54a, 54b) elastically deformed as described above and the extension portion 53 (curved portion C 54a) is urged (pressed) against the first protrusion 33a (the inner wall of the groove 33) on the front side and fixed in an engaged state (see the enlarged view in the circle C1 in FIG. 4). This realizes a bracket mounting structure in which the bracket 50 is less likely to become misaligned with respect to the outer lens 30 even when vibrations (mainly vibrations when the vehicle is traveling) are applied. Furthermore, when a load (excessive load) is applied, the multiple spring portions 54a, 54b can distribute (buffer) the load. As a result, it is possible to prevent the load (excessive load) from being applied to the radar unit 70 attached to the bracket 50, and to prevent the radar unit 70 from being damaged.

[0035] In this manner, the bracket 50 is detachably attached to the outer lens 30 (recess 32).

[0036] The reason why the upper side (e.g., protrusion 52) of bracket 50 (bracket main body 51) is not screwed to the outer lens 30 side is that it is difficult to secure space within the recess 32 of the outer lens 30 to place the screw boss and the bracket fixing screw that screws into it.

[0037] Next, the radar cover 60 will be described.

[0038] The radar cover 60 (see FIG. 10) is detachably attached to the bracket 50 (bracket body 51). For example, the radar cover 60 is detachably attached to the bracket 50 by engaging a hook portion 56 (see FIG. 10) or the like provided on the bracket 50 with a protrusion portion 61 (see FIG. 10) or the like provided on the radar cover 60.

[0039] Next, the radar unit 70 will be described.

[0040] As shown in Fig. 10, a radar unit 70 (radar device) has a case 71, a transmitting antenna, and a receiving antenna (neither of which are shown) housed in the case 71. The radar unit 70 is a millimeter wave radar unit that transmits electromagnetic waves (millimeter waves) from the transmitting antenna. The electromagnetic waves (millimeter waves) pass through the radar cover 60 and spread at a vertical spread angle θ V (See Fig. 5), horizontal spread angle θ H (see FIG. 3). The radar unit 70 receives, by a receiving antenna, the reflected waves that are reflected by objects present within the transmission range and that pass through the radar cover 60. The received signals are processed by a control device, for example, an ECU (Electronic Control Unit) (not shown), and the objects (distance, angle, and speed to the object) are detected. The radar unit 70 uses, for example, millimeter waves in the 76-81 GHz band, particularly millimeter waves in the 79 GHz band, but is not limited to this frequency band.

[0041] The radar system of the radar unit 70 may be any of a pulse system, a CW (Continuous Wave) system, or other systems. The antenna system of the radar unit 70 may be any of a mechanical scanning system, a beam switching system, a phased array system, a digital forming system, or other systems.

[0042] The radar unit 70 having the above configuration is detachably attached to the bracket 50 (bracket body 51). Specifically, as shown in Fig. 10, the radar unit 70 is attached to the bracket 50 (bracket body 51) by screwing a screw N1 inserted into the flange portion 72 of the radar unit 70 into a screw boss 51a1 of the radar unit attachment surface 51a of the bracket 50 with the rear surface of the radar unit 70 facing the radar unit attachment surface 51a of the bracket 50. Fig. 10 is an enlarged perspective view of the bracket 50 and the radar cover 60.

[0043] As described above, according to the present embodiment, it is possible to provide a bracket mounting structure for detachably mounting the bracket 50, to which the radar unit 70 (and the radar cover 60) is attached, to the outer lens 30.

[0044] This is because the bracket includes the protrusion 52 that is biased against the first protrusion 33a (the inner wall of the groove 33) on the front side by the reaction force (elastic force) of the elastically deformed spring portion 54 (54a, 54b) and is fixed in an engaged state (see the enlarged view in the circle C1 in FIG. 4), and the extension portion 53 that extends downward from the lower side of the bracket body 51 and is detachably fixed (for example, screwed) to the mounting mating portion 80 outside the recess 32 (the elastically deformable U-shaped curved portion C 53 (When the second spring portion is omitted). This allows the bracket 50 to be detachably and firmly attached to the outer lens 30 (recess 32) without using screws or the like. As a result, a bracket attachment structure is realized in which the bracket 50 is less likely to shift in position relative to the outer lens 30 even when vibrations (mainly vibrations when the vehicle is traveling) are applied. Furthermore, when a load (excessive load) is applied, the multiple spring portions 54a, 54b can distribute (buffer) the load. As a result, it is possible to prevent the load (excessive load) from being applied to the radar unit 70 attached to the bracket 50, and prevent the radar unit 70 from being damaged.

[0045] According to the present embodiment, the extension portion 53 (curved portion C 54a ) the protrusion 52 is further urged against the first protrusion 33a (the inner wall of the groove 33) on the front side, and is fixed in a more firmly engaged state (the elastically deformable U-shaped curved portion C 53(When a second spring portion (second spring portion) is provided) This allows the bracket 50 to be detachably and more firmly attached to the outer lens 30 (recess 32) without using screws or the like. As a result, a bracket attachment structure is realized in which the position of the bracket 50 relative to the outer lens 30 is even less likely to shift even when vibrations (mainly vibrations when the vehicle is running) are applied. Also, in addition to the spring portion (first spring portion) 54, an elastically deformable U-shaped curved portion C 53 By providing the (second spring portion), a large reaction force (elastic force) can be obtained even if the number of spring portions 54 is reduced. As a result, the bracket 50 can be made smaller in size.

[0046] Next, a modified example will be described.

[0047] In the above embodiment, the elastically deformable U-shaped curved portion C is formed on the lower side of the bracket body 51. 53 Although an example in which one extension portion 53 extending downward via the extension portion 53 is used has been described, the present invention is not limited to this.

[0048] For example, as shown in Fig. 11(a), a plurality of extensions 53 may be used. Fig. 11(a) shows a first modified example of the bracket 50.

[0049] In the above embodiment, an example has been described in which the groove 33 is formed in the inner wall 32b (upper inner wall 32b1) of the recess 32, and the protrusion 52 to be inserted into the groove 33 is provided on the upper side of the bracket main body 51, but this is not limiting. For example, the groove 33 may be formed (not shown) in the inner wall 32b (inner inner wall 32b3) of the recess 32, and the protrusion 52 to be inserted into the groove 33 may be provided on the inner side in the vehicle width direction of the bracket main body 51, as shown in Fig. 11(b). Fig. 11(b) shows a second modified example of the bracket 50.

[0050] In the above embodiment, the groove 33 (an example of an engaged portion of the present disclosure) is provided on the inner wall 32b (upper inner wall 32b1) of the recess 32, while the protrusion 52 (an example of an engaging portion of the present disclosure) that is inserted into (engages with) the groove 33 is provided on one end side of the bracket main body 51, but this is not limited to the above. Conversely, although not shown, the protrusion 52 (an example of an engaging portion of the present disclosure) may be provided on the inner wall 32b (upper inner wall 32b1) of the recess 32, while the groove 33 (an example of an engaged portion of the present disclosure) into which the protrusion 52 is inserted (engages) may be provided on one end side of the bracket main body 51.

[0051] The numerical values ​​shown in the above embodiments are all examples, and it goes without saying that suitable numerical values ​​different from these can be used.

[0052] The above-described embodiments are merely examples in all respects. The present disclosure should not be construed as being limited by the description of the above-described embodiments. The present disclosure can be implemented in various other forms without departing from the spirit or main characteristics thereof. [Explanation of symbols]

[0053] 10...Vehicle lighting fixtures 20…Lamp housing 30…Outer lens 31...Lens section 32…Recess 32a…Bottom surface 32b…Inner wall 32b1…Upper inner wall 32b2…Lower inner wall 32b3…Inner inner wall 32b4…Outer and inner walls 33…Groove 33a...first protrusion 33b…Second protrusion 40…Lamp unit 50…Bracket 51…Bracket body 51a…Radar unit mounting surface 51a1...Screw boss 51b…Rear side 52...Protrusion 53...Extension part 54 (54a, 54b)...Spring part 54a1…Fixed part 54a2…Extension part 54b1…Fixed part 54b2…Extension part 56…Hook section 60…Radar cover 61...Protrusion 70…Radar unit 71…Case 72…Flange section C 53 …Bend C 54a …Bend C 54b …Bend H 54a …Through holes N1…Screw θ H …Spread angle θ V …Spread angle

Claims

1. A bracket mounting structure for detachably mounting a bracket to an outer lens that is attached to a lamp housing and that constitutes a lamp chamber in which a lamp unit is disposed between the outer lens and the lamp housing, The outer lens includes a recess recessed toward the lamp housing, the bracket includes a front surface to which a radar unit is detachably attached and a rear surface opposite thereto, the bracket body being disposed within the recess with the rear surface facing a bottom surface of the recess; an extension portion extending from an end side opposite to the one end side of the bracket body to the outside of the recess and detachably fixed to a mounting object; and at least one spring portion disposed between the rear surface of the bracket body and the bottom surface of the recess, An engaged portion is provided on one of an inner wall of the recess and one end side of the bracket body, an engaging portion that engages with the engaged portion is provided on the other of an inner wall of the recess and one end side of the bracket body, the spring portion is elastically deformed by being biased toward the bracket body by a bottom surface of the recess in a state in which the engaging portion is engaged with the engaged portion and the extension portion is detachably fixed to the mounting counterpart, A bracket mounting structure in which the engaging portion engages with the engaged portion due to the reaction force of the elastically deformed spring portion.

2. 2. The bracket mounting structure according to claim 1, wherein the spring portion is integrally formed with the bracket body by forming a U-shaped through hole penetrating the bracket body from the front surface to the rear surface.

3. the extension portion is configured to elastically deform in a state in which the engaging portion is engaged with the engaged portion and the extension portion is detachably fixed to the mounting counterpart, A bracket mounting structure in which the engaging portion engages with the engaged portion by the reaction force of the elastically deformed spring portion and the reaction force of the elastically deformed extension portion.

4. The bracket mounting structure according to claim 3 , wherein the extension portion includes a curved portion having a U-shaped cross section.

5. 5. The bracket mounting structure according to claim 1, wherein the bracket body, the engaging portion, the extension portion and the spring portion are integrally formed from synthetic resin having elasticity.

6. The engaged portion is a groove portion, the engagement portion is a protrusion to be inserted into the groove, 2. The bracket mounting structure according to claim 1, wherein the protrusion is biased against the inner wall of the groove by a reaction force of the elastically deformed spring portion and is fixed in an engaged state.

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