Luminescent component for vehicles and manufacturing method of luminescent component for vehicles

Abstract

To provide a luminescent component for vehicles capable of inhibiting a water droplet from entering a gap between a cover having a plating layer and a light guide body despite a simple constitution.SOLUTION: An emblem 10 includes a light source, a light guide body 30 made of a resin material, a substrate 41 made of a resin, and a plating layer 50 formed over the surface of the substrate 41. The emblem further includes a cover 40 which forms a space S, in which the light source is stored, with respect to the light guide body 30, and a weld line 60 which is formed by welding a circumferential part 43 of the substrate 41 and the light guide body 30 and externally seals the space S. In the circumferential part 43, a groove 44 is formed entirely in an extending direction of the weld line 60 at a position adjacent to the weld line 60 in a width direction Y. In the circumferential part 43, the plating layer 50 is formed on a side opposite to the weld line 60 with the groove 44 between them.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a light emitting component for a vehicle and a method for manufacturing the light emitting component for a vehicle. [Background technology]

[0002] Patent Document 1 describes an illuminating decoration that is placed on the hood of an automobile as an emblem. This illuminating decoration has a base that is attached to the vehicle body, a light guide placed on the upper surface of the base, a cover that covers the light guide and constitutes the design part of the illuminating decoration, and multiple light sources that are housed in the space between the cover and the light guide and emit light toward the cover.

[0003] The light guide is made of a resin material that is capable of transmitting light, and a portion of the light guide that corresponds to the periphery of the cover is exposed to the outside. The surface of the cover is configured to reflect the light emitted from the light source by a metallic coating such as plating.

[0004] In such a light-emitting decorative object, the light emitted from the light source is reflected by the cover and enters the light guide. The light that enters the light guide is then emitted outward from the portion of the light guide that corresponds to the periphery of the cover. This causes the periphery of the cover of the light-emitting decorative object to emit light. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] JP 2013-118175 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] In conventional vehicle light-emitting components including such light-emitting decorative bodies, the space is sealed by joining a cover to the light guide to prevent water droplets and the like from entering the space.

[0007] However, when joining a cover with a plated surface to a light guide, the following problem occurs, for example. That is, if a plating layer is formed on the portion of the cover that is joined to the light guide (hereinafter, the joint), the welding method cannot be used, and an adhesive means such as double-sided tape must be used. In this case, the number of parts of the vehicle light-emitting component increases by the number of the adhesive means.

[0008] Therefore, in order to use the welding method, it is possible to use a masking method in which the joint is masked before plating, a cutting method in which the plating layer of the joint is mechanically removed after plating the cover, a chemical method in which the plating layer of the joint is dissolved with a chemical, etc. However, in this case, the manufacturing process of the vehicle light-emitting component is increased by the number of steps for carrying out the above methods. [Means for solving the problem]

[0009] Various aspects of a light-emitting component for a vehicle and a method for manufacturing a light-emitting component for a vehicle for solving the above problems will be described below. [Mode 1] A light source, a plate-shaped light guide formed of a resin material and transmitting and diffusing light emitted from the light source, a resin base material covering the light guide and having an opening opening toward the light guide, and a plating layer formed on the surface of the base material, a cover forming a space between the light guide and the cover and the light source, and a welding line formed by welding the periphery of the base material and the light guide that constitutes the opening and sealing the space from the outside, wherein the light emitted from the light source is guided through the light guide a light-emitting component for a vehicle that emits light by being guided outward by an electroless plating layer, the plating layer having an electroless plating layer formed on the surface and an electrolytic plating layer laminated on the electroless plating layer, a groove portion that opens toward the light guide is formed in the peripheral portion at a position adjacent to the weld line in the width direction of the weld line, the groove portion extending over the entire extension direction of the weld line, and the plating layer is formed on a portion of the peripheral portion on the opposite side to the weld line across the groove portion.

[0010] In forming a cover prior to manufacturing a light-emitting component for a vehicle, first, an electroless plating process is performed on a substrate. Here, according to the above configuration, a groove is formed on the periphery that constitutes the opening of the substrate. Therefore, when the substrate is immersed in an electroless plating solution, the electroless plating solution is unlikely to reach the bottom of the groove. This results in a substrate having an electroless plating layer formed on the surface of the substrate other than the bottom of the groove.

[0011] Next, the substrate is subjected to an electrolytic plating process, in which a surface of the periphery of the substrate on which a welding line is formed is defined as a first surface, and a surface of the periphery opposite the first surface across the groove and on which a plating layer is formed is defined as a second surface.

[0012] The substrate having an electroless plating layer formed on its surface is immersed in an electrolytic plating solution, and the electroless plating layer formed on the second surface of the substrate is electrically connected. At this time, since no electroless plating layer is formed on the bottom surface of the groove, the electroless plating layer formed on the first surface is electrically isolated from the electroless plating layer formed on the second surface. As a result, an electrolytic plating layer is laminated on the electroless plating layer formed on the second surface, while the electroless plating layer formed on the first surface is dissolved by the electrolytic plating solution. As a result, a plating layer is formed on the second surface of the periphery, which is opposite the first surface across the groove, and a cover is formed in which no plating layer is formed on the first surface.

[0013] The cover thus obtained is welded to the light guide in a manner that accommodates the light source in the space, thereby manufacturing a light-emitting component for a vehicle. Here, according to the above configuration, no plating layer is formed on the first surface of the base material. Therefore, the first surface of the peripheral portion can be set as the welding surface with the light guide. Then, by melting the first surface of the peripheral portion and the light guide in abutting contact with each other, a welding line that seals the space from the outside is formed.

[0014] Therefore, the intrusion of water droplets or the like between the cover having the plating layer and the light guide can be prevented by a simple configuration such as providing a groove in the base material. According to the above configuration, the first surface of the base material and the light guide are heated in contact with each other, and the resin materials of both melt and become cloudy. This forms a welding line as a layer with a refractive index different from that of the light guide. As a result, the light from the light source that is incident on the welding line is reflected and diffused.

[0015] [Aspect 2] The vehicle light-emitting component according to [Aspect 1], wherein the light guide has a protrusion that protrudes outward beyond the cover in the width direction. According to the above configuration, the light emitted from the light source enters the light guide and is then emitted outward from the protruding portion of the light guide that protrudes outward beyond the cover, which makes it possible to more suitably illuminate the periphery of the cover compared to a case in which the light guide does not have a protruding portion.

[0016] [Aspect 3] A vehicle light-emitting component as described in [Aspect 1] or [Aspect 2], wherein a recess extending along the extension direction is formed in a portion of the light guide that is joined to the weld line, and the recess is filled with the weld line.

[0017] By heating the first surface of the substrate and the light guide in contact with each other, a weld line is formed by melting the resin materials of both. Here, according to the above configuration, the resin materials of the substrate and the light guide melted by heating flow into the recess. As a result, the weld line is formed with the recess filled. In this case, the area of ​​the portion of the light guide that is joined to the weld line increases by the amount filled in the recess. As a result, the bonding strength between the substrate and the light guide is increased, and the light of the light source is more likely to enter the weld line. Therefore, the bonding strength between the substrate and the light guide can be increased while the light of the light source is guided outward by the light guide more uniformly.

[0018] [Aspect 4] A manufacturing method for a vehicle light-emitting component according to any one of [Aspect 1] to [Aspect 3], comprising: a substrate molding process for molding the substrate; an electroless plating process for forming the electroless plating layer that imparts electrical conductivity to the surface of the substrate; an electrolytic plating process for electrically conducting the electroless plating layer formed on a second surface of the peripheral portion that is located on the opposite side to the first surface on which the weld line is formed, across the groove portion, thereby forming the plating layer on the second surface; and a welding process for welding the cover and the light guide by melting a welding rib provided on a portion of the light guide where the weld line is formed, while the welding rib is abutted against the first surface of the substrate.

[0019] According to the above method, the electroless plating layer formed on the second surface of the base material is electrically connected to form a cover in which the plating layer is formed on the second surface and not on the first surface. Therefore, in the welding process, the first surface of the peripheral portion can be set as a welding portion with the welding rib of the light guide. Then, by melting the first surface of the peripheral portion and the welding rib of the light guide in a state of abutting against each other, a welding line that seals the space from the outside is formed. Therefore, the intrusion of water droplets or the like between the cover having the plating layer and the light guide can be suppressed by a simple configuration such as providing a groove portion in the base material. Effect of the Invention

[0020] According to the present invention, it is possible to prevent water droplets and the like from entering between the cover having a plating layer and the light guide with a simple structure. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0021] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a front view showing an emblem of an embodiment of a light emitting component for a vehicle. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 2-2 of FIG. [Diagram 3] FIG. 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing a main part of FIG. [Figure 4]FIG. 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing a main part of the base material before a plating layer is formed in this embodiment. [Diagram 5] FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which an electroless plating layer has been formed on the surface of the base material of FIG. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which a plating layer is formed on the surface of the base material of FIG. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view showing a welding step for welding the cover and the light guide. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0022] Hereinafter, an embodiment of a light-emitting component for a vehicle and a method for manufacturing the light-emitting component for a vehicle will be described with reference to Figs. 1 to 7. In this embodiment, the present invention is embodied as an emblem attached to a vehicle. In the following, the front-rear direction of the vehicle will be simply referred to as the front-rear direction X. Also, the front and rear in the front-rear direction X of the vehicle will be simply referred to as the front and rear.

[0023] <Basic composition of the 10 emblems> As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the emblem 10 is attached to an exterior panel 91 that constitutes the outer shell of a front part 90 of a vehicle to decorate the exterior panel 91, and has a pattern area 11 that displays a pattern such as a logo toward the front of the vehicle, and a background area 12.

[0024] The pattern area 11 is composed of a character portion 13 showing characters, symbols, etc., and a ring portion 14 surrounding the character portion 13. In this embodiment, the character portion 13 shows the English letter "T." The background area 12 is composed of a hole surrounded by the character portion 13 and the ring portion 14.

[0025] The emblem 10 also includes a light source unit 20, a light guide 30, a cover 40, and a welding line 60 formed by welding the light guide 30 and the cover 40 together. Each component will be described in detail below.

[0026] <Light source unit 20> As shown in FIG. 2, the light source unit 20 includes a light source 21 and a substrate 22 on which the light source 21 is mounted.

[0027] The light source 21 is attached to the rear surface 22b of the substrate 22, and irradiates visible light (hereinafter, light) backward. Note that the light emitted from the light source 21 is indicated by arrows in Fig. 2. As the light source 21, for example, a light emitting diode (LED) can be used.

[0028] <Light guide 30> 1 to 3, a plate-shaped light guide 30 to which a substrate 22 is attached is disposed behind the light source 21. In this embodiment, the light guide 30 and an exterior panel 91 are bonded together with an adhesive (not shown) such as double-sided tape, thereby attaching the emblem 10 to the exterior panel 91.

[0029] The light guide 30 transmits and diffuses the incident light from the light source 21, and is made of a transparent resin material. Examples of the transparent resin material that can be used include polycarbonate (PC) resin and polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) resin. In this embodiment, the light guide 30 is made of PC resin. Note that "transparent" here includes colored transparency (colored transparency) as well as colorless transparency.

[0030] The light guide 30 has a shape that generally corresponds to the patterned region 11 (see FIG. 1). The portion of the peripheral portion 31 of the light guide 30 that corresponds to the background region 12 constitutes a light emitting portion 31A through which the light of the light source 21 is guided outward and emitted.

[0031] The light emitting portion 31A has a light emitting surface 32 facing forward of the vehicle, and an inclined surface 33 extending downward from the light emitting surface 32 at an angle. The inclined surface 33 faces the exterior panel 91 in the front-rear direction X.

[0032] Of the inner surface of the light guide 30, a portion 33a corresponding to the inclined surface 33 is configured to reflect the light from the light source 21 incident on the light guide 30 toward a portion 32a of the inner surface corresponding to the light emitting surface 32. The light emitting surface 32 is configured to transmit the light and thereby emit the light outward. This causes the light emitting portion 31A to emit light.

[0033] <Cover 40> As shown in Figures 1 to 3, a cover 40 is arranged in front of the front surface 22a of the substrate 22. The cover 40 covers both the light source unit 20 and the light guide 30 from the front and forms a space S between the cover 40 and the light guide 30 in which the light source unit 20 is housed.

[0034] The cover 40 has a base material 41 and a plating layer 50 that covers the surface of the base material 41 . The base material 41 is made of a resin material. Examples of the resin material that can be used include acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene copolymer (ABS), polypropylene (PP), polyphenylene oxide (PPO), polyamide (PA), polysulfone (PSF), and polyester (PEs). In this embodiment, the base material 41 is made of ABS resin.

[0035] The base material 41 has an opening 42 that opens toward the light guide 30 . 3, a groove 44 that opens toward the light guide 30 is formed in the peripheral portion 43 of the base material 41 that constitutes the opening 42. The groove 44 is formed over the entire extension direction of the peripheral portion 43. In the following, the width direction of the peripheral portion 43 that is perpendicular to both the front-rear direction X and the extension direction of the peripheral portion 43 will be simply referred to as the width direction Y. In addition, in the width direction Y, the side approaching the light source 21 will be referred to as the "inner side" and the side away from the light source 21 will be referred to as the "outer side".

[0036] The groove 44 has a bottom surface 45 and a pair of side surfaces 46a, 46b facing each other in the width direction Y. The width of the groove 44, i.e., the distance D between the pair of side surfaces 46a, 46b in the width direction Y, becomes smaller as it approaches the bottom surface 45 in the front-rear direction X.

[0037] As shown in FIG. 3, the plating layer 50 includes an electroless plating layer 51 and an electrolytic plating layer 52. The electroless plating layer 51 is formed on the surface of the base material 41. Examples of the metal material of the electroless plating layer 51 include nickel and copper.

[0038] The electrolytic plating layer 52 is laminated on the electroless plating layer 51. Examples of the metal material of the electrolytic plating layer 52 include nickel, copper, and chromium. In this embodiment, the plating layer 50 is continuously formed on the entire outer peripheral surface 41a of the surface of the base material 41, on an end face 43b of the peripheral portion 43 continuing from the outer peripheral surface 41a, and on a side surface 46b of the groove portion 44 continuing to the end face 43b. The plating layer 50 formed on the outer peripheral surface 41a imparts an excellent design with a glossy feel to the pattern area 11 of the emblem 10.

[0039] As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the cover 40 has a shape that corresponds to the pattern area 11 as a whole. The cover 40 covers substantially the entire light guide 30 from the front, but does not cover the light emitting portion 31A of the light guide 30. More specifically, the light emitting portion 31A protrudes outward beyond the cover 40 in the width direction Y and is exposed outward. The light emitting portion 31A in this embodiment corresponds to the protruding portion according to the present invention.

[0040] <Welding Line 60> 3, the weld line 60 is formed by welding the light guide 30 and the base material 41 of the cover 40 to seal the space S from the outside. As the welding method, for example, ultrasonic welding, laser welding, etc. can be used.

[0041] The welded lines 60 form a layer with a refractive index different from that of the light guide 30, as the resin materials of the light guide 30 and the base material 41 melt and become opaque. This allows the welded lines 60 to reflect and diffuse the incident light from the light source 21. For ease of explanation, the interface between the welded lines 60 and the light guide 30 and the interface between the welded lines 60 and the base material 41 are shown by solid lines in Fig. 3.

[0042] 3, the welding lines 60 are provided at positions adjacent to the grooves 44 in the width direction Y. More specifically, the welding lines 60 are located on the inner side of the grooves 44 in the width direction Y.

[0043] 1 to 3, the welding lines 60 are provided over the entire extension direction of the peripheral edge portion 43. That is, the extension direction of the peripheral edge portion 43 coincides with the extension direction of the welding lines 60. In addition, the width direction Y coincides with the width direction of the welding lines 60, which is perpendicular to both the front-rear direction X and the extension direction of the welding lines 60.

[0044] The welding line 60 has a pair of protrusions 61 filling a pair of recesses 34 formed in the light guide 30 at a portion where the welding line 60 is joined. The pair of protrusions 61 (recesses 34) are provided at a distance from each other in the width direction Y. Each protrusion 61 (recesses 34) is provided over the entire extension direction of the welding line 60.

[0045] <Emblem 10 manufacturing method> Next, a method for manufacturing the emblem 10 will be described with reference to FIG. 3 and FIG. 4 to FIG. The manufacturing method of the emblem 10 includes a base material forming step, an electroless plating step, an electrolytic plating step, and a welding step.

[0046] Here, the surface of the peripheral portion 43 of the base material 41 on which the weld line 60 is formed is referred to as a first surface 47, and the surface of the peripheral portion 43 located on the opposite side of the groove portion 44 from the first surface 47 and on which the plating layer 50 is formed is referred to as a second surface 48. The second surface 48 is a portion of the cover 40 corresponding to the end surface 43b of the base material 41.

[0047] First, as shown in FIG. 4, a base material 41 having a groove 44 formed in a peripheral edge 43 is molded by injection molding (this is the base material molding step). Next, as shown in FIG. 5, the base material 41 is immersed in an electroless plating solution to form an electroless plating layer 51 on the surface of the base material 41 except for the bottom surface 45 of the groove portion 44 (this is the electroless plating process).

[0048] 6, the base material 41 is immersed in an electrolytic plating solution, and the electroless plating layer 51 formed on the second surface 48 of the base material 41 is made electrically conductive. As a result, a plated layer 50 is formed on the second surface 48, and a cover 40 is formed in which the plated layer 50 is not formed on the first surface 47 (this is the electrolytic plating process).

[0049] 7, the first surface 47 of the peripheral portion 43 is set as a welding portion with the light guide 30, and the cover 40 and the light guide 30 are welded by ultrasonic welding. Here, a welding rib 35 that is located between the pair of recesses 34 in the width direction Y and protrudes forward is formed in the portion of the light guide 30 where the welding line 60 is formed. The first surface 47 of the peripheral portion 43 and the welding rib 35 of the light guide 30 are melted by ultrasonic welding while being in contact with each other, thereby forming the welding line 60 that seals the space S from the outside (this is the welding process).

[0050] In this manner, the emblem 10 is manufactured. Next, the effects of this embodiment will be described. (1) The emblem 10 includes a light source unit 20, a light guide 30 that transmits and diffuses light emitted from a light source 21 of the light source unit 20, a cover 40 that forms a space S between the cover 40 and the light guide 30 to accommodate the light source unit 20, and a welding line 60 that is formed by welding a peripheral portion 43 of a base material 41 to the light guide 30 and seals the space S from the outside. A groove 44 that opens toward the light guide 30 is formed in the peripheral portion 43 at a position adjacent to the welding line 60 in the width direction Y, over the entire extension direction of the welding line 60. A plating layer 50 is formed on a portion of the peripheral portion 43 on the opposite side of the welding line 60 with the groove 44 in between.

[0051] In forming the cover 40 prior to manufacturing the emblem 10, first, electroless plating is performed on the base material 41. Here, according to the above configuration, a groove 44 is formed in the peripheral portion 43 that constitutes the opening 42 of the base material 41. Therefore, when the base material 41 is immersed in an electroless plating solution, the electroless plating solution does not easily reach the bottom surface 45 of the groove 44. This results in the formation of the base material 41 in which an electroless plating layer 51 is formed on the surface of the base material 41 other than the bottom surface 45 of the groove 44.

[0052] Next, electrolytic plating is performed on the base material 41. The base material 41 having the electroless plating layer 51 formed on its surface is immersed in an electrolytic plating solution, and the electroless plating layer 51 formed on the second surface 48 of the base material 41 is electrically connected. At this time, since the electroless plating layer 51 is not formed on the bottom surface 45 of the groove portion 44, the electroless plating layer 51 formed on the first surface 47 is electrically isolated from the electroless plating layer 51 formed on the second surface 48. As a result, the electrolytic plating layer 52 is laminated on the electroless plating layer 51 formed on the second surface 48, while the electroless plating layer 51 formed on the first surface 47 is dissolved by the electrolytic plating solution. As a result, the plating layer 50 is formed on the second surface 48 of the peripheral portion 43, which is opposite the first surface 47 across the groove portion 44, and the cover 40 is formed on which the plating layer 50 is not formed on the first surface 47.

[0053] The emblem 10 is manufactured by welding the cover 40 thus obtained to the light guide 30 in a manner that accommodates the light source unit 20 in the space S. Here, according to the above-mentioned configuration, the plating layer 50 is not formed on the first surface 47 of the base material 41. Therefore, the first surface 47 of the peripheral portion 43 can be set as a welding portion with the light guide 30. Then, by melting the first surface 47 of the peripheral portion 43 and the welding rib 35 of the light guide 30 while they are in contact with each other, a welding line 60 that seals the space S from the outside is formed.

[0054] Therefore, the intrusion of water droplets or the like between the cover 40 having the plating layer 50 and the light guide 30 can be prevented by a simple configuration such as providing the groove portion 44 in the base material 41 . Furthermore, according to the above configuration, when the first surface 47 of the base material 41 and the welding rib 35 of the light guide 30 are heated while being in contact with each other, the resin materials of both melt and become cloudy. This forms the welding line 60 as a layer having a refractive index different from that of the light guide 30. As a result, the light of the light source 21 incident on the welding line 60 is reflected and diffused.

[0055] (2) The light guide 30 has the light emitting portion 31A as a protrusion that protrudes outward beyond the cover 40 in the width direction Y. According to this configuration, the light emitted from the light source 21 enters the light guide 30, and is then emitted outward from the light emitting portion 31A of the light guide 30 that protrudes outward beyond the cover 40. This makes it possible to more suitably emit light from the periphery of the cover 40, as compared to a case in which the light guide 30 does not have a protruding portion.

[0056] (3) A pair of recesses 34 extending along the extension direction of the welding line 60 are formed in the light guide 30 at the portion where the welding line 60 is joined. The pair of recesses 34 are filled with the protrusions 61 of the welding line 60.

[0057] By heating the first surface 47 of the base material 41 and the welding rib 35 of the light guide 30 in contact with each other, a welding line 60 is formed by melting the resin materials of both. Here, according to the above configuration, the resin materials of the base material 41 and the welding rib 35 melted by heating flow into the pair of recesses 34 to form a pair of protrusions 61. As a result, the welding line 60 is formed in a state where the pair of recesses 34 are filled. In this case, the area of ​​the part of the light guide 30 that is joined to the welding line 60 increases by the amount of the pair of protrusions 61 filled in the pair of recesses 34. As a result, the bonding strength between the base material 41 and the light guide 30 is increased, and the light of the light source 21 is more likely to enter the welding line 60. Therefore, the bonding strength between the base material 41 and the light guide 30 can be increased while the light of the light source 21 is guided outward by the light guide 30 more uniformly.

[0058] (4) The manufacturing method of the emblem 10 includes a substrate forming process for forming the substrate 41, an electroless plating process for forming an electroless plating layer 51 that imparts electrical conductivity to the surface of the substrate 41, an electrolytic plating process for electrically conducting the electroless plating layer 51 formed on the second surface 48 located on the opposite side of the peripheral portion 43 to the first surface 47 on which the welding line 60 is formed across the groove portion 44, thereby forming a plating layer 50 on the second surface 48, and a welding process for welding the cover 40 and the light guide 30 to each other by melting the welding rib 35 provided on the portion of the light guide 30 on which the welding line 60 is formed while it is abutted against the first surface 47 of the substrate 41.

[0059] According to this method, the electroless plating layer 51 formed on the second surface 48 of the base material 41 is electrically connected to form the cover 40 in which the plating layer 50 is formed on the second surface 48 and not on the first surface 47. Therefore, in the welding process, the first surface 47 of the peripheral portion 43 can be set as a welding portion with the welding rib 35 of the light guide 30. Then, the first surface 47 of the peripheral portion 43 and the welding rib 35 of the light guide 30 are melted in a state of contact with each other to form a welding line 60 that seals the space S from the outside. Therefore, the intrusion of water droplets or the like between the cover 40 having the plating layer 50 and the light guide 30 can be suppressed by a simple configuration such as providing the groove portion 44 in the base material 41.

[0060] <Example of change> This embodiment can be modified as follows: This embodiment and the following modifications can be combined with each other to the extent that there is no technical contradiction.

[0061] The weld line 60 is not limited to being formed by welding the weld rib 35 of the light guide 30 to the first surface 47 of the base material 41 as exemplified in this embodiment. The weld rib 35 may be omitted from the light guide 30, and a weld rib extending toward the light guide 30 may be provided on the first surface 47 of the base material 41, and the weld line 60 may be formed by welding the weld rib to the light guide 30.

[0062] The light guide 30 is not limited to one in which the recesses 34 are provided over the entire extension direction of the welding line 60, and a plurality of recesses 34 may be arranged at intervals in the extension direction.

[0063] The light guide 30 is not limited to having one recess 34 on each side of the welding rib 35 in the width direction Y as exemplified in this embodiment, and the arrangement and number of the recesses 34 may be changed as appropriate. For example, two recesses 34 may be provided on each side of the welding rib 35 in the width direction Y. Also, the recesses 34 may be provided on only one side of the welding rib 35 in the width direction Y.

[0064] The recess 34 may be omitted from the light guide 30 . The light-emitting portion 31A as a protrusion may be omitted from the light guide 30. More specifically, the light guide 30 may be configured so that the entire light-emitting surface 32 of the light-emitting portion 31A is covered from the front by the peripheral portion 43 of the cover 40. In this case, the light guide 30 may be configured so that the inclined surface 33 is simply a surface extending along the front-rear direction X, and the light from the light source 21 is emitted outward from that surface.

[0065] The cover 40 is not limited to the cover having the plating layer 50 formed on the second surface 48 and not formed on the first surface 47 as exemplified in this embodiment. The cover 40 may be, for example, the cover having the plating layer 50 formed on the first surface 47 and not formed on the second surface 48. In this case, the second surface 48 of the peripheral portion 43 may be set as the welding portion with the light guide 30 in the welding step.

[0066] The shape of the pattern area 11 of the emblem 10 is not limited to the letter portion 13 showing the letter "T", and the shape may be changed as appropriate according to the specifications of the vehicle. The emblem 10 is not limited to being attached to the exterior panel 91 by adhering the light guide 30 and the exterior panel 91 as exemplified in this embodiment. The emblem 10 may be attached to the exterior panel 91 by further disposing a base member behind the light guide 30 and joining the base member to the exterior panel 91.

[0067] The emblem 10 is not limited to being attached to the exterior panel 91 via an adhesive such as double-sided tape. For example, the emblem 10 may be fitted into an opening formed in the exterior panel 91.

[0068] The emblem 10 is not limited to being attached to an exterior panel 91 that constitutes the outer shell of the vehicle front 90, but may be attached to, for example, an exterior vehicle part such as a grill or side bezel that constitutes the outer shell of the vehicle front 90.

[0069] The emblem 10 is not limited to being attached to an exterior vehicle part that constitutes the outer shell of the vehicle front part 90, and the position thereof may be changed as appropriate. For example, the emblem 10 may be attached to an exterior vehicle part such as a back door garnish that constitutes the outer shell of the rear part of the vehicle, or a side door garnish, pillar garnish, door mirror, or the like that constitutes the outer shell of the side part of the vehicle.

[0070] The vehicle light-emitting component according to the present invention is not limited to the emblem 10 exemplified in this embodiment, but may be applied to other vehicle exterior parts having a function of decorating the vehicle, such as ornaments and marks. In this case, it is sufficient that the cover of the vehicle exterior part has a plating layer.

[0071] The vehicle light emitting component according to the present invention is not limited to being attached to an exterior vehicle part, but may be attached to an interior vehicle part such as a door handle or an instrument panel. [Explanation of symbols]

[0072] D…Distance S…Space part X…Anteroposterior direction Y: Width direction 10. Emblem 11...Pattern area 12…Background area 13…Text section 14…Annular section 20…Light source unit 21…Light source 22...Substrate 22a...Front 22b…Rear side 30...Light guide 31...periphery 31A…Light emitting part 32…Light-emitting surface 32a...part 33…Slanted surface 33a...part 34…Recess 35…Welded rib 40…Cover 41...Base material 41a...Outer surface 42…Opening 43...periphery 43b...end face 44…Groove 45…Bottom 46a...side 46b…side 47...Side 1 48…Second side 50…Plating layer 51...Electroless plating layer 52...Electrolytic plating layer 60…Welding line 61…Convex part 90…Front of vehicle 91…Exterior panel

Claims

1. A light source; a plate-shaped light guide formed of a resin material and transmitting and diffusing the light emitted from the light source; a cover including a resin base material covering the light guide and having an opening portion facing the light guide, and a plating layer formed on a surface of the base material, the cover forming a space portion between the light guide and the cover and the light guide, the space portion housing the light source; a welding line formed by welding a peripheral portion of the base material constituting the opening and the light guide body, sealing the space from the outside, A light-emitting component for a vehicle that emits light by guiding light emitted from the light source to the outside through the light guide, The plating layer includes an electroless plating layer formed on the surface and an electrolytic plating layer laminated on the electroless plating layer, a groove portion that opens toward the light guide is formed in the peripheral portion at a position adjacent to the welding line in a width direction of the welding line and extends over the entire extension direction of the welding line; The plating layer is formed on a portion of the peripheral portion opposite the welding line across the groove. Illuminating components for vehicles.

2. The light guide has a protruding portion that protrudes outward beyond the cover in the width direction. The vehicle light emitting component according to claim 1 .

3. a recess extending along the extension direction is formed in a portion of the light guide that is joined to the welding line, The recess is filled with the weld line. The vehicle light emitting component according to claim 1 or 2.

4. A method for manufacturing the vehicle light emitting component according to claim 1, comprising the steps of: A substrate forming step of forming the substrate; an electroless plating step of forming an electroless plating layer that imparts electrical conductivity to the surface of the base material; an electrolytic plating process in which the electroless plating layer formed on a second surface of the peripheral portion, the second surface being located on the opposite side of the groove from the first surface on which the welding line is formed, is electrically connected to form the plating layer on the second surface; and a welding process for welding the cover and the light guide by melting a welding rib provided on a portion of the light guide where the welding line is formed while the welding rib is in contact with the first surface of the base material. A method for manufacturing a light-emitting component for a vehicle.

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