Vehicular lighting tool

Abstract

To provide a vehicular lighting tool having a columnar light guide body in which a plate-like flange part formed on a peripheral face part of the columnar light guide body can emit light at sufficient luminance.SOLUTION: The vehicular lighting tool includes a pair of upper and lower columnar light guide bodies 52A, 52B which fully reflect incident light from light emission elements 42A1, 42A2, 42B1, 42B2 toward the front side of the lighting tool while guiding light inward in a vehicle-width direction. A flange part 54 extending in the vehicle-width direction is formed on a peripheral face part of the columnar light guide body 52B positioned on a lower side in a state of being projected in a plate-like manner from the peripheral face part. An additional light guide part 56 extending in a columnar manner outward in the vehicle-width direction from a first end edge 54a is formed at the first end edge 54a on an outer side in the vehicle-width direction of the flange part 54. Light from light emission elements 42C1, 42C2 arranged on an outside in the vehicle-width direction from the first end edge 54a of the flange part 54 is made incident onto the flange part 54 via the additional light guide part 56 and is fully reflected toward the front side of the lighting tool.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a vehicle lamp having a columnar light guide. [Background technology]

[0002] 2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in vehicle lighting devices such as tail lamps and clearance lamps, a configuration including a columnar light guide has been widely adopted.

[0003] For example, Patent Document 1 describes a columnar light guide that is configured to guide incident light from a light source in a required direction while totally reflecting it, thereby emitting it forward of the lamp.

[0004] Furthermore, Patent Document 2 describes such a vehicle lamp in which a flange portion (plate-shaped light guide) is formed on the peripheral surface of a columnar light guide, protruding from the peripheral surface in a plate-like shape from the columnar light guide and extending in the required direction, and the light from a light source that is incident on the flange portion via the columnar light guide is totally reflected and emitted toward the front of the lamp. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] JP 2012-174641 A [Patent Document 2] JP 2020-77601 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] By adopting the configuration described in the above-mentioned "Patent Document 2," it is possible to make the flange portion appear to emit light along with the columnar light guide, thereby making it possible to increase the layout freedom of the light-emitting area as a vehicle lamp.

[0007] However, in the vehicle lamp described in the above-mentioned "Patent Document 2," the light from the light source that enters the flange portion via the columnar light guide is totally reflected, so it is not easy to make the flange portion emit light with sufficient brightness.

[0008] The present invention has been made in consideration of the above circumstances, and aims to provide a vehicle lamp equipped with a columnar light guide, which is capable of causing a plate-shaped flange portion formed on the peripheral surface of the columnar light guide to emit light with sufficient brightness. [Means for solving the problem]

[0009] The present invention is intended to achieve the above object by providing a configuration including a predetermined additional light guiding section and an additional light source.

[0010] That is, the vehicle lamp according to the present invention is A vehicle lamp including a light source and a columnar light guide configured to guide incident light from the light source in a required direction while totally reflecting the light to emit the light forward of the lamp, a flange portion is formed on a peripheral surface of the columnar light guide, the flange portion protruding from the peripheral surface in a plate-like shape and extending in the required direction; an additional light guiding portion is formed in a columnar shape at a first edge portion on an upstream side in a light guiding direction of the flange portion, the additional light guiding portion extending from the first edge portion toward the upstream side in the light guiding direction, an additional light source for making light incident on the additional light guiding section is disposed upstream of the first edge section in the light guiding direction; The flange portion is characterized in that it is configured to totally reflect light from the additional light source that is incident on the flange portion via the additional light guiding portion, thereby emitting the light toward the front of the lamp.

[0011] The type of the "light source" is not particularly limited, and for example, a light emitting diode, a laser diode, etc. can be used.

[0012] The specific direction of the above-mentioned "required direction" is not particularly limited.

[0013] The "flange portion" is not particularly limited in its specific size or shape, so long as it is formed so as to extend in the required direction while protruding in a plate shape from the peripheral surface of the columnar light guide.

[0014] The "additional light guiding portion" is not particularly limited in its specific length or cross-sectional shape as long as it is formed to extend in a columnar shape from the first edge of the flange portion toward the upstream side in the light guiding direction. The "additional light guiding portion" may be formed to extend along the peripheral surface of the columnar light guide over its entire length, may be formed to branch off from the peripheral surface of the columnar light guide midway and extend, or may be formed in a state separated from the peripheral surface of the columnar light guide.

[0015] The above-mentioned "additional light source" is not particularly limited in type or specific location as long as it is arranged so as to cause light to enter the additional light guiding section upstream of the first edge portion of the flange section in the light guiding direction. Effect of the Invention

[0016] The vehicle lamp of the present invention is configured so that the columnar light guide guides incident light from the light source in a required direction while totally reflecting it, thereby emitting it forward of the lamp. The peripheral surface of the columnar light guide is formed with a flange portion which protrudes from the peripheral surface in a plate-like shape and extends in the required direction, so that a portion of the light incident on the columnar light guide from the light source can be made to enter the flange portion.

[0017] In addition, an additional light-guiding section is formed in a columnar shape extending from the first edge section toward the upstream side in the light-guiding direction on a first edge section of the flange section, and an additional light source for making light incident on the additional light-guiding section is arranged upstream of the first edge section of the flange section in the light-guiding direction. The flange section is configured to emit light from the additional light source incident through the additional light-guiding section toward the front of the lamp by totally reflecting it, so that the flange section can be illuminated with sufficient brightness by turning on the additional light source.

[0018] As described above, according to the present invention, in a vehicle lamp including a columnar light guide, it is possible to cause the plate-shaped flange portion formed on the peripheral surface of the columnar light guide to emit light with sufficient brightness.

[0019] At this time, light from the light source is also incident on the flange portion via the columnar light guide, so that the flange portion can be made to emit light with even greater brightness by simultaneously turning on the light source and the additional light source.

[0020] In this way, by configuring the flange portion together with the columnar light guide to emit light with sufficient brightness, the degree of freedom in the layout of the light-emitting area of ​​the vehicle lamp can be increased.

[0021] In the above configuration, the additional light guiding section is further configured to be formed with a diameter larger than the plate thickness of the flange section, and a gradually changing thickness section is formed in the end region downstream in the light guiding direction of this additional light guiding section, in which the plate thickness in the fore-and-aft direction of the lamp gradually decreases to approach the plate thickness of the flange section, so that light from the additional light source incident on the additional light guiding section can be efficiently guided to the flange section.

[0022] In this case, if the gradually changing thickness section is configured so that the surface shape on the rear side of the lamp changes gradually, it becomes easy to harmonize the design of the additional light guiding section and the flange section with the design of the cylindrical light guide when viewed from the front of the lamp.

[0023] When such a configuration is adopted, if the surface on the rear side of the lamp in the gradually changing thickness section is configured as a light diffusing surface, light from the additional light source that enters the additional light-guiding section can be guided to the flange section as light of approximately uniform brightness, thereby making it easy to make the flange section emit light with approximately uniform brightness.

[0024] In this case, if the light diffusion surface is configured with a plurality of diffuse reflection elements formed to extend in a direction intersecting the required direction, the light from the additional light source that enters the additional light guide section can be guided as light that diffuses in the front-to-rear direction of the lamp toward the downstream side in the light guide direction, thereby enabling light of approximately uniform brightness to be efficiently guided to the flange section.

[0025] In the above configuration, if the flange portion is further configured so that its first edge portion extends from the base end to the tip end in a direction inclined downstream in the light guiding direction with respect to a plane perpendicular to the required direction, it becomes possible to guide light from the additional light source incident on the additional light guiding portion to the flange portion as light of approximately uniform brightness over its entire area, thereby making it possible to emit light throughout the entire flange portion with approximately uniform brightness.

[0026] In the above configuration, if the additional light guiding section is configured to have a smaller diameter than the columnar light guiding body, the light from the additional light source that enters the additional light guiding section can be efficiently guided to the flange section. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0027] [Figure 1] 1A is a front view showing a vehicle lamp according to an embodiment of the present invention, in which FIG. 1A shows a state in which a marker lamp constituting a part of the vehicle lamp is not lit, and FIG. 1B shows a state in which the marker lamp is lit. [Diagram 2] A detailed cross-sectional view of part II in FIG. [Diagram 3] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of part II in FIG. 1 as seen from the rear side of the lamp. [Figure 4] IV-IV line view of Figure 2 [Diagram 5] (a) is a cross-sectional view taken along line Va-Va in FIG. 2, (b) is a cross-sectional view taken along line Vb-Vb in FIG. 2, (c) is a cross-sectional view taken along line Vc-Vc in FIG. 2, and (d) is a cross-sectional view taken along line Vd-Vd in FIG. 2. [Figure 6] FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a detailed portion VI of FIG. 3; [Figure 7] Cross-sectional view of line VII-VII in Figure 6 [Figure 8] 7 is a diagram showing first and second modified examples of the embodiment, substantially similar to FIG. 6; [Figure 9] 3A and 3B are views showing third and fourth modified examples of the above embodiment; DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0028] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0029] FIG. 1 is a front view showing a vehicle lamp 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0030] As shown in FIG. 1(a), the vehicle lamp 10 of this embodiment is a lamp provided at the right front end of a vehicle, and is configured to house two headlamp lamp units 20A, 20B, a marker lamp 30, and an extension panel 16 within a lamp chamber formed by a lamp body 12 and a plain, translucent cover 14 attached to the front end opening.

[0031] In addition, in FIG. 1(a), the vehicle lamp 10 is shown in a state where the marker light 30 is not lit, and in FIG. 1(b), the vehicle lamp 10 is shown in a state where the marker light 30 is lit.

[0032] In Fig. 1, the direction indicated by Y is the "left direction" of the vehicle lamp 10 (the "right direction" when viewed from the front of the lamp), and the direction indicated by Z is the "upward direction." In Fig. 4, the direction indicated by X is the "forward direction" (also "forward" of the vehicle). The same applies to other figures besides Figs. 1 and 4.

[0033] The two lamp units 20A and 20B are both projector-type lamp units and are arranged side by side in the vehicle width direction. The lamp unit 20A located on the outer side in the vehicle width direction is configured to be turned on during low beam irradiation, and the lamp unit 20B located on the inner side in the vehicle width direction is configured to be turned on additionally during high beam irradiation.

[0034] The marker lamp 30 is disposed so as to be located above the two lighting units 20A, 20B.

[0035] The marker lamp 30 includes a light source unit 40 and a light-guiding member 50, and is configured to function as any one of a daytime running lamp, a clearance lamp, and a front turn signal lamp depending on the lighting mode of the light source unit 40.

[0036] The light source unit 40 is attached to a side wall portion of the lamp body 12 on the outer side in the vehicle width direction.

[0037] The light guide member 50 is a colorless and transparent synthetic resin molded product made of polycarbonate resin or the like, and includes a pair of upper and lower columnar light guides 52A, 52B, a plate-shaped flange portion 54, and a columnar additional light guide portion 56. The light guide member 50 is supported by screws or the like on the lamp body 12 at a pair of upper and lower mounting flange portions 50a formed on both ends in the vehicle width direction of the pair of upper and lower columnar light guides 52A, 52B.

[0038] The extension panel 16 is disposed on the front side of the two lamp units 20A, 20B and the marker lamp 30. The extension panel 16 is formed with two openings 16a, 16b for exposing the projection lenses 22A, 22B of the two lamp units 20A, 20B, and an opening 16c for exposing main portions of the pair of upper and lower columnar light guides 52A, 52B in the light guide member 50 and the flange portion 54.

[0039] Next, a specific configuration of the marker lamp 30 will be described.

[0040] 2 is a cross-sectional view showing a portion II in FIG. 1 in detail, and FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing the portion II in FIG. 1 as viewed from the rear side of the lamp.

[0041] As also shown in Figures 2 and 3, the pair of upper and lower columnar light guides 52A, 52B are formed to extend inward in the vehicle width direction from a position near the light source unit 40, with the lower end of the circumferential surface of the upper columnar light guide 52A connected to the upper end of the circumferential surface of the lower columnar light guide 52B.

[0042] The pair of upper and lower columnar light guides 52A, 52B are configured to guide the light incident from the light source unit 40 through end faces 52Aa, 52Ba on the outer sides in the vehicle width direction toward the inside in the vehicle width direction.

[0043] The pair of upper and lower columnar light guides 52A, 52B have circular cross-sectional shapes with the same diameter, and a plurality of reflecting elements 52As, 52Bs are formed on the rear surface of the peripheral portion thereof in a state of being aligned in the vehicle width direction. The pair of upper and lower columnar light guides 52A, 52B are configured to guide the light from the light source unit 40 incident on the outer end faces 52Aa, 52Ba in the vehicle width direction, and to emit the light toward the front of the lamp by totally reflecting the light by the plurality of reflecting elements 52As, 52Bs.

[0044] The flange portion 54 is formed to extend in the vehicle width direction while protruding downward from the peripheral surface of the columnar light guide 52B located on the lower side in a plate-like shape. A first edge portion 54a on the outer side in the vehicle width direction (i.e., the upstream side in the light guide direction) of the flange portion 54 is formed to extend from its base end to its tip end in a direction inclined inward in the vehicle width direction with respect to a vertical plane extending in the front-rear direction of the lamp. The flange portion 54 has an outer shape of an inverted trapezoid close to an inverted triangle when viewed from the front of the lamp.

[0045] In this case, the inclination angle of the first edge portion 54a toward the inside in the vehicle width direction with respect to the vertical plane extending in the front-rear direction of the lamp is set to a value of about 30 to 80° (more preferably, a value of about 40 to 70° (for example, a value of about 45°)). This is because if the inclination angle is too small, a part of the flange portion 54 is likely to become a dark area when it emits light, whereas if the inclination angle is too large, it becomes impossible to ensure a sufficient light-emitting area for the flange portion 54.

[0046] The additional light guiding portion 56 is formed so as to extend in a columnar shape from the first edge portion 54a of the flange portion 54 outward in the vehicle width direction along the circumferential surface portion of the lower columnar light guide 52B, while being connected to the lower end of the circumferential surface. The additional light guiding portion 56 also has a circular cross-sectional shape, but is formed with a smaller diameter (for example, about 1 / 3 to 2 / 3 the diameter) than each of the pair of upper and lower columnar light guides 52A, 52B.

[0047] The additional light-guiding portion 56 has an outer end face 56a in the vehicle width direction formed flush with the end faces 52Aa, 52Ba of the pair of upper and lower columnar light guides 52A, 52B, and is configured to guide the light from the light source unit 40 incident from this end face 56a to the flange portion 54.

[0048] The flange portion 54 is formed in a substantially flat plate shape, and a plurality of belt-shaped convex curved surface portions 54b are formed on the front surface thereof, the belt-shaped convex curved surface portions 54b extending in the vehicle width direction with a vertical width substantially equal to the diameter of the pair of upper and lower columnar light guides 52A, 52B. Specifically, the vertical center region of each of the plurality of belt-shaped convex curved surface portions 54b is formed in a flat shape, and both upper and lower end regions are formed in a convex cylindrical shape.

[0049] In addition, on the rear surface of the flange portion 54, a plurality of reflective elements 54s extending in a direction intersecting with the first edge portion 54a are formed in a line from the base end to the tip end of the first edge portion 54a over the entire area. Specifically, the plurality of reflective elements 54s are formed so as to extend in a diagonally downward direction inclined outward in the vehicle width direction with respect to a vertical plane extending in the front-rear direction of the lamp, and are formed with approximately the same width. The flange portion 54 is configured to emit light from the light source unit 40 that has reached the flange portion 54 through the additional light guide portion 56 toward the front of the lamp by totally reflecting the light by the plurality of reflective elements 54s. To achieve this, each of the plurality of reflective elements 54s is formed with a substantially wedge-shaped cross section.

[0050] FIG. 4 is a view taken along line IV-IV in FIG.

[0051] As shown in FIG. 4, the light source unit 40 includes four light-emitting elements 42A1, 42A2, four light-emitting elements 42B1, 42B2, and two light-emitting elements 42C1, 42C2, which are mounted on a common substrate 44 and supported by a plug 46.

[0052] In this case, the four light-emitting elements 42A1, 42A2 are arranged in a lattice pattern so as to face directly the center of the end face 52Aa of the upper columnar light guide 52A, the four light-emitting elements 42B1, 42B2 are arranged in a lattice pattern so as to face directly the center of the end face 52Ba of the lower columnar light guide 52B, and the two light-emitting elements 42C1, 42C2 are arranged in parallel on the left and right so as to face directly the center of the end faces 52Aa, 52Ba of the additional light-guiding section 56.

[0053] These ten light emitting elements 42A1, 42A2, 42B1, 42B2, 42C1 and 42C2 are all configured with light emitting diodes having square light emitting surfaces 42A1a, 42A2a, 42B1a, 42B2a, 42C1a and 42C2a of the same size.

[0054] Specifically, of the ten light-emitting elements 42A1, 42A2, 42B1, 42B2, 42C1, and 42C2, two light-emitting elements 42A1, two light-emitting elements 42B1, and one light-emitting element 42C1 are white light-emitting diodes and are configured to light up in the daytime running lamp lighting mode and the clearance lamp lighting mode, while the remaining two light-emitting elements 42A2, two light-emitting elements 42B2, and one light-emitting element 42C2 are amber light-emitting diodes and are configured to light up in the front turn signal lamp lighting mode.

[0055] Next, a specific configuration of the connection portion between the flange portion 54 and the additional light-guiding portion 56 in the light-guiding member 50 will be described.

[0056] Fig. 5(a) is a cross-sectional view taken along line Va-Va in Fig. 2, Fig. 5(b) is a cross-sectional view taken along line Vb-Vb in Fig. 2, Fig. 5(c) is a cross-sectional view taken along line Vc-Vc in Fig. 2, and Fig. 5(d) is a cross-sectional view taken along line Vd-Vd in Fig. 2. Fig. 6 is a perspective view showing in detail a portion VI in Fig. 3, and Fig. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along line VII-VII in Fig. 6.

[0057] 5 to 7, in the light guide member 50, the additional light guide portion 56 is formed with a diameter larger than the plate thickness of the flange portion 54 (specifically, about twice the diameter). A gradually-changing thickness portion 56G is formed in an end region on the inner side in the vehicle width direction of the additional light guide portion 56, in which the thickness in the front-rear direction of the lamp gradually decreases to approach the plate thickness of the flange portion 54. Furthermore, the additional light guide portion 56 has a flange connection portion 56F, which is connected to the flange portion 54 on the inner side in the vehicle width direction of the gradually-changing thickness portion 56G, and is formed with approximately the same plate thickness as the flange portion 54 and a substantially semicircular cross-sectional shape.

[0058] The gradually changing thickness portion 56G is formed so that the shape of the surface 56Ga on the rear side of the lamp gradually changes, and this surface 56Ga is configured as a light diffusing surface. This light diffusing surface is composed of a plurality of diffuse reflecting elements 56Gs formed to extend in the vertical direction. Each of these diffuse reflecting elements 56Gs is formed in a convex cylindrical curved shape.

[0059] A plurality of reflecting elements 56Fs are formed on the rear surface of the flange connection portion 56F, extending in a direction intersecting with the first edge portion 54a of the flange portion 54. These reflecting elements 56Fs extend in the vertical direction at the end positions on the outer side in the vehicle width direction, but are formed so as to gradually incline in the same direction as the extension direction of the plurality of reflecting elements 54s in the flange portion 54 as they move inward in the vehicle width direction. Each of these reflecting elements 56Fs is formed to have a substantially wedge-shaped cross section.

[0060] Next, the effects of this embodiment will be described.

[0061] The vehicle lamp 10 of this embodiment is configured to guide incident light from light-emitting elements 42A1, 42A2, 42B1, 42B2 (light sources) inward in the vehicle width direction (required direction) in a pair of upper and lower columnar light guides 52A, 52B while totally reflecting it, so that the light is emitted toward the front of the lamp. However, a flange portion 54 is formed on the peripheral portion of the lower columnar light guide 52B, extending in the vehicle width direction while protruding like a plate from this peripheral portion, so that a portion of the light incident on the pair of upper and lower columnar light guides 52A, 52B from the light-emitting elements 42A1, 42A2, 42B1, 42B2 can be made to enter the flange portion 54.

[0062] In addition, an additional light-guiding section 56 is formed in a columnar shape extending from a first edge 54a toward the outside in the vehicle width direction of the flange section 54 (upstream in the light-guiding direction), and light-emitting elements 42C1, 42C2 (additional light sources) for directing light to the additional light-guiding section 56 are arranged further outward in the vehicle width direction than the first edge 54a of the flange section 54. The flange section 54 is configured to totally reflect the light from the light-emitting elements 42C1, 42C2 incident via the additional light-guiding section 56, thereby emitting it forward in the lamp, thereby obtaining the following advantageous effects.

[0063] In other words, light from light-emitting elements 42C1 and 42C2 is incident on flange portion 54 via additional light-guiding portion 56, so that in the daytime running lamp lighting mode and the clearance lamp lighting mode, the flange portion 54 can be made to emit a sufficiently bright white light by lighting light-emitting element 42C1, and in the front turn signal lamp lighting mode, the flange portion 54 can be made to emit a sufficiently bright amber light by lighting light-emitting element 42C2.

[0064] As described above, according to this embodiment, in the vehicle lamp 10 equipped with the columnar light guides 52A and 52B, the plate-shaped flange portion 54 formed on the peripheral surface of the columnar light guide 52B can be made to emit light with sufficient brightness.

[0065] At this time, light from the light emitting elements 42A1, 42A2, 42B1, and 42B2 is also incident on the flange portion 54 via the pair of upper and lower columnar light guides 52A and 52B, so that in the daytime running lamp lighting mode and the clearance lamp lighting mode, the flange portion 54 can be made to emit a brighter white light by simultaneously lighting the light emitting elements 42A1, 42B1, and 42C1. Also, in the front turn signal lamp lighting mode, the flange portion 54 can be made to emit a brighter amber light by simultaneously lighting the light emitting elements 42A2, 42B2, and 42C2.

[0066] In this way, by configuring the flange portion 54 together with the columnar light guide 52B to appear to emit light with sufficient brightness, the degree of freedom in the layout of the light-emitting area of ​​the vehicle lamp 10 can be increased.

[0067] In other words, in the marker lamp 30 of this embodiment, a pair of upper and lower columnar light guides 52A, 52B and a flange portion 54 are integrally constructed as a light-guiding member 50, and this light-guiding member 50 is arranged above the two headlamp units 20A, 20B within the lamp chamber.In this case, the flange portion 54 is arranged in a relatively large space located outside the two lamp units 20A in the vehicle width direction, so that it is possible to create a light-emitting area that makes effective use of the space within the lamp chamber.

[0068] Moreover, in the marker lamp 30 of this embodiment, the additional light-guiding portion 56 is formed with a diameter larger than the plate thickness of the flange portion 54, and a gradually changing thickness portion 56G is formed in the end region on the inner side in the vehicle width direction (downstream in the light-guiding direction) in which the plate thickness in the fore-and-aft direction of the lamp gradually decreases to approach the plate thickness of the flange portion 54. Therefore, light from the light-emitting elements 42C1, 42C2 that enter the additional light-guiding portion 56 can be efficiently guided to the flange portion 54 via the flange connection portion 56F.

[0069] In this case, since the gradually-changing thickness portion 56G is formed so that the surface shape on the rear side of the lamp gradually changes, it is possible to easily harmonize the design of the flange portion 54 and the additional light guiding portion 56 with the design of the columnar light guides 52A, 52B when viewed from the front of the lamp. In particular, in the light guiding member 50 of this embodiment, the flange portion 54 is formed in a substantially flat plate shape, and a band-shaped convex curved surface portion 54b is formed on the front surface thereof, which extends in the vehicle width direction and has a vertical width substantially the same as the diameter of each of the pair of upper and lower columnar light guides 52A, 52B, so that it is even easier to harmonize the design of the light guiding member 50.

[0070] Furthermore, since the surface 56Ga of the gradually changing thickness section 56G on the rear side of the lamp is configured as a light diffusing surface, light from the light-emitting elements 42C1, 42C2 that enters the additional light-guiding section 56 can be guided as light of approximately uniform brightness from the light-emitting elements 42C1, 42C2 to the flange section 54 via the flange connection section 56F, thereby making it easy to cause the flange section 54 to emit light with approximately uniform brightness.

[0071] In this case, since the light diffusion surface is composed of a plurality of diffuse reflection elements 56Fs formed to extend in the vertical direction (a direction intersecting the required direction), the light from the light-emitting elements 42C1, 42C2 that enters the additional light-guiding section 56 can be guided as light that diffuses in the front-to-rear direction of the lamp toward the downstream side in the light-guiding direction, so that light of approximately uniform brightness can be efficiently guided to the flange section 54 via the flange connection section 56F.

[0072] Furthermore, the additional light-guiding section 56 has a flange connection section 56F formed inward in the vehicle width direction than the gradually changing thickness section 56G, and the multiple reflective elements 56Fs formed on the rear surface of this flange connection section 56F extend in the vertical direction at the end position on the outer side in the vehicle width direction and are formed so as to gradually incline in the same direction as the multiple reflective elements 54s in the flange section 54 extend as they move inward in the vehicle width direction.As a result, light from the light-emitting elements 42C1, 42C2 that enter the additional light-guiding section 56 can be efficiently guided to the flange section 54.

[0073] In addition, the first edge 54a of the flange portion 54 is formed to extend from its base end to its tip end in a direction inclined inward in the vehicle width direction with respect to a vertical plane (a plane perpendicular to the required direction) extending in the fore-and-aft direction of the lamp. Therefore, light from the light-emitting elements 42C1, 42C2 that enters the additional light-guiding portion 56 can be guided to the flange portion 54 as light of approximately uniform brightness over its entire area, thereby making it possible to emit light throughout the entire flange portion 54 with approximately uniform brightness.

[0074] Furthermore, since additional light guiding portion 56 is formed with a smaller diameter than columnar light guides 52A and 52B, light that enters additional light guiding portion 56 from light emitting elements 42C1 and 42C2 can be guided to flange portion 54 efficiently.

[0075] In the above embodiment, the configuration of the additional light-guiding section 56 has been described as including a flange connection section 56F formed between the flange section 54 and the gradually changing thickness section 56G formed in the end region on the inner side in the vehicle width direction, but it is also possible to adopt a configuration in which such a flange connection section 56F is not formed.

[0076] In the above embodiment, the columnar light guides 52A, 52B and the additional light guide section 56 are described as all having a circular cross-sectional shape, but it is also possible to configure them to have other cross-sectional shapes (e.g., a rectangular or elliptical cross-sectional shape, etc.).

[0077] In the above embodiment, a pair of upper and lower columnar light guides 52A, 52B is described, but a configuration including a single columnar light guide or a configuration including three or more columnar light guides is also possible.

[0078] In the above embodiment, the columnar light guides 52A, 52B and the additional light guide section 56 are described as being arranged to extend in the vehicle width direction, but it is also possible to configure them to extend in other directions (for example, up and down or diagonally, etc.).

[0079] In the above embodiment, the marker lamp 30 is described as being configured to function as a daytime running lamp, a clearance lamp, and a front turn signal lamp when housed in the lamp chamber together with the two headlamp lighting units 20A, 20B, but it is also possible for the marker lamp 30 to be configured as other lighting fixtures (for example, a tail lamp, a stop lamp, etc.).

[0080] Next, a modification of the above embodiment will be described.

[0081] First, a first modification of the above embodiment will be described.

[0082] FIG. 8(a) is a diagram substantially similar to FIG. 6, showing a light guide member 150 of a vehicle lamp according to this modified example.

[0083] As shown in FIG. 8(a), the basic configuration of a light-guiding member 150 of this modification is similar to that of the above embodiment, but the configuration of an additional light-guiding section 156 is partially different from that of the above embodiment.

[0084] That is, additional light guiding section 156 of this modification has a different shape of surface 156Ga on the rear side of the lamp in gradually changing thickness section 156G from that in the above embodiment.

[0085] Specifically, in the gradually changing thickness portion 156G of this modified example, a plurality of diffuse reflecting elements 156Gs extending in the vertical direction are formed on the surface 156Ga on the rear side of the lamp, but this differs from the above embodiment in that all of these diffuse reflecting elements 156Gs are formed in the shape of a concave cylindrical curved surface.

[0086] Even when the configuration of this modified example is adopted, as in the case of the above embodiment, the light from light emitting elements 42C1, 42C2 that enters additional light guiding section 156 can be guided as light that diffuses in the front-to-rear direction of the lamp toward the downstream side in the light guiding direction, and thus light of approximately uniform brightness can be efficiently guided to flange section 54 via flange connection section 156F. Thus, approximately the same effects as in the case of the above embodiment can be obtained.

[0087] In addition, instead of the gradually changing thickness portion 156G of this modified example, it is also possible to adopt a configuration having a wavy surface shape in which multiple reflective elements 156Gs of this modified example and multiple reflective elements 56Gs of the above embodiment are arranged alternately as the light diffusing surface that constitutes the surface 156Ga on the rear side of the lamp.

[0088] Next, a second modification of the above embodiment will be described.

[0089] FIG. 8(b) is a diagram substantially similar to FIG. 6, showing a light guide member 250 of a vehicle lamp according to this modified example.

[0090] As shown in FIG. 8(b), the basic configuration of a light-guiding member 250 of this modification is similar to that of the above embodiment, but the configuration of an additional light-guiding section 256 is partially different from that of the above embodiment.

[0091] That is, additional light guiding section 256 of this modification has a different configuration from that of the above embodiment in surface 256Ga on the rear side of the lamp in gradually changing thickness section 256G.

[0092] Specifically, in the present modified example of the gradually changing thickness portion 256G, the surface 256Ga on the rear side of the lamp is configured as a light diffusing surface, but this light diffusing surface is configured as an aggregate of fine reflective elements 256Gs formed by embossing, frosting, or the like.

[0093] In addition, the additional light-guiding section 256 of this modified example also has a plurality of reflective elements 256Fs formed on the rear surface of the flange connection section 256F, which extend in a direction intersecting with the first edge portion 54a of the flange section 54, but these plurality of reflective elements 256Fs are formed so as to extend at an angle substantially in the same direction as the extension direction of the plurality of reflective elements 54s formed on the rear surface of the flange section 54.

[0094] Even when the configuration of this modified example is adopted, light from light-emitting elements 42C1, 42C2 incident on additional light-guiding portion 256 can be efficiently guided as approximately uniformly diffused light through flange connection portion 256F to flange portion 54, thereby obtaining approximately the same effect as in the above embodiment.

[0095] In the light-guiding member 250 of this modified example, the multiple reflective elements 54s and the multiple reflective elements 256Fs are both formed to extend linearly, but it is also possible to adopt a configuration in which they are formed to extend in multiple arc shapes.

[0096] Next, a third modification of the above embodiment will be described.

[0097] FIG. 9(a) is a diagram substantially similar to FIG. 3, showing a light guide member 350 of a vehicle lamp according to this modified example.

[0098] As shown in FIG. 9(a), the basic configuration of a light-guiding member 350 of this modification is similar to that of the above embodiment, but the configuration of an additional light-guiding section 356 is partially different from that of the above embodiment.

[0099] That is, the additional light guiding portion 356 of this modified example is also formed so as to extend in a columnar shape from the first edge portion 54a on the outer side in the vehicle width direction of the flange portion 54 toward the outer side in the vehicle width direction, but this additional light guiding portion 356 is formed so as to branch off from the peripheral portion of the columnar light guide 52B located below and extend diagonally downward.

[0100] The additional light-guiding section 356 of this modified example also has a gradually changing thickness section 356G formed in its end region on the inner side in the vehicle width direction, similar to that of the above embodiment, and a plurality of diffuse reflection elements 356Gs formed on the surface 356Ga on the rear side of the lamp are configured to efficiently guide light from the light-emitting elements 42C1, 42C2 that enters the additional light-guiding section 356 to the flange section 54 via the flange connection section 356F.

[0101] In this modified example, the two light-emitting elements 42C1, 42C2 are also arranged in parallel on the left and right so as to face the center of the end face 356a on the outer side in the vehicle width direction of the additional light-guiding section 356. These two light-emitting elements 42C1, 42C2 are mounted on a substrate 348 that is configured separately from the substrate 344 on which the four light-emitting elements 42A1, 42A2 and the four light-emitting elements 42B1, 42B2 are mounted.

[0102] Also in this modified example, a mounting flange portion 350a is formed on the outer end portion in the vehicle width direction of the peripheral surface portion of the additional light guiding portion 356.

[0103] Even when the configuration of this modified example is adopted, the light from light emitting elements 42C1, 42C2 incident on additional light guiding section 356 can be guided downstream in the light guiding direction as light that diffuses in the front-to-rear direction of the lamp, and thus light of approximately uniform brightness can be efficiently guided through flange connection section 356F to flange section 54. Thus, approximately the same effects as those of the above embodiment can be obtained.

[0104] Next, a fourth modification of the above embodiment will be described.

[0105] FIG. 9(b) is a diagram substantially similar to FIG. 3, showing a light guide member 450 of a vehicle lamp according to this modified example.

[0106] As shown in FIG. 9(b), the basic configuration of a light-guiding member 450 of this modification is similar to that of the above embodiment, but the configuration of an additional light-guiding section 456 is partially different from that of the above embodiment.

[0107] That is, the additional light guiding portion 456 of this modified example is also formed so as to extend in a columnar shape from the first edge portion 54a on the outer side in the vehicle width direction of the flange portion 54 toward the outer side in the vehicle width direction, but this additional light guiding portion 456 is formed so as to extend in a separated state from the peripheral portion of the columnar light guide 52B located below.

[0108] For this reason, in the light guide member 450 of this modified example, the flange portion 54 is formed to have a vertical width that is slightly larger than that in the above embodiment.

[0109] The additional light-guiding section 456 of this modified example also has a gradually changing thickness section 456G formed in its end region on the inner side in the vehicle width direction, similar to that of the above embodiment, and is configured to efficiently guide light from the light-emitting elements 42C1, 42C2 that enters the additional light-guiding section 456 to the flange section 54 via the flange connection section 456F by a plurality of diffuse reflection elements 456Gs formed on the surface 456Ga on the rear side of the lamp.

[0110] The additional light-guiding portion 456 is connected to the peripheral portion of the columnar light guide 52B at a position further outward in the vehicle width direction than the gradually changing thickness portion 456G, thereby configuring the light incident from the light-emitting elements 42A1, 42A2, 42B1, 42B2 to the pair of upper and lower columnar light guides 52A, 52B to be incident on the flange portion 54 without waste.

[0111] In this modification, the two light-emitting elements 42C1, 42C2 are also arranged in parallel on the left and right so as to face the center of the end face 456a on the outer side in the vehicle width direction of the additional light-guiding section 456. The two light-emitting elements 42C1, 42C2 are mounted on a common substrate 444 together with the four light-emitting elements 42A1, 42A2 and the four light-emitting elements 42B1, 42B2.

[0112] Also in this modified example, a mounting flange portion 450a is formed on the outer end portion in the vehicle width direction of the peripheral surface portion of the additional light guiding portion 456.

[0113] Even when the configuration of this modified example is adopted, the light from the light emitting elements 42C1, 42C2 incident on the additional light guiding portion 456 can be guided as light diffusing in the front-to-rear direction of the lamp toward the downstream side in the light guiding direction, and thus the light with a substantially uniform brightness can be efficiently guided to the flange portion 54 via the flange connection portion 456F. Thus, substantially the same effects as those of the above embodiment can be obtained.

[0114] It should be noted that the numerical values ​​given as the specifications in the above embodiment and its modified examples are merely examples, and it goes without saying that these may be set to different values ​​as appropriate.

[0115] Furthermore, the present invention is not limited to the configurations described in the above embodiment and its modified examples, and various other modified configurations can be adopted. [Explanation of symbols]

[0116] 10 Vehicle lighting fixtures 12 Lamp body 14 Translucent cover 16 Extension Panel 16a, 16b, 16c opening 20A, 20B Lighting unit 22A, 22B Projection Lens 30 beacon light 40 Light source unit 42A1, 42A2, 42B1, 42B2 Light emitting element (light source) 42A1a, 42A2a, 42B1a, 42B2a, 42C1a, 42C2a Light-emitting surface 42C1, 42C2 Light emitting element (additional light source) 44, 344, 348, 444 board 46 Plug 50, 150, 250, 350, 450 Light guide member 50a, 350a, 450a Mounting flange 52A, 52B Columnar light guide 52Aa, 52Ba end face 52As, 52Bs Reflector 54 Flange part 54a First edge 54b Belt-shaped convex surface 54s Reflective element 56, 156, 256, 356, 456 Additional light guide 56a, 356a, 456a Outer end face in the vehicle width direction 56F, 156F, 256F, 356F, 456F flange connection 56Fs, 256Fs reflector 56G, 156G, 256G, 356G, 456G Thickness change section 56Ga, 156Ga, 256Ga, 356Ga, 456Ga Rear surface of the lamp 56Gs, 156Gs, 356Gs, 456Gs Diffuse Reflection Elements 256Gs Micro Reflector

Claims

1. A vehicle lamp including a light source and a columnar light guide configured to guide incident light from the light source in a required direction while totally reflecting the light to emit the light forward of the lamp, a flange portion is formed on a peripheral surface of the columnar light guide, the flange portion protruding from the peripheral surface in a plate-like shape and extending in the required direction; an additional light guiding portion is formed in a columnar shape at a first edge portion on an upstream side in a light guiding direction of the flange portion, the additional light guiding portion extending from the first edge portion toward the upstream side in the light guiding direction, an additional light source for making light incident on the additional light guiding section is disposed upstream of the first edge section in the light guiding direction; The flange portion is configured to totally reflect light from the additional light source that is incident on the flange portion via the additional light guiding portion, thereby emitting the light toward a front of the lamp.

2. The additional light guiding portion is formed with a diameter larger than a plate thickness of the flange portion, 2. The vehicle lamp according to claim 1, wherein a gradually changing thickness portion is formed in an end region downstream in the light guiding direction of the additional light guiding portion, the thickness of which in the fore-and-aft direction of the lamp gradually decreases so as to approach the plate thickness of the flange portion.

3. 3. The vehicular lamp according to claim 2, wherein the gradually-changing-thickness portion is formed so that a shape of a surface on a rear side of the lamp gradually changes.

4. 4. The vehicular lamp according to claim 3, wherein the gradually-changing-thickness portion has a surface on a rear side of the lamp that is configured as a light diffusing surface.

5. 5. The vehicle lamp according to claim 4, wherein the light diffusing surface is composed of a plurality of diffusing reflection elements formed so as to extend in a direction intersecting the desired direction.

6. 3. The vehicular lamp according to claim 1, wherein the flange portion is formed so that the first edge portion extends from the base end portion to the tip end portion in a direction inclined downstream in the light guide direction with respect to a plane perpendicular to the required direction.

7. 3. The vehicle lamp according to claim 1, wherein the additional light guiding portion is formed to have a smaller diameter than the columnar light guiding body.

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