Vehicular exterior component

Abstract

To provide a vehicular exterior component whose installation space can be suppressed to a minimum.SOLUTION: A vehicular exterior component comprises a design panel 11, a light-emitting base 12, a vibrator 13, and a transmitting member 14. The design panel 11 is arranged to be exposed toward outside of a vehicle and receives light from the light-emitting base 12. The transmitting member 14 is joined to the design panel 11. The vibrator 13 is fixed to the transmitting member 14. When vibration of the vibrator 13 is transmitted through the transmitting member 14 to the design panel 11, the design panel 11 vibrates to generate sound toward the outside of the vehicle. The transmitting member 14 is arranged on a rear surface side of the design panel 11 to form a light guiding space 16 between the design panel 11 and the member. The light-emitting base 12 is arranged in the light-guiding space 16 at the rear surface side of the design panel 11. The design panel 11 receives light from the light-emitting base 12 through the light-guiding space 16.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to exterior vehicle accessories. [Background technology]

[0002] There are known exterior vehicle accessories that have the function of emitting light outside the vehicle to improve the design, etc., and the function of emitting sound outside the vehicle, such as a vehicle approach warning sound for pedestrians, etc. For example, the exterior vehicle accessory shown in Patent Document 1 has a light-transmitting panel, a light-emitting unit, a vibrator, and a transmission member, thereby achieving the above-mentioned two functions.

[0003] The light-transmitting panel is disposed so as to be exposed to the outside of the vehicle. The light-emitting unit is disposed on the rear side of the light-transmitting panel, i.e., closer to the inside of the vehicle than the light-transmitting panel, and emits light toward the light-transmitting panel. When the light-transmitting panel receives light from the light-emitting unit, it transmits the light toward the outside of the vehicle. In this way, the vehicle exterior accessory emits light toward the outside of the vehicle via the light-transmitting panel.

[0004] The transmission member is connected to the light-transmitting panel on the back side of the light-transmitting panel. The vibrator is fixed to the transmission member. Vibrations from the vibrator are transmitted to the light-transmitting panel via the transmission member, causing the light-transmitting panel to vibrate and generate sound directed outside the vehicle. The vehicle exterior accessory can emit such sound as an approach warning sound for pedestrians and the like. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2013-63757 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] The light-transmitting panel of the vehicle exterior accessory is used to emit both light and sound outside the vehicle. Therefore, the vehicle exterior accessory must be provided with a light-emitting unit that emits light toward the light-transmitting panel, and a transmission member and a vibrator that transmit vibrations to the light-transmitting panel. The vehicle exterior accessory of Patent Document 1 achieves both the function of emitting light outside the vehicle and the function of emitting sound outside the vehicle by vertically offsetting the light-emitting unit, the transmission member, and the vibrator. However, vertically offsetting the light-emitting unit, the transmission member, and the vibrator requires a large vertical space for installing the vehicle exterior accessory. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] Next, various aspects of vehicle exterior parts that solve the above problems will be described. (Aspect 1) a light-transmitting panel, a light-emitting unit, a vibrator, and a transmission member; the light-transmitting panel is disposed so as to be exposed to the outside of the vehicle and receives light from the light-emitting unit; the transmission member is connected to the light-transmitting panel; the vibrator is fixed to the transmission member; vibrations of the vibrator are transmitted to the light-transmitting panel via the transmission member, causing the light-transmitting panel to vibrate and generate sound directed to the outside of the vehicle; and the transmission member is disposed on the back side of the light-transmitting panel, thereby forming a light-guiding space between the transmission member and the light-transmitting panel; the light-emitting unit is disposed on the back side of the light-transmitting panel, within or adjacent to the light-guiding space; and the light-transmitting panel receives light from the light-emitting unit via the light-guiding space.

[0008] According to the above configuration, a light-guiding space is formed between the light-transmitting panel and the transmission member on the rear side thereof, and the light-emitting unit is disposed within or adjacent to the light-guiding space. This allows the light-emitting unit, the transmission member, and the vibrator to be compactly arranged around the light-guiding space. As a result, the installation space for the vehicle exterior accessory can be kept small.

[0009] (Aspect 2) The transmission member includes a fixing plate for fixing the vibrator and legs for connecting the fixing plate to the light-transmitting panel, the fixing plate being positioned to face the back surface of the light-transmitting panel, and the legs being connected to the light-transmitting panel by protruding from the outer edge of the fixing plate toward the back surface of the light-transmitting panel (aspect 1).

[0010] According to the above configuration, the transmission member includes a fixing plate and legs, and the fixing plate facing the rear surface of the light-transmitting panel is connected to the light-transmitting panel by the legs, thereby forming a light-guiding space between the fixing plate and the light-transmitting panel, making it easier to ensure the light-guiding space between the transmission member and the light-transmitting panel.

[0011] (Aspect 3) The vehicle exterior accessory according to (Aspect 2), wherein the light emitting portion is disposed within the light guiding space and emits light toward the light-transmitting panel.

[0012] According to the above configuration, the light-emitting unit is disposed within the light-guiding space, which allows the light-emitting unit, the transmission member, and the vibrator to be more compactly disposed around the light-guiding space, thereby further reducing the installation space for the vehicle exterior accessory.

[0013] (Aspect 4) A reflective layer that reflects light is formed on the surface of the fixing plate facing the light-transmitting panel, and the light-emitting unit is arranged next to the light-guiding space and emits light toward the light-guiding space (Aspect 2).

[0014] According to the above configuration, when light is emitted from the light-emitting unit toward the light-guiding space, the light is reflected by the reflective layer of the fixing plate, and the light is received by the light-transmitting panel. In this case, even if the position of the light-emitting unit next to the light-guiding space is changed, the light from the light-emitting unit can reach the light-transmitting panel, which increases the degree of freedom in the positioning of the light-emitting unit.

[0015] (Aspect 5) A vehicle exterior accessory according to any one of (Aspect 2) to (Aspect 4), in which a concealing layer is formed in a location on the light-transmitting panel corresponding to the leg portion so that the leg portion is not visible from outside the vehicle.

[0016] According to the above configuration, when the vehicle exterior accessory is viewed from outside the vehicle, the portion of the light-transmitting panel where the leg of the transmission member is connected is concealed by the concealing layer formed on the light-transmitting panel. As a result, it is possible to prevent the leg of the transmission member from being visible through the light-transmitting panel from outside the vehicle, thereby preventing the appearance of the vehicle exterior accessory from being impaired. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0017] [Figure 1] 1 is a cross-sectional view showing a vehicle exterior accessory according to a first embodiment. [Figure 2] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing a vehicle exterior accessory according to a second embodiment. [Figure 3] FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view showing another example of a vehicle exterior part. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing another example of the concealing layer in the vehicle exterior part of FIGS. 2 and 3. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0018] [First embodiment] A first embodiment of a vehicle exterior accessory will be described below with reference to FIG. The vehicle exterior accessory shown in Fig. 1 comprises a design panel 11 as a light-transmitting panel, a light-emitting base 12 as a light-emitting section, a vibrator 13, a transmission member 14, and a back cover 15, and can be attached to a vehicle. The vehicle exterior accessory has the function of emitting light outside the vehicle, i.e., toward the left in Fig. 1, to improve the design, etc., and the function of emitting sounds, such as a vehicle approach warning sound for pedestrians, toward the outside of the vehicle.

[0019] The design panel 11 is positioned so that it is exposed to the outside of the vehicle when the vehicle exterior accessory is attached to the vehicle. The design panel 11 is capable of transmitting light. The transmission member 14 is positioned on the back side of the design panel 11, i.e., on the right side in Figure 1, to form a light-guiding space 16 between the design panel 11 and the transmission member 14.

[0020] The transmission member 14 includes a fixed plate 17 for fixing the vibrator 13, and legs 18 for connecting the fixed plate 17 to the design panel 11. The fixed plate 17 is disposed so as to face the rear surface of the design panel 11. The legs 18 protrude from the outer edge of the fixed plate 17 toward the rear surface of the design panel 11, thereby connecting to a position near the outer edge of the design panel 11. The light-guiding space 16 is formed between the fixed plate 17 and the design panel 11.

[0021] In the vehicle exterior accessory, when the vibrator 13 vibrates, the vibration is transmitted to the design panel 11 via the fixed plate 17 and leg 18 of the transmission member 14. When the design panel 11 vibrates in this way as the vibration is transmitted to the design panel 11, sound is generated from the design panel 11 toward the outside of the vehicle. The back cover 15, which covers the entire transmission member 14, is attached to the back surface of the design panel 11. The back cover 15 prevents sound from vibrating the vibrator 13 and the like from being transmitted to the interior of the vehicle.

[0022] The light-emitting base 12 is disposed on the rear side of the design panel 11, i.e., on the right side in FIG. 1 , which is closer to the interior of the vehicle than the design panel 11. More specifically, the light-emitting base 12 is disposed in the light-guiding space 16 between the design panel 11 and the fixing plate 17 of the transmission member 14. The light-emitting base 12 is connected to the rear cover 15 without contacting the leg portion 18 of the transmission member 14. The light-emitting base 12 is supported by the design panel 11 via the rear cover 15.

[0023] The light-emitting substrate 12 is equipped with light-emitting elements 20 such as LEDs. The light-emitting substrate 12 emits light toward the design panel 11 using the light-emitting elements 20. The design panel 11 receives light from the light-emitting substrate 12 through the light-guiding space 16. The design panel 11 transmits the light from the light-emitting substrate 12 toward the outside of the vehicle. This allows the vehicle exterior accessory to emit light toward the outside of the vehicle through the design panel 11.

[0024] A concealing layer 19 is formed on the design panel 11 at a location corresponding to the leg 18 of the transmission member 14 so that the leg 18 is not visible from outside the vehicle. The concealing layer 19 is located on the back side of the design panel 11. By forming the concealing layer 19 on the design panel 11 in this way, the leg 18 of the transmission member 14 is not visible from outside the vehicle through the design panel 11, which prevents the leg 18 from being visible from outside the vehicle and therefore prevents the appearance of the vehicle exterior accessory from being impaired.

[0025] Next, the effects of the vehicle exterior accessory of this embodiment will be described. (1-1) A light-guiding space 16 is formed between the rear surface of the decorative panel 11 and the fixing plate 17 of the transmission member 14, and the light-emitting base 12 is disposed within the light-guiding space 16. This allows the light-emitting base 12, the transmission member 14, and the vibrator 13 to be compactly disposed around the light-guiding space 16. As a result, a vehicle exterior accessory that has both the function of emitting light and the function of emitting sound can be made smaller, and the installation space for the vehicle exterior accessory can be kept small.

[0026] (1-2) The transmission member 14 comprises a fixed plate 17 and legs 18, and the fixed plate 17, which faces the back surface of the design panel 11, is connected to the design panel 11 by the legs 18. The legs 18 protrude from the outer edge of the fixed plate 17 toward the design panel 11, and are connected to a position near the outer edge of the design panel 11. In this way, a light-guiding space 16 is formed between the fixed plate 17 and the design panel 11, making it easier to ensure the light-guiding space 16 between the transmission member 14 and the design panel 11.

[0027] (1-3) When the vehicle exterior accessory is viewed from outside the vehicle, the portion of the design panel 11 where the leg 18 of the transmission member 14 is connected is hidden by the concealing layer 19 formed on the design panel 11. As a result, the leg 18 of the transmission member 14 is visible through the design panel 11 from outside the vehicle, which prevents the vehicle exterior accessory from looking bad.

[0028] [Second embodiment] Next, a second embodiment of a vehicle exterior accessory will be described with reference to FIG. As shown in FIG. 2, the vehicle exterior accessory of this embodiment differs from the first embodiment in the arrangement of the light-emitting base 12. As can be seen from FIG. 2, the light-emitting base 12 is arranged next to the light-guiding space 16. This light-emitting base 12 extends in the same direction as the legs 18 of the transmission member 14. The light-emitting base 12 is attached to the back cover 15. The light-emitting base 12 emits light from the light emitters 20 toward the light-guiding space 16. A reflective layer 21 that specularly reflects or diffusely reflects light is formed on the surface of the fixing plate 17 of the transmission member 14 that faces the design panel 11. Such a reflective layer 21 is also formed on the inner surface of the back cover 15 and on the surfaces of the vibrator 13 and the legs 18 of the transmission member 14 that face the light-guiding space 16.

[0029] According to this embodiment, in addition to the effects (1-2) and (1-3) in the first embodiment, the following effects can be obtained. (2-1) Because the light-emitting base 12 is disposed next to the light-guiding space 16, the light-emitting base 12, the transmission member 14, and the vibrator 13 can be compactly disposed around the light-guiding space 16. As a result, the vehicle exterior accessory having both the function of emitting light and the function of emitting sound can be made smaller, and the installation space for the vehicle exterior accessory can be kept small.

[0030] (2-2) When light is emitted from the light-emitting base 12 toward the light-guiding space 16, the light is reflected by the reflective layer 21 of a fixing plate or the like, and is received by the design panel 11. In this case, even if the position of the light-emitting base 12 next to the light-guiding space 16 is changed, the light from the light-emitting base 12 can reach the design panel 11, which increases the degree of freedom in the positioning of the light-emitting base 12.

[0031] [Other embodiments] The above-described embodiments can be modified, for example, as follows: The above-described embodiments and the following modifications can be combined with each other within the scope of technical compatibility.

[0032] In the second embodiment, as shown in Fig. 3, the light-emitting base 12 may be disposed in the light-guiding space 16. In this case, the light-emitting base 12 may be directly attached to the design panel 11, so that the light-emitting base 12 is supported by the design panel 11.

[0033] As shown in FIG. 4, the concealing layer 19 may be formed on the front side of the design panel 11, that is, on the outside of the vehicle, in a location corresponding to the leg portion 18 of the transmission member 14. As shown in Figure 4, the concealing layer 19 may be formed in a location on the decorative panel 11 other than the location corresponding to the leg portion 18. Forming the concealing layer 19 in a location on the decorative panel 11 other than the location corresponding to the leg portion 18 may be done, for example, to improve the design of the decorative panel 11.

[0034] The masking layer 19 does not necessarily have to be formed. The vehicle exterior accessory of the first embodiment may be provided with a reflective layer 21 as in the second embodiment.

[0035] In the first embodiment, the light emitting base 12 may be supported by the design panel 11 by being directly connected to the design panel 11 instead of being connected to the back cover 15 . [Explanation of symbols]

[0036] 11...Design panel 12...Light emitting base 13...Vibrator 14...Transmission member 15...Back cover 16...Light guiding space 17...Fixing plate 18...legs 19... Hidden layer 20...Luminous object 21...Reflection layer

Claims

1. The device includes a light-transmitting panel, a light-emitting unit, a vibrator, and a transmission member, the light-transmitting panel is disposed so as to be exposed to the outside of the vehicle and receives light from the light-emitting portion; the transmission member is connected to the light-transmitting panel; the vibrator is fixed to the transmission member, In a vehicle exterior accessory, vibration of the vibrator is transmitted to the light-transmitting panel via the transmission member, causing the light-transmitting panel to vibrate and generate sound directed outside the vehicle, the transmission member is disposed on the rear surface side of the light-transmitting panel to form a light-guiding space between the transmission member and the light-transmitting panel, the light-emitting unit is disposed on the rear surface side of the light-transmitting panel, within the light-guiding space, or adjacent to the light-guiding space; The light-transmitting panel is an exterior accessory for a vehicle that receives light from the light-emitting portion through the light-guiding space.

2. the transmission member includes a fixing plate for fixing the vibrator and a leg for connecting the fixing plate to the light-transmitting panel, the fixing plate is disposed so as to face the rear surface of the light-transmitting panel, The vehicle exterior part according to claim 1 , wherein the leg portion protrudes from an outer edge of the fixing plate toward a rear surface of the light-transmitting panel, thereby connecting to the light-transmitting panel.

3. The vehicle exterior accessory according to claim 2, wherein the light emitting portion is disposed within the light guiding space and emits light toward the light-transmitting panel.

4. a reflective layer that reflects light is formed on a surface of the fixing plate that faces the light-transmitting panel; The vehicle exterior accessory according to claim 2, wherein the light emitting portion is disposed adjacent to the light guiding space and emits light toward the light guiding space.

5. The vehicle exterior part according to any one of claims 2 to 4, wherein a concealing layer is formed at a location on the light-transmitting panel corresponding to the leg portion so that the leg portion is not visible from outside the vehicle.

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