Vehicular exterior component

Abstract

To provide a vehicular exterior component capable of preventing deterioration of brightness and increase in flickering in a cover and inhibiting a color tone of the cover from darkening.SOLUTION: A vehicular exterior component includes a cover 12 exposed toward outside of a vehicle. The cover 12 includes a base material 14 and a color developing layer 15 laminated on the base material 14 in a thickness direction. The color developing layer 15 includes: an external color layer 16 containing a large number of brilliant materials 19; and a hiding layer 17 containing a white pigment and a black pigment. An area occupation ratio of the brilliant materials 19 per unit area in the external color layer 16 is set to 5 to 85%. A thickness of the external color layer 16 and the hiding layer 17 is set so that transmittance of visible light becomes 7 to 85%.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical Field]

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

[0002] The vehicle exterior accessory can be attached to a vehicle. The vehicle exterior accessory includes a cover that is exposed to the outside of the vehicle. Since the cover of the vehicle exterior accessory is exposed to the outside of the vehicle, it is desirable to enhance the design of the cover.

[0003] To meet these demands, it is conceivable to form a base coat and a metallic coat as shown in Patent Document 1 on the surface of the cover located on the exterior of the vehicle. Specifically, an achromatic gray base coat containing a white pigment and a black pigment is formed on the surface of the cover located on the exterior of the vehicle. Then, a metallic coat containing a luster material is formed on the gray base coat. This metallic coat also contains a chromatic pigment for coloring.

[0004] When the base coating film and metallic coating film shown in Patent Document 1 are formed on the surface of a cover for a vehicle exterior part located on the outside of the vehicle in this way, the following effects can be obtained: Namely, when light from outside the vehicle is reflected by the metallic coating film and base coating film, the color of the reflected light can be given a sense of brilliance and depth to the appearance of the cover from outside the vehicle. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] Patent No. 4079468 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] However, if the area occupancy rate of the luminous material per unit area in the metallic paint is too low, the luminous feeling when viewed from outside the vehicle will be reduced. On the other hand, if the area occupancy rate of the luminous material per unit area in the metallic paint is too high, the amount of shadow cast by the luminous material when light is transmitted through the backside of the metallic paint will be large, resulting in increased flicker due to the influence of this shadow. Furthermore, if the area occupancy rate of the luminous material per unit area in the metallic paint is too high, or if the metallic paint and base coat are too thick, the visible light transmittance of the metallic paint and base coat will be low, resulting in a dark color tone when viewed from outside the vehicle.

[0007] Therefore, unless the area occupancy rate of the lustrous material per unit area in the metallic paint and the thickness of the metallic paint and base paint are appropriate, the following may occur when the cover is viewed from outside the vehicle: the cover may appear less shiny and flicker more, or the color tone of the cover may become darker. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] Next, various aspects of vehicle exterior parts that solve the above problems will be described. (Aspect 1) A vehicle exterior part having a cover exposed to the outside of the vehicle, the cover having a base material and a coloring layer laminated in a thickness direction on the base material, the coloring layer having an exterior color layer containing a large number of luminous materials and a concealing layer containing a white pigment and a black pigment, the area occupancy rate of the luminous materials per unit area in the exterior color layer being 5 to 85%, and the thickness of the exterior color layer and the concealing layer being such that the transmittance of visible light is 7 to 85%.

[0009] According to the above configuration, the color of the cover is developed by the exterior color layer as light from outside the vehicle is reflected by the exterior color layer. By setting the area occupancy rate of the luminous material per unit area in this exterior color layer to 5 to 85%, the color of the reflected light when light from outside the vehicle is reflected by the exterior color layer, in other words, the appearance of the cover from outside the vehicle, can be made to have a luminous feel. Furthermore, by setting the area occupancy rate of the luminous material per unit area in the exterior color layer to 8 to 85%, the increase in flicker caused by the shadow cast by the luminous material when light hits the exterior color layer is suppressed. Furthermore, the concealing layer containing white pigment and black pigment prevents the interior of the vehicle exterior part from being visible from outside the vehicle. The thickness of the exterior color layer and the concealing layer is set so that the visible light transmittance is 7 to 85%. This prevents the cover from appearing dark when viewed from outside the vehicle.

[0010] (Aspect 2) The vehicle exterior part according to embodiment 1, wherein the cover covers an opening of the housing, and the base material is capable of transmitting light from a light source within the housing.

[0011] According to the above configuration, when the light source is turned on, light from the light source passes through the concealing layer and the exterior color layer. Since the area occupancy rate of the luminous material per unit area in the exterior color layer is set to 5 to 85%, it is possible to suppress flickering caused by the shadow of the luminous material in the exterior color layer.

[0012] (Aspect 3) The vehicle exterior part according to embodiment 2, wherein the color-forming layer includes a color-adjusting layer positioned closer to the light source than the exterior color layer and the concealing layer, and the color-adjusting layer adjusts the color of the light from the light source that has passed through the exterior color layer, the concealing layer, and the color-adjusting layer.

[0013] According to the above configuration, when light from the light source passes through the exterior color layer, the concealing layer, and the color-adjusting layer, the transmitted light can be adjusted to a desired color by the color-adjusting layer. (Aspect 4) The vehicle exterior part according to (Aspect 3), wherein the color-adjusting layer changes the color of the exterior color layer, the concealing layer, and the light from the light source that has passed through the color-adjusting layer to white.

[0014] According to the above configuration, when light from the light source passes through the exterior color layer, the concealing layer, and the color-adjusting layer, the transmitted light can be adjusted to white by the color-adjusting layer. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0015] [Figure 1] 1 is a schematic diagram showing the structure of a vehicle exterior accessory. [Figure 2] 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing a portion of the cover of the vehicle exterior part in FIG. 1 surrounded by a two-dot chain line. [Figure 3] 1 is a graph showing the change in visible light transmittance with respect to the change in area occupancy rate of the metallic luster material per unit area in the exterior color layer. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0016] Hereinafter, one embodiment of a vehicle exterior accessory will be described with reference to FIGS. The vehicle exterior accessory shown in FIG. 1 can be attached to a vehicle. The vehicle exterior accessory includes a housing 11, a cover 12, and a light source 13. The housing 11 has an opening. The cover 12 covers the opening of the housing 11. The light source 13 is disposed within the housing 11. For example, an LED that emits white light can be used as the light source 13. When the vehicle exterior accessory is attached to a vehicle, the cover 12 of the vehicle exterior accessory is disposed so as to be exposed outside the vehicle, i.e., facing left in FIG. 1.

[0017] <Cover 12> As shown in Fig. 2, the cover 12 includes a base material 14 and a coloring layer 15. The base material 14 is capable of transmitting light from the light source 13 disposed within the housing 11. The coloring layer 15 is laminated in the thickness direction of the base material 14. Specifically, the coloring layer 15 is formed on the surface of the base material 14 that faces outside the vehicle, i.e., on the surface located on the left side of Fig. 2.

[0018] The coloring layer 15 includes an exterior color layer 16, a concealing layer 17, and a color-adjusting layer 18. The exterior color layer 16 contains a large number of luminous materials 19. The luminous materials 19 are formed of, for example, aluminum. The luminous materials 19 are used to impart a luminous appearance to the cover 12 when light from outside the vehicle is reflected by the exterior color layer 16 as indicated by arrow Y1. The exterior color layer 16 may contain a chromatic pigment to adjust the color of the reflected light when light from outside the vehicle is reflected by the exterior color layer 16.

[0019] The concealing layer 17 is formed on the surface of the exterior color layer 16 facing the substrate 14. The concealing layer 17 contains a white pigment and a black pigment. When light from outside the vehicle is reflected by the exterior color layer 16 as shown by arrow Y1 and by the concealing layer 17 as shown by arrow Y2, the concealing layer 17 adds a sense of depth to the appearance of the cover 12 due to the reflected light.

[0020] The color adjusting layer 18 is located closer to the light source 13 than the exterior color layer 16 and the hiding layer 17. In other words, the color adjusting layer 18 is located between the hiding layer 17 and the substrate 14. The color adjusting layer 18 adjusts the color of the light from the light source 13 that has passed through the exterior color layer 16, the hiding layer 17, and the color adjusting layer 18 as indicated by arrow Y4. More specifically, the color adjusting layer 18 turns the light from the light source 13 that has passed through the exterior color layer 16, the hiding layer 17, and the color adjusting layer 18 into white.

[0021] <Details of each layer in Cover 12> Figure 3 shows the change in visible light transmittance in the exterior color layer 16 relative to the change in the area occupancy rate of the luster material 19 per unit area in the exterior color layer 16. The solid line L1 in Figure 3 represents the change in transmittance relative to the change in the area occupancy rate when the average particle size of the luster material 19 is 6.4 mm. The dashed line L2 in Figure 3 represents the change in transmittance relative to the change in the area occupancy rate when the average particle size of the luster material 19 is 12.0 mm. The dot-dash line L3 in Figure 3 represents the change in transmittance relative to the change in the area occupancy rate when the average particle size of the luster material 19 is 22.2 mm.

[0022] In this embodiment, the area occupancy rate of the luminous material 19 per unit area in the exterior color layer 16 is set to 5 to 85%. This allows the color of the reflected light when light from outside the vehicle is reflected by the exterior color layer 16, in other words, the appearance of the cover 12 from outside the vehicle, to have a sense of brilliance. Furthermore, it also prevents flickering caused by the shadow cast by the luminous material 19 when light hits the exterior color layer 16. It is more preferable that the area occupancy rate of the luminous material 19 per unit area in the exterior color layer 16 be 30 to 60%.

[0023] The thickness of the exterior color layer 16 and the concealing layer 17 is set so that the visible light transmittance is 7 to 85%, which prevents the color tone of the cover 12 from becoming dark when viewed from outside the vehicle. The thickness of the exterior color layer 16 and the concealing layer 17 is preferably set so that the visible light transmittance is 20 to 60% when the area occupancy of the luminous material 19 per unit area in the exterior color layer 16 is 30 to 60%.

[0024] When white light passes through the exterior color layer 16, the light that passes through the exterior color layer 16 may be colored depending on the color of the pigment contained in the exterior color layer 16. The color-adjusting layer 18 contains a color, such as a green pigment, that keeps the white light white when it passes through the color-adjusting layer 18 and the exterior color layer 16 as shown by arrow Y4. Light from outside the vehicle is also reflected by the color-adjusting layer 18 as shown by arrow Y3. However, even if light from outside the vehicle is reflected by the color-adjusting layer 18, the reflected light is blocked by the concealing layer 17, preventing the color of the color-adjusting layer 18 from being visible from outside the vehicle.

[0025] Next, the effects of the vehicle exterior accessory of this embodiment will be described. (1) Light from outside the vehicle is reflected by the exterior color layer 16, resulting in the coloring of the cover 12. By setting the area occupancy rate of the luminous material 19 per unit area in the exterior color layer 16 to 5 to 85%, the color of the reflected light when light from outside the vehicle is reflected by the exterior color layer 16, in other words, the appearance of the cover 12 from outside the vehicle, can be made to appear luminous. Furthermore, by setting the area occupancy rate of the luminous material 19 per unit area in the exterior color layer 16 to 5 to 85%, flickering due to the shadow cast by the luminous material 19 when light hits the exterior color layer 16 is suppressed. Furthermore, the concealing layer 17, which contains a white pigment and a black pigment, prevents areas inside the vehicle exterior part beyond the cover 12 from being visible from outside the vehicle. The thicknesses of the exterior color layer 16 and the concealing layer 17 are set so that the visible light transmittance is 7 to 85%. This prevents the cover 12 from appearing dark when viewed from outside the vehicle.

[0026] (2) When the light source 13 is turned on, light from the light source 13 passes through the concealing layer 17 and the exterior color layer 16. Since the area occupancy rate of the luminous material 19 per unit area in the exterior color layer 16 is set to 5 to 85%, even at this time, it is possible to suppress increased flickering due to the influence of shadows cast by the luminous material 19 in the exterior color layer 16.

[0027] (3) When light from the light source 13 passes through the exterior color layer 16, the concealing layer 17, and the color-adjusting layer 18, the color-adjusting layer 18 can adjust the transmitted light to a desired color. (4) The color-adjusting layer 18 adjusts the light from the light source 13 so that the transmitted light becomes white when it passes through the exterior color layer 16, the concealing layer 17, and the color-adjusting layer 18. This allows the color of the cover 12 to appear white when viewed from outside the vehicle when the light source 13 is turned on.

[0028] The above embodiment can be modified as follows, for example: The above embodiment and the following modifications can be combined and implemented within the scope of technical compatibility. The positions of the exterior color layer 16 and the hiding layer 17 may be interchanged.

[0029] The color-producing layer 15 may be laminated on the surface of the substrate 14 facing the light source 13, that is, the surface on the right side in FIG. The light source 13 may emit a color other than white light. In this case, the color-adjusting layer 18 is configured to make the light white when it passes through the exterior color layer 16, the concealing layer 17, and the color-adjusting layer 18.

[0030] The color-adjusting layer 18 may adjust the transmitted light to a color other than white when the light from the light source 13 passes through the exterior color layer 16, the concealing layer 17, and the color-adjusting layer 18.

[0031] The luster material 19 may be made of a material having luster other than aluminum. The light source 13 does not necessarily have to be provided. In this case, the color adjustment layer 18 may be omitted. [Explanation of symbols]

[0032] 11. Housing 12...Cover 13...Light source 14...Base material 15...Coloring layer 16...Exterior color layer 17... Hidden layer 18… Color Adjustment Layer 19…Glorious Materials

Claims

1. In a vehicle exterior accessory having a cover exposed to the outside of a vehicle, the cover includes a base material and a coloring layer laminated on the base material in a thickness direction; The color-developing layer includes an exterior color layer containing a large number of lustrous materials and a hiding layer containing a white pigment and a black pigment, The area occupancy rate of the lustrous material per unit area in the exterior color layer is 5 to 85%; The thickness of the exterior color layer and the hiding layer is set so that the transmittance of visible light is 7 to 85%.

2. the cover covers an opening of the housing, 2. The vehicle exterior part according to claim 1, wherein the base material is capable of transmitting light from a light source within the housing.

3. the color-forming layer includes a color-adjusting layer located closer to the light source than the exterior color layer and the hiding layer; 3. The vehicle exterior part according to claim 2, wherein the color-adjusting layer adjusts the color of the exterior color layer, the concealing layer, and the light from the light source that has passed through the color-adjusting layer.

4. 4. The vehicle exterior part according to claim 3, wherein the color-adjusting layer changes the color of the light from the light source that has passed through the exterior color layer, the concealing layer, and the color-adjusting layer.

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