Lighting device

Abstract

To provide a lighting device capable of properly holding a light guide. [Solution] The lighting device 1 comprises a light-emitting element 14, a light guide 30 that transmits the light emitted by the light-emitting element 14, and a housing 2 that houses the light-emitting element 14 and holds the light guide 30 at a predetermined light-receiving position. The housing 2 has a fitting portion 50 into which the light guide 30 is fitted so that at least a part of the light guide 30 is exposed, and a welding portion 52 that sandwiches the light guide 30 between the fitting portion 50 and the inner wall surface 51a, and brings the light guide 30 into contact with the inner wall surface 51a and is welded to the light guide 30. The light guide 30 has a rod shape, and the housing 2 has a welding portion 52 at a position that holds one end 30b of the light guide 30, and a other end holding portion 42 at a position that holds the other end 30a of the light guide 30.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a lighting device including a light emitter, a rod-shaped light guide, and a housing that houses the light emitter and holds the light guide at a predetermined light-receiving position.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, a lighting device has been proposed that is configured to irradiate the surroundings with light emitted from a light emitter such as an LED through a rod-shaped light guide. This type of lighting device is used, for example, as a lamp mounted inside or outside a vehicle such as an automobile (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] In the above-described conventional lighting device, the rod-shaped light guide is press-fitted into an annular support member, and the support member is locked to the housing, thereby fixing the light guide to the housing. However, depending on the magnitude of the dimensional tolerances (so-called manufacturing variations) of the light guide, the support member, and the housing, for example, the holding force of the light guide by the above-described press-fitting and locking may be insufficient, and the light guide may be displaced by an external force such as vibration. From the viewpoint of properly exhibiting the function of the lighting device, it is desirable to suppress such displacement of the light guide.

[0005] One object of the present invention is to provide a lighting device that can properly hold a light guide.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] In order to achieve the above-described object, the lighting device according to the present invention is characterized as follows.

[0007] A lighting device comprising a light-emitting element, a light-transmitting element that transmits light emitted by the light-emitting element, and a housing that houses the light-emitting element and holds the light-transmitting element at a predetermined light-receiving position, The aforementioned housing is A fitting portion into which the light guide is fitted such that at least a part of the light guide is exposed, The fitting portion has a welded portion that sandwiches the light guide between itself and the inner wall surface, and that contacts the light guide with the inner wall surface and is welded to the light guide. It must be a lighting device. [Effects of the Invention]

[0008] According to the lighting device of the present invention, the light guide is positioned at a predetermined light-receiving position, sandwiched between the welded portion and the inner wall surface of the fitting portion, and in contact with the inner wall surface, while being fitted into the fitting portion of the housing. As a result, regardless of the magnitude of manufacturing variations in the light guide and housing (for example, even if there is a gap between the light guide and the fitting portion due to manufacturing variations), the welded portion is welded to the light guide and adheres closely to it, and the light guide is sandwiched between the welded portion and the inner wall surface of the fitting portion, thereby properly holding the light guide within the fitting portion. Furthermore, when attaching the lighting device to an object (for example, a panel member of a vehicle), if the lighting device is positioned so that the welded portion is located outside the opening area of ​​the light-emitting part of the object (i.e., an opening such as a hole that emits light emitted from the light guide), the welded portion will not substantially affect the appearance or lighting performance. Therefore, the lighting device of the present invention can properly hold the light guide.

[0009] The present invention has been briefly described above. Further details of the present invention will be clarified by referring to the accompanying drawings and reading through the embodiments for carrying out the invention described below. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0010] [Figure 1] Figure 1 is a perspective view showing a lighting device according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] Figure 2 is an exploded perspective view of the lighting device shown in Figure 1. [Figure 3] Figure 3 is an enlarged view of section A in Figure 2. [Figure 4] Figure 4 is an enlarged view of section B in Figure 2. [Figure 5] Figure 5 is an enlarged view of section C in Figure 2. [Figure 6] Figure 6 is a side view showing the lighting device shown in Figure 1. [Figure 7] Figure 7 is a cross-sectional view of Figure 6 using the DD method. [Figure 8] Figure 8 is a cross-sectional view of EE in Figure 6. [Figure 9] Figure 9 is a cross-sectional view corresponding to Figure 8, showing the state before the pair of left and right protrusions of the protective cover are welded to the light guide fitted into the protective cover. [Figure 10] Figure 10 is an enlarged view of section F in Figure 7. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0011] <Embodiment> Hereinafter, an embodiment of the lighting device 1 of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The lighting device 1 shown in Figure 1 is a device used as a light fixture mounted inside or outside a vehicle such as an automobile, and is configured to irradiate the surroundings with light emitted from an LED 14 (see Figures 2 and 7) via a rod-shaped light guide 30 (see Figures 1, 2 and 7, etc.). For example, by emitting the light irradiated from the light guide 30 to the surroundings through a narrow slit-shaped opening (not shown) provided in a panel member of the vehicle, etc., a linear ambient lighting with excellent decorative properties can be realized.

[0012] Hereinafter, for convenience of explanation, as shown in FIG. 1 and the like, "front", "rear", "left", "right", "upper", and "lower" are defined. The "front-rear direction", "left-right direction", and "upper-lower direction" are orthogonal to each other. The front-rear direction, left-right direction, and upper-lower direction do not necessarily coincide with the front-rear direction, left-right direction, and upper-lower direction of the vehicle on which the lighting device 1 is mounted. The "upper-lower direction" coincides with the "axial direction of the light guide" of the present invention.

[0013] As shown in FIG. 2, the lighting device 1 includes an LED unit 10, a rod-shaped light guide 30 having a circular cross-section that transmits the light emitted by the LED 14 in the LED unit 10, an adapter 40 that holds the light guide 30 and connects the light guide 30 and the LED unit 10, and a protective cover 50 that is assembled to the adapter 40 to protect the light guide 30 extending from the adapter 40. Here, the LED unit 10, the adapter 40, and the protective cover 50 constitute the housing 2 of the lighting device 1 (see FIG. 1). The protective cover 50 corresponds to the "insertion portion" of the present invention. Hereinafter, the configurations of each component constituting the lighting device 1 will be described in order.

[0014] First, the LED unit 10 will be described. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 7, the LED unit 10 includes a housing 11, a bus bar 12 housed in the housing 11, a substrate 13 housed in the housing 11, an LED 14 mounted on the substrate 13, and a cover 15 attached to the housing 11.

[0015] The housing 11 is a resin molded body and integrally comprises a substantially rectangular cylindrical connector portion 16 extending in the front-rear direction and a substantially rectangular cylindrical LED housing portion 17 located in front of the connector portion 16 and extending in the front-rear direction. The LED housing portion 17 has an open top. A metal busbar 12 is housed within the housing 11, straddling the connector portion 16 and the LED housing portion 17, and the circuit board 13 is housed in the LED housing portion 17. The LEDs 14 mounted on the circuit board 13 are exposed to the outside through the upper opening of the LED housing portion 17. A vehicle-side connector (not shown) is fitted into the connector portion 16 of the housing 11. When the vehicle-side connector is fitted into the connector portion 16, an electrical signal transmitted from the vehicle-side connector (not shown) is transmitted to the circuit board 13 via the busbar 12, and the LEDs 14 mounted on the circuit board 13 are controlled to emit light based on the electrical signal. A pair of left and right locking protrusions 18 are formed on the left and right side walls of the LED housing portion 17. The pair of left and right locking protrusions 18 will engage with the pair of left and right locking holes 21 of the cover 15, which will be described later.

[0016] The cover 15 is mounted on the LED housing portion 17 of the housing 11 so as to cover the LED housing portion 17, and functions to protect the substrate 13 and the LED 14 housed in the LED housing portion 17. The cover 15 is a resin molded body, has a substantially rectangular box shape extending in the front-rear direction, and the rear end of the cover 15 is open. On the upper wall of the cover 15, a substantially cylindrical opening 19 is formed so as to protrude upward and communicate the inside and outside of the cover 15 in the vertical direction corresponding to the LED 14 in the housing 11. On the left and right side walls of the cover 15, a pair of left and right locking holes 21 and a pair of left and right locking protrusions 22 are formed so as to be arranged in the front-rear direction. The pair of left and right locking protrusions 22 will engage with a pair of left and right locking holes 48 of the adapter 40 described later. The cover 15 is mounted on the LED housing portion 17 by sliding backward with respect to the LED housing portion 17 from the front side. In the state where the cover 15 is completely mounted on the LED housing portion 17, the locking hole 21 of the cover 15 and the locking protrusion 18 of the LED housing portion 17 are engaged. Thereby, the cover 15 is prevented from coming off (separating) forward from the housing 11 (LED housing portion 17). In the LED unit 10 in which the cover 15 is mounted on the LED housing portion 17, the LED 14 housed in the LED housing portion 17 is exposed to the outside through the upper opening of the LED housing portion 17 and the opening 19 of the cover 15 (see FIG. 7).

[0017] Next, the adapter 40 will be described. The adapter 40 is a resin molded body and has a substantially rectangular parallelepiped box-shaped main body portion 41 as shown in FIGS. 2 and FIGS. 7 etc. The lower end of the main body portion 41 is open, and the upper end of the main body portion 41 is closed by a substantially rectangular flat ceiling wall. In the central portion of the ceiling wall of the main body portion 41, a cylindrical insertion portion 42 is provided so as to extend downward and longitudinally cut through the internal space of the main body portion 41 (see FIG. 7). Each of the upper and lower ends of the insertion portion 42 is open. An annular flange portion 43 extending radially inward over the circumferential direction is formed at the lower end opening edge of the insertion portion 42 (see FIGS. 7 and FIG. 10). The light guide 30 will be inserted into the insertion portion 42 (see FIGS. 7 and FIG. 10).

[0018] A pair of left and right locking pieces 44 projecting upward are formed on the ceiling wall of the main body 41, facing each other with a gap in the left-right direction between them, with the upper end opening of the insertion portion 42 in between. Each of the locking pieces 44 is an elastic piece with a substantially rectangular flat plate shape, extending upward in a cantilevered manner from the ceiling wall of the main body 41, and is elastically deformable in the left-right direction. As shown in Figures 2 and 5, a vertical groove 45 extending vertically is formed in the front-rear center of each locking piece 44's left-right inner surface (the side facing the opposing locking piece 44). Furthermore, a locking hole 46 penetrating in the plate thickness direction (left-right direction) is formed above the vertical center of each locking piece 44, extending from the front-rear center of the locking piece 44 to both the front and rear sides, and dividing the vertical groove 45 into upper and lower sections.

[0019] At the lower end of the main body portion 41, a pair of substantially flat locking pieces 47 are formed on the left and right sides, extending downward and facing each other with a gap between them in the left-right direction. Each locking piece 47 has a locking hole 48 that penetrates in the thickness direction (left-right direction).

[0020] Next, the protective cover 50 will be described. The protective cover 50 is a resin molded body and, as shown in Figures 2 and 7, has a long rectangular box-shaped main body 51 that extends in the vertical direction. Specifically, the main body 51 is composed of a pair of left and right side walls, a rear wall, and a top wall, and the lower and front ends of the main body 41 are open. The light guide 30 will be fitted (housed) in the main body 51 (see Figures 1 and 7, etc.). The vertical length of the main body 51 corresponds to the vertical length of the rod-shaped light guide 30 that extends linearly in the vertical direction. The horizontal width of the main body 51 corresponds to the distance between the pair of left and right locking pieces 44 of the adapter 40.

[0021] As shown in Figures 2 and 3, a pair of left and right projections 52 are provided near the upper end of the main body 51, extending from the left and right front opening edges of the main body 51. Each of the left and right projections 52 has a rod-like shape extending toward the opposite front opening edge. The left and right projections 52 are welded to the area near the upper end of the light guide 30 fitted into the main body 51 using a welding machine or the like (see Figures 8 and 9).

[0022] As shown in Figures 2 and 4, near the lower end of the main body 51, a protruding portion 53 is formed in the front-to-back center of each of the left and right outer surfaces (the side opposite to the side facing the other side wall) of the pair of left and right side walls of the main body 51, corresponding to the vertical groove portion 45 of the adapter 40. Furthermore, locking projections 54 are formed on both the front and rear sides from the upper end of the protruding portion 53, corresponding to the locking hole 46 of the adapter 40. The configuration of each component constituting the lighting device 1 has now been described.

[0023] Next, the assembly procedure for the lighting device 1 will be described. In order to assemble the lighting device 1, first, the adapter 40 is assembled to the LED unit 10, on which the cover 15 is attached to the LED housing 17. For this purpose, as shown in Figures 1 and 7, the adapter 40 is assembled to the cover 15 such that the insertion portion 42 of the adapter 40 is inserted into the opening 19 of the cover 15 of the LED unit 10 from above, the opening 19 of the cover 15 is housed in the internal space of the main body portion 41 of the adapter 40, and the pair of left and right locking pieces 47 of the adapter 40 cover both left and right side walls of the cover 15. When the adapter 40 is assembled to the LED unit 10, as shown in Figures 1, 6 and 7, the locking hole 48 of the adapter 40 and the locking projection 22 of the cover 15 are engaged. This prevents the adapter 40 from coming off (separating) upward from the cover 15 (i.e., the LED unit 10).

[0024] Next, the rod-shaped light guide 30 is assembled to the adapter 40. To do this, as shown in Figure 7, the light guide 30 is inserted into the insertion portion 42 of the adapter 40 from above. This insertion continues until the lower end 30a of the light guide 30 (see Figure 2) abuts against the flange portion 43 located at the lower end of the insertion portion 42 (see Figure 7).

[0025] When the light guide 30 is assembled to the adapter 40, as shown in Figure 7, the lower end 30a of the light guide 30 abuts against the flange portion 43, and the light guide 30 located within the insertion portion 42 (the area near the lower end 30a of the light guide 30) is held by the inner wall of the insertion portion 42. By abutting the lower end 30a of the light guide 30 against the flange portion 43 in this way, the light guide 30 can be positioned at the desired light-receiving position when the lighting device 1 is assembled (see Figure 7). The light guide 30 extends upward from the ceiling wall of the main body portion 41 of the adapter 40 (the upper end opening of the insertion portion 42). The lower end 30a of the light guide 30 is exposed downward through the lower end opening of the insertion portion 42 and is positioned at the desired light-receiving position for the LED 14 so as to be directly above and adjacent to the LED 14 in the LED unit 10 (see Figure 7).

[0026] Next, the protective cover 50 is attached to the adapter 40 to which the light guide 30 is assembled. To do this, first, the main body 51 is positioned above the light guide 30 so that the upper end 30b of the light guide 30 (see Figure 2), which extends upward from the ceiling wall of the main body 41 of the adapter 40, and the lower end opening of the main body 51 of the protective cover 50 are vertically opposed to each other. Next, the main body 51 is moved downward toward the main body 41 of the adapter 40 so that the light guide 30 is inserted into the main body 51 through the lower end opening of the main body 51, and the lower end of the main body 51 enters between the pair of left and right locking pieces 44 so that the pair of left and right protrusions 53 of the protective cover 50 are inserted into the pair of left and right vertical grooves 45 of the adapter 40. This movement continues until the lower end of the main body 51 abuts against the ceiling wall of the main body 41 (see Figure 7).

[0027] When the protective cover 50 is assembled to the adapter 40, the pair of left and right locking protrusions 54 of the protective cover 50 engage with the pair of left and right locking holes 46 of the adapter 40 (see Figures 1, 6, and 7). This prevents the protective cover 50 from coming off (separating) upward from the adapter 40. The light guide 30, which extends upward from the ceiling wall of the main body 41 of the adapter 40, is fitted into the main body 51 of the protective cover 50 such that the front side of the light guide 30 is exposed through the front end opening that extends vertically in the main body 51, and the vicinity of the upper end 30b of the light guide 30 is positioned between the inner wall surface 51a of the rear wall of the main body 51 (see Figure 9) and the pair of left and right protrusions 52.

[0028] Next, the pair of left and right protrusions 52 of the protective cover 50 are welded to the vicinity of the upper end 30b of the light guide 30. Specifically, using a welding machine or the like (not shown), the pair of left and right protrusions 52 are heated, melted, and deformed while a force directed toward the light guide 30 (i.e., a backward force; see the white arrows in Figure 9) is applied to them. As a result, as shown in Figure 8, the vicinity of the upper end 30b of the light guide 30 is sandwiched between the pair of left and right protrusions 52 and the inner wall surface 51a of the rear wall of the main body 51, and the pair of left and right protrusions 52 are welded and fixed to the vicinity of the upper end 30b of the light guide 30 while in contact with the inner wall surface 51a.

[0029] The assembly of the lighting device 1 is completed when the pair of left and right protrusions 52 of the protective cover 50 are welded to the light guide 30, resulting in the lighting device 1 shown in Figures 1 and 6. In the assembled state of the lighting device 1, the light guide 30 is properly held by the pair of left and right protrusions 52 of the protective cover 50 near the upper end 30b of the light guide 30, and by the inner wall of the insertion portion 42 of the adapter 40 near the lower end 30a of the light guide 30.

[0030] The assembled lighting device 1 is attached to the mounting target (for example, a panel member of a vehicle; not shown). The light emitted from the light guide 30 is irradiated to the surroundings through the front end opening that extends vertically through the main body portion 51 of the protective cover 50. When attaching the lighting device 1 to the mounting target, if the lighting device 1 is positioned so that the pair of left and right protrusions 52 are located outside the opening area of ​​the light-emitting part of the mounting target (i.e., the opening such as a hole that emits light emitted from the light guide 30), then even if the pair of left and right protrusions 52 are provided so as to cover a part of the front end opening of the main body portion 51, the protrusions 52 will not substantially affect the appearance or lighting performance of the lighting device 1.

[0031] <Effects and Actions> As described above, according to the lighting device 1 of this embodiment, the light guide 30 is positioned at a predetermined light-receiving position, sandwiched between the welded portion (a pair of left and right protrusions 52) and the inner wall surface 51a of the housing 2, and in contact with the inner wall surface 51a, while fitted into the fitting portion (protective cover 50) of the housing 2. As a result, regardless of the magnitude of manufacturing variations in the light guide 30 and the housing 2 (for example, even if there is a gap between the light guide 30 and the fitting portion 50 due to manufacturing variations), the welded portion 52 adheres closely to the light guide 30 during the process of welding it to the light guide 30, thereby properly holding the light guide 30 within the fitting portion 50. Therefore, the lighting device 1 of this embodiment can properly hold the light guide 30.

[0032] Furthermore, according to the lighting device 1 of this embodiment, even if the light guide 30 has a rod-like shape, the light guide 30 can be properly held by holding one end of the light guide 30 (near the upper end 30b) with the welded portion 52 of the housing 2 and holding the other end of the light guide 30 (near the lower end 30a) with the other end holding portion (insertion portion 42) of the housing 2.

[0033] Furthermore, according to the lighting device 1 of this embodiment, the light guide 30 can be positioned at the light-receiving position by abutting it against the positioning wall portion (flange portion 43) of the housing 2. For example, if the light guide 30 has a rod-like shape, the light guide 30 can be positioned so that its end face 30a is adjacent to the light-emitting element (LED 14), thereby efficiently guiding the light emitted by the light-emitting element 14 to the light guide 30. This makes it easier to position the light guide 30, thereby improving the work efficiency of the production of the lighting device 1.

[0034] <Other embodiments> It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, and various modifications can be adopted within the scope of the present invention. For example, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, and can be modified, improved, etc. as appropriate. Furthermore, the material, shape, dimensions, number, placement, etc. of each component in the embodiments described above are arbitrary and not limited as long as they can achieve the present invention.

[0035] Herein, the features of the embodiments of the lighting device 1 according to the present invention described above are briefly listed below in [1] to [3].

[0036] [1] A lighting device (1) comprising a light-emitting element (14), a light guide (30) that transmits the light emitted by the light-emitting element (14), and a housing (2) that houses the light-emitting element (14) and holds the light guide (30) at a predetermined light-receiving position, The housing (2) is A fitting portion (50) into which the light guide (30) is fitted such that at least a part of the light guide (30) is exposed, The fitting portion (50) has a welded portion (52) that sandwiches the light guide (30) between the inner wall surface (51a) and the inner wall surface (51a), and that contacts the light guide (30) with the inner wall surface (51a) and is welded to the light guide (30), Lighting device (1).

[0037] According to the lighting device with the configuration described in [1] above, the light guide is positioned at a predetermined light-receiving position, sandwiched between the welded portion and the inner wall surface of the fitting portion, and in contact with the inner wall surface, while being fitted into the fitting portion of the housing. As a result, regardless of the magnitude of manufacturing variations in the light guide and housing (for example, even if there is a gap between the light guide and the fitting portion due to manufacturing variations), the welded portion is welded to the light guide and adheres closely to it, and the light guide is sandwiched between the welded portion and the inner wall surface of the fitting portion, thereby properly holding the light guide within the fitting portion. Furthermore, when the lighting device is attached to an object (for example, a panel member of a vehicle), if the lighting device is positioned so that the welded portion is located outside the opening area of ​​the light-emitting part of the object (i.e., an opening such as a hole that emits light emitted from the light guide), the welded portion will not substantially affect the appearance or lighting performance. Therefore, the lighting device of the present invention can properly hold the light guide.

[0038] [2] In the lighting device (1) described in [1] above, The light guide (30) has a rod-like shape, The housing (2) is The light guide (30) has a welding portion (52) at a position that holds one end (30b) of the light guide (30), and a other end holding portion (42) at a position that holds the other end (30a) of the light guide (30), Lighting device (1).

[0039] According to the lighting device with the configuration described in [2] above, even if the light guide has a rod-like shape, the light guide can be properly held by holding one end of the light guide with the welded portion of the housing and holding the other end of the light guide with the other end holding portion of the housing.

[0040] [3] In the lighting device (1) described in [1] above, The housing (2) is The system has a positioning wall portion (43) which positions the light guide (30) at the light receiving position by abutting the light guide (30), Lighting device (1).

[0041] According to the lighting device with the configuration described in [3] above, the light guide can be positioned at the light-receiving position by abutting it against the positioning wall of the housing. For example, if the light guide has a rod shape, the light emitted by the light emitter can be efficiently guided to the light guide by positioning the light guide so that the end face of the rod-shaped light guide is adjacent to the light emitter. This makes it easier to position the light guide, thereby improving the work efficiency of the lighting device production process. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0042] 1. Lighting device 2 Housing 14 LEDs (light-emitting devices) 30 Light guide 30a Lower end (other end) 30b Upper end (one end) 42 Insertion part (other end holding part) 43 Flange section (positioning wall section) 50 Protective cover (fitting part) 51a Inner wall surface 52 Projection (welded part)

Claims

1. A lighting device comprising a light-emitting element, a light-transmitting element that transmits light emitted by the light-emitting element, and a housing that houses the light-emitting element and holds the light-transmitting element at a predetermined light-receiving position, The aforementioned housing is A fitting portion into which the light guide is fitted such that at least a part of the light guide is exposed, The fitting portion has a welded portion that sandwiches the light guide between itself and the inner wall surface, and that contacts the light guide with the inner wall surface and is welded to the light guide. Lighting device.

2. In the lighting device according to claim 1, The light guide has a rod-like shape, The aforementioned housing is The light guide has a welding portion at a position that holds one end of the light guide, and a other end holding portion at a position that holds the other end of the light guide. Lighting device.

3. In the lighting device according to claim 1, The aforementioned housing is The system has a positioning wall portion which positions the light guide at the light receiving position by abutting the light guide against it. Lighting device.

Images