Lens component for vehicle lighting fixtures, and method for manufacturing the same.

Abstract

The present invention provides a lens component for a vehicle light fixture that suppresses the penetration of the resin forming the outer frame into the light-transmitting area of ​​the lens, while also suppressing the appearance of streaks in the light-transmitting area. [Solution] The lens member 1 of the vehicle lamp of the present invention comprises a light-transmitting lens portion 10 and an outer frame portion 20 having an integrated portion 21 that overlaps along the outer circumference of the lens portion 10 and integrates with the lens portion 10. The lens portion 10 comprises an inner region 11 with a first thickness T1, an intermediate region 12 provided along the outer circumference of the inner region 11 and defining the tip position 21A of the integrated portion 21, and an outer region 13 provided along the outer circumference of the intermediate region 12 and overlapping with the integrated portion 21. The intermediate region 12 gradually thins out toward the inner region 11 from a second thickness T2 on the tip position 21A side, which is thicker than the first thickness T1, to the first thickness T1.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a lens member for a vehicle lamp and a manufacturing method for manufacturing a lens member for a vehicle lamp having a lens part and an outer frame part by multi-color molding.

Background Art

[0002] The two-color molding technique is used, for example, when manufacturing a light-transmitting cover of a lamp such as a headlamp of a vehicle. In this two-color molding, in order to regulate the region filled with the colored resin in the mold after forming the primary molded product made of a transparent resin, not only the mold but also the protruding partition portion provided on the back surface of the primary molded product is used.

[0003] However, in a secondary molded product in which a weld is formed near the protruding partition portion, if gas cannot be discharged well from this protruding partition portion, bubbles will remain in the secondary molded product or a lack of thickness will occur.

[0004] As a result, the bonding strength between the primary molded product and the secondary molded product decreases, or appearance defects of the two-color molded product occur.

[0005] Therefore, Patent Document 1 discloses a two-color molded product including a first resin part having a predetermined shape and a second resin part in contact with at least a part of the first resin part so as to overlap. The first resin part has a protruding portion formed on the back surface side in contact with the second resin part, and the second resin part has a contact portion in contact with the side surface of the protruding portion and a covering portion protruding from the contact portion so as to cover a part of the upper surface of the protruding portion. The covering portion is formed near the weld line of the second resin part on the upper surface of the protruding portion, and the protruding amount decreases as it moves away from the weld line in a direction intersecting the weld line. Specifically, the first resin part is the light-transmitting part of a cover for a vehicle lamp, and the second resin part is made of a colored resin.

[0006] Furthermore, Patent Document 1 discloses a method for manufacturing a two-color molded product, comprising: a first step of injecting a first resin material into a first cavity formed by a first core mold and a cavity mold to form a first resin part of a predetermined shape; and a second step of clamping a second core mold and a cavity mold, which have a different shape from the first core mold, so that at least a part of the first resin part is exposed, with the first resin part positioned inside the cavity mold, and injecting a second resin material into a second cavity formed by the second core mold and cavity mold to form a second resin part that joins with at least a part of the first resin part, wherein the first step forms a first resin part having a protruding portion on the side that contacts the second resin part, and the second step injects a second resin material with the protruding portion and the second core mold in contact to form a second resin part having a covering portion that covers a part of the upper surface of the protruding portion. [Prior art documents] [Patent Documents]

[0007] [Patent Document 1] Patent No. 6775994 [Overview of the Initiative] [Problems that the invention aims to solve]

[0008] Incidentally, when molding lens components for vehicle lighting fixtures using multi-color molding, if a step is created in the lens portion to prevent the resin forming the outer frame portion that overlaps along the outer circumference of the light-transmitting lens portion from penetrating the light-transmitting area of ​​the lens portion, the boundary between the thickened portion that forms the step and the basic thickness portion of the thinner lens portion may be located within the light-transmitting area, and this boundary may be visible as a streak (shadow).

[0009] This invention has been made in view of these circumstances, and one of its objectives is to provide a lens member for a vehicle lamp that suppresses the penetration of the resin forming the outer frame into the light-transmitting region of the lens, while also suppressing the appearance of streaks in the light-transmitting region, and a method for manufacturing the same. [Means for solving the problem]

[0010] To achieve the above objective, the present invention is understood by the following configuration. The lens member of the present invention is a lens member for a vehicle lighting device, The aforementioned lens member is A lens part that transmits light, The outer frame portion has an integrated portion that overlaps along the outer circumference of the lens portion and integrates with the lens member, The aforementioned lens portion is The inner region of the first thickness, An intermediate region is provided along the outer circumference of the inner region, which defines the tip position of the integrated portion, It comprises an outer region provided along the outer circumference of the intermediate region and overlapping with the integrated portion, The intermediate region gradually thins out toward the inner region, from a second thickness on the tip side which is thicker than the first thickness, to the first thickness.

[0011] The present invention is a manufacturing method for producing a lens component of a vehicle lamp, which comprises a lens portion and an outer frame portion, by multi-color molding. A first molding step of forming the lens portion that transmits light, The process includes a second molding step of forming the outer frame portion having an integrated portion that overlaps along the outer circumference of the lens portion and integrates with the lens portion, The first molding step is to supply a light-transmitting resin into a mold to form the lens portion, The aforementioned mold is An inner space having a first width corresponding to the inner region of the lens portion having a first thickness, An intermediate space is provided along the outer circumference of the inner space and corresponds to the intermediate region of the lens portion that defines the tip position of the integrated portion, The intermediate space is provided along the outer circumference and comprises an outer space corresponding to the outer region of the lens portion that overlaps with the integrated portion, The intermediate space is a space whose width gradually decreases from a second width on the side corresponding to the tip position side, which is wider than the first width, toward the inner space, so as to become the first width.

Advantages of the Invention

[0012] According to the present invention, there are provided a lens member for a vehicle lamp that suppresses the resin forming the outer frame portion from entering the light-transmitting region of the lens portion and suppresses streaks from appearing in the light-transmitting region, and a method for manufacturing the same.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0013] [Figure 1] It is a top view showing a vehicle provided with a lens member of a vehicle lamp according to a first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] It is a perspective view showing only the lens member of the vehicle lamp according to the first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 3] It is a cross-sectional view taken along line A-A of FIG. 2. [Figure 4] It is a partially enlarged view of FIG. 3. [Figure 5] It is a diagram for explaining a mold for a first molding step of molding a lens portion according to the first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 6] It is a partially enlarged view of FIG. 5. [Figure 7] It is a diagram for explaining a mold for a second molding step of molding an outer frame portion integrated with the lens portion according to the first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 8] It is a partially enlarged view of FIG. 7. [Figure 9] It is a diagram showing a lens member having a conventional structure. [Figure 10] It is a diagram showing a surface side view of the lens member according to the first embodiment of the present invention and the lens member having the conventional structure shown in FIG. 9. [Figure 11] It is a diagram for explaining a lens member of a vehicle lamp according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

Modes for Carrying Out the Invention

[0014] Hereinafter, embodiments for carrying out the present invention (hereinafter referred to as "embodiments") will be described in detail with reference to the attached drawings. Throughout the description of the embodiments, the same elements are assigned the same numbers or reference numerals.

[0015] However, please note that, for the sake of readability in the drawings, not all identical elements are assigned numbers or symbols, and some elements do not have numbers or symbols assigned. Additionally, some parts of the illustration emphasize the structure to make the explanation easier to understand, and dimensions may differ from the actual dimensions.

[0016] <<First Embodiment>> The lens member 1 of a vehicle lamp according to the first embodiment of the present invention and its manufacturing method will be described below.

[0017] Figure 1 is a top view showing a vehicle C equipped with a lens member 1 of a vehicle lighting device according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

[0018] Figure 2 is a perspective view showing only the lens member 1 of a vehicle lamp according to the first embodiment of the present invention, and is a perspective view showing the outer surface of the lens member 1 when it is attached to the vehicle C.

[0019] Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA in Figure 2. Figure 4 is a magnified view of a portion of Figure 3, specifically a magnified view of the area indicated by the circled B in Figure 3.

[0020] In the following, the side of lens component 1 that faces outward when attached to vehicle C will be referred to as the front surface, and conversely, the side that faces inward when attached to vehicle C will be referred to as the back surface.

[0021] Furthermore, in the following, the side of lens component 1 that faces outward when attached to vehicle C will be referred to as the front side, and the side that faces inward when attached to vehicle C will be referred to as the back side.

[0022] Furthermore, in the description of the molding die, the terms "front side" and "back side" will be used based on whether the surface (front side) or the back side (back side) of the lens member 1 is being molded.

[0023] As shown in Figure 1, the lens member 1 of the vehicle lighting device in the first embodiment is the outer lens of a headlight provided on the front side of the vehicle C.

[0024] However, it is not limited to outer lenses; it may also be used in inner lenses, or in vehicle lighting fixtures installed in locations other than headlights (for example, taillights, etc.).

[0025] As shown in Figure 2, the lens member 1 comprises a lens portion 10 molded from a light-transmitting transparent resin, and an outer frame portion 20 located on the back side of the lens portion 10 and molded from a light-impermeable colored resin.

[0026] As can be seen in Figure 3, the outer frame portion 20 overlaps with the outer circumference of the lens portion 10 and has an integrated portion 21 that integrates with the lens portion 10. This integrated portion 21 is located in the outer region 13 (described later) on the back side of the lens portion 10.

[0027] As shown in Figures 3 and 4, the lens portion 10 comprises an inner region 11, an intermediate region 12 provided along the outer circumference of the inner region 11 and defining the tip position 21A of the integrated portion 21 of the outer frame portion 20, and an outer region 13 provided along the outer circumference of the intermediate region 12 and overlapping with the integrated portion 21.

[0028] The inner region 11 has a nearly constant first thickness T1, as shown in Figure 4. Furthermore, as shown in Figure 4, the thickness of the intermediate region 12 at the boundary with the inner region 11 is approximately the same as the first thickness T1 of the inner region 11.

[0029] On the other hand, as shown in Figure 4, the intermediate region 12 has a second thickness T2 at its outermost position, which is the boundary with the outer region 13, and this second thickness T2 portion protrudes on the back side of the lens portion 10, defining the tip position 21A of the integrated portion 21 of the outer frame portion 20.

[0030] As shown in Figure 4, the intermediate region 12 gradually thins out toward the inner region 11, from a second thickness T2 at the tip position 21A, which is thicker than the first thickness T1, to a first thickness T1.

[0031] Specifically, the intermediate region 12 is designed so that, toward the inner region 11, the thickness decreases at a nearly constant rate, from a second thickness T2 at the tip position 21A, which is thicker than the first thickness T1, to the first thickness T1.

[0032] In this way, by gradually reducing the thickness, a large change in thickness does not occur at the boundary between the intermediate region 12 and the inner region 11, thus suppressing the appearance of streaks associated with abrupt changes in thickness.

[0033] For example, in the first embodiment, the intermediate region 12 has a first length L that extends from the second thickness T2 to the first thickness T1, and this first length L is 10 times or more the difference between the second thickness T2 and the first thickness T1.

[0034] Then, by multiplying the difference in thickness by a length of more than 10 times, and reducing the thickness at a nearly constant rate, the angle θ on the inner region 11 side of the triangular protrusion 12A that forms on the back side of the intermediate region 12, which is thicker than the first thickness T1, becomes a small angle of less than approximately 6°, and the intermediate region 12 and the inner region 11 become connected without a large change in thickness that is close to a step.

[0035] Furthermore, this angle θ is considered acceptable as long as it is less than 15°, preferably less than 10°, and even more preferably less than 6° as described above.

[0036] On the other hand, as mentioned above, the intermediate region 12 is a part with a change in thickness, and therefore the light incident on it may not be directed in the target illumination direction on the front side of the vehicle C. For this reason, in order to prevent the range of the intermediate region 12 from becoming too wide, it is preferable that the first length L of the intermediate region 12 is not too long.

[0037] As mentioned above, it is preferable that the first length L is 10 times or more the difference between the second thickness T2 and the first thickness T1. Therefore, in order to avoid increasing the length of the first length L, it is preferable that the difference between the second thickness T2 and the first thickness T1 be small.

[0038] Therefore, it is preferable that the second thickness T2 be such that the difference between the second thickness T2 and the first thickness T1 is within 1 mm.

[0039] Furthermore, if the difference between the second thickness T2 and the first thickness T1 is within 1 mm, then, as described above, considering the connection between the intermediate region 12 and the inner region 11 without a large change in thickness that is close to a step, it is preferable to set the first length L to 10 mm or more to suppress the generation of muscle fibers, while keeping the first length L within 20 mm so that the range of the intermediate region 12 does not become too wide.

[0040] Furthermore, if the difference between the second thickness T2 and the first thickness T1 is 0.1 mm or more, the tip position 21A of the integrated portion 21 can be sufficiently defined.

[0041] Next, we will explain a manufacturing method for producing the lens component 1 described above by multi-color molding. The manufacturing method for producing the lens member 1 of the first embodiment by multi-color molding comprises a first molding step of molding a light-transmitting lens portion 10, and a second molding step of molding an outer frame portion 20 having an integrated portion 21 that overlaps along the outer circumference of the lens portion 10 and integrates with the lens portion 10. First, the first molding step will be explained.

[0042] Figure 5 is a diagram illustrating the mold M1 used in the first molding step for forming the lens portion 10 of the first embodiment according to the present invention, and is a cross-sectional view of the mold M1 in the portion corresponding to the cross-section of the lens portion 10 in Figure 3.

[0043] The first molding step involves supplying a light-transmitting resin into the mold M1 to mold the lens portion 10. As shown in Figure 5, the mold includes a first molding surface mold M11 corresponding to the front surface of the lens portion 10 and a first molding back surface mold M12 corresponding to the back surface of the lens portion 10.

[0044] Then, when the front mold M11 and the back mold M12 are combined, a space SP1 corresponding to the shape of the lens portion 10 is formed inside the molding mold M1. A light-transmitting transparent resin, which will be the material for the lens portion 10, is poured into this space SP1. Once the resin has hardened, the back mold M12 is removed, and with the lens portion 10 still held in place by the front mold M11, the next step, the second forming step, is performed.

[0045] Figure 6 is a magnified view of a portion of Figure 5, specifically the area indicated by the circled MB1. As shown in Figure 6, the mold M1 includes an inner space SP11 having a first width W1 corresponding to the inner region 11 of the lens portion 10 having a first thickness T1, an intermediate space SP12 provided along the outer circumference of the inner space SP11 and corresponding to the intermediate region 12 of the lens portion 10 that defines the tip position 21A of the integrated portion 21, and an outer space SP13 provided along the outer circumference of the intermediate space SP12 and corresponding to the outer region 13 of the lens portion 10 that overlaps with the integrated portion 21.

[0046] In the first embodiment, the integrated portion 21 of the outer frame portion 20 is located in the outer region 13 on the back side of the lens portion 10, and correspondingly, the portion with the second width W2 forms a protruding space SP121 that protrudes in a direction corresponding to the back side of the lens portion 10, such that it forms a protrusion that defines the tip position 21A of the intermediate region 12.

[0047] Furthermore, since the space SP1 into which the transparent resin is poured is a space SP1 that almost coincides with the outer shape of the lens part 10, the intermediate space SP12 is a space that gradually narrows in width toward the inner space SP11, from the second width W2 on the side corresponding to the tip position 21A of the integrated part 21 of the outer frame part 20 which is wider than the first width W1, to the first width W1.

[0048] Furthermore, the intermediate space SP12 has a first length SPL extending from the second width W2 to the first width W1, and it is preferable that the first length SPL is 10 times or more the difference between the second width W2 and the first width W1.

[0049] More specifically, the second width W2 is such that the difference between the second width W2 and the first width W1 is 1 mm or less, and the first length SPL is preferably between 10 mm and 20 mm.

[0050] Then, after forming the lens portion 10 using the mold M1 as described above, the back mold M12 is removed, and with the lens portion 10 held in place by the front mold M11, the next step, the second forming step, is performed.

[0051] Next, a second molding step will be described for molding the outer frame portion 20 integrated with the lens portion 10 of the first embodiment according to the present invention.

[0052] Figure 7 is a diagram illustrating the mold M2 used in the second molding step for forming the outer frame portion 20 integrated with the lens portion 10 of the first embodiment according to the present invention, and is a cross-sectional view of the mold M2 in the portion corresponding to the cross-section of the lens member 1 in Figure 3.

[0053] The second molding step involves supplying resin into a mold M2, which includes a back-side mold M21 located on the back side of the lens portion 10, to form an outer frame portion 20 that is integrated with the lens portion 10.

[0054] As can be seen from the explanation above, in the second molding step, the surface mold M11 used in the first molding step is used for the molding die corresponding to the surface side, and the molding die M2 is formed from the surface mold M11 and the back mold M21.

[0055] Then, when the front mold M11 and back mold M21, which hold the lens portion 10, are brought together, a space SP2 corresponding to the shape of the outer frame portion 20 is formed inside the molding die M2. A colored resin (in this example, black resin is used) which will be the material for the outer frame portion 20 is poured into this space SP2, and once the resin has hardened, the front mold M11 and back mold M21 are removed and taken out of the molding die M2 to obtain the lens member 1.

[0056] As shown in Figure 7, the back-surface type M21 is configured such that the surface corresponding to the inner region 11 of the lens portion 10 is spaced apart from the inner region 11 so as not to come into contact with the inner region 11 of the lens portion 10.

[0057] In this way, the back-side type M21 does not come into contact with the inner region 11 of the lens portion 10, thereby preventing scratches and other damage to the back surface of the lens portion 10.

[0058] Figure 8 is a magnified view of a portion of Figure 7, specifically the area indicated by the circled MB2. As shown in Figure 8, the back surface type M21 has a contact surface M21A that abuts against the intermediate region 12 of the lens portion 10 and determines the tip position 21A (see Figure 4) of the integrated portion 21 of the outer frame portion 20.

[0059] Furthermore, this contact surface M21A abuts the intermediate region 12 on the side of the second thickness T2 of the intermediate region 12 formed in the second width W2 portion, and is formed as a surface that gradually increases in distance from the intermediate region 12 toward the inner region 11 side of the intermediate region 12.

[0060] When the surface is formed in such a way that the distance from the intermediate region 12 gradually increases, the contact area with the intermediate region 12 becomes smaller. Therefore, when the surface mold M11 and the back mold M21 are brought together with the same pressing force, the contact surface M21A is firmly pressed against the intermediate region 12, thereby suppressing leakage of the colored resin to the back side of the intermediate region 12.

[0061] Furthermore, by reducing the contact area with the intermediate region 12, the area of ​​the intermediate region 12 that may be damaged can be suppressed, resulting in a better appearance.

[0062] Next, I will describe an example of a test conducted to actually confirm the muscle inhibitory effect. Figure 9 shows a lens component with a conventional structure and corresponds to Figure 4.

[0063] As shown in Figure 9, the conventional structure, like the first embodiment, includes an inner region B11, an intermediate region B12 provided along the outer circumference of the inner region B11 and defining the tip position B21A of the integrated portion B21 of the outer frame 20, and an outer region B13 provided along the outer circumference of the intermediate region B12 and overlapping with the integrated portion B21.

[0064] On the other hand, in the conventional structure, the intermediate region B12 has a second thickness T2 almost entirely, and changes to a first thickness T1 near the inner region B11.

[0065] Figure 10 shows the surface side of the lens member 1 of the first embodiment according to the present invention and the lens member of the conventional structure shown in Figure 9, with the conventional lens member shown in Figure 9 on the left and the lens member 1 of the first embodiment on the right.

[0066] As can be seen in Figure 10, in conventional lens members, a streak LN is visible between the inner region B11 and the intermediate region B12, but in the lens member 1 of the first embodiment, the streak LN between the inner region 11 and the intermediate region 12 is almost invisible, showing significant improvement.

[0067] Thus, with the lens member 1 of the vehicle lamp according to the first embodiment, streaks (shadows) caused by steps or other differences between the inner region 11 and the intermediate region 12 can be suppressed, resulting in a visually appealing lens member 1.

[0068] <<Second Embodiment>> Next, with reference to Figure 11, the lens member 1 of a vehicle lamp according to the second embodiment of the present invention and its manufacturing method will be described.

[0069] Figure 11 is a diagram illustrating the lens member 1 of a vehicle lamp according to a second embodiment of the present invention, and corresponds to Figure 4.

[0070] Since the basic configuration of the lens member 1 of the vehicle lamp in the second embodiment is the same as that of the lens member 1 of the vehicle lamp in the first embodiment, the following description will mainly focus on the differences from the first embodiment, and explanations of the points that are the same as in the first embodiment may be omitted.

[0071] As shown in Figure 11, the outer region 13 of the lens portion 10 in the second embodiment has a thickness increasing portion 131 that increases in thickness toward the intermediate region 12, from a third thickness T3 which is thinner than the second thickness T2, to a second thickness T2.

[0072] In the first embodiment, as shown in Figure 4, the boundary between the outer region 13 and the intermediate region 12 rises at almost a right angle. Therefore, when the surface type M11 and the back type M21 are brought together and the contact surface M21A presses against the second thickness T2 portion of the intermediate region 12, stress may concentrate, potentially causing chipping or other damage.

[0073] On the other hand, in the second embodiment, the intermediate region 12 has a flared shape, especially in the second thickness T2 portion, which allows for the relaxation of the stress described above and thus suppresses the occurrence of chipping and other defects.

[0074] The manufacturing method of the second embodiment differs from that of the first embodiment in that the outer space SP13 (see Figure 6) forming the outer region 13 has a spatial shape corresponding to the thickness increase portion 131.

[0075] In other words, the only difference in the manufacturing method of the second embodiment is that the outer space SP13 has a width-increasing space that widens toward the intermediate space SP12, from a third width narrower than the second width W2 to the second width W2.

[0076] Although the present invention has been described above based on specific embodiments, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments.

[0077] In the above embodiment, an example of forming the lens member 1 using two-color molding was described as an example of multi-color molding, but the number of molding steps may be increased as needed, such as to use three-color molding.

[0078] Thus, the present invention also includes modifications and improvements to the above embodiments, which will be clear to those skilled in the art from the claims.

[0079] Furthermore, the following additional information is disclosed regarding the above embodiments. [Note 1] A lens component for a vehicle light fixture, The aforementioned lens member is A lens part that transmits light, The outer frame portion comprises an integrated portion that overlaps along the outer circumference of the lens portion and integrates with the lens portion, The aforementioned lens portion is The inner region of the first thickness, An intermediate region is provided along the outer circumference of the inner region, which defines the tip position of the integrated portion, It comprises an outer region provided along the outer circumference of the intermediate region and overlapping with the integrated portion, A lens member characterized in that the intermediate region gradually thins out toward the inner region, from a second thickness on the tip side which is thicker than the first thickness, to the first thickness. [Note 2] The intermediate region has a first length from the second thickness to the first thickness, The lens member according to Appendix 1, characterized in that the first length is 10 times or more the difference between the second thickness and the first thickness. [Note 3] The second thickness is such that the difference between the second thickness and the first thickness is within 1 mm. The lens member according to Appendix 1 or Appendix 2, characterized in that the first length is 10 mm or more and 20 mm or less. [Note 4] The integrated portion is located in the outer region on the back side of the lens portion, The lens member according to any one of the appendices 1 to 3, characterized in that the second thickness portion protrudes from the back surface side of the lens portion and defines the tip position. [Note 5] The lens member according to any one of the appendices 1 to 4, characterized in that the outer region has a thickness-increasing portion toward the intermediate region, where the thickness increases from a third thickness that is thinner than the second thickness to the second thickness. [Note 6] A manufacturing method for producing a lens component of a vehicle light fixture, which includes a lens portion and an outer frame portion, by multi-color molding, A first molding step of forming the lens portion that transmits light, The process includes a second molding step of forming the outer frame portion having an integrated portion that overlaps along the outer circumference of the lens portion and integrates with the lens portion, The first molding step is to supply a light-transmitting resin into a mold to form the lens portion, The aforementioned mold is An inner space having a first width corresponding to the inner region of the lens portion having a first thickness, An intermediate space is provided along the outer circumference of the inner space and corresponds to the intermediate region of the lens portion that defines the tip position of the integrated portion, The intermediate space is provided along the outer circumference and comprises an outer space corresponding to the outer region of the lens portion that overlaps with the integrated portion, A manufacturing method characterized in that the intermediate space is a space in which the width gradually narrows toward the inner space, from a second width corresponding to the tip position side which is wider than the first width, to the first width. [Note 7] The intermediate space has a first length from the second width to the first width, The manufacturing method according to Appendix 6, characterized in that the first length is 10 times or more the difference between the second width and the first width. [Note 8] The second width is such that the difference between the second width and the first width is 1 mm or less. The manufacturing method according to Appendix 7, characterized in that the first length is 10 mm or more and 20 mm or less. [Note 9] The integrated portion is located in the outer region on the back side of the lens portion, The manufacturing method according to any one of the appendices 6 to 8, characterized in that the second width portion forms a protruding space that protrudes in a direction corresponding to the back surface side of the lens portion, such that it forms a protrusion that defines the tip position of the intermediate region. [Note 10] The second molding step is to supply resin into a mold including a back mold located on the back side of the lens portion to form the outer frame portion which is integrated with the lens portion. The aforementioned back surface type has a contact surface that contacts the intermediate region of the lens portion and determines the tip position, The manufacturing method according to Appendix 9, characterized in that the contact surface abuts the intermediate region on the side of the second thickness portion of the intermediate region formed in the second width portion, and is formed on a surface that gradually increases in distance from the intermediate region toward the inner region side of the intermediate region. [Note 11] The manufacturing method according to any one of the appendices 6 to 10, characterized in that the outer space has a width-increasing space toward the intermediate space, where the width increases from a third width narrower than the second width to the second width. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0080] 1...Lens member, 10...Lens section, 11...Inner region, 12...Intermediate region, 13...Outer region, 131...Increased thickness section, 20...Outer frame section, 21...Integrated section, 21A...Tip position, L...First length, LN...Rib, M1, M2...Molding mold, M11...Surface mold, M12, M21...Backside mold, M21A...Contact surface, SP1, SP2...Space, SP11...Inner space, SP12...Intermediate space, SP121...Protruding space, SP13...Outer space, SPL...First length, T1...First thickness, T2...Second thickness, T3...Third thickness, W1...First width, W2...Second width, θ...Angle

Claims

1. A lens component for a vehicle light fixture, The aforementioned lens member is A lens part that transmits light, The outer frame portion comprises an integrated portion that overlaps along the outer circumference of the lens portion and integrates with the lens portion, The aforementioned lens portion is The inner region of the first thickness, An intermediate region is provided along the outer circumference of the inner region, which defines the tip position of the integrated portion, It comprises an outer region provided along the outer circumference of the intermediate region and overlapping with the integrated portion, A lens member characterized in that the intermediate region gradually thins out toward the inner region, from a second thickness on the tip side which is thicker than the first thickness, to the first thickness.

2. The intermediate region has a first length from the second thickness to the first thickness, The lens member according to claim 1, characterized in that the first length is 10 times or more the difference between the second thickness and the first thickness.

3. The second thickness is such that the difference between the second thickness and the first thickness is within 1 mm. The lens member according to claim 2, characterized in that the first length is 10 mm or more and 20 mm or less.

4. The integrated portion is located in the outer region on the back side of the lens portion, The lens member according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the second thickness portion protrudes from the back surface side of the lens portion and defines the tip position.

5. The lens member according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the outer region has a thickness-increasing portion toward the intermediate region, where the thickness increases from a third thickness that is thinner than the second thickness to the second thickness.

6. A manufacturing method for producing a lens component of a vehicle light fixture, which includes a lens portion and an outer frame portion, by multi-color molding, A first molding step of forming the lens portion that transmits light, The process includes a second molding step of forming the outer frame portion having an integrated portion that overlaps along the outer circumference of the lens portion and integrates with the lens portion, The first molding step is to supply a light-transmitting resin into a mold to form the lens portion. The aforementioned mold is An inner space having a first width corresponding to the inner region of the lens portion having a first thickness, An intermediate space is provided along the outer circumference of the inner space and corresponds to the intermediate region of the lens portion that defines the tip position of the integrated portion, The intermediate space is provided along the outer circumference and comprises an outer space corresponding to the outer region of the lens portion that overlaps with the integrated portion, A manufacturing method characterized in that the intermediate space is a space in which the width gradually narrows toward the inner space, from a second width on the side corresponding to the tip position, which is wider than the first width, to the first width.

7. The aforementioned intermediate space has a first length from the second width to the first width, The manufacturing method according to claim 6, characterized in that the first length is 10 times or more the difference obtained by subtracting the first width from the second width.

8. The second width is such that the difference between the second width and the first width is within 1 mm. The manufacturing method according to claim 7, characterized in that the first length is 10 mm or more and 20 mm or less.

9. The integrated portion is located in the outer region on the back side of the lens portion, The manufacturing method according to any one of claims 6 to 8, characterized in that the second width portion forms a protruding space that protrudes in a direction corresponding to the back surface side of the lens portion, such that it forms a protrusion that defines the tip position of the intermediate region.

10. The second molding step is to supply resin into a mold including a back mold located on the back side of the lens portion to form the outer frame portion which is integrated with the lens portion. The aforementioned back surface type has a contact surface that contacts the intermediate region of the lens portion and determines the tip position, The manufacturing method according to claim 9, characterized in that the contact surface is formed on the side of the second thickness portion of the intermediate region formed in the second width portion, and the distance from the intermediate region gradually increases toward the inner region side of the intermediate region.

11. The manufacturing method according to any one of claims 6 to 8, characterized in that the outer space has a width-increasing space toward the intermediate space, where the width increases from a third width narrower than the second width to the second width.

Images