Vehicle exterior parts
Ventilation holes and guide members in vehicle exterior parts manage airflow to prevent fogging, ensuring effective ventilation and substrate positioning, while blocking liquid entry, addressing the challenge of reduced airflow in thinner designs.
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- JP · JP
- Patent Type
- Applications
- Current Assignee / Owner
- TOYODA GOSEI CO LTD
- Filing Date
- 2024-10-24
- Publication Date
- 2026-05-12
AI Technical Summary
Thinner vehicle exterior parts lead to reduced airflow near the outer lens, causing fogging due to moisture, which affects the design and functionality.
Incorporating ventilation holes and guide members to facilitate airflow between the housing and outside, with specific configurations to manage airflow and prevent fogging, and using a lid member to block liquid entry.
Prevents fogging of the outer lens by maintaining airflow and positioning the light-emitting substrate, while blocking foreign matter entry, thus enhancing design and functionality.
Smart Images
Figure 2026076567000001_ABST
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] The present disclosure relates to exterior parts for vehicles.
Background Art
[0002] The exterior part for a vehicle shown in Patent Document 1 includes a housing that opens toward the outside of the vehicle, an outer lens that closes the opening of the housing, and a light-emitting substrate disposed in the housing. One end of an electric wire for supplying power is connected to the light-emitting substrate. This electric wire is drawn out to the outside through a wire lead-out hole formed in the bottom of the housing. When the LED on the light-emitting substrate emits light, the light from the LED passes through the outer lens. Thereby, the design property of the exterior part for a vehicle when viewed from the outside of the vehicle can be improved.
Prior Art Documents
Patent Documents
[0003]
Patent Document 1
Summary of the Invention
Problems to be Solved by the Invention
[0004] By the way, due to the relationship such as the layout of the exterior part for a vehicle with respect to the vehicle, and the relationship such as weight reduction of the exterior part for a vehicle, it is desired to make the exterior part for a vehicle thinner. However, when the exterior part for a vehicle is made thinner, the space inside the housing becomes narrower. As a result, the fluidity of air near the outer lens inside the housing decreases, and thus the outer lens may become cloudy due to the moisture contained in the air.
Means for Solving the Problems
[0005] Next, each aspect of the exterior part for a vehicle that solves the above problems will be described. (Aspect 1) An exterior part for a vehicle comprising a housing that opens toward the outside of the vehicle, an outer lens that closes the opening of the housing, and a light-emitting substrate disposed inside the housing, wherein a first ventilation hole is formed in the bottom of the housing to allow air to pass between the inside and outside of the housing, and a second ventilation hole is formed in the light-emitting substrate at a position corresponding to the first ventilation hole, so as to face the first ventilation hole and the outer lens.
[0006] According to the above configuration, the outer lens faces the first vent at the bottom of the housing via a second vent in the light-emitting substrate. As a result, air can smoothly move between the area near the outer lens inside the housing and the area outside the housing through the first and second vents. Consequently, even if the exterior parts for the vehicle are made thinner and the space inside the housing becomes narrower, a decrease in airflow near the outer lens inside the housing is suppressed. This prevents the outer lens from fogging up due to moisture contained in the air inside the housing.
[0007] (Aspect 2) The vehicle exterior part according to Embodiment 1, wherein at least two sets of the first ventilation holes and the second ventilation holes are provided.
[0008] According to the above configuration, one set of the two sets of first and second ventilation holes can be used as an air inlet, and the other set of first and second ventilation holes can be used as an air outlet. By dividing the roles between the two sets of first and second ventilation holes in this way, the ventilation inside the housing can be improved.
[0009] (Aspect 3) A guide member is provided between the first ventilation hole and the outer lens within the housing, the guide member surrounds the opening of the first ventilation hole at the bottom of the housing and extends from the bottom toward the outer lens, as described in (Aspect 1) or (Aspect 2) for a vehicle exterior part.
[0010] With the above configuration, when air moves between the area near the outer lens inside the housing and the area outside the housing through the first and second vents, the air movement is guided by a guide member provided between the first vent and the outer lens. As a result, ventilation near the outer lens is improved, making the outer lens less prone to fogging.
[0011] (Aspect 4) The vehicle exterior part according to Embodiment 3, wherein the guide member is integrally formed with respect to the bottom of the housing and penetrates the second ventilation hole of the light-emitting substrate.
[0012] According to the above configuration, a guide member integrally formed with the bottom of the housing penetrates the second ventilation hole of the light-emitting substrate, thereby positioning the light-emitting substrate by the guide member. Therefore, displacement of the light-emitting substrate within the housing can be suppressed.
[0013] (Appendix 5) An inner lens is fixed between the light-emitting substrate and the outer lens within the housing, a third ventilation hole is formed in the inner lens at a position corresponding to the first ventilation hole and the second ventilation hole, causing the outer lens to face the first ventilation hole and the second ventilation hole, and the guide member is integrally formed with the inner lens so as to surround the opening of the third ventilation hole and extends through the second ventilation hole of the light-emitting substrate toward the bottom of the housing, as described in (Aspect 3) or (Aspect 4).
[0014] According to the above configuration, smooth air circulation occurs between near the outer lens and outside the housing through the third vent hole formed in the inner lens within the housing. Therefore, even if the inner lens is fixed within the housing, it is less likely for the outer lens to become cloudy. Further, when the guide member integrally formed with the inner lens fixed to the housing penetrates through the first vent hole of the light-emitting substrate, the light-emitting substrate is positioned by the guide member. Accordingly, it is possible to suppress displacement of the light-emitting substrate within the housing.
[0015] (Aspect 6) A lid member is disposed at the bottom of the housing so as to block the first vent hole, and the lid member allows passage of gas and restricts passage of liquid. The vehicle exterior part according to any one of (Aspect 1) to (Aspect 5).
[0016] According to the above configuration, entry of foreign matters such as dust and water into the housing through the first vent hole formed at the bottom of the housing is suppressed by the lid member disposed so as to block the first vent hole. Accordingly, it is possible to suppress an abnormality in the function of the light-emitting substrate due to entry of foreign matters such as dust and water into the housing.
Brief Description of the Drawings
[0017] [Figure 1] It is a cross-sectional view showing a vehicle exterior part. [Figure 2] It is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing a lower part of the vehicle exterior part in FIG. 1. [Figure 3] It is a cross-sectional view showing another example of the vehicle exterior part. [Figure 4] It is a cross-sectional view showing another example of the vehicle exterior part. [Figure 5] It is a cross-sectional view showing another example of the vehicle exterior part.
Modes for Carrying Out the Invention
[0018] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the vehicle exterior part will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2. The vehicle exterior part shown in FIG. 1 is attached to a vehicle such as an automobile, and is embodied as, for example, a light-emitting emblem. The vehicle exterior part includes a housing 11 that opens toward the outside of the vehicle, an outer lens 12 that closes the opening of the housing 11, and a light-emitting substrate 13 disposed in the housing 11.
[0019] An inner lens 14 is fixed between the light-emitting substrate 13 and the outer lens 12 in the housing 11. The bottom 15 of the housing 11, the light-emitting substrate 13, the inner lens 14, and the outer lens 12 are substantially parallel. The light-emitting substrate 13 includes LEDs 13a. The light from the LEDs 13a passes through the inner lens 14 and the outer lens 12. Thereby, the design property of the vehicle exterior part when viewed from the outside of the vehicle is improved. The inner lens 14 is for adjusting the appearance of the light of the LEDs 13a from the outside of the vehicle.
[0020] A first vent hole 16 for allowing air to pass through inside and outside the housing 11 is formed in the bottom 15 of the housing 11. A second vent hole 17 is formed at a position corresponding to the first vent hole 16 in the light-emitting substrate 13. A third vent hole 18 is formed at a position corresponding to the first vent hole 16 and the second vent hole 17 in the inner lens 14. The third vent hole 18 is for facing the outer lens 12 toward the first vent hole 16 and the second vent hole 17. In other words, the first vent hole 16 faces the outer lens 12 through the second vent hole 17 and the third vent hole 18.
[0021] In the exterior parts for vehicles, at least two sets of the first ventilation holes 16, the second ventilation holes 17, and the third ventilation holes 18 are provided. Specifically, one set of the first ventilation holes 16, the second ventilation holes 17, and the third ventilation holes 18 is provided at the bottom of the exterior parts for vehicles, and another set of the first ventilation holes 16, the second ventilation holes 17, and the third ventilation holes 18 is provided at the top of the exterior parts for vehicles. In addition, sets of the first ventilation holes 16, the second ventilation holes 17, and the third ventilation holes 18 may be provided at locations other than these. In other words, three or more sets of the first ventilation holes 16, the second ventilation holes 17, and the third ventilation holes 18 may be provided.
[0022] As shown in Figure 2, cylindrical guide members 19 and 20 are provided between the first ventilation hole 16 and the outer lens 12 within the housing 11. Guide member 19 surrounds the opening of the first ventilation hole 16 at the bottom 15 of the housing 11 and extends from the bottom 15 toward the outer lens 12. Guide member 19 is integrally formed with the bottom 15 of the housing 11 and penetrates the second ventilation hole 17 of the light-emitting substrate 13.
[0023] The guide member 20 is located on the same axis as the guide member 19 and is integrally formed with respect to the inner lens 14 so as to surround the opening of the third ventilation hole 18. The guide member 20 extends toward the bottom 15 of the housing 11 by protruding from the inner lens 14. As a result, the tip of the guide member 20 in the protruding direction is positioned in the same direction as the tip of the guide member 19 in the protruding direction.
[0024] A cover member 22 is positioned on the surface of the bottom 15 of the housing 11 that is located outside the housing 11, so as to block the first ventilation hole 16. The cover member 22 is attached to the surface by adhesive or the like. The cover member 22 is made of a material that allows the passage of gases and restricts the passage of liquids, more specifically, a material that can achieve this. A projection 23 is formed around the cover member 22 at the bottom 15 of the housing 11, extending to surround the cover member 22.
[0025] Next, the effects and advantages of the vehicle exterior parts of this embodiment will be described. (1) The outer lens 12 faces the first ventilation hole 16 at the bottom 15 of the housing 11 via the third ventilation hole 18 of the inner lens 14 and the second ventilation hole 17 of the light-emitting substrate 13. As a result, air can move smoothly between the area near the outer lens 12 inside the housing 11 and the area outside the housing 11 via the first ventilation hole 16, the second ventilation hole 17, and the third ventilation hole 18. Consequently, even if the exterior parts for the vehicle are made thinner and the space inside the housing 11 is narrowed, a decrease in the airflow near the outer lens 12 inside the housing 11 is suppressed. This prevents the outer lens 12 from fogging up due to moisture contained in the air inside the housing 11.
[0026] (2) In the exterior parts for vehicles, at least two sets of the first ventilation holes 16, second ventilation holes 17, and third ventilation holes 18 are provided. Therefore, one set of the first ventilation holes 16, second ventilation holes 17, and third ventilation holes 18 can be used as an air inlet, and the other set of the first ventilation holes 16, second ventilation holes 17, and third ventilation holes 18 can be used as an air outlet. By dividing the roles among the two sets of the first ventilation holes 16, second ventilation holes 17, and third ventilation holes 18 in this way, the ventilation inside the housing 11 can be improved.
[0027] (3) Of the two sets of first vents 16, second vents 17, and third vents 18, one set of first vents 16, second vents 17, and third vents 18 is located at the bottom of the vehicle exterior. The other set of first vents 16, second vents 17, and third vents 18 is located at the top of the vehicle exterior. Therefore, when the air inside the housing 11 rises due to the heat generated by the light-emitting substrate 13, ventilation inside the housing 11 is performed efficiently as follows.
[0028] In other words, as the air rises within the housing 11, the air outside the housing 11 can more easily flow through the first vent 16, second vent 17, and third vent 18 of one set, as shown by arrow Y1 in Figure 1, to near the bottom of the outer lens 12 inside the housing 11. Furthermore, as the air rises within the housing 11, the air near the top of the outer lens 12 can more easily flow out of the housing 11 through the first vent 16, second vent 17, and third vent 18 of one set, as shown by arrow Y2 in Figure 1. As a result, ventilation inside the housing 11 becomes more efficient.
[0029] (4) When air moves between the vicinity of the outer lens 12 inside the housing 11 and the outside of the housing 11 through the first vent 16, the second vent 17, and the third vent 18, the air is guided by the guide members 19 and 20. Specifically, the guide members 19 and 20 are provided between the first vent 16 and the outer lens 12. The movement of air is then guided by these guide members 19 and 20. As a result, ventilation near the outer lens 12 is improved, making the outer lens 12 less likely to fog up.
[0030] (5) The guide member 19 is integrally formed with respect to the bottom 15 of the housing 11. The guide member 19 penetrates the second ventilation hole 17 of the light-emitting substrate 13, thereby positioning the light-emitting substrate 13 by the guide member 19. Therefore, displacement of the light-emitting substrate 13 within the housing 11 can be suppressed.
[0031] (6) An inner lens 14 is fixed between the light-emitting substrate 13 and the outer lens 12 inside the housing 11. Through the third ventilation hole 18 of this inner lens 14, smooth airflow occurs between the vicinity of the outer lens 12 and the outside of the housing 11. Therefore, even though the inner lens 14 is fixed inside the housing 11, fogging of the outer lens 12 is less likely to occur.
[0032] (7) The first vent hole 16 formed in the bottom 15 of the housing 11 is closed by a lid member 22 that allows the passage of gas but restricts the passage of liquid. Therefore, the entry of foreign matter such as dust and water into the housing 11 through the first vent hole 16 is suppressed by the lid member 22 which is positioned to close the first vent hole 16. Thus, it is possible to suppress the occurrence of abnormalities in the function of the light-emitting substrate 13 due to the entry of foreign matter such as dust and water into the housing 11.
[0033] (8) A projection 23 is formed around the lid member 22 at the bottom 15 of the housing 11, extending to surround the lid member 22. As a result, the projection 23 prevents water or the like from entering between the surface at the bottom 15 of the housing 11 that is located outside the housing 11 and the lid member 22. Consequently, it is possible to prevent the lid member 22 from peeling off the surface due to water or the like entering between the surface and the lid member 22.
[0034] The above embodiment can also be modified as follows, for example. The above embodiment and the following modifications can be combined and implemented to the extent that they do not contradict each other technically. As shown in Figure 3, the guide member 20 may be omitted, and the guide member 19 may be made to penetrate the third ventilation hole 18 of the inner lens 14. In this case, the inner lens 14 can be positioned by the guide member 19.
[0035] As shown in Figure 4, the guide member 19 may be omitted, and the guide member 20 may extend through the second ventilation hole 17 of the light-emitting substrate 13 to the bottom 15 of the housing 11. In this case, the light-emitting substrate 13 can be positioned by the guide member 20. This makes it possible to suppress misalignment of the light-emitting substrate 13 within the housing 11.
[0036] As shown in Figure 5, the inner lens 14 may be omitted. Guide members 19 and 20 are not necessarily required. • The projection 23 does not necessarily need to be provided.
[0037] • The lid member 22 does not necessarily need to be provided. The first ventilation hole 16, the second ventilation hole 17, and the third ventilation hole 18 may be provided in only one set.
[0038] The present invention may also be applied to other vehicle exterior parts besides illuminated emblems, such as lighting grilles. [Explanation of symbols]
[0039] 11… Housing 12…Outer lens 13…Light-emitting substrate 13a…LED 14…Inner lens 15...bottom 16…First ventilation opening 17…Second ventilation opening 18…Third ventilation hole 19… Guide member 20… Guide member 22... Lid component 23…Protrusion
Claims
1. A vehicle exterior part comprising a housing that opens to the outside of the vehicle, an outer lens that closes the opening of the housing, and a light-emitting substrate disposed inside the housing, A first ventilation hole is formed at the bottom of the housing, which allows air to pass between the inside and outside of the housing. An exterior part for a vehicle, wherein a second ventilation hole is formed in the light-emitting substrate at a position corresponding to the first ventilation hole, facing the first ventilation hole and the outer lens.
2. The vehicle exterior part according to claim 1, wherein at least two sets of the first ventilation holes and the second ventilation holes are provided.
3. A guide member is provided between the first ventilation hole and the outer lens within the housing. The vehicle exterior part according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the guide member surrounds the opening of the first ventilation hole at the bottom of the housing and extends from the bottom toward the outer lens.
4. The vehicle exterior part according to claim 3, wherein the guide member is integrally formed with respect to the bottom of the housing and penetrates the second ventilation hole of the light-emitting substrate.
5. An inner lens is fixed between the light-emitting substrate and the outer lens within the housing. A third ventilation hole is formed in the inner lens at a position corresponding to the first ventilation hole and the second ventilation hole, so as to face the outer lens toward the first ventilation hole and the second ventilation hole. The vehicle exterior part according to claim 3, wherein the guide member is integrally formed with the inner lens so as to surround the opening of the third ventilation hole, and extends through the second ventilation hole of the light-emitting substrate toward the bottom of the housing.
6. A cover member is positioned at the bottom of the housing so as to block the first ventilation hole. The lid member allows the passage of gas and restricts the passage of liquid, as described in claim 1 or 2 for a vehicle exterior part.