Vehicle lighting

Abstract

The cover is designed to be highly functional while also maintaining a high level of aesthetic appeal. [Solution] The device comprises a light source that emits light containing a blue component, a lamp housing having an opening at one end, and a cover that is attached to the lamp housing in a state that closes the opening and has a thermosetting urethane resin composition applied as a hard coat film to at least a part of its surface. The urethane resin composition contains a polyol used as a main agent, a polyisocyanate used as a curing agent, and inorganic fine particles that enhance the strength of the main agent. The cover has a design surface that is visible from the outside and has a hard coat film applied to it, and the design surface is provided with bent corners.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the technical field of vehicle lamps in which a hard coat film is applied to a cover (outer cover).

Background Art

[0002] A vehicle lamp generally has a lamp housing having an internal space and a cover (outer cover) for closing the internal space, and required components such as a lamp unit are arranged inside a lamp outer casing formed by coupling the lamp housing and the cover.

[0003] In such a vehicle lamp, the cover is often formed of a transparent resin material such as polycarbonate (see, for example, Patent Document 1). By forming the cover of a resin material, it is possible to achieve high moldability of the cover and weight reduction of the entire vehicle lamp, and it is also possible to ensure sufficient impact resistance and heat resistance.

[0004] On the other hand, when the cover is formed of a resin material such as polycarbonate, a resin composition is often applied to the surface of the cover to form a hard coat film in order to improve scratch resistance, weather resistance, and the like.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0005]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0006] By the way, the cover has a function of protecting the internal space and is a part exposed to sunlight, rain, and wind, so high strength and high weather resistance are required. However, since it is also a part visible from the outside of the vehicle, it is also desired to ensure high design quality.

[0007] Therefore, the vehicle lighting fixture of the present invention aims to ensure high design quality while also ensuring high functionality of the cover. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] The vehicle lighting fixture according to the present invention comprises a light source that emits light containing a blue component, a lamp housing having an opening at one end, and a cover that is attached to the lamp housing in a state that closes the opening and has a thermosetting urethane resin composition applied as a hard coat film to at least a part of its surface. The urethane resin composition contains a polyol used as a main component, a polyisocyanate used as a curing agent, and inorganic fine particles that enhance the strength of the main component. The cover has a design surface that is visible from the outside and to which the hard coat film is applied, and the design surface is provided with bent corners.

[0009] As a result, the hard coat film enhances the strength and weather resistance of the cover, and the blue component of the light emitted from the light source is internally reflected by the hard coat film and emitted from the corners formed on the design surface. [Effects of the Invention]

[0010] According to the present invention, the hard coat film enhances the strength and weather resistance of the cover, and the blue component of the light emitted from the light source is internally reflected by the hard coat film and emitted from the corners formed on the design surface. Therefore, it is possible to ensure high functionality of the cover while also ensuring high aesthetic appeal. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0011] [Figure 1] Figures 2 to 7 illustrate embodiments of the vehicle lighting device of the present invention, and this figure is a horizontal cross-sectional view of the vehicle lighting device. [Figure 2] This is a vertical cross-sectional view of a vehicle light fixture. [Figure 3] This is a front view of a vehicle light fixture. [Figure 4]This is a vertical cross-sectional view showing an example of a vehicle light fixture in which corners are formed on parts other than the outer periphery of the design surface. [Figure 5] This is a diagram showing the state when light is incident on a hard coat film. [Figure 6] This is a diagram illustrating the state in which light is scattered in the molten layer. [Figure 7] This is a front view showing an example of a vehicle light fixture with a visibility angle step. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0012] The embodiments for implementing the vehicle lighting device of the present invention will be described below with reference to the attached drawings.

[0013] The following describes the directions of light emission from a vehicle's lighting fixture, with the direction of light emission being forward, and the directions of forward, backward, up, down, left, and right being described. However, the directions of forward, backward, up, down, left, and right shown below are for the convenience of explanation, and the invention is not limited to these directions.

[0014] The vehicle lighting device 1 functions, for example, as a headlamp. However, the vehicle lighting device 1 is not limited to a headlamp, and may be other types of lamps mounted on the front or rear of the vehicle body.

[0015] The vehicle lighting fixture 1 comprises a lamp housing 2 having an opening at its front end and a cover 3 that closes the opening of the lamp housing 2 (see Figures 1 to 3). The vehicle lighting fixture 1 is formed, for example, in a horizontally elongated shape, and the lamp housing 2 and the cover 3 are joined together to form a lighting fixture outer casing 4, and the internal space of the lighting fixture outer casing 4 is formed as a lighting chamber 5.

[0016] The lamp housing 2 is formed from a resin material such as ABS resin (acrylonitrile copolymer resin) and is shaped like a container with an opening 2a at its front end.

[0017] The cover 3 is formed of a transparent resin material such as polycarbonate, etc., and has, for example, a design surface portion 6 which is a portion visible from the outside of the vehicle, a standing wall portion 7 continuous with the outer peripheral portion of the design surface portion 6, and an inner arrangement portion 8 continuous with the standing wall portion 7.

[0018] The design surface portion 6 may be formed in a flat plate shape or at least a part thereof may be formed in a curved or bent shape.

[0019] The standing wall portion 7 is bent with respect to the design surface portion 6 and protrudes, for example, rearward from the outer peripheral portion of the design surface portion 6. Therefore, the outer peripheral portion of the design surface portion 6, which is the portion where the design surface portion 6 and the standing wall portion 7 are continuous, is formed as a corner portion 6a bent in a predetermined state. Note that a part of the outer peripheral portion of the design surface portion 6 may not be the corner portion 6a and may be formed in a curved shape or the like.

[0020] The inner arrangement portion 8 is continuous with, for example, the rear end portion of the standing wall portion 7 and is bent with respect to the rear end portion of the standing wall portion 7. The inner arrangement portion 8 has a flange portion 8a protruding outward from the rear end portion of the standing wall portion 7 and a coupling portion 8b protruding rearward from the outer peripheral portion of the flange portion 8a, and the rear end portion of the coupling portion 8b is coupled to the front end portion of the lamp housing 2.

[0021] The standing wall portion 7 and the inner arrangement portion 8 are portions located inside (rear side) of the vehicle body 100 and are shielded by the vehicle body 100. On the other hand, the design surface portion 6 is not shielded by the vehicle body 100 and is a portion visible from the outside of the vehicle. Note that the cover 3 may not be provided with the inner arrangement portion 8 and the rear end portion of the standing wall portion 7 may be coupled to the front end portion of the lamp housing 2.

[0022] In the cover 3, a part of the design surface portion 6 may be bent and a corner portion 6b may be formed in a portion other than the outer peripheral portion of the design surface portion 6 (see FIG. 4). However, in the cover 3 provided with the corner portion 6b, the corner portion 6a may be provided on the outer peripheral portion of the design surface portion 6 in addition to the corner portion 6b.

[0023] A hard coat film 9 is applied to the surface (outer surface) of cover 3 (see Figures 1, 2, and 4). A thermosetting urethane resin composition is used as the hard coat film 9. The urethane resin composition contains a polyol used as the main component, a polyisocyanate used as a curing agent, and inorganic fine particles to enhance the strength of the main component. The main component also contains a solvent to reduce the viscosity of the polyol and ensure good coatability (paintability) on cover 3.

[0024] The hard coat film 9 is applied, for example, to the design surface portion 6 and the vertical wall portion 7. However, the hard coat film 9 may also be applied to the inner arrangement portion 8 in addition to the design surface portion 6 and the vertical wall portion 7.

[0025] The application of the hard coat film 9 to the cover 3 improves the scratch resistance, weather resistance, and chemical resistance of the cover 3, which is made of polycarbonate.

[0026] A headlamp unit 10 is located in the lamp chamber 5 (see Figures 1 to 3). In addition to the light source 11, the headlamp unit 10 is composed of various components, such as a reflector and an inner lens (not shown). Other lamp units, extensions, and other structures may also be located in the lamp chamber 5 besides the headlamp unit 10.

[0027] As the light source 11, for example, a light-emitting diode (LED) is used, and light containing at least a blue component is emitted from the light source 11. In addition to the blue component, the light emitted from the light source 11 also contains components of other colors other than blue, such as red, yellow, and green components. The blue component is a component of light with a shorter wavelength compared to the red, yellow, and green components.

[0028] Light is emitted forward from the light source 11, and for example, the optical axis P is extended in the front-to-back direction. However, the design surface portion 6 of the cover 3 is inclined with respect to a direction perpendicular to the optical axis P (see Figures 1 and 2). Specifically, the design surface portion 6 is inclined such that, for example, it is displaced forward as it goes downward in the vertical direction (see Figure 1), and displaced backward as it goes outward from the vehicle in the left-to-right direction (see Figure 2).

[0029] However, the design surface 6 may be inclined so as it moves downward in the vertical direction, it will be displaced backward, and it may be inclined so as it moves outward from the vehicle in the horizontal direction. Furthermore, the design surface 6 may be oriented perpendicular to the optical axis P, and it does not have to be inclined in the direction perpendicular to the optical axis P.

[0030] In the vehicle lighting fixture 1 configured as described above, when light is emitted from the light source 11, the emitted light is transmitted through the design surface 6 of the cover 3 and irradiated toward the outside of the vehicle. At this time, the blue component B of the light emitted from the light source 11 has a shorter wavelength compared to the red component R, the yellow component Y, and the green component G, and is easily scattered by the inorganic fine particles 9a contained in the hard coat film 9 (see Figure 5). Figure 5 shows an example in which the design surface 6 of the cover 3 is perpendicular to the optical axis P and is not tilted in the direction perpendicular to the optical axis P (the same applies to Figure 6).

[0031] Therefore, the Rayleigh-scattered blue component B is more likely to be incident from a direction that is inclined with respect to the outer surface 9b of the hard coat film 9, and is more likely to be internally reflected (total internal reflection) at the outer surface 9b. Also, the blue component B that is internally reflected at the outer surface 9b is more likely to be incident from a direction that is inclined with respect to the inner surface 9c of the hard coat film 9, and is more likely to be internally reflected at the inner surface 9c. In this way, the blue component B is more likely to be internally reflected at the outer surface 9b and inner surface 9c due to Rayleigh scattering by the inorganic fine particles 9a, and is more likely to be guided towards the outer periphery of the design surface 6 inside the hard coat film 9.

[0032] The blue component B guided to the outer periphery of the design surface 6 is emitted outward from the bent corners 6a and 6b. Therefore, when corners 6a and 6b are viewed from the outside, they appear to glow bluish-white (blue) (see Figures 1 to 4). Figure 3 shows an example in grayscale of the region (corner 6a) that glows bluish-white due to the blue component B.

[0033] At this time, since the design surface portion 6 of the cover 3 is inclined with respect to a direction perpendicular to the optical axis P, the Rayleigh-scattered blue component B is more likely to be incident on the outer surface 9b at a large angle, and is more likely to be reflected internally on the outer surface 9b and the inner surface 9c.

[0034] Furthermore, as described above, the hard coat film 9 applied to the cover 3 contains a solvent as its main component. When the hard coat film 9 is applied to the surface of the cover 3, the surface of the cover 3 is eroded by the solvent, and a molten layer 12 is formed at the interface between the cover 3 and the hard coat film 9 (see Figure 6). Inorganic fine particles 9a contained in the hard coat film 9 are present in the molten layer 12, and when light is emitted from the light source 11, the blue component B of the emitted light is diffusely reflected (scattered).

[0035] Therefore, when the vehicle light fixture 1 is viewed from a direction that avoids the light shining through the cover 3 toward the outside (forward) of the vehicle, for example, from an oblique direction A, the design surface 6 is perceived to glow bluish-white (blue) due to the diffusely reflected blue component B.

[0036] In this way, when the light source 11 is lit, the design surface 6 glows bluish-white and becomes visible, thus improving the aesthetic appeal of the cover 3.

[0037] Furthermore, depending on the type of vehicle lighting equipment 1, for example, in addition to multiple headlamp units 10, marker light units 13 having different functions from the headlamp units 10, such as turn signal lamp units, may be arranged in the lighting room 5 (see Figure 7).

[0038] In such vehicle lighting fixtures 1, a visibility angle step 14 may be formed on the surface of the cover 3. The visibility angle step 14 is a lens step that, when light is emitted from the light source 15 of the marker light unit 13, refracts a portion of the emitted light obliquely to the side so that the light can be seen from a predetermined angle obliquely to the side.

[0039] In a vehicle light fixture 1 in which a viewing angle step 14 is formed on the cover 3, when light is emitted from the light source 15, the blue component B of the emitted light is diffusely reflected by the viewing angle step 14, and the viewing angle step 14 is visible as glowing bluish-white (blue) due to the diffusely reflected blue component B.

[0040] In the vehicle light fixture 1 in which the visibility angle step 14 is formed in this manner, the blue component B is incident on the visibility angle step 14, causing the visibility angle step 14 to glow bluish-white and be visible, thereby further improving the aesthetic appeal of the cover 3.

[0041] Furthermore, in a vehicle lighting device 1 equipped with a marker light unit 13 in addition to the headlamp unit 10, light having a blue component B is emitted from both the light source 11 of the headlamp unit 10 and the light source 15 of the marker light unit 13. Consequently, the amount of blue component B emitted from corners 6a and 6b increases, making corners 6a and 6b more clearly visible as bluish-white.

[0042] As described above, the vehicle light fixture 1 includes a cover 3 on which a thermosetting urethane resin composition is applied as a hard coat film 9 to at least a part of the surface. The urethane resin composition contains a polyol used as the main component, a polyisocyanate used as a curing agent, and inorganic fine particles 9a that enhance the strength of the main component. The cover 3 has a design surface portion 6 that is visible from the outside and to which the hard coat film 9 is applied, and the design surface portion 6 is provided with bent corners 6a and 6b.

[0043] Therefore, the hard coat film 9 enhances the strength and weather resistance of the cover 3, and the blue component of the light emitted from the light source 11 (light source 15) is internally reflected by the hard coat film 9 and emitted from the corners 6a and 6b formed on the design surface 6. As a result, high functionality of the cover 3 is ensured while maintaining high aesthetic appeal.

[0044] Furthermore, the corner portion 6a is provided on at least a part of the outer periphery of the design surface portion 6.

[0045] Therefore, when illuminated, at least a portion of the outer periphery of the design surface 6 glows bluish-white and is visible, thus further improving the aesthetic appeal of the cover 3.

[0046] Furthermore, the cover 3 is provided with a vertical wall portion 7 that is continuous with the outer periphery of the design surface portion 6 and an inner arrangement portion 8 that is continuous with the vertical wall portion 7. The vertical wall portion 7 is bent inward toward the vehicle body 100 relative to the design surface portion 6, and the vertical wall portion 7 and the inner arrangement portion 8 are shielded by the vehicle body 100. A hard coat film 9 is applied to the design surface portion 6 and the vertical wall portion 7.

[0047] Therefore, the continuous portion between the design surface 6 and the vertical wall portion 7 is provided as a corner 6a, and a hard coat film 9 is applied to the portion extending from the design surface 6 to the vertical wall portion 7. As a result, the hard coat film 9 is reliably applied to the corner 6a, making it possible to reliably illuminate the corner 6a with a bluish-white light, thereby reliably improving the aesthetic appeal of the cover 3 when illuminated.

[0048] Furthermore, the design surface 6 is inclined with respect to a direction perpendicular to the optical axis P of the light emitted from the light source 11.

[0049] Therefore, the blue component B of the light emitted from the light source 11, incident on the hard coat film 9, and scattered by Rayleigh becomes more easily reflected internally by the hard coat film 9, increasing the amount of blue component B that reaches the corners 6a and 6b, and ensuring that the corners 6a and 6b glow a bluish-white. [Explanation of symbols]

[0050] 1. Vehicle lighting fixtures 2 Lamp Housing 3 Cover 6 Design surface section 6a Corner 6b Corner 7 Vertical wall section 8 Inner placement part 9. Hard coat film 9a Inorganic fine particles 10 Headlamp Units 11 Light source 13. Marker light unit 14. Viewing Angle Step 15 light source

Claims

1. A light source that emits light containing a blue component, A lamp housing having an opening at one end, The lamp housing is attached in a state that closes the opening, and a cover is provided on which a thermosetting urethane resin composition is applied as a hard coat film to at least a portion of the surface. The urethane resin composition contains a polyol used as the main component, a polyisocyanate used as a curing agent, and inorganic fine particles that enhance the strength of the main component. The cover is made visible from the outside and has a design surface portion to which the hard coat film is applied. The aforementioned design surface is provided with a bent corner. Vehicle lighting fixtures.

2. The aforementioned corner is provided on at least a part of the outer periphery of the design surface. A vehicle light fixture according to claim 1.

3. The cover is provided with a vertical wall portion that is continuous with the outer periphery of the design surface portion and an inner arrangement portion that is continuous with the vertical wall portion. The aforementioned vertical wall portion is bent inward toward the vehicle body relative to the aforementioned design surface portion. The aforementioned vertical wall portion and the aforementioned inner arrangement portion are shielded by the vehicle body. The hard coat film is applied to the design surface and the vertical wall portion. A vehicle light fixture according to claim 1 or claim 2.

4. The design surface portion is inclined with respect to a direction perpendicular to the optical axis of the light emitted from the light source. A vehicle light fixture according to claim 1 or claim 2.

5. A headlight unit having the aforementioned light source and a marker light unit emitting light containing a blue component are provided. The cover is shared between the headlight unit and the marker light unit. The cover has a viewing angle step formed therein to ensure a viewing angle for the light emitted from the indicator light unit. A vehicle light fixture according to claim 1 or claim 2.

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