Vehicle bumper and taillights

Abstract

The present invention relates to a rear light (1) of a vehicle (2), wherein the vehicle (2) has a bumper (3). The present invention is characterized in that a portion surface (4) of the bumper (3) functions as the surface of the taillight (2), the portion surface (4) is provided with a plurality of perforations (5) sealed by a diffuser plate, light from a light source (6) located behind the bumper (3) can pass through the perforations (5), and the portion surface (4) is at least partially perceptible as a painted surface when the light source (6) is not operating. Furthermore, the present invention relates to a bumper (4) equipped with a rear light (1).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a rear light of a vehicle. The present invention further relates to a bumper provided with the rear light.

Background Art

[0002] From Patent Document 1, a rear light that can be attached with a small gap is disclosed. This is made possible by an elastic foam material arranged in the edge region of the rear light.

[0003] The rear light assembled in this way is assembled, for example, into a lamp housing (Lampentopf) formed from a deeply drawn metal plate. The bumper itself consists of plastic parts. However, in most cases, plastic parts manufactured by injection molding require different molds and thus cannot be made into an arbitrary shape. Therefore, the design possibilities regarding the geometry of the bumper and the geometry and arrangement of the rear light are limited. The plastic bumper is difficult to recycle because elements such as air intakes are made of a different type of plastic than the bumper itself. In the recycling process, separating different types of plastics is complicated or almost impossible. Therefore, as a result, it is disadvantageous that there may be a plastic product containing impurities (verunreinigtes) after recycling.

[0004] Furthermore, it is disadvantageous that it needs to be assembled to the lamp housing, and the lamp housing consists of a deeply drawn aluminum part. However, thereby the aluminum material quickly reaches its load limit.

[0005] Patent Document 2 describes a headlight with multiple lighting functions. Each function is located in a different surface area. For example, these surface areas can be arranged around the manufacturer's logo, thereby integrating the manufacturer's logo into the headlight. However, even in such embodiments, it is necessary to mount the headlight in a predetermined position, such as on a rear spoiler or radiator grille. Furthermore, the mere fact that the headlight is always visible even when switched off is a disadvantage as it limits design possibilities. As a result, not all desired design options can be implemented. For other prior art, please refer to Patent Documents 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7. [Prior art documents] [Patent Documents]

[0006] [Patent Document 1] German Patent Application Publication No. 102015013622 [Patent Document 2] German Patent Application Publication No. 102018007088 [Patent Document 3] German Patent Application Publication No. 102012003200 [Patent Document 4] German Patent Application Publication No. 102021133399 [Patent Document 5] German Patent Application Publication No. 102020133087 [Patent Document 6] U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2014 / 0119038 [Patent Document 7] U.S. Patent Publication No. 3,850,763 [Overview of the Initiative] [Problems that the invention aims to solve]

[0007] Therefore, the object of the present invention is to provide a rear light that overcomes the aforementioned drawbacks. In particular, a rear light and bumper that offer greater design freedom should be proposed. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] According to the present invention, this problem is solved by a rear light having the features of claim 1, in particular the features of claim 1. Advantageous embodiments and variations will become apparent from the dependent claims. Furthermore, a bumper having such a rear light is described.

[0009] At the heart of the taillight according to the present invention, a portion of the bumper serves as the surface of the taillight, and multiple perforations are provided on the portion of the surface, so that light from a light source located behind the bumper can pass through the perforations, and the portion of the surface is at least partially perceptible as a painted surface when the light source is inactive, and the multiple perforations are sealed by a diffuser plate, which functions as a light concentrator, thereby achieving a 3D effect. This expands design possibilities because the light source is located behind the surface of the bumper. Therefore, the light source is not visible when inactive. Such an arrangement differs in this respect from light sources provided on the surface area of ​​the bumper, such as multiple OLEDs, which remain visible even when inactive.

[0010] The taillights are designed for vehicles, which have bumpers. The perforations allow light from the light source to pass through the bumper and illuminate the exterior surface of the vehicle. This eliminates the need for a lamp housing, particularly because the light source is positioned behind the exterior surface of the vehicle, or behind the bumper itself. Overall, this allows for a high degree of design flexibility and individualization, while still being adaptable within the scope of mass production. In particular, it does not depend on the design of mass-production molds.

[0011] The bumper should not be understood as being limited to only the underside of the rear of the vehicle. Naturally, taillights can also be formed as described above on body parts located adjacent to the original bumper at the rear of the vehicle.

[0012] Multiple perforations are sealed by a diffuser plate. The diffuser plate provides protection, in particular, from moisture intrusion and dirt. The diffuser plate can be designed to be, for example, colorless or transparent. In that case, when the light source is not operating, i.e., when it is not lit, the metal plate of the bumper will appear in the corresponding vehicle color. The perforations are formed so finely that they are almost, or not at all, noticeable to the naked eye at a glance.

[0013] The diffuser is designed as an acrylic glass plate and / or contains glass fiber material. Therefore, the diffuser can be designed as a light guide and have a light-emitting effect.

[0014] The diffuser acts as a light concentrator, thereby achieving a 3D effect. This allows for the virtual creation of the taillight shape, onto which a motif or similar image can be projected.

[0015] In that case, according to a highly advantageous development of this idea, it is possible to intend for a portion of the surface to be formed from aluminum. Therefore, the perforations are formed in the aluminum material. In particular, an aluminum sheet can be used. Therefore, an advantage in terms of stability can be achieved compared to plastic materials. The light source can be mounted immediately behind the aluminum sheet, thereby eliminating the need for a lamp housing. In particular, the deep drawing area of ​​the aluminum sheet can be eliminated, thereby ensuring the stability of the material. The bumper can be formed from multiple parts, i.e., it can be composed of multiple aluminum sheets.

[0016] In that case, according to a highly advantageous development of this idea, the bumper can be intended to be formed from aluminum. Therefore, the visual difference between the sub-region and the bumper itself becomes imperceptible. The bumper and the sub-region can be perceived as a single unit, and thus they do not directly affect the vehicle's design.

[0017] Another advantageous embodiment can contemplate that the bumper having a partial surface or partial surfaces is formed from at least one anodic aluminum plate. The perforations can be produced, for example, by a laser.

[0018] Advantageously, therefore, the bumper can be painted in the color of the vehicle, whereby the light source arranged behind the bumper cannot be recognized by a person outside the vehicle in the non-operating state of the light source. Thereby, in particular, an improvement in the design freedom is achieved. Furthermore, by using an aluminum plate instead of a plastic material, the design limitations imposed on the manufacturing are reduced.

[0019] The subject matter of the present invention is further a bumper provided with a rear light according to the present invention. The same features and advantages as described with respect to the rear light apply to the bumper.

[0020] Other advantageous embodiments of the rear light and the bumper according to the present invention will also become apparent from the exemplary embodiments described in detail below with reference to the figures.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0021] [Figure 1] It is a cross-sectional view of a rear light according to the prior art. [Figure 2] It is a cross-sectional view of a rear light according to an embodiment. [Figure 3] It is a cross-sectional view of a rear light according to another embodiment. [Figure 4] It is a cross-sectional view of a rear light according to another embodiment. [Figure 5] It is a view of a possible embodiment of the diffusion plate. [Figure 6] It is a view showing a vehicle provided with a rear light according to the present invention or a bumper according to the present invention.

Modes for Carrying Out the Invention

[0022] Figure 1 shows a cross-sectional view of a conventional rear light 1'. A lamp housing 11 is positioned on the plastic bumper 10. The lamp housing 11 houses a light-emitting means 12, for example, an OLED, which is provided to be visible from the outside. A disadvantage is that the lamp housing 11, which is made of a particularly deep-drawn aluminum plate, is required to mount the light source. Furthermore, since the light-emitting means 12 is visible even when not in operation, the design freedom is restricted.

[0023] Figure 2 illustrates possible embodiments of the rear light 1. Here, the light source 6 is positioned behind the bumper 3, so that the rear light 1 is not visible from the outside of the vehicle when not in operation. Multiple perforations 5 are provided in a portion surface 4 of the bumper 3, so that the light rays of the light source 6 can pass through the bumper 3 and emit light. Advantageously, the light source 6 can be directly mounted to the bumper 3, thereby eliminating the need for a lamp housing. In particular, the portion surface 4 or the entire bumper 3 can be formed from an aluminum sheet. For example, the thickness of the aluminum sheet and the grooves created can also affect the collision behavior of the vehicle. Since aluminum is manufactured using an anodic oxidation method, it is preferable to use aluminum. This ensures a wide range of colors and corrosion protection.

[0024] In Figure 3, another modified embodiment of the rear light 1 can be seen. Since the same components are denoted by the same reference numerals, further explanation of these components is unnecessary. Unlike in Figure 2, a diffuser plate 7 is attached to the area of ​​the perforation 5 here. The diffuser plate 7 can be made of, for example, acrylic glass and thus functions as a light guide. Furthermore, the diffuser plate 7 can prevent moisture and dirt from reaching the light source 6 through the perforation 5. If the diffuser plate 7 is made of a transparent material, the partial surface 4 will be visible in the vehicle's color paint.

[0025] Figure 4 shows another embodiment of the rear light 1, in which the diffuser plate 7 is provided with rounded protrusions (Aufwoelbungen). This enhances the 3D effect. For example, various geometric motifs can be provided on the diffuser plate 7. These are shown in Figure 5.

[0026] As shown in Figure 5, for example, different geometries or manufacturer logos can also be implemented on the diffuser plate 7 by circular protrusions. These can achieve a 3D effect that can affect the appearance of the rear light 1 when the light source 6 is in operation.

[0027] Figure 6 shows a vehicle 2 with a bumper 3 on which a taillight 1 is located. The taillight 1 is located on a subsurface 4, which can be designed arbitrarily. For example, the subsurface can be designed as a kind of beam extending along the bumper 3. For example, the taillight 1 can be located above the bumper 3 as such a beam, and the taillight can be incorporated partly into the actual bumper and partly into the general rear area of ​​the vehicle 2. The features described above also apply to such a taillight 1. In that case, the term bumper 3 should be understood in a broad sense, and in particular, include all areas of the rear of the vehicle that form the body.

[0028] Naturally, the modified embodiments of the rear light 1 described in Figures 2 to 6 can be combined with each other, creating a variety of possibilities. For example, the shape of the diffuser plate 7, the perforations 5, and even the partial region 4 can be designed differently. In that case, there are virtually no limitations on the design possibilities.

Claims

1. A rear light (1) of a vehicle (2), wherein the vehicle (2) has a bumper (3), a portion surface (4) of the bumper (3) functions as the surface of the rear light (2), a plurality of perforations (5) are provided in the portion surface (4), so that light from a light source (6) located behind the bumper (3) can pass through the perforations (5), and the portion surface (4) is at least partially perceptible as a painted surface when the light source (6) is not operating, in the rear light (1), The rear light (1) is characterized in that the plurality of perforations (5) are sealed by a diffuser plate (7), the diffuser plate (7) is designed as an acrylic glass plate and / or contains a glass fiber material, and the diffuser plate (7) functions as a light concentrator, thereby achieving a 3D effect.

2. The aforementioned partial surface (4) is characterized by being formed from aluminum. The rear light (1) according to claim 1.

3. The bumper (3) is characterized by being formed from aluminum. The rear light (1) according to claim 1 or 2.

4. The partial surface (4) or the bumper (3) having the partial surface (4) is characterized by being formed from at least one anodic aluminum plate. A rear light (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

5. A bumper (3) comprising a rear light (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 4.

Images