Vehicle lighting equipment

Abstract

To provide a lighting device for a vehicle that can withstand heat generated by a light source while improving design property.SOLUTION: A lighting device 100 includes: a housing 10 constituting a design surface 13A that is partially exposed on an inside of a cabin; a bracket 30 fitted to the housing 10; and a light source 50 fitted to the housing 10 via the bracket 30 and emitting light. The bracket 30 is constituted of a material having a melting point that is higher than that of a material constituting the housing 10.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to vehicle lighting devices. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, a known vehicle lighting device is the technology described in Patent Document 1. The vehicle lighting device (vehicle interior light) described in Patent Document 1 has a housing made of synthetic resin or the like, and a light source (bulb) attached to the housing. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2007-172906 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In the configuration disclosed in Patent Document 1, the material of the housing to which the light source is attached must be able to withstand the heat generated by the light source. However, using such a heat-resistant material for the entire housing is costly and limits the types of materials that can be selected for the housing. Furthermore, if a portion of the housing constitutes a design surface (a surface facing the interior of the vehicle), it is desirable to be able to select a material for the housing that can effectively form a design surface with desired values ​​for roughness, gloss value, etc., in order to improve the design.

[0005] The present disclosure is a technology completed based on the above circumstances, and has an object to provide a vehicle lighting device that can withstand heat generated by a light source while improving design. Another object is to provide a vehicle lighting device that can reduce costs. Another object is to provide a vehicle lighting device that can expand the range of material options. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The present disclosure relates to a vehicle lighting device comprising a housing that forms a design surface with a portion exposed to the interior of the vehicle, a bracket attached to the housing, and a light source that is attached to the housing via the bracket and emits light, wherein the material that forms the bracket has a higher melting point than the material that forms the housing.

[0007] With this vehicle lighting device, a material with a melting point that can withstand the heat generated by the light source can be used for the bracket, and a material with a melting point lower than that of the bracket can be used for the housing. The material of the housing, which includes the portion that forms the design surface (hereinafter sometimes referred to as the design portion), can be selected from a variety of materials regardless of the heat temperature of the light source. For example, a relatively inexpensive material or a material that can improve formability can be used as the housing material. This makes it possible to provide a vehicle lighting device that can reduce costs and improve design.

[0008] In the above configuration, the housing may include a first opening to which the bracket is attached, and a second opening provided on a side of the first opening and connected to the first opening.

[0009] In such a vehicle lighting device, a second opening connected to the first opening is provided on the side of the first opening to which the bracket is attached, so that heat generated from the bulb attached to the bracket can be dissipated from the second opening located nearby (on the side).

[0010] In the above configuration, the housing may have a first opening to which the bracket is attached, and the bracket may have a main body portion to which the light source is attached and which is smaller than the first opening, and a plurality of abutment portions which protrude from the main body portion toward the edge of the first opening and abut against the edge.

[0011] Such a vehicle lighting device can be configured so that a gap is formed between the edge of the first opening and a portion of the main body other than the portion where the abutment is provided, thereby enabling heat generated from the light source to be dissipated through the gap.

[0012] In the above configuration, the housing may include an inner housing to which the bracket is attached and an outer housing arranged on the outside of the vehicle cabin of the inner housing, and the bracket may include a main body portion to which the light source is attached and a rib extending from the main body portion toward the outer housing.

[0013] With such a vehicle lighting device, when only the light source is removed from the inner housing to the outside of the outer housing for maintenance or the like, the rib abuts against the outer housing, thereby preventing the bracket from coming off the inner housing together with the light source.

[0014] The light source may be a light bulb.

[0015] Such a vehicle lighting device can be constructed to suitably exhibit heat resistance and other effects even when using a light bulb that generates a relatively large amount of heat. [Effects of the Invention]

[0016] According to the present disclosure, it is possible to provide a vehicle lighting device that can withstand heat generated by a light source while improving design, it is possible to provide a vehicle lighting device that can reduce costs, and it is possible to provide a vehicle lighting device that can be made from a wider range of materials. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0017] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing a cross section of an illumination device and its surroundings according to a first embodiment. [Figure 2] FIG. 1 is an enlarged perspective view of a portion of the left side of the lighting device; [Figure 3] View of the area around the light source from above [Figure 4] A perspective view of the bracket from above and in front [Figure 5] FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the first fitting portion viewed from below and in front; [Figure 6] FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the second fitting portion viewed from below and behind [Figure 7] Cross-sectional view showing the area around the light source [Figure 8] 10 is a diagram showing the periphery of a light source of an illumination device according to a second embodiment as viewed from above. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0018] <Embodiment 1> A first embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to Figures 1 to 7. In this embodiment, a lighting device (vehicle lighting device) 100 mounted on an automobile (vehicle) as a vehicle will be described. Note that each drawing will be described with the arrow direction F indicating the forward direction, the arrow direction B indicating the rearward direction, the arrow direction U indicating the upward direction, the arrow direction D indicating the downward direction, the arrow direction IN indicating the inside of the vehicle cabin (inside the vehicle cabin), and the arrow direction OUT indicating the outside of the vehicle cabin (outside the vehicle cabin).

[0019] As shown in Fig. 1, the ceiling portion of a vehicle is composed of a roof panel 1, which is a metal sheet that forms the exterior wall of the vehicle, and a roof trim (vehicle interior material) 2, which is arranged on the interior side (below) of the roof panel 1 and is made of a resin material or the like that forms the interior wall of the vehicle. The roof trim 2 is attached to the roof panel 1 from the interior side of the vehicle. A lighting device 100 that illuminates the vehicle interior is attached to the ceiling portions 1 and 2. The lighting device 100 is, for example, a map lamp that mainly illuminates the driver's seat and passenger seat.

[0020] The lighting device 100 includes a housing 10 that forms a design surface 13A partially exposed inside the vehicle cabin, a transparent member 20 through which light passes, a bracket 30 attached to the housing 10, and a light source 50 that is attached to the housing 10 via the bracket 30 and emits light. The light source 50 is a light bulb (also called a bulb) that generates heat at a temperature relatively higher than, for example, an LED. Two light sources 50 are attached, one on each side of the housing 10. Light emitted downward from the light source 50 passes through the transparent member 20 and is emitted to spread outside (below) the lighting device 100.

[0021] The housing 10 functions as a member for fixing the light source 50 in a predetermined position via the bracket 30, a member for accommodating the light source 50, a member constituting most of the exterior shape of the lighting device 100, etc. The housing 10 includes an inner housing 12 to which the bracket 30 is attached, and an outer housing 11 disposed on the vehicle exterior side (above) of the inner housing 12. The outer housing 11 is attached to the roof panel 1 from the interior side of the vehicle cabin with a plurality of clips (attachment members) 60. The inner housing 12 includes a design portion 13 whose interior side surface 13A forms a design surface, and a recessed portion 14 recessed from the design portion 13 toward the exterior of the vehicle cabin. An outer peripheral edge 13B of the design portion 13 abuts against the roof trim 2. A transparent member 20 is fitted into an inner peripheral edge 13C of the design portion 13.

[0022] 2 and 3, recess 14 includes a side wall 14A that rises upward from design portion 13 and constitutes a side wall of recess 14, and an upper wall 14B that extends from the upper end of side wall 14A in a plane defined by the vehicle width direction and the front-to-rear direction and constitutes an upper wall of recess 14. Recess 14 also includes a first opening 15 that is a rectangular opening that penetrates in the vertical direction and is provided in upper wall 14B, to which bracket 30 is attached, and a second opening 16 that is a rectangular opening that is provided in side wall 14A at a position lateral to first opening 15 and penetrates in the interior-exterior direction of the vehicle, the upper part of which is connected to the exterior portion of first opening 15. Two protrusions 15A and 15B that protrude upward from upper wall 14B and extend toward each other are provided at the front and rear portions of first opening 15 at the boundary between first opening 15 and second opening 16. The distance between the two protrusions 15A and 15B is smaller than the opening width of the first opening 15 (the distance between the openings in the front-to-rear direction) and the opening width of the second opening 16. Note that Figures 2 and 3 show the openings 15 and 16 provided on the left side of the lighting device 100. It is assumed that structures similar to the openings 15 and 16 (and the bracket 30 and light source 50) are also provided in a symmetrical shape on the right side (not shown) of the lighting device 100.

[0023] 3 and 4, the bracket 30 has a generally rectangular plate-like shape and includes a main body 31 that is shorter than the first opening 15 in both the interior-exterior and front-rear directions (slightly shorter when viewed from above), and a protrusion 32 that protrudes from the main body 31 toward the exterior of the vehicle cabin (toward the second opening 16). A small gap is provided between the main body 31 and an edge 15C of the first opening 15 (see FIGS. 2 and 3). The main body 31 includes a third opening 40 that penetrates the main body 31 in the vertical direction and is an opening into which a light source 50 is attached. The light source 50 is attached to the third opening 40 by being inserted into the third opening 40 from above and then screwed into the third opening 40.

[0024] The main body 31 has a plurality of abutment portions 33 that protrude from its side surface 31B toward the edge side 15C of the first opening 15 and abut against the edge side 15C, two fitting portions 34, 35 that fit into the edge side 15C, two extension portions 38, 39 that extend from the upper surface 31A of the main body 31 toward the interior of the vehicle, climbing over the edge side 15C, and two ribs 36, 37 that stand upward from the upper surface 31A of the main body 31 (toward the outer housing 11).

[0025] 5, of the two fitting portions 34, 35, the first fitting portion 34 on the front side includes a rectangular pillar-shaped protrusion 34A that protrudes forward from the side surface 31B, and a claw portion 34B that has a hook portion 34B1 and extends downward from the side surface 31B. One of the multiple abutment portions 33 is connected to a lower surface 34A1 of the protrusion 34A. This abutment portion 33 extends downward from the lower surface 34A1 of the protrusion 34A.

[0026] As shown in FIG. 6, of the two mating portions 34, 35, the rear second mating portion 35 protrudes rearward from the side surface 31B and includes three pointed protrusions 35A, 35B, and 35C. The three protrusions 35A, 35B, and 35C include a first protrusion 35A located at the lower end of the side surface 31B, a second protrusion 35B located at the upper end of the side surface 31B, facing the interior of the vehicle relative to the first protrusion 35A, and a third protrusion 35C located at the lower end of the side surface 31B, facing the interior of the vehicle relative to the second protrusion 35B. The second protrusion 35B has a shape that is vertically symmetrical to the first protrusion 35A and the third protrusion 35C. One of the contact portions 33 is connected to a lower surface 35B1 of the second protrusion 35B. The contact portion 33 extends from the lower surface 35B1 to between the first protrusion 35A and the third protrusion 35C.

[0027] 2 to 6, bracket 30 is attached to first opening 15 by tilting bracket 30, fitting second fitting portion 35 into edge side 15C of first opening 15, and then pushing first fitting portion 34 into edge side 15C from above (this state is called the attached state). In the attached state, edge side 15C is sandwiched between first protrusion 35A, third protrusion 35C, and second protrusion 35B, and hook portion 34B1 of claw portion 34B is hooked on edge side 15C. Also, in the attached state, multiple abutment portions 33 abut against edge side 15C from the side, and extension portions 38, 39 abut against edge side 15C from above so as to cover it.

[0028] Of the two ribs 36, 37, the first rib 36 located on the outer side of the vehicle cabin extends at its front end up to the upper surface of the protrusion 34A of the first fitting portion 34. Of the two ribs 36, 37, the second rib 37 located on the inner side of the vehicle cabin extends at its inner side up to the upper surface of the extension portion 39. Figure 7 shows a cross-sectional view of the lighting device 100 in a state where the light source 50 is attached to the bracket 30 in an attached state and the outer housing 11 is attached to the inner housing 12. The two ribs 36, 37 face the inner side surface 11B of the outer housing 11 toward the vehicle cabin.

[0029] Light source 50 includes a base 51 and a bulb portion 52 that bulges downward from base 51 and produces light. Outer housing 11 includes a fourth opening 11A that opens in the vertical direction. For example, an operator can insert their fingers into fourth opening 11A, grasp base 51, and rotate light source 50 in the direction opposite to the direction in which light source 50 was screwed into bracket 30, thereby removing light source 50 from bracket 30 and making it possible to take light source 50 out of housing 10 through fourth opening 11A.

[0030] The materials constituting the bracket 30 and the inner housing 12 are not particularly limited, and may be synthetic resins or thermoplastic resins. Examples of thermoplastic resins include polyolefin resins, polyester resins, polystyrene resins, acrylic resins (resins obtained using methacrylates and / or acrylates, etc.), polyamide resins, polycarbonate resins, polyacetal resins, and ABS resins. Examples of polyolefin resins include polypropylene, polyethylene, and ethylene-propylene copolymers (ethylene-propylene block copolymers and ethylene-propylene random copolymers). Examples of polyester resins include aliphatic polyester resins such as polylactic acid, polycaprolactone, and polybutylene succinate, as well as aromatic polyester resins such as polyethylene terephthalate, polytrimethylene terephthalate, and polybutylene terephthalate. These thermoplastic resins may be used alone or in combination.

[0031] The material (thermoplastic resin) constituting the bracket 30 may have a higher melting point or glass transition temperature and higher heat resistance than the material (thermoplastic resin) constituting the inner housing 12. For example, the material constituting the bracket 30 may have a higher melting point or glass transition temperature than the heat generation temperature of the light source 50 (e.g., the maximum temperature generated by the lighting device 100 during normal use), and the material constituting the inner housing 12 may have a lower melting point or glass transition temperature than the material constituting the bracket 30 and a lower melting point or glass transition temperature than the heat generation temperature of the light source 50. Specifically, the bracket 30 may be made of polybutylene terephthalate, and the inner housing 12 may be made of polycarbonate resin and ABS resin. Alternatively, the material constituting the bracket 30 may have a higher melting point or glass transition temperature than the heat generation temperature of the light source 50, and the material constituting the inner housing 12 may have a lower melting point or glass transition temperature than the material constituting the bracket 30 and a higher melting point or glass transition temperature than the heat generation temperature of the light source 50.

[0032] Next, the effects of this embodiment will be described. In this embodiment, lighting device 100 is shown, which includes housing 10 having design surface 13A with a portion (design portion 13) exposed to the interior of the vehicle, bracket 30 attached to housing 10, and light source 50 attached to housing 10 via bracket 30 and emitting light, and bracket 30 is made of a material with a higher melting point than the material of housing 10.

[0033] With this lighting device 100, a material with a melting point that can withstand the heat generated by the light source 50 can be used for the bracket 30, and a material with a lower melting point than the material of the bracket 30 can be used for the housing 10. The material of the housing 10 having the design portion 13 that constitutes the design surface 13A can be selected from a variety of materials regardless of the heat temperature of the light source 50, so that, for example, a relatively inexpensive material or a material that can improve formability can be used as the material for the housing 10. This makes it possible to provide a lighting device 100 that can reduce costs and improve design.

[0034] The housing 10 has a first opening 15 to which the bracket 30 is attached, and a second opening 16 provided on the side of the first opening 15 and connected to the first opening 15.

[0035] According to such a lighting device 100, a second opening 16 connected to the first opening 15 is provided on the side of the first opening 15 to which the bracket 30 is attached, so that heat generated from the bulb attached to the bracket 30 can be dissipated from the second opening 16 located nearby (on the side).

[0036] The housing 10 has a first opening 15 to which a bracket 30 is attached, and the bracket 30 has a main body 31 to which a light source 50 is attached and which is smaller than the first opening 15, and a plurality of abutment portions which protrude from the main body 31 in the direction of an edge side 15C of the first opening 15 and abut against the edge side 15C.

[0037] Such lighting device 100 can be configured such that a gap is formed between the portion of main body 31 other than the portion where the abutment portion is provided and the edge of first opening 15. This allows heat generated from light source 50 to be dissipated through the gap.

[0038] The housing 10 comprises an inner housing 12 to which a bracket 30 is attached, and an outer housing 11 arranged on the outside of the vehicle compartment of the inner housing 12, and the bracket 30 comprises a main body 31 to which a light source 50 is attached, and ribs 36, 37 extending from the main body 31 toward the outer housing 11.

[0039] With such a lighting device 100, when only the light source 50 is removed from the inner housing 12 to the outside of the outer housing 11 for maintenance or the like, the bracket 30 can be prevented from coming off the inner housing 12 together with the light source 50 by the ribs 36, 37 abutting against the outer housing 11.

[0040] The light source 50 is a light bulb.

[0041] Such lighting device 100 can be structured to provide favorable heat resistance and other effects even when using a light bulb that generates a relatively large amount of heat.

[0042] <Embodiment 2> Next, a second embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to Fig. 8. In this embodiment, the same components as those in the above embodiment are designated by the same reference numerals, and redundant descriptions of the structure, operation, and effects will be omitted.

[0043] As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 , in the vehicle lighting device 200, a first opening 215 having an irregular shape is provided in a wall 214 of the inner housing. A bracket 230 is attached to the first opening 215. The bracket 230 has a rectangular plate-like shape and includes a main body 231 that is shorter than the first opening 215 in the interior / exterior direction and the front-to-rear direction (slightly shorter when viewed from above), and protrusions 232A and 232B that protrude from diagonal corners of the main body 231 to both sides in the front-to-rear direction. A small gap is provided between the main body 231 and the protrusions 232A and 232B and an edge 215C of the first opening 215. The main body 231 includes a third opening 240 that penetrates in the vertical direction and into which the light source 50 is attached. The light source 50 is attached to the third opening 240 by being inserted into the third opening 240 from above and then screwed into the third opening 240.

[0044] The main body 231 has a plurality of abutment portions 233 that protrude from its side surface 231B toward the edge side 215C of the first opening 215 and abut against the edge side 215C, three fitting portions 234A, 234B, 235 that fit into the edge side 215C, an extension portion 238 that extends from the top surface of the main body 231 to the outside of the first opening 215, climbing over the edge side 215C, and two ribs 236, 237 that stand upward from the main body 231 (towards the outer housing side).

[0045] The three fitting portions 234A, 234B, 235 include a first fitting portion 234A and a second fitting portion 234B provided on both the front and rear sides of the main body portion 231, and a third fitting portion 235 provided at the tip of the convex portion 232A. The front first fitting portion 234A includes a rectangular pillar-shaped protrusion 234A1 protruding forward from the side surface 231B, and a claw portion 234A2 having a hook portion and extending downward from the side surface 231B. The rear second fitting portion 234B includes two rectangular pillar-shaped protrusions 234B1 and 234B3 protruding rearward from the side surface 231B, and a claw portion 234B2 having a hook portion and extending downward from the side surface 231B, which is disposed between the two protrusions 234B1 and 234B3. The configuration of the third fitting portion 235 is the same as the configuration of the second fitting portion 35 in the first embodiment, and therefore a description thereof will be omitted.

[0046] The two ribs 236, 237 are arranged at opposite corners (diagonal corners) of the main body 231. Of the two ribs 236, 237, the first rib 236 located on the front side has its front portion extending up to the upper surface of the protrusion 234A1 of the first fitting portion 234A. Of the two ribs 236, 237, the second rib 237 located on the rear side has its rear portion extending up to the upper surface of the protrusion 234B3 of the second fitting portion 234B.

[0047] <Other embodiments> The present disclosure is not limited to the embodiments described above and in the drawings, and for example, the following embodiments are also included within the technical scope of the present disclosure. Furthermore, various modifications other than those described below can be made without departing from the spirit of the present disclosure.

[0048] (1) In addition to the above-described embodiments, the shape of the bracket may be modified as appropriate. For example, the bracket may be trapezoidal, circular, irregular, block-shaped, or the like when viewed from above.

[0049] (2) In addition to the above-described embodiments, the mounting structure of each component can be modified as appropriate. For example, the housing (inner housing), bracket, and light source may be mounted to each other using claws, welding bosses, or other mounting components.

[0050] (3) In addition to the above-described embodiments, the configuration of the housing can be modified as needed. For example, the housing may not be divided into an inner housing and an outer housing, but may be a single member. Furthermore, the housing may include a structure other than the inner housing and the outer housing (such as a third housing).

[0051] (4) In the above embodiment, the bracket and housing are made of a thermoplastic resin. However, since the bracket is made of a material with a higher melting point than the housing, a hybrid structure may be used in which the housing is made of a thermoplastic resin and the bracket is made of a thermosetting resin or metal with a higher melting point than the thermoplastic resin used for the housing. Furthermore, the bracket and housing may be made of a combination of metals with different melting points.

[0052] (5) In the above embodiment, the light source is a light bulb, but is not limited to this. For example, the light source may be an LED or other light-generating component.

[0053] (6) In the above embodiment, a map lamp is used as an example of a vehicle lighting device, but the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, a center lamp located above the second row of seats, a luggage lamp that illuminates the luggage compartment, etc., may be used as a vehicle lighting device. In addition, in the above embodiment, the vehicle lighting device is attached to the roof trim, but the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, the vehicle lighting device may be attached to other vehicle interior materials, such as the door trim or the instrument panel.

[0054] (7) The vehicle lighting device exemplified in the above embodiment is not limited to use in vehicles, and may be provided in various vehicles. For example, the vehicle lighting device can be applied to vehicles such as trains and recreational vehicles as ground vehicles, airplanes and helicopters as flying vehicles, and ships and submarines as marine and underwater vehicles. [Explanation of symbols]

[0055] 10...housing, 11...outer housing, 12...inner housing, 15,215...first opening, 15C,215C...edge, 16...second opening, 30,230...bracket, 31,231...main body, 33,233...contact portion, 36,37,236,237...rib, 50...light source, 100,200...lighting device (vehicle lighting device)

Claims

1. a housing having a design surface partially exposed to the interior of the vehicle; a bracket attached to the housing; a light source attached to the housing via the bracket and emitting light, The material constituting the bracket has a higher melting point than the material constituting the housing, The housing includes: an inner housing to which the bracket is attached; an outer housing disposed on the outer side of the inner housing, The bracket is a main body to which the light source is attached; a rib extending from the main body portion toward the outer housing.

2. The housing includes: a first opening to which the bracket is attached; The vehicle lighting device according to claim 1 , further comprising: a second opening provided on a side of the first opening and connected to the first opening.

3. the housing has a first opening to which the bracket is attached; The bracket is a body portion to which the light source is attached and which is smaller than the first opening; The vehicle lighting device according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising a plurality of contact portions that protrude from the main body toward an edge of the first opening and contact the edge.

4. 3. The vehicle lighting device according to claim 1, wherein the light source is a light bulb.

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