Waterproof structure of exterior display

Abstract

To suppress water exposure of a vehicle outside display.SOLUTION: A cover member 12 that is a member covering a vehicle outside display 14 includes a panel 20, a resin case 26, and a water stop wall 30. The resin case 26 has liquid impermeability, has a box shape opened to the outer side of a vehicle, and stores a vehicle outside display 14 therein. The panel 20 has liquid impermeability, constitutes a part of the outer surface of a vehicle 10, and covers the opening of the resin case 26. The water stop wall 30 has liquid impermeability, and projects to the inside of the vehicle from the rear face of the panel 20 in the periphery of the resin case 26. The water stop wall 30 prevents water from intruding into the inside of the resin case 26 from a gap between the panel 20 and the resin case 26.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] This specification discloses an improvement in the waterproof structure of an exterior vehicle display. [Background technology]

[0002] Waterproof structures for electrical devices installed in vehicles have been proposed. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a waterproof structure including a case that houses a circuit assembly as the electrical device and a cover that covers an opening of the case. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2013-176243 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] Incidentally, vehicles may be equipped with exterior displays that display information to those outside the vehicle. Typically, exterior displays are installed immediately inside the panel that constitutes the exterior surface of the vehicle, making them susceptible to water seeping inside the panel. Furthermore, consumer products that are not specifically developed for vehicle use (specifically, products that are not intended for use in environments prone to water exposure) may be used as exterior displays, and the waterproofing capabilities of the exterior displays themselves may be insufficient. Therefore, a waterproof structure that can better prevent water from getting into exterior displays is desired.

[0005] The waterproof structure for the exterior display device disclosed in this specification aims to further prevent the exterior display device from being exposed to water. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The waterproof structure of the exterior display disclosed in this specification is characterized by comprising a liquid-impermeable box-shaped case that houses the exterior display, an impermeable panel that covers the opening of the case and forms part of the exterior surface of the vehicle, and a liquid-impermeable water-stopping wall that protrudes from the interior side of the panel around the case toward the inside of the vehicle.

[0007] According to the above configuration, the exterior display is enclosed by the liquid-impermeable panel and case, which prevents the exterior display from being exposed to water. Furthermore, the liquid-impermeable water blocking wall prevents water from entering the case through the gap between the panel and the case. [Effects of the Invention]

[0008] According to the waterproof structure for the exterior display device disclosed in this specification, it is possible to further prevent the exterior display device from being exposed to water. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] 1 is an external view of a vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] FIG. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along the AA direction in FIG. 2. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0010] 1 is an external view of a vehicle 10 according to this embodiment. In each figure in this specification, the terms front and rear (REAR) refer to the front and rear in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, the terms left and right (RH) refer to the left and right when facing forward, and the terms up (UP) and down refer to the up and down direction of the vehicle.

[0011] In this embodiment, the vehicle 10 is an electric vehicle in which a driving motor is driven by power stored in a battery. In particular, in this embodiment, the vehicle 10 is an autonomous vehicle that can be driven automatically under the control of a computer installed in the vehicle 10 or a management center that controls the vehicle 10. Note that the vehicle 10 is not limited to an electric vehicle or an autonomous vehicle, and may be any vehicle as long as it is provided with an exterior display 14, which will be described later.

[0012] A cover member 12 that constitutes part of the outer surface (front outer surface) of the vehicle 10 is provided below the windshield on the front side of the vehicle 10. As will be described in detail later, the cover member 12 is a member that covers an exterior display device 14 that displays information to people outside the vehicle. The cover member 12 is provided with a hole for a headlamp 16, and the outer surface of the cover member 12 and the outer surface of the headlamp 16 are substantially flush with each other.

[0013] The exterior display device 14 has a display surface 14a on the outside of the vehicle, and is capable of displaying various information on the display surface 14a. In this embodiment, the display surface 14a is configured with a plurality of light-emitting elements (e.g., LEDs (Light Emitting Diodes)).

[0014] In this embodiment, the waterproof structure of the exterior display device 14 is described when the exterior display device 14 is provided on the front side of the vehicle 10, but the exterior display device 14 may be provided on the rear side or the left and right sides of the vehicle 10 in addition to the front side. Even in this case, the waterproof structure described in this embodiment can be applied.

[0015] Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the cover member 12, and Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view seen from the direction AA in Fig. 2. In Fig. 2, members of the vehicle 10 other than the cover member 12 are omitted from the illustration, and the back surface (vehicle interior surface) of the cover member 12 is shown.

[0016] The cover member 12 includes a plate-shaped panel 20 that forms part of the front outer surface of the vehicle 10. The panel 20 is made of resin (e.g., resin glass) and is liquid-impermeable. In this embodiment, the panel 20 is not a flat plate, but has a curved shape in accordance with the shape of the front side of the vehicle 10, with the center in the left-right direction protruding slightly forward more than the left-right ends.

[0017] The panel 20 is provided on the outer side of the vehicle (forward in this embodiment) than the exterior display device 14 (see FIG. 3). At least the portion of the panel 20 facing the display surface 14a is transparent or semi-transparent, so that a person outside the vehicle can see the display surface 14a through the panel 20.

[0018] The panel 20 has holes 22 for the headlamps 16. The headlamps 16 are fitted into the holes 22 so that the outer surface of the panel 20 (the outer surface of the vehicle) and the outer surface of the headlamps 16 are flush with each other. In addition, a plurality of clip members 24 are provided on the back surface of the panel 20, and the cover member 12 is attached to the frame of the vehicle 10 by the plurality of clip members 24.

[0019] The parting (edge) of the panel 20 is not completely waterproof, and water can get into the back side of the panel 20 from the top end of the panel 20 or through the holes 22, for example.

[0020] The cover member 12 is configured to include a resin case 26. The resin case 26 is made of resin and is liquid-impermeable. The resin case 26 has a box shape that opens to the outside side of the vehicle (to the front in this embodiment). The opening of the resin case 26 is approximately rectangular. The resin case 26 houses the exterior display device 14 inside and is attached to the back surface of the panel 20. As a result, the opening of the resin case 26 is covered by the panel 20, and the exterior display device 14 is enclosed by the panel 20 and the resin case 26. The liquid-impermeable panel 20 and resin case 26 prevent the exterior display device 14 from getting wet.

[0021] 3, a sealant 28 is provided in the gap between the panel 20 and the resin case 26. The sealant 28 is an elastic member made of rubber foam or the like. In this embodiment, the sealant 28 is provided across the entire gap between the panel 20 and the resin case 26.

[0022] The sealing material 28 exhibits a dustproof function that prevents dust and foreign objects (such as insects) from entering the interior of the resin case 26 through the gap between the panel 20 and the resin case 26. However, the sealing material 28 has the property of absorbing water, and does not have a complete waterproof function that completely prevents water from entering the interior of the resin case 26.

[0023] Therefore, in order to prevent water from entering the inside of the resin case 26 through the gap between the panel 20 and the resin case 26, the cover member 12 is configured to include a water blocking wall 30. The water blocking wall 30 is a member that protrudes from the back surface of the panel 20 toward the inside of the vehicle around the resin case 26. The water blocking wall 30 is made of resin (for example, EPDM (Ethylene Propylene Diene Monomer)), and is liquid impermeable.

[0024] In this embodiment, the water-blocking walls 30 include an upper water-blocking wall 30u extending in the left-right direction above the resin case 26, a left water-blocking wall 30l extending in the up-down direction on the left side of the resin case 26 (particularly between the resin case 26 and the left-side hole 22l), and a right water-blocking wall 30r extending in the up-down direction on the right side of the resin case 26 (particularly between the resin case 26 and the right-side hole 22r).

[0025] The upper water blocking wall 30u covers the upper side of the gap between the panel 20 and the upper edge of the opening of the resin case 26. Therefore, the upper water blocking wall 30u prevents water that has entered the inside of the panel 20 from above from entering the interior of the resin case 26 through the gap between the panel 20 and the upper edge of the opening of the resin case 26. The left water blocking wall 30l covers the left side of the gap between the panel 20 and the left edge of the opening of the resin case 26. Therefore, the left water blocking wall 30l prevents water that has entered the inside of the panel 20 through the hole 22l (for example, during a high-pressure car wash) from entering the interior of the resin case 26 through the gap between the panel 20 and the left edge of the opening of the resin case 26. The right water blocking wall 30r covers the right side of the gap between the panel 20 and the right edge of the opening of the resin case 26. Therefore, the right water blocking wall 30r prevents water that has entered the inside of the panel 20 through the hole 22r from entering the inside of the resin case 26 through the gap between the panel 20 and the right side of the opening of the resin case 26.

[0026] The shape of the upper water blocking wall 30u will be described in detail with reference to FIG. 3. The upper water blocking wall 30u includes a standing portion 30ua that stands from the rear surface of the panel 20 toward the vehicle interior and a downward protruding portion 30ub that protrudes downward from the lower surface of the standing portion 30ua. Both the standing portion 30ua and the downward protruding portion 30ub are plate-shaped members extending in the left-right direction. The downward protruding portion 30ub prevents water dripping onto the upper surface of the standing portion 30ua from flowing along the surface of the standing portion 30ua to the lower side of the standing portion 30ua due to surface tension and other factors, and from flowing toward the gap between the panel 20 and the upper edge of the opening of the resin case 26. Preferably, the standing portion 30ua is tilted slightly downward from the rear surface of the panel 20 to make it more difficult for water to flow under the standing portion 30ua.

[0027] 3, water from above is guided by the upper water blocking wall 30u to the upper side surface of the resin case 26, and is then guided from the upper side surface of the resin case 26 further toward the rear of the vehicle, that is, away from the gap between the panel 20 and the upper edge of the opening of the resin case 26. The upper side surface of the resin case 26 should also be sloped so as to face upward and toward the rear of the vehicle, so that water that falls on the upper side surface of the resin case 26 can more easily flow toward the rear of the vehicle.

[0028] As described above, in this embodiment, the exterior display device 14 is protected from water damage by being enclosed within the liquid-impermeable panel 20 and resin case 26. Furthermore, the liquid-impermeable water blocking wall 30 prevents water from penetrating into the resin case 26 through a gap between the panel 20 and the resin case 26. According to this embodiment, the exterior display device 14 is protected from water damage using a simple structure (i.e., at low cost) including the panel 20, resin case 26, and water blocking wall 30. Furthermore, because the resin case 26 and the water blocking wall 30 are both located closer to the interior of the vehicle than the panel 20, applying the waterproof structure according to this embodiment does not affect the outer surface of the panel 20. In other words, the waterproof structure according to this embodiment can be applied without compromising the design of the panel 20.

[0029] The above describes an embodiment of an electric vehicle according to the present disclosure, but the electric vehicle according to the present disclosure is not limited to the above embodiment, and various modifications are possible without departing from the spirit thereof. [Explanation of symbols]

[0030] 10 vehicle, 12 cover member, 14 exterior display device, 14a display surface, 16 headlamp, 20 panel, 22 hole, 24 clip member, 26 resin case, 28 sealant, 30 water stop wall, 30u upper water stop wall, 30ua erect portion, 30ub downward protrusion, 30l left side water stop wall, 30r right side water stop wall.

Claims

[Claim 1] a liquid-impermeable box-shaped case that opens to the outside of the vehicle and accommodates the exterior display device; a liquid-impermeable panel that covers the opening of the case, constitutes a part of the exterior surface of the vehicle, and has a left hole for a left headlamp provided on the left side of the case and a right hole for a right headlamp provided on the right side of the case; a liquid-impermeable water blocking wall that protrudes from the vehicle interior surface of the panel around the periphery of the case toward the inside of the vehicle; Equipped with The water blocking wall is an upper water blocking wall extending in the left-right direction above the case; a left water blocking wall extending in the vertical direction between the case and the left hole; a right water blocking wall extending in the vertical direction between the case and the right hole; Including, A waterproof structure for an exterior display device.

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