Vehicle lighting

Abstract

To provide a vehicular lighting fixture capable of achieving reduction in weight and improvement in rigidity.SOLUTION: On a back surface wall of a lamp body, a vent hole for forming an air passage for communicating inside and outside of a lamp chamber, and a cylindrical wall extending toward the back of the lamp body so as to surround the vent hole are formed. At the back surface wall, a waterproof wall is formed surrounding the cylindrical wall and extending toward the back of the lamp body, while being separated from the cylindrical wall. At least in part of the waterproof wall, a curve surface protrudes from a side surface in the middle of extension to the back surface, the curve surface extends being folded back to a base end part side of the waterproof wall, and constitutes part of the back surface wall. The periphery of the vent hole of the lamp body can be constituted by the curve surface. Constituting by a curve surface, rather than a flat surface, can enhance rigidity, and this can achieve a thin wall of the lamp body.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 8

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a structure of a lamp body in which vent holes are formed in a lamp body main body.

Background Art

[0002] Some lamp bodies are provided with vent holes (breathing holes) that allow ventilation communication between the inside and outside of a lamp chamber defined by the lamp body and a front cover (for example, Patent Document 1).

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of Invention

Problem to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] In recent years, from the perspective of carbon neutrality, there has been a demand for a lamp body that can achieve weight reduction through thinning while improving rigidity to ensure the required rigidity.

[0005] The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide a vehicular lamp that includes a lamp body provided with vent holes and can achieve weight reduction and improved rigidity.

Means for Solving the Problem

[0006] To solve the above problems, in one embodiment of the present disclosure, a vehicle lamp is provided comprising a container-shaped lamp body with an open front, and a front cover assembled to the front opening of the lamp body and defining a lamp chamber inside, wherein a ventilation hole is formed on the rear wall of the lamp body to form an air passage for communicating the inside and outside of the lamp chamber, and a cylindrical wall is formed surrounding the ventilation hole and extending to the rear of the lamp body, and a waterproof wall is formed on the rear wall, spaced apart from the cylindrical wall, surrounding the cylindrical wall and extending to the rear of the lamp body, and at least a portion of the waterproof wall has a curved surface protruding from the side in the middle of its extension to the rear, and the curved surface folds back and extends toward the base end of the waterproof wall and constitutes a part of the rear wall.

[0007] With the above configuration, the area around the ventilation holes of the lamp body can be made into a curved surface. Using a curved surface rather than a flat surface increases rigidity, which in turn allows for a thinner lamp body.

[0008] In one embodiment, a bracket for vehicle mounting is provided protruding from at least a portion of the surface of the curved surface that protrudes from the waterproof wall, and the bracket and the waterproof wall are integrally formed.

[0009] In one embodiment, the curved surface extends forward of the waterproof wall, then curves and extends toward the base end of the waterproof wall, forming part of the rear wall. [Effects of the Invention]

[0010] As is clear from the above explanation, the objective is to provide a vehicle lighting device that features a lamp body with ventilation holes, thereby achieving weight reduction and improved rigidity. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0011] [Figure 1] This is a front view showing a schematic configuration of a vehicle lighting device according to a preferred embodiment. [Figure 2]This is a front view of the lamp body. [Figure 3] This is a perspective view of the lamp body. [Figure 4] This is an end view of the lamp body. It follows each of the indicator lines (cut surfaces) shown in Figure 2. [Figure 5] This is an explanatory diagram illustrating a truss structure using beams. It corresponds to Figure 2. [Figure 6] This is an explanatory diagram of the lamp body shape. Figure 6(A) is a vertical end view of a conventional lamp body 102 for comparison. Figure 6(B) is a vertical end view of lamp body 2. [Figure 7] This shows section F in Figure 2. Figure 7(A) is a rear view, Figure 7(B) is a horizontal end view along line GG in Figure 7(A), Figure 7(C) is a vertical end view along line HH in Figure 7(A), and Figure 7(D) is a top view. [Figure 8] This is a rear perspective view of section F in Figure 2. [Figure 9] This is a comparison diagram to explain the effect. Figure 9(A) is a vertical end view of lamp body 202 for comparison. Figure 9(B) is a vertical end view of lamp body 2. It corresponds to Figure 7(C). [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0012] Hereinafter, specific embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The embodiments are illustrative and not limiting to the invention, and not all features or combinations thereof described in the embodiments are necessarily essential to the invention. Furthermore, in the following descriptions of embodiments and modifications, the same components will be denoted by the same reference numerals, and redundant descriptions will be omitted as appropriate.

[0013] (Vehicle lighting fixture 1) Figure 1 is a front view of a vehicle light fixture 1 according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. The vehicle light fixture 1 is a headlight mounted on the left and right corners at the front of the vehicle.

[0014] As shown in Figure 1, a vehicle lamp 1 includes a container-shaped lamp body 2 that is open on the front side, and a front cover 4 assembled to the front opening of the lamp body 2. The front cover 4 is made of a light-transmitting resin such as polycarbonate, glass, or the like, and the front cover 4 is attached to the front opening of the lamp body 2, whereby a lamp chamber S is defined on the inner side.

[0015] A high-beam lamp unit Hi and a low-beam lamp unit Lo are accommodated in the defined lamp chamber S.

[0016] The high-beam lamp unit Hi and the low-beam lamp unit Lo are optical units configured to irradiate light emitted from a light source toward the front of the vehicle to form a high-beam light distribution / low-beam light distribution. For each of the lamp units (Hi, Lo), a conventionally well-known configuration, for example, a lamp unit of a reflection type, a projector type or the like is used, and the type thereof is not limited.

[0017] The lamp body 2 is formed with a vent hole 50 that forms an air passage for communicating the inside and the outside of the lamp chamber S. The vent hole 50 allows expansion and contraction of air in the lamp chamber S due to heat generation caused by lighting of the light sources of the respective lamp units (Hi, Lo) arranged in the lamp chamber, a change in air temperature, and the like, and allows moisture in the lamp chamber S to escape to the outside, so that moisture is prevented from accumulating in the lamp chamber S. This prevents fogging in the lamp chamber S, which occurs when moisture in the lamp chamber S adheres to the front cover 4 from the inner side of the lamp chamber S.

[0018] (Lamp Body 2) The shape of the lamp body 2 will be described in detail. Figure 2 is a front view of the lamp body 2. Figure 3 is a front perspective view of the lamp body 2.

[0019] The lamp body 2 is formed by injection molding using a rigid synthetic resin material. A seal groove 3 is provided around the periphery of the front opening of the lamp body 2 for engaging with the seal legs provided on the periphery of the front cover 4. A bracket 5, which is a vehicle body mounting part for attaching the lamp body to the vehicle body, is provided protruding from the outer surface of the lamp body 2, corresponding to the shape of the mounting part on the vehicle body.

[0020] The lamp body 2 has a rear wall 6, a top surface 7, a bottom surface 8, and left and right sides 9,9 as constituent surfaces. The rear wall 6 bulges outwards towards the rear and is connected to the adjacent top surface 7, bottom surface 8, and sides 9,9 via ridges. The top surface 7, bottom surface 8, and sides 9,9 are basically convex curved shapes that bulge gently outwards from the lamp body 2, and their edges curve gently, connecting them continuously without bends or steps. As a result, the lamp body 2 is formed as a rounded container shape overall. In this embodiment, the top surface 7 is formed extending from the opening of the lamp body 2 toward the rear, but the amount of extension is small, and it extends from the edge of the opening toward the lower rear, curving gently and connecting to the rear wall 6, thus being integrally formed with the rear wall 6. Thus, the constituent surfaces of the lamp body 2 are mainly composed of curved surfaces with a large radius of curvature rather than flat surfaces.

[0021] The lamp body 2 has a first unit mounting hole 31 formed in the upper center of the rear wall 6 for mounting the low beam lamp unit Lo. Additionally, a second unit mounting hole 32 for mounting the high beam lamp unit Hi is formed in the upper left of the rear wall 6.

[0022] In addition, the lamp body 2 has mounting holes 41 for a first aiming member, 42 for a second aiming member, and 43 for a third aiming member formed around the mounting hole 31 for the first unit. Aiming members (not shown) are mounted in each of the aiming member mounting holes 41, 42, and 43.

[0023] The first aiming member mounting hole 41 is located between the first unit mounting hole 31 and the second unit mounting hole 32 in the left-right direction, and is provided on the lower edge of the rear wall 6 in the up-down direction. The second aiming member mounting hole 42 is provided in a position that is approximately symmetrical to the first aiming member mounting hole 41 with respect to the first unit mounting hole 31. For this reason, the second aiming member mounting hole 42 is provided on the lower edge of the rear wall 6, offset to the right from the left side where the first aiming member mounting hole 41 is located, by a distance approximately equal to the distance from the first unit mounting hole 31 to the first aiming member mounting hole 41. The third aiming member mounting hole 43 is formed above the second aiming member mounting hole 42 at the upper end of the rear wall 6.

[0024] Furthermore, the lamp body 2 has a ventilation hole 50 formed in the rightmost region of the rear wall 6, to the right of the mounting hole 43 for the third aiming member.

[0025] (Back wall and beam) The rear wall 6 has a first beam 61, a second beam 62, a third beam 63, a fourth beam 64, and a fifth beam 65 that extend from the upper end to the lower end of the rear wall 6, forming a part of the rear wall 6. Here, the part of the rear wall 6 other than the components of beams 61-65 is referred to as the rear wall body 69.

[0026] The first beam 61 extends straight upward from the first aiming member mounting hole 41 provided at the lower end of the rear wall 6 to the upper end of the rear wall 6, when viewed from the front.

[0027] The second beam 62 extends from the lower first aiming member mounting hole 41 and the upper second unit mounting hole 32 as its endpoints, connecting the two. For this reason, the second beam 62 is formed with a tilt to the right when viewed from the front.

[0028] The third beam 63 extends from the lower second aiming member mounting hole 42 and the upper first unit mounting hole 31 as its endpoints, connecting the two. Therefore, when viewed from the front, the third beam 63 is formed to be tilted to the left, in the opposite direction to the second beam 62.

[0029] The fourth beam 64 extends from the lower second aiming member mounting hole 42 and the upper third aiming member mounting hole 43 as its endpoints, connecting the two. Therefore, when viewed from the front, the fourth beam 64 is formed almost vertically.

[0030] The fifth beam 65 extends from the lower second aiming member mounting hole 42 and the upper ventilation hole 50, connecting the two. Therefore, when viewed from the front, the fifth beam is formed with a tilt to the right.

[0031] Figure 4 is an end view along the cutting line shown in Figure 2. Figure 4(A) is an end view along line AA in Figure 2, mainly showing the cross-sectional shape of the first beam 61. Figure 4(B) is an end view along line BB in Figure 2, mainly showing the cross-sectional shape of the second beam 62. Figure 4(C) is an end view along line CC in Figure 2, mainly showing the cross-sectional shape of the third beam 63. Figure 4(D) is an end view along line DD in Figure 2, mainly showing the cross-sectional shape of the fourth beam 64. Figure 4(E) is an end view along line EE in Figure 2, mainly showing the cross-sectional shape of the fifth beam 65.

[0032] As shown in Figures 5(A) to 5(E), each beam 61 to 65 has a cross-sectional shape perpendicular to its extension direction, and although their radii of curvature, width, and projection differ, they are all configured to be approximately arc-shaped. Beams 61, 62, 63, and 65 are formed so that the projection direction of their curved surfaces is towards the lamp room S (forward). Beam 64 is formed so that its curved surface and projection direction are towards the outside of the lamp room S (rear direction).

[0033] Each beam, from 61 to 65, is smoothly connected to the back wall body 69 via its ridge, regardless of its protruding direction. The corresponding cross-sectional shape of the ramp body 2 is continuously constructed without any bends, while maintaining a constant thickness.

[0034] For example, the longitudinal cross-sectional shape of the back wall 6, including the second beam 62, will be explained in detail in Figure 4(B). As shown in Figure 4(B), a seal groove 3 is provided at the upper edge of the opening of the lamp body 2 (see also Figure 2), and from here the back wall body 69, which is integrated with the ceiling surface 7, extends downward toward the back, and at the boundary with the second beam 62, it curves forward and smoothly connects with the second beam 62. The second beam 62 extends downward, curves forward, and then curves backward again, forming a roughly arc shape that bulges forward. At its lower edge, the second beam 62 curves forward and downward and smoothly connects again with the back wall body 69. The back wall body 69 extends forward and downward, curves inward toward the inside of the lamp room S, and connects to the edge of the bottom surface 8, which is curved with the same curvature. The bottom surface 8 continues to extend forward and connects to the seal groove 3 provided at the lower edge of the opening of the lamp body 2. In this way, the ceiling surface 7 and the rear wall body 69, the rear wall body 69 and the second beam 62, and the rear wall body 69 and the bottom surface 8 are smoothly connected by curving with the same curvature at their respective connection points, so as not to form any bends or steps.

[0035] As shown in Figures 5(A),(C),(D), and(E), the first beam 61, the third beam 63, the fourth beam 64 (with the convex direction of the beam portion in the opposite direction), and the fifth beam 65 are also connected to the back wall body 69 via their edges in the same manner. In this way, each beam 61 to 65 extends from the upper end to the lower end of the back wall 6, maintaining a roughly arc-shaped cross-section in the direction of extension, and is connected to the back wall body 69 continuously and smoothly at the ends, without forming steps or corners between adjacent surfaces.

[0036] The cross-sectional shape of the lamp body 2, as described above, is composed of a series of complex, wavy curves. Furthermore, the back wall 6, ceiling surface 7, bottom surface 8, and side surfaces 9,9 are similarly connected via ridges, and at the boundary, they curve with the same curvature, creating a smooth and continuous connection. The back wall 6, ceiling surface 7, bottom surface 8, and side surfaces 9,9 themselves are generally curved surfaces with a large radius of curvature, gently bulging outwards, and adjacent curved surfaces are smoothly continuous. As a result, the lamp body 2 itself is mainly composed of curved surfaces, reducing the formation of corners and maintaining a generally constant thickness.

[0037] The effects of the rear wall 6 and lamp body 2, configured as described above, will be explained using Figures 5 and 6. Figure 5 is a front view of the lamp body 2, in which the beams 61-65 of the lamp body 2 are shown in light gray.

[0038] As shown in Figure 5, each beam 61-65 extends from the upper end to the lower end of the back wall 6, and other beams extend diagonally from the end of one beam, forming a truss structure based on triangles. Therefore, the ramp body 2, including the back wall 6, is structured to be resistant to deformation under load. Furthermore, since the beams 61-65 themselves have a roughly arc-shaped curved cross-section that distributes stress, they have a highly rigid structure that is more resistant to deformation. This improves the rigidity of the ramp body 2, and the increased rigidity allows for thinner walls, thus reducing weight.

[0039] In this embodiment, the ends of each beam 61 to 65 are provided with mounting holes 31 for the first unit and mounting holes 41, 42, and 43 for the aiming member, which are located in the back wall 6. This is because, due to the nature of mounting other components, the mounting holes are thicker and more rigid than other parts of the back wall 6. By utilizing these structurally necessary components in a part of the beam, particularly at the important beam joints, the rigidity of the back wall 6 and, consequently, the lamp body 2 is improved. As will be described in more detail later, the ventilation holes 50 are surrounded by a waterproof wall, making them highly rigid areas, similar to the mounting holes.

[0040] Furthermore, a portion of the sealing groove 3 in the opening also constitutes part of the truss structure. Similar to the mounting holes, the sealing groove 3 in the opening is thicker and more rigid than other parts due to its nature of engaging with other components (see Figure 4). By using at least a portion of the sealing groove 3 to form a truss structure together with beams 61-65, the rigidity of the lamp body 2 is improved.

[0041] Next, we will explain the effects of the shape of the lamp body 2. Figure 6(A) is a vertical cross-sectional view showing a schematic diagram of a conventional lamp body 102 for comparison. Figure 6(B) is a vertical cross-sectional view of the lamp body 2.

[0042] As shown in Figure 6(A), a conventional lamp body 102 has a generally planar back wall 106, a top surface 107, and a bottom surface 108. The top surface 107 and bottom surface 108, which are horizontal planes, are connected to the upper and lower ends of the vertically positioned back wall 106. As a result, a 90-degree corner is formed at the connection point. Corners formed by the collision of two planes are prone to stress concentration. To suppress deformation due to stress concentration and ensure rigidity, ribs 110 are provided at the corner.

[0043] In contrast, as shown in Figure 6(B), in the lamp body 2, the back wall 6, the top surface 7, and the bottom surface 8 are connected to each other via ridges. Thus, the lamp body 2 is mainly composed of curved surfaces, and adjacent surfaces are connected by curving with the same curvature at their boundaries. The constituent surfaces are smoothly continuous, and no bends are formed at the connection points, and no corners are formed due to stress concentration. By suppressing the formation of corners where stress concentrates, stress is distributed, resulting in a highly rigid structure that is resistant to deformation. In this embodiment, all constituent surfaces are connected by ridges, but it is sufficient that at least the back wall 6 is connected to one of the surfaces of the top surface 7, bottom surface 8, or sides 9,9 via ridges.

[0044] Similarly, beams 61-65 are connected to the back wall body 69 via ridges, and the connection is smoothly continuous. As a result, the cross-sectional shape of the back wall 6 is configured as a wave shape without bends, which suppresses stress concentration at the corners and improves rigidity. In this case, as long as it is not a plane, the direction in which each beam 61-65 curves relative to the extension direction (the protruding direction of the approximately arc-shaped cross-section) can be either forward or backward (towards the back).

[0045] Furthermore, since the wall thickness can be kept generally constant even at connection points with surfaces that tend to be thicker, weight reduction can be achieved. In addition, connection points of reinforcing members such as ribs and corners tend to be thicker and trap heat, making them prone to molding defects during resin molding. By reducing these areas, molding defects can also be suppressed.

[0046] (Shape of the back wall around the ventilation holes) The lamp body 2 is mainly composed of a smooth series of curved surfaces, thereby improving the rigidity of the lamp body 2 and enabling a thinner wall. In this embodiment, the entire lamp body 2 is mainly composed of curved surfaces, but it is sufficient if at least a part of the lamp body 2 is mainly composed of curved surfaces, and by using curved surfaces on the constituent surfaces, rigidity can be increased and a thinner wall can be achieved. In this embodiment, the area around the ventilation holes 50 provided in the back wall 6 of the lamp body 2 is mainly composed of curved surfaces, and by using curved surfaces on the constituent surfaces around these ventilation holes 50, the rigidity of the lamp body 2 can be increased and a thinner wall can be achieved, at least around the ventilation holes 50.

[0047] The structure of the back wall 6 around the ventilation hole 50 will be explained using Figures 7 and 8. Figures 7 and 8 show section F in Figure 2, and mainly show the structure of the ventilation hole 50 and the area around it. Figure 7(A) is a rear view of section F. Figure 7(B) is an end view along the GG line shown in Figure 7(A). Figure 7(C) is an end view along the HH line shown in Figure 8(A). Figure 7(D) is a plan view of section F. Figure 8 is a rear perspective view of section F. See also the front view in Figure 2 and the front perspective view in Figure 3.

[0048] As shown in Figures 7 and 8, the ventilation hole 50 is a through-hole provided in the back wall 6 and, when viewed from the rear, has a semi-cylindrical shape that bulges upward. A cylindrical wall 51 is formed to surround the ventilation hole 50 and project backward from the back surface of the back wall 6, and the ventilation hole 50 is configured as a space inside the cylindrical wall 51.

[0049] The cylindrical wall 51 has a roughly semi-cylindrical shape with a bulge at the top, and the semi-cylindrical portion extends slightly below the flat portion. In other words, the cylindrical wall 51 is formed in a cylindrical shape, and a partition wall 57 is formed inside the cylindrical wall 51 to divide the internal space of the cylindrical wall 51 vertically, and a deep notch 58 is formed on the lower side of the cylindrical wall 51, opening at the lower end. The space sandwiched between the horizontal portion (partition wall 57) of the cylindrical wall 51 and the portion that extends slightly below it is the notch 58. As a result, the ventilation hole 50 is configured in a roughly semi-cylindrical shape.

[0050] The inner and outer surfaces of the cylindrical wall 51 are given a slight slope with respect to the axis. That is, the inner surface moves away from the axis as it approaches the rear end, while the outer surface moves closer to the axis as it approaches the rear end.

[0051] On the rear surface of the back wall 6, which is provided with a cylindrical wall 51, a waterproof wall 53 is provided so as to surround the cylindrical wall 51 at a certain distance from the cylindrical wall 51, with ventilation holes 50 provided. The waterproof wall 53 is provided so as to protrude to the rear, and the rear end of the waterproof wall 53 that protrudes to the rear is provided so as to be further rearward than the rearmost protruding end of the cylindrical wall 51.

[0052] As shown in Figure 7(A), the waterproof wall 53, when viewed from the rear, consists of an upwardly bulging eaves portion 53a, a right side surface 53b extending straight downward from the rightmost end of the eaves portion 53a, a left side surface 53c extending straight downward from the leftmost end of the eaves portion 53a, and a downward slope 53d extending diagonally downward to the left from the lower end of the right side surface 53b. The downward slope 53d is formed extending from the lower end of the left side surface 53c to the downward extension line, and the waterproof wall 53 has an enclosed form with the lowest part open.

[0053] The cylindrical wall 51 and waterproof wall 53 make it difficult for water to pass through the ventilation hole 50 and enter the lantern room S. Furthermore, even if water adheres to the cylindrical wall 51 or waterproof wall 53, it will quickly flow off due to the open section of the waterproof wall 53 and the slope of the cylindrical wall 51.

[0054] As shown in Figures 7(B) and 7(C), the waterproof wall 53 is provided projecting toward the rear from the rear wall 6, and at least a portion of the waterproof wall 53 (in this embodiment, the base end of the canopy portion 53a, the right side 53b, and the left side 53c) also constitutes the rear wall 6 of the lamp body 2.

[0055] If we consider the direction in which the cylindrical wall 51 enclosed by the waterproof wall 53 is located as the inside and the opposite direction as the outside, then the eaves portion 53a, the right side 53b, and the left side 53c are wall surfaces that project backward from the rear surface of the rear wall 6. As these project backward (extend), curved surfaces are provided on their outer surfaces, projecting outward. These curved surfaces curve and extend so as to fold back toward the base end (front) of the eaves portion 53a, the right side 53b, and the left side 53c, respectively, and constitute a part of the rear wall 6.

[0056] In other words, the rear wall 6 around the outer edges of the canopy 53a, right side 53b, and left side 53c curves backward from a position a certain distance from the waterproof wall 53, and then curves further toward the waterproof wall 53 to connect to the outer surfaces of the canopy 53a, right side 53b, and left side 53c. In the canopy 53a, right side 53b, and left side 53c, the section from where the rear wall 6 is connected to their respective base ends constitutes part of the rear wall 6. The rear wall 6, which is the canopy 53a, right side 53b, and left side 53c, curves further toward the inside of the waterproof wall 53 at their respective base ends, forming the rear wall 6 on the inside of the waterproof wall 53.

[0057] As described above, when the lamp body 2 is viewed from the front, the lamp body 2 around the ventilation holes 50 appears to have depressions formed at a certain distance from the ventilation holes 50, and when the lamp body 2 is viewed from the rear, the lamp body 2 around the ventilation holes 50 appears to be raised toward the rear. An uneven surface is formed on the lamp body 2 centered on the ventilation holes 50.

[0058] (Effects and Benefits) By configuring it as described above, the back wall 6 around the ventilation holes 50 can be made into a curved surface. Making the lamp body 2 into a curved surface rather than a flat surface improves the bending moment and increases rigidity, which in turn allows the lamp body 2 to be made thinner. With the above configuration, the rigidity of at least the back wall 6 around the ventilation holes 50 can be increased, and even if the thickness of the back wall 6 around the ventilation holes 50 is reduced, the same level of rigidity as in the conventional design can be ensured.

[0059] In this embodiment, the rear wall 6 is composed of curved surfaces around the eaves portion 53a, the right side 53b, and the left side 53c. However, it is not limited to this, and at least a portion of the waterproof wall 53 may have a curved surface that protrudes outward from the outer surface of the waterproof wall 53 midway along its rearward projection. This curved surface may then curve and fold back toward the base end of the waterproof wall 53, forming a portion of the rear wall 6. In other words, the curved surface that protrudes outward from the waterproof wall 53 is the rear wall 6, and the curved rear wall 6 is connected to the outer surface of the waterproof wall 53.

[0060] As the waterproof wall 53 protrudes backward, a curved surface (rear wall 6) protrudes outward, and this curved surface curves and folds back toward the base end. Preferably, when the curved surface protrudes from the waterproof wall 53, it extends outward to the front (rear) end of the waterproof wall 53, then curves and folds back toward the base end of the waterproof wall 53 and extends there, forming part of the rear wall 6. By having the curved surface curve twice to form the rear wall 6, the number of curved surfaces that make up the rear wall 6 can be increased, thereby further increasing the rigidity of the lamp body 2.

[0061] In this embodiment, the rear wall 6 protrudes from the outer surface of the part of the protrusion (partial extension) of the rear projection of the eaves portion 53a, right side 53b, and left side 53c, rather than from the tip of the rear projection. In other words, a part of the rear wall 6 is connected to the side of the part of the rear projection of the waterproof wall 53. This is to ensure design flexibility and the function of the waterproof wall 53. If a part of the rear wall 6 were connected to the tip of the rear projection of the waterproof wall 53, that portion of the waterproof wall 53 would also constitute the rear wall 6. The waterproof wall 53 has necessary configurations such as slope and gradient to prevent water intrusion, but if the waterproof wall 53 were to become the rear wall 6 entirely, problems are likely to occur if the configuration required for the rear wall 6 conflicts with the configuration required for the waterproof wall 53. To ensure design flexibility, it is preferable that the rear wall 6 is connected to a part of the side of the waterproof wall 53 rather than to the tip of the projection of the waterproof wall 53.

[0062] When the curved rear wall 6 is connected to the outer surface of the waterproof wall 53 midway through its rearward projection, the portion of the waterproof wall 53 from the connection point to the base end becomes integrated with the rear wall 6 to form the waterproof wall 53 and the rear wall 6, while the portion from the connection point to the tip constitutes the waterproof wall 53. Here, if the portion of the waterproof wall 53 from the connection point with the rear wall 6 to the projection tip is considered the waterproof wall tip 53f, it is preferable to have the waterproof wall tip 53f in order to prevent water from entering the ventilation hole 50. That is, it is preferable for the curved rear wall 6 to be connected midway through the rearward projection of the waterproof wall 53 rather than to be connected to the rearward projection tip. This will be explained using Figure 9. Figure 9(B) is a lamp body 202 for comparison. Figure 9(A) is the lamp body 2 of this embodiment. The arrows in Figure 9 indicate the flow of water.

[0063] As shown in Figure 9(A), the rear wall 206 of the lamp body 202 is integrated with the canopy portion 253a of the waterproof wall 253, and the entire canopy portion 253a is composed of a curved surface. In other words, a part of the rear wall 206 is curved and connected to the tip of the canopy portion 253a, forming the canopy portion 253a.

[0064] Water adhering to the surface of the eaves 253a flows down the eaves 253a to the inside of the waterproof wall 253 because the entire eaves 253a is curved. Even if the eaves 253a were flat, a draft angle would need to be provided during injection molding, so the eaves 253a would be slightly inclined inward. As a result, water that falls on the top of the eaves 253a would easily flow down the inside of the eaves 253a from the back wall 206 to the inside of the waterproof wall 253. Thus, when the back wall 206 is connected to the tip of the eaves 253a, the waterproofing function of the waterproof wall 253 is reduced.

[0065] In contrast, as shown in Figure 9(A), in the lamp body 2 of this embodiment, a rear wall 6 is connected to the outer surface of the canopy portion 53a midway along its rearward extension, and a waterproof wall tip portion 53f is formed at the tip of the canopy portion 53a. By providing the waterproof wall tip portion 53f, even if water adhering to the rear wall 6 connected to the canopy portion 53a flows toward the canopy portion 53a, it is blocked by the waterproof wall tip portion 53f. The waterproof wall tip portion 53f prevents water from flowing into the inside of the canopy portion 53a. By providing the waterproof wall tip portion 53f, the rear wall 6 around the ventilation hole 50 is curved, increasing its rigidity and ensuring its function as a waterproof wall.

[0066] The waterproof wall 53 is formed to surround the cylindrical wall 51 that forms the ventilation hole 50, while being spaced apart from it, and extending to the rear of the lamp body 2. It is sufficient that the curved surface constituting the rear wall 6 is connected to at least a part of the waterproof wall 53, and the curved surface constituting the rear wall 6 may be connected to only a part of the wall surface constituting the waterproof wall 53 (eaves 53a, right side 53b, left side 53c, and lower slope 53d), for example, only the upper half of the left side.

[0067] (bracket) As shown in Figures 7 and 8, two brackets 5 are provided near the waterproof wall 53 of the lamp body 2 for attaching the vehicle light fixture 1 to the vehicle body. These are referred to as the first bracket 5a and the second bracket 5b. The first bracket 5a is provided on the upper right side of the waterproof wall 53, protruding upward. The second bracket 5b is provided on the right side of the waterproof wall 53 and below the first bracket 5a.

[0068] The second bracket 5b is constructed in a flat plate shape with an elongated hole and is mounted horizontally so as to protrude rearward from the rear wall 6. As shown in Figures 7 and 8, the left base end of the second bracket 5b is connected to the right side 53b of the waterproof wall 53 and is integrated with the waterproof wall 53. Since the second bracket 5b is a bracket for vehicle mounting, it is constructed with a thick wall and has high rigidity. By integrating at least a portion of the highly rigid second bracket 5b with the waterproof wall 53, the rigidity of the waterproof wall 53 and the rigidity of the rear wall 6 around the waterproof wall 53 are improved. This makes it possible to further thin the rear wall 6.

[0069] Although preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described above, these embodiments are merely examples of the present invention, and it is possible to combine them based on the knowledge of those skilled in the art, and such forms are also included within the scope of the present invention. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0070] 1: Vehicle lighting fixtures 2: Lamp body 4: Front cover 5, 5a, 5b: Brackets 6: Back wall 33: Waterproof wall 50: Ventilation holes 51: Cylindrical wall 53: Waterproof wall S:Lamp room

Claims

1. A container-shaped lamp body with an open front, The lamp body comprises a front cover that is assembled to the front opening and defines a lamp chamber on the inside, The rear wall of the lamp body has a ventilation hole that forms an air passage for communicating the inside and outside of the lamp, and a cylindrical wall that extends to the rear of the lamp body, surrounding the ventilation hole. A waterproof wall is formed on the rear wall, which is spaced apart from the cylindrical wall, surrounds the cylindrical wall, and extends to the rear of the lamp body. At least a portion of the waterproof wall has a curved surface protruding from the side in the middle of its extension toward the rear, and the curved surface folds back toward the base end of the waterproof wall and forms a part of the rear wall. A bracket for vehicle mounting is provided protruding from at least a portion of the surface of the curved surface that protrudes from the waterproof wall, and the bracket and the waterproof wall are integrally formed. A vehicle lighting device characterized by the following features.

2. The curved surface extends forward of the waterproof wall, then curves and extends toward the base end of the waterproof wall, forming part of the rear wall. The vehicle lighting device according to feature 1.

Images