Vehicle lamp

Abstract

This vehicle lamp comprises: a first light guide body having a first light guide part for guiding light incident from a first light incident surface toward a first light emission surface; and a second light guide body having a second light guide part for guiding light incident from a second light incident surface toward a second light emission surface. The first light emission surface and the second light emission surface face each other with a constant gap therebetween. The first light guide body is provided with a first attachment target protrusion protruding from the first light guide part, and the second light guide body is provided with a second attachment target protrusion protruding from the second light guide part. The first attachment target protrusion or the second attachment target protrusion is provided with a positioning protrusion that abuts the second attachment target protrusion or the first attachment target protrusion in a direction in which the first light emission surface and the second light emission surface face each other. Light emitted from the first light emission surface is incident on the second light guide body from the second light emission surface, and light emitted from the second light emission surface is incident on the first light guide body from the first light emission surface.

Description

Vehicle lighting fixtures

[0001] The present invention relates to the technical field of a vehicle lamp having a plurality of light guides for guiding light.

[0002] Some vehicle lamps are configured so that multiple light sources, for example, two light sources and two light guides that guide the light, are arranged inside a lamp outer casing formed by a cover and a lamp housing (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

[0003] In the vehicle lamp described in Patent Document 1, a horizontally laid, approximately U-shaped light emission area is formed by two light guides, and light is incident from one light source to one light guide and from the other light source to the other light guide, with part of one light guide overlapping part of the other light guide from the light emission direction side.

[0004] Such light guides are generally formed by injection molding using a mold, but the light guides often have lens steps formed therein to control the incident light, and depending on the position of the lens steps and the shape of the light guide, the lens steps may become undercuts, making it difficult to mold the light guide as a single component. Therefore, as in Patent Document 1, in order to secure a substantially U-shaped light emission area using a light guide, for example, a configuration having multiple light guides may be used.

[0005] Furthermore, even when the light guide has a long light guide distance and is formed into an elongated shape, a configuration having a plurality of light guides may be used to improve the formability of the light guide.

[0006] In the above-described configuration in which portions of the light guides are overlapped, light from one light source emitted from the overlapped portion of one light guide passes through the overlapped portion of the other light guide and is emitted, and light from the other light source is also emitted from the overlapped portion of the other light guide.

[0007] Therefore, the amount of light emitted from the overlapping portion prevents a partial decrease in brightness, and a uniform light emission state is obtained in the horizontally-tilted, approximately U-shaped light emission area, ensuring good light distribution performance.

[0008] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2015-204275

[0009] In the above-described configuration in which parts of the two light guides overlap, it is possible to ensure good light distribution performance, but part of the light incident on and guided by each light guide will exit from the end face opposite the incident face.

[0010] SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a vehicle lamp that ensures good light distribution performance and also makes effective use of the light emitted from the light source.

[0011] The vehicle lamp according to the present invention includes a first light guide having a first light guiding portion whose longitudinal end faces are formed as a first light entrance surface and a first light exit surface, respectively, and which guides light incident from the first light entrance surface toward the first light exit surface; and a second light guide having a second light guiding portion whose longitudinal end faces are formed as a second light entrance surface and a second light exit surface, respectively, and which guides light incident from the second light entrance surface toward the second light exit surface, wherein the first light exit surface and the second light exit surface are opposed to each other with a certain gap therebetween, and the light projecting from the first light guiding portion toward the first light guide. The second light guide has a first mounting protrusion protruding from the second light guide, and the second light guide has a second mounting protrusion protruding from the second light guide, and the first mounting protrusion or the second mounting protrusion has a positioning protrusion that abuts against the second mounting protrusion or the first mounting protrusion in the direction in which the first light output surface and the second light output surface face each other, so that light emitted from the first light output surface is incident on the second light guide from the second light output surface, and light emitted from the second light output surface is incident on the first light guide from the first light output surface.

[0012] As a result, the positioning protrusion positions the first light guide and the second light guide in the direction in which the first light exit surface and the second light exit surface face each other, and a portion of the light guided in the first light guide section is emitted from the second light guide section, and a portion of the light guided in the second light guide section is emitted from the first light guide section.

[0013] According to the present invention, the positioning protrusions perform positioning of the first light guide and the second light guide in the direction in which the first light output surface and the second light output surface face each other, and a portion of the light guided in the first light guide is emitted from the second light guide, and a portion of the light guided in the second light guide is emitted from the first light guide. Therefore, the dimensional accuracy of the gap between the first light output surface and the second light output surface is improved, the efficiency of light incidence on the first light output surface and the second light output surface is increased, and the amount of light emitted from the first light guide and the second light guide is increased, thereby ensuring good light distribution performance and enabling effective use of light emitted from the light source.

[0014] 2 to 9 show an embodiment of the vehicle lamp of the present invention, and this figure is a schematic cross-sectional view of the vehicle lamp. FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a lamp unit. FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the lamp unit. FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a reflector. FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a first light guide and a second light guide. FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the first light guide and the second light guide as viewed from a different direction from FIG. 5. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view partially showing a state in which an inner lens, the first light guide, and the second light guide are attached to a reflector. FIG. 7 is a front view showing a configuration in which linear first light guide and second light guide are used. FIG. 8 is a front view showing a configuration in which three light guides are used.

[0015] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A vehicle lamp according to an embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0016] In the following, the front, rear, up, down, left and right directions will be described assuming that the direction of light emitted from the vehicle lamp is the front. However, the front, rear, up, down, left and right directions shown below are for the convenience of explanation, and the present invention is not limited to these directions in terms of implementation.

[0017] The vehicle lamp 1 functions as, for example, a tail lamp. However, the vehicle lamp 1 is not limited to a tail lamp, and may be of a type that functions as another type of lamp.

[0018] The vehicle lamp 1 comprises a lamp housing 2 having an opening at the front end and a cover 3 that closes the opening of the lamp housing 2 (see FIG. 1). The lamp housing 2 and the cover 3 form a lamp outer casing 4, and the internal space of the lamp outer casing 4 forms a lamp chamber 5.

[0019] A lamp unit 6 is disposed in the lamp chamber 5. The lamp unit 6 has a reflector 7, an inner lens 8, a first light guide 9, and a second light guide 10 (see FIGS. 2 and 3).

[0020] The reflector 7 has a peripheral surface portion 11 formed in an annular shape and a mounting portion 12 positioned inside the peripheral surface portion 11 (see FIGS. 3 and 4). The reflector 7 has a function of reflecting light and also functions as a mounting body to which the inner lens 8, the first light guide 9, and the second light guide 10 are attached. Note that in the vehicle lamp 1, a member other than the reflector 7 may be used as the mounting body to which the inner lens 8, the first light guide 9, and the second light guide 10 are attached.

[0021] The front surface of the peripheral surface portion 11 is formed as a reflective surface 11a except for a portion. The reflective surface 11a is formed, for example, in a portion other than the central portion in the left-right direction of the vehicle, and is formed in a roughly U-shaped region that is laid down on its side. The central portion of the peripheral surface portion 11 in the left-right direction of the vehicle where the reflective surface 11a is not formed is provided as a central end portion 13. A pair of insertion holes 13a that penetrates approximately left-right is formed in the central end portion 13, spaced apart from each other above and below.

[0022] Two alignment recesses 12a are formed vertically spaced apart on the mounting portion 12, and the alignment recesses 12a are formed in positions close to the insertion hole 13a. For example, two engagement protrusions 14 that protrude forward are provided vertically spaced apart on the mounting portion 12. The engagement protrusions 14 are elastically deformable and have engagement claws 14a at their tips.

[0023] The mounting portion 12 is provided with a positioning pin 15 and a mounting boss 16, each of which protrudes forward, at approximately the center in the up-down direction. The mounting portion 12 is provided with a plurality of pressed portions 17 around the mounting boss 16. The pressed portions 17 extend, for example, in the radial direction with the mounting boss 16 as the reference and are positioned at intervals in the circumferential direction.

[0024] The inner lens 8 is made of, for example, a transparent resin material (see FIGS. 2 and 3). The inner lens 8 has a light control section 18 formed in a roughly U-shape lying on its side, two engagement pieces 19 protruding from the inner periphery of the light control section 18, and an attachment section 20 protruding from the inner periphery of the light control section 18.

[0025] The light control section 18 is formed with a diffusion step (not shown). The engagement pieces 19 are positioned vertically at a distance from each other, and the mounting section 20 is positioned between the two engagement pieces 19 in the circumferential direction. The engagement piece 19 is formed with an engagement hole 19a penetrating from front to back. The mounting section 20 is formed with an alignment hole 20a and a boss insertion hole 20b penetrating from front to back.

[0026] The first light guide 9 has a first light guide portion 21 extending in a predetermined direction and a first mounting projection 22 projecting from the first light guide portion 21 (see FIGS. 3, 5 and 6).

[0027] The first light guide section 21 is formed with at least a portion curved, for example, so that the portion on the outer side of the vehicle is positioned lower than the portion on the inner side in the left-right direction. The first light guide section 21 has a cross-sectional shape perpendicular to the longitudinal direction, for example, a substantially circular shape, with one longitudinal end face formed as a first light entrance surface 21a facing substantially left-right and the other longitudinal end face formed as a first light exit surface 21b facing downward. The first light entrance surface 21a and the first light exit surface 21b are formed, for example, as flat surfaces. However, the first light entrance surface 21a and the first light exit surface 21b may be formed as curved surfaces. The first light guide section 21 has a first control step 21c formed on a portion of its outer peripheral surface that emits light in a diffused state.

[0028] The first light guide 9 is provided with a first projection 23 for positioning at a position close to the first light incident surface 21a.

[0029] The first mounting protrusion 22 is formed in the shape of a plate bent into a predetermined shape, and consists of a base 24 protruding from the first light-guiding portion 21, an intermediate portion 25 connected to the base 24, and a tip portion 26 connected to the intermediate portion 25.

[0030] The first mounting projection 22 protrudes, for example, from the end of the first light guiding section 21 on the first light exit surface 21b side. The base 24 protrudes in the left-right direction from the first light guiding section 21 toward the first light incident surface 21a, the middle section 25 protrudes forward from the base 24, and the tip section 26 protrudes in the left-right direction from the middle section 25 toward the first light incident surface 21a.

[0031] A positioning protrusion 24a protruding downward is provided on the base 24. A first positioning hole 26a and an attachment insertion hole 26b are formed in the tip 26, each penetrating from front to back. A first annular pressing protrusion 26c is provided on the rear surface of the tip 26, and the first pressing protrusion 26c is positioned around the attachment insertion hole 26b.

[0032] The second light guide 10 has a second light guide portion 27 extending in a predetermined direction and a second mounting projection 28 projecting from the second light guide portion 27 .

[0033] The second light guide section 27 is formed with at least a portion curved, for example, so that the portion on the outer side of the vehicle in the left-right direction is positioned higher than the portion on the inner side. The second light guide section 27 has a cross-sectional shape perpendicular to the longitudinal direction, for example, a substantially circular shape, with one end face in the longitudinal direction formed as a second light entrance surface 27a facing substantially left-right, and the other end face in the longitudinal direction formed as a second light exit surface 27b facing upward. The second light entrance surface 27a and the second light exit surface 27b are formed, for example, as flat surfaces. However, the second light entrance surface 27a and the second light exit surface 27b may be formed as curved surfaces. The second light guide section 27 has a second control step 27c formed on a portion of its outer peripheral surface that internally reflects light and emits it in a predetermined direction.

[0034] The first light guide portion 21 of the first light guide body 9 and the second light guide portion 27 of the second light guide body 10 have, for example, the same diameter.

[0035] The second light guide 10 is provided with a second projection 29 for positioning at a position close to the second light incident surface 27a.

[0036] The second mounting protrusion 28 is formed in the shape of a plate bent into a predetermined shape, and consists of a base 30 protruding from the second light-guiding portion 27, an intermediate portion 31 connected to the base 30, and a tip portion 32 connected to the intermediate portion 31.

[0037] The second mounting projection 28 protrudes, for example, from the end of the second light guiding portion 27 on the second light exit surface 27b side. The base 30 protrudes in the left-right direction from the second light guiding portion 27 toward the second light incident surface 27a, the middle portion 31 protrudes forward from the base 30, and the tip portion 32 protrudes in the left-right direction from the middle portion 31 toward the second light incident surface 27a.

[0038] The upper surface of the base 30 is formed as an abutted surface 30a. A second positioning hole 32a and a screw insertion hole 32b are formed in the tip 32, each penetrating from front to back. A second annular pressing protrusion 32c is provided on the rear surface of the tip 32, and the second pressing protrusion 32c is positioned around the screw insertion hole 32b.

[0039] For example, two light sources 33 are positioned vertically spaced apart on either side of the central end 13 of the reflector 7 (see FIG. 2). The light sources 33 are mounted on a circuit board (not shown), with the upper light source 33 positioned on the side of the upper insertion hole 13a and the lower light source 33 positioned on the side of the lower insertion hole 13a.

[0040] The assembly of the various parts of the lamp unit 6 configured as above will now be described (see FIGS. 2, 3 and 7).

[0041] First, the inner lens 8 is assembled to the reflector 7. The inner lens 8 is assembled to the reflector 7 by inserting the engaging protrusions 14 into the engaging holes 19a formed in the two engaging pieces 19, respectively, and by inserting the positioning pin 15 and the mounting boss 16 into the alignment hole 20a and boss insertion hole 20b formed in the mounting portion 20, respectively.

[0042] When the engaging protrusion 14 of the inner lens 8 is inserted into the engaging hole 19a, the engaging claw 14a engages with the front opening edge of the engaging hole 19a, and the rear surface of the mounting portion 20 is pressed against the pressing portion 17 of the reflector 7, thereby positioning the inner lens 8 in the front-to-back direction relative to the reflector 7.

[0043] The inner lens 8 is positioned relative to the reflector 7 in a direction perpendicular to the front-to-rear direction by inserting the positioning pin 15 into the positioning hole 20a. The light control portion 18 of the inner lens 8 is positioned in front of the inner periphery of the reflecting surface 11a of the reflector 7.

[0044] Next, the first light guide 9 is assembled to the reflector 7. The first light guide 9 is assembled to the reflector 7 by inserting the first protrusion 23 into the upper alignment recess 12a and inserting the positioning pin 15 and the mounting boss 16 into the first positioning hole 26a and the mounting insertion hole 26b formed in the tip portion 26, respectively. The end of the first light guide 9 on the first light incident surface 21a side is inserted into the upper insertion hole 13a formed in the reflector 7, and the first light incident surface 21a is positioned opposite the upper light source 33.

[0045] The first light guide 9 has the first pressing protrusion 26c of the tip 26 pressed against the front surface of the mounting portion 20 of the inner lens 8, and is positioned in the front-to-rear direction relative to the reflector 7 via the mounting portion 20 of the inner lens 8.

[0046] The first light guide 9 is positioned relative to the reflector 7 in a direction perpendicular to the front-to-rear direction by inserting the first protrusion 23 into the alignment recess 12a and inserting the positioning pin 15 into the first positioning hole 26a. The first light guide 9 is positioned such that the first light guide section 21 is located in front of approximately the upper half of the light control section 18 in the inner lens 8.

[0047] Next, the second light guide 10 is assembled to the reflector 7. The second light guide 10 is assembled to the reflector 7 by inserting the second protrusion 29 into the lower alignment recess 12a and inserting the positioning pin 15 into the second positioning hole 32a formed in the tip 32. The end of the second light guide 10 on the second light incident surface 27a side is inserted into the lower insertion hole 13a formed in the reflector 7, and the second light incident surface 27a is positioned opposite the light source 33 on the lower side.

[0048] The second light guide 10 has the second pressing protrusion 32c of the tip 32 pressed against the front surface of the tip 26 of the first light guide 9, and is positioned in the front-to-back direction relative to the reflector 7 via the mounting portion 20 of the inner lens 8 and the tip 32 of the first light guide 9.

[0049] The second light guide 10 is positioned relative to the reflector 7 in a direction perpendicular to the front-to-rear direction by inserting the second protrusion 29 into the alignment recess 12 a and inserting the positioning pin 15 into the second positioning hole 32 a. The second light guide 10 has the second light guiding portion 27 positioned in front of approximately the lower half of the light control portion 18 of the inner lens 8.

[0050] When the first light guide 9 and the second light guide 10 are assembled to the reflector 7 as described above, the first mounting projection 22 and the second mounting projection 28 are overlapped in the thickness direction (front-to-back direction), and the first light output surface 21 b and the second light output surface 27 b are positioned so that the first light guide 21 and the second light guide 27 are positioned as a whole in a generally horizontal U-shape with the first light output surface 21 b and the second light output surface 27 b facing each other. A predetermined gap P is formed between the first light output surface 21 b and the second light output surface 27 b, and the gap P is, for example, about 1 mm (see FIG. 2 ).

[0051] When the first light guide 9 and the second light guide 10 are assembled to the reflector 7, the positioning protrusion 24a of the first light guide 9 abuts against the abutting surface 30a of the second light guide 10, and the first light incident surface 21a of the first light guide 9 and the second light incident surface 27a of the second light guide 10 are positioned in the opposing direction (vertical direction). Therefore, the gap P formed between the first light incident surface 21a and the second light incident surface 27a is maintained at a predetermined value. At this time, for example, the central axis of the first light incident surface 21a and the central axis of the second light incident surface 27a are aligned.

[0052] When the second light guide 10 is assembled to the reflector 7, the positioning protrusion 24a of the first light guide 9 abuts against the abutting surface 30a of the second light guide 10, and the first light output surface 21b of the first light guide 9 and the second light output surface 27b of the second light guide 10 are positioned in the direction (up and down) in which they face each other.

[0053] With the inner lens 8, first light guide 9, and second light guide 10 assembled to the reflector 7 as described above, the mounting screw 100 is inserted into the screw insertion hole 32b of the second light guide 10 and screwed into the mounting boss 16 (see FIG. 7 ). Thus, the mounting portion 20 of the inner lens 8 is pressed against the pressed portion 17 of the reflector 7, the first pressing protrusion 26c of the first light guide 9 is pressed against the mounting portion 20 of the inner lens 8, and the second pressing protrusion 32c of the second light guide 10 is pressed against the tip end 26 of the first light guide 9, thereby attaching the inner lens 8, first light guide 9, and second light guide 10 to the reflector 7.

[0054] In this way, in the vehicle lighting fixture 1, the inner lens 8, the first light guide 9, and the second light guide 10 are assembled to the reflector 7, and the mounting screw 100 is threaded into the mounting boss 16, thereby attaching the inner lens 8, the first light guide 9, and the second light guide 10 to the reflector 7, making it possible to assemble the lamp unit 6 easily and quickly.

[0055] When the inner lens 8, the first light guide 9, and the second light guide 10 are attached to the reflector 7, the inner lens 8, the first light guide 9, and the second light guide 10 are shielded from the front by a shielding member not shown.

[0056] Although the above example shows a case in which the protruding positioning protrusion 24a provided on the first light guide 9 is abutted against the abutting surface 30a, conversely, a protruding positioning protrusion may be provided on the second light guide 10 and the positioning protrusion may be abutted against the first light guide 9 to position the first light output surface 21b and the second light output surface 27b in the direction facing each other.

[0057] Although the example described above shows the case where the tip portion 26 of the second light guide 10 is overlapped with the tip portion 32 of the first light guide 9 from the front side, the tip portion 32 of the first light guide 9 may be configured to overlap with the tip portion 26 of the second light guide 10 from the front side. In this case, the second light guide 10 is assembled to the reflector 7 before the first light guide 9.

[0058] In the vehicle lamp 1 configured as described above, light is emitted from the two light sources 33 simultaneously.

[0059] Light emitted from the light source 33 positioned above enters the first light guide 21 from the first light entrance surface 21a and is guided in the first light guide 21 toward the first light exit surface 21b. At this time, the light is controlled by the first control step 21c of the first light guide 21, is emitted from the outer peripheral surface of the first light guide 21, and is incident on the light control section 18 of the inner lens 8. The light incident on the light control section 18 is diffused by the diffusion step and is emitted toward the reflecting surface 11a of the reflector 7 and is reflected by the reflecting surface 11a. The light reflected by the reflecting surface 11a is transmitted through the cover 3 and irradiated toward the outside.

[0060] Light emitted from the light source 33 positioned below enters the second light guide 27 from the second light entrance surface 27a and is guided toward the second light exit surface 27b in the second light guide 27. At this time, the light is controlled by the second control step 27c of the second light guide 27, is emitted from the outer peripheral surface of the second light guide 27, and is incident on the light control section 18 of the inner lens 8. The light incident on the light control section 18 is diffused by the diffusion step and is emitted toward the reflecting surface 11a of the reflector 7 and is reflected by the reflecting surface 11a. The light reflected by the reflecting surface 11a is transmitted through the cover 3 and is irradiated toward the outside.

[0061] As described above, when the light emitted from the two light sources 33 is guided by the first light guiding section 21 and the second light guiding section 27, respectively, the first light output surface 21b and the second light output surface 27b are positioned opposite each other. Therefore, part of the light guided by the first light guiding section 21 is output from the first light output surface 21b and enters the second light guiding section 27 from the second light output surface 27b, and part of the light guided by the second light guiding section 27 is output from the second light output surface 27b and enters the first light guiding section 21 from the first light output surface 21b.

[0062] Therefore, light emitted from the first light exit surface 21b is guided in the second light guiding section 27 and emitted from the inner lens 8 toward the reflecting surface 11a and irradiated toward the outside, and light emitted from the second light exit surface 27b is guided in the first light guiding section 21 and emitted from the inner lens 8 toward the reflecting surface 11a and irradiated toward the outside.

[0063] As described above, in the vehicle lamp 1, the first light-emitting surface 21b and the second light-emitting surface 27b are opposed to each other with a certain gap P therebetween, and the first mounting protrusion 22 (or the second mounting protrusion 28) is provided with a positioning protrusion 24a that abuts against the second mounting protrusion 28 (or the first mounting protrusion 22), so that light emitted from the first light-emitting surface 21b enters the second light guide 10 from the second light-emitting surface 27b, and light emitted from the second light-emitting surface 27b enters the first light guide 9 from the first light-emitting surface 21b.

[0064] Therefore, the positioning protrusion 24a positions the first light guide 9 and the second light guide 10 in the direction in which the first light exit surface 21b and the second light exit surface 27b face each other, and a portion of the light guided in the first light guide section 21 is emitted from the second light guide section 27, and a portion of the light guided in the second light guide section 27 is emitted from the first light guide section 21.

[0065] This improves the dimensional accuracy of the gap P between the first light-emitting surface 21b and the second light-emitting surface 27b, thereby increasing the efficiency of light incidence on the first light-emitting surface 21b and the second light-emitting surface 27b, and increasing the amount of light emitted from the first light-guiding section 21 and the second light-guiding section 27, thereby ensuring good light distribution performance and enabling effective use of the light emitted from the light source 33.

[0066] Furthermore, the positioning protrusion 24a provided on the first mounting protrusion 22 (or the second mounting protrusion 28) positions the first light-emitting surface 21b and the second light-emitting surface 27b in the direction in which they face each other, so that the dimensional accuracy of the gap P between the first light-emitting surface 21b and the second light-emitting surface 27b can be increased with a simple configuration.

[0067] Furthermore, in the first light guide 9 and the second light guide 10, the first light exit surface 21b and the second light exit surface 27b are formed flat, so that the light emitted from the first light exit surface 21b and the second light exit surface 27b, respectively, is less likely to be refracted at the first light exit surface 21b and the second light exit surface 27b, and the mutual incidence efficiency can be increased at the first light exit surface 21b and the second light exit surface 27b positioned opposite each other.

[0068] Furthermore, by making the diameters of the first light-guiding section 21 and the second light-guiding section 27 the same and by aligning the central axis of the first light-guiding section 21 with the central axis of the second light-guiding section 27, light emitted from the entire surfaces of the first light-emitting surface 21b and the second light-emitting surface 27b can more easily enter the opposing second light-emitting surface 27b and the first light-emitting surface 21b, thereby further increasing the mutual incidence efficiency at the opposing first light-emitting surface 21b and the second light-emitting surface 27b.

[0069] Furthermore, in the vehicle lamp 1, the first mounting protrusion 22 and the second mounting protrusion 28 are attached to the reflector 7, which functions as a mounting body, in a positioned state, so that the first light guide 9 and the second light guide 10 are attached to the mounting body in a positioned state, thereby improving the positional accuracy between the first light guide 9 and the second light guide 10.

[0070] Furthermore, the first mounting protrusion 22 protrudes from the end of the first light-guiding section 21 on the side of the first light-emitting surface 21b, and the second mounting protrusion 28 protrudes from the end of the second light-guiding section 27 on the side of the second light-emitting surface 27b.

[0071] Therefore, since the first mounting protrusion 22 and the second mounting protrusion 28 are positioned on the mounting body at positions close to the first light-emitting surface 21b and the second light-emitting surface 27b, respectively, the positional accuracy between the first light-emitting surface 21b and the second light-emitting surface 27b can be further improved.

[0072] Furthermore, the first mounting protrusion 22 and the second mounting protrusion 28 are each formed in a plate shape, a first positioning hole 26a is formed in the first mounting protrusion 22, a second positioning hole 32a is formed in the second mounting protrusion 28, and a positioning pin 15 is inserted into the first positioning hole 26a and the second positioning hole 32a with the first mounting protrusion 22 and the second mounting protrusion 28 overlapping each other.

[0073] Therefore, since the first mounting protrusion 22 and the second mounting protrusion 28 are positioned in a direction perpendicular to the thickness direction of the first mounting protrusion 22 and the second mounting protrusion 28 while they are stacked, the positioning accuracy between the first light-emitting surface 21b and the second light-emitting surface 27b can be increased with a simple configuration.

[0074] In addition, a first pressing protrusion 26c protruding in the thickness direction is provided on the first attached protrusion 22, and a second pressing protrusion 32c protruding in the thickness direction is provided on the second attached protrusion 28, and when the first attached protrusion 22 and the second attached protrusion 28 are overlapped, the first pressing protrusion 26c or the second pressing protrusion 32c is pressed against the pressed portion 17, and the second pressing protrusion 32c or the first pressing protrusion 26c is pressed against the first attached protrusion 22 or the second attached protrusion 28.

[0075] Therefore, since the first mounting protrusion 22 and the second mounting protrusion 28 are positioned in the thickness direction while they are stacked, the positioning accuracy between the first light guide 9 and the second light guide 10 can be increased with a simple configuration.

[0076] In the above example, the first light exit surface 21b and the second light exit surface 27b of the curved first light guide 9 and the second light guide 10 are positioned opposite each other. However, in the vehicle lamp 1, for example, the first light guide 9 and the second light guide 10 may be replaced by linear first light guides 9A and second light guides 10A, and the first light exit surface 21b of the first light guide 9A and the second light exit surface 27b of the second light guide 10A may be positioned opposite each other (see Figure 8).

[0077] In particular, in a long configuration in which the first light guide 9A and the second light guide 10A are long, the amount of light guided to the end of the first light guide 9A facing the first light output surface 21 b and the end of the second light guide 10A facing the second light output surface 27 b is likely to be small. Therefore, by applying the present invention to a configuration in which long first light guides 9A and 10A are provided, the light emitted from the first light output surface 21 b is made incident on the second light guide 10 and output from the end of the second light output surface 27 b, and the light emitted from the second light output surface 27 b is made incident on the first light guide 9 and output from the end of the first light output surface 21 b, it is possible to uniform the luminance emitted from the first light guide 9A and the second light guide 10A while effectively utilizing light.

[0078] Furthermore, although the above example shows a configuration in which a first light guide 9 and a second light guide 10 are used, the present invention may also be applied to a configuration in which three or more light guides are provided (see Figure 9).

[0079] For example, in addition to the first light guide 9 and the second light guide 10, a third light guide 34 may be disposed between them. The third light guide 34 has both longitudinal surfaces formed as a first optical end surface 34a and a second optical end surface 34b, respectively, and the first optical end surface 34a is positioned opposite the first light output surface 21b of the first light guide 9, and the second optical end surface 34b is positioned opposite the second light output surface 27b of the second light guide 10.

[0080] In this configuration, light emitted from the first light output surface 21b enters the third light guide 34 from the first optical end surface 34a, and light emitted from the second light output surface 27b enters the third light guide 34 from the second optical end surface 34b. A portion of the light incident on the third light guide 34 from the second optical end surface 34b exits from the first optical end surface 34a and enters the first light guide 9 from the first light output surface 21b, and a portion of the light incident on the third light guide 34 from the first optical end surface 34a exits from the second optical end surface 34b and enters the second light guide 10 from the second light output surface 27b. Therefore, both the first optical end surface 34a and the second optical end surface 34b function as a light entrance surface and a light exit surface.

[0081] Even in a configuration using three or more light guides as described above, a portion of the light guided in the three light guides is mutually utilized in adjacent light guides, thereby enabling effective utilization of light.

[0082] DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Vehicle lamp 7 Reflector (mounting body) 9 First light guide 10 Second light guide 15 Positioning pin 17 Pressed portion 21 First light guide portion 21a First light incident surface 21b First light exit surface 22 First mounting protrusion 24a Positioning protrusion 26a First positioning hole 26c First pressing protrusion 27 Second light guide portion 27a Second light incident surface 27b Second light exit surface 28 Second mounting protrusion 32a Second positioning hole 32c Second pressing protrusion 9A First light guide 10A Second light guide

Claims

1. A first light guide having a first light guiding section whose longitudinal end faces are formed as a first light entrance surface and a first light exit surface, respectively, and which guides light incident from the first light entrance surface toward the first light exit surface; and a second light guide having a second light guiding section whose longitudinal end faces are formed as a second light entrance surface and a second light exit surface, respectively, and which guides light incident from the second light entrance surface toward the second light exit surface, wherein the first light exit surface and the second light exit surface are opposed to each other with a certain gap between them, the first light guide is provided with a first attachment protrusion protruding from the first light guide, and the second light guide is provided with a second attachment protrusion protruding from the second light guide, The first mounting protrusion or the second mounting protrusion is provided with a positioning protrusion that abuts against the second mounting protrusion or the first mounting protrusion in a direction in which the first light-emitting surface and the second light-emitting surface face each other, and light emitted from the first light-emitting surface is incident on the second light guide from the second light-emitting surface, and light emitted from the second light-emitting surface is incident on the first light guide from the first light-emitting surface.

2. A vehicle lamp according to claim 1, wherein the first light-emitting surface and the second light-emitting surface are formed as flat surfaces.

3. A vehicle lamp according to claim 2, wherein the diameters of the first light guiding section and the second light guiding section are the same, and the central axis of the first light guiding section and the central axis of the second light guiding section are aligned.

4. A vehicle lamp according to claim 1, 2 or 3, which is attached to a mounting body with the first mounting projection and the second mounting projection positioned.

5. A vehicle lamp as described in claim 4, wherein the first mounting projection protrudes from the end of the first light-guiding section on the side of the first light-emitting surface, and the second mounting projection protrudes from the end of the second light-guiding section on the side of the second light-emitting surface.

6. A vehicle lamp as described in claim 4, wherein a positioning pin is provided on the mounting body, the first mounting protrusion and the second mounting protrusion are each formed in a plate shape, a first positioning hole is formed in the first mounting protrusion, a second positioning hole is formed in the second mounting protrusion, and the positioning pin is inserted into the first positioning hole and the second positioning hole when the first mounting protrusion and the second mounting protrusion are overlapped.

7. A vehicle lamp as claimed in claim 4, wherein the mounting body is provided with a pressed portion, the first mounting protrusion and the second mounting protrusion are each formed in a plate shape, the first mounting protrusion is provided with a first pressing protrusion that protrudes in the thickness direction, and the second mounting protrusion is provided with a second pressing protrusion that protrudes in the thickness direction, and when the first mounting protrusion and the second mounting protrusion are overlapped, the first pressing protrusion or the second pressing protrusion is pressed against the pressed portion, and the second pressing protrusion or the first pressing protrusion is pressed against the first mounting protrusion or the second mounting protrusion.

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