Light Guide Holder Structure for Stable Side Engagement
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing lighting devices have a large size due to the long cover member and unstable engagement between the engagement claw and the engagement target claw, leading to improper attachment of the light guide body.
Innovation Solution
A compact lighting device design with a reducer and hinge mechanism between the sandwiching portions to stabilize the engagement and reduce shift, allowing for proper attachment and reduced light leakage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the light guide body is sandwiched between a cover member and device body with engagement claw and engagement target claw, then the light guide body can be attached to the device body, but the length of the cover member increases and the size of the lighting device is increased
Solution Approach 1:
The holder is divided into two separate sandwiching portions that can engage with each other, allowing the light guide body to be held without requiring a long cover member. The first sandwiching portion is provided on the device body and the second sandwiching portion is provided on the cover member, and they engage at a position adjacent to the end portion of the light guide body, thereby reducing the overall length.
Solution Approach 2:
The engagement mechanism is shifted from a longitudinal engagement (along the length of the cover member) to a lateral engagement (at the side of the light guide body). The sandwiching portions engage with each other in a direction crossing the extending direction of the light guide body, which reduces the length requirement in the extending direction.
2Reliability
If the engagement claw engages with the engagement target claw to attach the light guide body, then the light guide body can be held, but the engagement state becomes unstable due to shift from proper engagement portion
Solution Approach 1:
The two sandwiching portions are configured to automatically engage with each other in a predetermined manner without requiring precise manual alignment. The engagement structure guides the sandwiching portions into proper engagement, ensuring stable attachment even if there is some initial misalignment.
Solution Approach 2:
The engagement structure is designed to accommodate and correct potential position shifts before final engagement. The sandwiching portions have engagement features that can absorb minor misalignments and guide themselves into the proper engagement position, preventing unstable engagement states.
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention relates to a lighting device comprising a light emitter, a linearly-extending light guide body and a holder configured to hold the light guide body with the light guide body facing the light emitter, wherein the holder includes a holder body to be assembled with the light emitter, two sandwiching portions configured to engage with each other in a state in which a holding target portion of the light guide body held by the holder is sandwiched in a direction crossing an extending direction of the holding target portion and a reducer provided at a position next to the two sandwiching portions in the extending direction and configured to reduce shift of an engagement portion between the two sandwiching portions toward a position of the holder body in the extending direction, the reducer is a protruding portion protruding from the holder body toward the two sandwiching portions in the extending direction.