JP3122980B2 - Interior lights for vehicles - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a room light installed in a vehicle, and more particularly to a vehicle room light having a reduced number of parts and improved workability in assembly.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Various types of room lights of this type which are installed in the interior of a car and ensure illumination at night have been proposed in the past, and an example thereof is disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open Publication No. 2-34334. Are known. In this vehicle interior light, as shown in FIGS. 13 and 14, a lamp room is formed by a lamp body 2 fixed to a ceiling plate in a vehicle body room and a front lens 1, and a bulb 4 and a bulb 4 Are provided with a pair of elastic pieces 5 and 6 for elastically holding both end caps, a plurality of contacts 7 and the like. The switching lever 10 includes a ball 12 urged by a compression coil spring 11, and the valve 4 is turned on and off by selectively bringing the ball 12 into contact with the contact 7. When the interior light is normally switched to the neutral "OFF" position, the bulb 4 is turned off regardless of the open / closed state of the door. Regardless, the valve 4 can be held in the lighting state, and when the door is switched to the “DOOR” position, the door switch is turned ON when the door is opened, so that the valve 4 is turned on.
The circuit is configured so that when the door is closed, the door switch is turned off and the light is turned off.

[0003]

However, in the above-described conventional room light, components such as the lens 1, the lamp body 2, the pair of elastic pieces 5, 6, the ball 12, the compression coil spring 11, and the like are used. Because of the necessity, the number of parts is large, the assembling work is troublesome, and the manufacturing cost is high.

Accordingly, the present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned conventional problems, and its object is to reduce the number of parts and to facilitate the assembling work.
An object of the present invention is to provide a vehicular interior light capable of reducing manufacturing costs.

[0005]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to achieve the above object, the present invention comprises a pair of contacts for selectively contacting one of the bases of a valve, a switching lever for holding one end of the valve, and a switching lever for the valve. The elastic piece for holding the other base is integrally held by a holding member, and the holding member is integrally provided on the back side of the light-transmitting lens.
Further, the present invention includes an end portion of the valve, a switching lever to which a pair of contacts are attached and which selectively contacts these contacts to one base portion of the valve, and an elastic piece holding the other base portion of the valve. It is held together by a holding member,
It is characterized in that the holding member is provided integrally on the back side of the lens having translucency. Further, the present invention is characterized in that the contact and the elastic piece are respectively connected to the battery, and the bulb is turned on by operating the switching lever. Further, the present invention is characterized in that the lens is attached to the ceiling plate by an engaging claw and an elastic piece provided integrally with the lens.

[0006]

In the present invention, the lens comprises a bulb, an elastic piece,
The switching lever and the pair of contacts are attached to serve as a lamp body. The lens is attached to the ceiling plate by the engagement claws and the elastic pieces. The holding member is integrally provided on the back side of the lens, and integrally holds the switching lever, the elastic piece, and the pair of contacts. The valve has one base portion held by a switching lever and the other base portion elastically held by an elastic piece. The switching lever selectively brings one of the bases of the valve into contact with the pair of contacts. In the present invention, one of the bases of the bulb is held by a holding member provided on the back surface side of the lens, and is selectively connected to a pair of contacts attached to the switching lever.

[0007]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail based on embodiments shown in the drawings. FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view showing an embodiment of a vehicle interior light according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the interior light, FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a part of a lens, and FIG. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing a relationship between one base portion of the bulb and a contact. In these figures, a vehicle interior light 20 is provided with a mounting hole 22 formed in a ceiling plate 21 in the vehicle interior.
And a lens 1 which is also directly fitted into the lens body and also serves as a lamp body.

The lens 1 is integrally formed of a light-transmitting synthetic resin such as an acrylic resin or a polycarbonate resin in order to transmit the light emitted from the bulb 4 forward. A large number of small lens steps (not shown) for controlling the light are formed over the entire surface. However, when the lens 1 itself is formed of a milky white synthetic resin having diffusivity, a lens step is not required. Further, the lens 1 has a lens main body 1A at a front central portion and an outer frame portion 1B at an outer peripheral portion. The lens body 1A forms a rectangular projection that is long in the axial direction of the bulb 4 by projecting forward from the outer frame 1B as shown in FIG. A lever mounting hole 25 through which the switching lever 10 is inserted is formed on one side edge of the lens body 1A in the longitudinal direction over substantially the entire width of the lens body 1A. A holding member 2 is provided on the back side of the lens body 1A.
The switching member 10, a pair of contacts 32, and the elastic piece 50, which will be described later, are integrally held by the holding member 27.

The structure of the holding member 27 will be described in more detail. The holding member 27 is formed in a frame shape along the outer periphery of the rear surface of the lens body 1A, so that the four wall plates 2 are formed.
7A to 27D. These four wall boards 2
Among the 7A to 27D, the wall plate 27A, which is orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the lens body 1A and is located on the lever mounting hole 25 side, is formed higher than the other three wall plates 27B to 24D. When the switching lever 10 is in the “ON” position,
FF "position and" DOOR "position, and gives a sense of moderation to the hand when the switching lever 10 is operated.
Three concave portions 28a to 28c are formed. On the other hand, a shaft 29 for rotatably supporting the switching lever 10 is integrally provided at the rear end side of the inner surface of the wall surface plate 27A, and a shaft 29 between the shaft 29 and the concave portions 28a to 28c is provided. A pair of left and right contact relief holes 30 and a pair of contact locking holes 31 located on both sides of the contact relief hole 30 are formed on the inner side surface. Further, contact housing grooves 33 for housing a pair of left and right contacts 32 are provided at both ends of the inner surface of the wall surface plate 27A. The contact storage groove 33 is provided with two wall plates 27 orthogonal to the wall plate 27A.
B, 27C are formed by the housing groove forming wall 36 protruding from the inner side surface and the wall surface plate 27A.

The outer peripheral edge of the outer frame portion 1B of the lens 1 slightly protrudes toward the rear surface over the entire circumference. Also, on the back surface of the outer frame portion 1B, on the side of the wall surface plate 27A, FIG.
As shown in FIG. 3, a pair of engaging claws 37 are integrally protruded. These engaging claws 37 are formed in an L-shape, and their tip portions 37 a are locked to the upper surface of the ceiling plate 21.

As the bulb 4, a bulb bulb is used, and bases 4A and 4B provided at both ends thereof are held by the switching lever 10 and the elastic piece 50. In addition,
Each base 4A, 4B is formed in a conical shape.

The switching lever 10 is integrally formed of a heat-resistant synthetic resin to hold one end of the valve 4, and a knob 39 is integrally provided at the front end.
The switching lever 10 penetrates the lever mounting hole 25 of the lens 1, and its rear end is pivotally supported by the shaft 29, so that the switching lever 10 is rotatable in the longitudinal direction of the lever mounting hole 25. Therefore, a C-shaped shaft hole 41 into which the shaft 29 is fitted is formed at the rear end of the switching lever 10, and one base 4A of the valve 4 is moved in the axial direction at an intermediate portion. A valve holding hole 42 with a rib for freely holding is formed. As shown in FIG. 5, the valve holding hole 42 is a tapered hole whose diameter increases toward the shaft 29, so that when the switching lever 10 is rotated in the direction A or B in FIG. The base 4B can be swung in the left-right direction by using the base as a swing fulcrum. The rib 42a of the valve holding hole 42 serves as a spacer for adjusting the amount of protrusion of the base 4A. Further, three concave portions 28a to 2 of the wall plate 27A
A protrusion 44 selectively engaging with 8c is integrally provided.

The pair of contacts 32 is formed in an L shape by a thin conductive metal plate such as phosphor bronze for spring, and one end 32 A orthogonal to the lens 1 is connected to the wall plate 27.
A is inserted into the contact housing groove 33 from the rear of the lens 1 along the inner surface of A, the other end portion 32B parallel to the lens 1 forms a connection terminal, and the female terminal 46 provided at one end of the vehicle body side cord 45 Is connected by being connected to.
Further, the one end portion 32A is provided with the contact locking hole 3.
The slip-off preventing claws 47 that prevent the contact 32 from slipping out by being engaged with the hook 1 are formed by cutting and raising. Further, on one side surface of the one end portion 32A, a contact portion 48 that comes into contact with one base portion 4A of the valve 4 is integrally connected. The distal end of the contact portion 48 is curved in a U-shape so as to project toward the bulb 4 when viewed from the rear of the lens, and the contact escape hole 30 is formed in a state where the contact 32 is inserted into the contact housing groove 33. I'm facing you. In this case, when the interior light 20 is not used, the bulb 4 is held at the neutral “OFF” position, so that one base 4A is located in the middle of the pair of left and right contacts 32 and any of the contact portions 48 When the switching lever 10 is rotated in the direction of the arrow A or B in FIG.
It is configured to contact the contact portion 48 of the contact 32 on the rotation side. At this time, the distal end of the contact portion 48 is elastically deformed toward the wall plate 27A and enters the contact escape hole 30. The other end of the vehicle body side cord 45 is connected to a battery (not shown).

Further, the elastic piece 50 for elastically holding the other base 4B of the bulb 4 is provided on the back side of the lens 1. Like the contact 32, the elastic piece 50 is formed by bending a thin conductive metal plate such as phosphor bronze for a spring, so that the elastic piece 50 extends in the vertical direction and faces in parallel in the longitudinal direction of the lens 1. Vertical plate parts 50A, 50B and vertical plate parts 50A, 50
And a horizontal connecting plate portion 50C for connecting the front end of OB. Of the pair of vertical plate portions 50A, 50B, a retaining piece 53 is formed by cutting and raising the front end side of the inner vertical plate portion 50A, and a holding portion for holding the other base portion 4B of the valve 4 at an intermediate portion. A hole 54 is formed, and a plate-like connection terminal 55 is further provided integrally at the rear end. Also, the vertical plate portion 50A switches the valve 4 with the switching lever 1 in a state where the elastic piece 50 is attached to the back side of the lens 1.
Acts to urge in the 0 direction. The connection terminal 55
Is connected to a terminal 57 provided at one end of the vehicle body-side cord 56. The other end of the vehicle body-side cord 56 is connected to a battery. A detachment preventing piece 59 is cut and raised in the outer vertical plate portion 50B, and a pressing portion 50D bent forward is integrally provided at the rear end. The front end of such an elastic piece 50 is fitted into the storage portion 61 provided on the holding member 27 from behind the lens 1,
In addition, the slip-off preventing pieces 53 and 59 are engaged with the locking holes 63 and 64 formed in the opposite wall of the storage portion 61, respectively, thereby preventing the slip-out. The pressing portion 50 </ b> D protrudes from the storage portion 61 and is pressed against the hole wall surface of the mounting hole 22 as shown in FIG. 2, so that the lens 1 is detachably fixed to the mounting hole 22 together with the pair of engagement claws 37. I do.

Further, inside the holding member 27, there is provided a light shielding wall 65 for preventing the light of the bulb 4 from leaking from the bulb mounting hole 25 to the front of the lens 1. The light-shielding wall 61 has an insertion hole 66 into which one end of the bulb 4 is inserted, and both ends are connected to the wall plates 27B and 27C.

When assembling the interior light 20 having such a structure, the pair of contacts 32 is inserted into the contact storage groove 33, and the elastic piece 50 is inserted into the storage portion 61. Further, the switching lever 10 is inserted through the lever mounting hole 25, and the shaft 29 is fitted into the shaft hole 41 provided at the rear end.
Are inserted into the switching lever 10 and the bulb holding holes 42, 54 of the elastic piece 50, respectively, to complete the assembly of the interior light. When attaching the lens 1 to the ceiling plate 21 of the vehicle body, the outer peripheral portion of the back surface of the lens 1 is brought into close contact with the ceiling plate 21, the holding member 27 is inserted into the mounting hole 22, the engagement claw 37 is inserted into the engagement recess 38, and the elasticity is increased. By pressing the pressing portion 50 </ b> D of the piece 50 against the wall surface of the mounting hole 22, the mounting operation of the interior light 20 is completed. When the interior light 20 is removed, the lens 1 is shifted in the direction of the bulb 4 to engage the engagement claw 37.
When the engagement state between the and the engagement concave portion 38 is released, it can be easily removed.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a switch circuit of the interior light 20 described above. In the drawings, the same components as those in FIGS. 1 to 5 are denoted by the same reference numerals. 6
Reference numeral 9 denotes a door switch that is turned on and off by opening and closing the door of the vehicle body. The valve 4 is turned on irrespective of the open / close state of the door switch 69 in a state where one of the bases 4A does not contact the contact 32, that is, in a state of “OFF” in which the protrusion 44 of the switching lever 10 is engaged with the recess 28a. In the "ON" state in which one of the bases 4A is in contact with one of the contacts 32 by the switching operation of the switching lever 10, the lamp is turned on regardless of the open / close state of the door switch 69, and the one of the bases 4A is turned on by the other contact 32. In the "DOOR" state where the door switch 69 is in contact, the light turns on when the door switch 69 is opened, and turns off when the door switch 69 is closed. Such a switch circuit 70 itself is exactly the same as the circuit of a conventional room light. Reference numeral 80 denotes a battery.

In the interior light 20 having such a structure, since the lens 1 is directly mounted on the ceiling plate 21, the lamp body conventionally required is unnecessary. Further, the elastic piece 50 urges the valve 4 in the direction of the switching lever 10, and the switching operation of the lever 10 selectively connects the one base 4A to the pair of contacts 32. 13 and the conventional interior light shown in FIG. 14 does not require the compression coil spring 11 and the ball 12, and the number of parts can be reduced from this point as well. Further, conventionally, it was necessary to hold the bases 4A and 4B of the valve 4 by a pair of elastic pieces, but in the present invention, since one base 4A of the valve 4 is held by the switching lever 10, the elasticity is high. The number of pieces can be reduced by one. Therefore, the number of parts is further reduced, and the assembling work is simple and easy.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of main components showing another embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 8 is a perspective view of an elastic piece, and FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a switching lever. In this embodiment, the switching lever 10 is provided with a conductive plate 72, and one base 4A of the valve 4 is selectively connected to the pair of contacts 32 via the conductive plate 72. The conductive plate 72 is formed of a thin conductive metal plate such as copper, and has a ring-shaped valve contact portion 72 through which one of the bases 4A of the valve 4 is inserted.
A and a contact contact portion 72B selectively contacting the pair of contacts 32. The valve contact portion 72A is provided on a surface of the switching lever 10 facing the valve 4, and is electrically connected to one base 4A. The contact contact portion 72B is composed of two orthogonal plate portions 72B-1, 72B-2.
Is fixed to the surface opposite to the valve 4. Also, 2
Of the two plate portions 72B-1, 72B-2, the front end of the plate portion 72B-1 extending in the front-rear direction is selectively engaged with the concave portions 28a to 28c and the switching lever 10 is turned "ON" and "OF".
A ring-shaped spring 73 is provided which locks in the "F" and "DOOR" positions and gives a sense of moderation to the hand during operation, and the rear end is connected to the valve contact portion 72A. On the other hand, at both ends of the plate portion 72B-2 extending in the left-right direction, a contact portion 75 having elasticity and formed in a U-shape is integrally provided. Such a conductive plate 72 is formed integrally with the switching lever 10 by outsert molding or the like, or is fixed by ultrasonic welding or the like.

The contact 32 is formed in a plate shape and has a slip-off preventing piece 47. The contact 32 is inserted from the rear of the lens 1 into a terminal storage groove 33 provided on the inner surface of the wall plate 27A. Engagement with the stop hole 31 prevents the detachment.

In FIG. 8, at the rear end of the inner vertical plate portion 50A constituting the elastic piece 50, there is provided a valve holding hole 54 for holding the other base 4B of the valve 4. A valve pressing portion 77 urged in the direction is continuously provided. The valve pressing portion 77 is bent forward. In this case, the valve pressing portion 77 and the vertical plate portion 50A
Although the opening 78 is provided at the connecting portion with the valve pressing portion 77, the valve pressing portion 77 having no opening may be provided as shown in FIG.

Other configurations are substantially the same as those of the above-described embodiment, and therefore, the same components and the like are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof will be omitted.

The interior light having such a structure does not require a lamp body, a ball, a compression coil spring or the like, as in the above embodiment, and can reduce the number of parts. Also, since the valve pressing portion 77 of the elastic piece 50 urges the valve 4 in the direction of the switching lever 10, the one base 4A of the valve 4 and the conductive plate 72 can be brought into contact with a good contact pressure. . Further, one base 4 of the valve 4
Since A is in contact with the conductive plate 72 and is not pressed against the contact 32 during the switching operation, it does not wear.

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a part of a lens and a switching lever according to still another embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 12 is a perspective view before a contact of the switching lever is attached.
In this embodiment, the holding member 27
, A holding plate 90 constituting a part of the
The one base part 4A of the valve 4 is held by a hole 91 provided in the valve 4. The switching lever 10 is provided with a pair of contact mounting holes 92 and a notch 93, respectively. The switching lever 10 penetrates through the lever mounting hole 25 and is fitted to the shaft 29, and then a pair of contacts 32 are mounted on these. ing. Therefore, even if the switching lever 10 is rotated, the valve 4 does not move, and the pair of contacts 32 selectively contact one of the bases 4A of the valve 4. Other configurations are the same as those of the above-described embodiment. Even in such a structure, similarly to the above-described embodiment, a lamp body, a ball, a compression coil spring, and the like are not required, and the number of parts can be reduced. Further, since there is no need to move the valve 4, there is no possibility that the valve 4 will fall off.

Although the above embodiments have been described with respect to the example in which the interior light 20 is mounted on the ceiling plate in the interior of the automobile, the present invention is not limited to this. You may. Further, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and various changes and modifications are possible. For example, the lever mounting hole 25 may be covered with a light shielding film, or the switching lever 10 may be used.
May be slidably provided.

[0026]

As described above, the vehicular interior light according to the present invention is provided with a bulb, a switching lever, a contact, and an elastic piece on the back surface of the lens, and this lens is directly mounted on the ceiling plate or wall surface in the room. As a result, the lamp body conventionally required is unnecessary, and the number of parts can be reduced. Further, since the valve can be biased in the switching lever direction by the elastic piece, the valve and the contact can be reliably connected. Further, a compression coil spring, a ball and the like for connecting the valve and the contact are not required, and the switching lever also serves as an elastic piece for holding one base of the valve.
In this case, the number of parts can be reduced. Further, since the holding member for holding the switching lever, the contact and the elastic piece is provided integrally with the lens, a dedicated holding member is not required. Therefore, the structure is simplified, the assembling work is easy, and the manufacturing cost can be reduced. Further, in the present invention, since one base portion of the valve is held by the holding member protruding from the back surface of the lens and a pair of contacts are connected to the switching lever, there is no need to move the valve together with the switching lever. Further, in the present invention, since the interior light is mounted on the ceiling plate by the engagement claws and the elastic pieces, the mounting operation is simple.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view showing an embodiment of a vehicle interior light according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the room light.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a part of a lens.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a switching lever.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing a relationship between one base portion of the bulb and a contact.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a switch circuit.

FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view of main components showing another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of an elastic piece.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a switching lever.

FIG. 10 is a partial perspective view showing another embodiment of the elastic piece.

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a part of a lens and a switching lever according to still another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a perspective view before a contact of a switching lever is attached.

FIG. 13 is an exploded perspective view of a conventional room light.

FIG. 14 is a sectional view showing a part of the switching lever in a cutaway manner.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Lens, 4 ... Bulb, 4A ... One base part, 4B ...
The other base part, 10: switching lever, 20: interior light, 25
... Lever mounting hole, 27 ... Holding member, 29 ... Shaft, 32 ... Contact, 50 ... Elastic piece, 70 ... Conductive plate, 70A ... Valve contact part, 70B ... Contact contact part, 80 ... Battery.

Claims (4)

(57) [Claims] 1. A pair of contacts in which one base of a valve selectively contacts, a switching lever for holding one end of the valve, and an elastic piece for holding the other base of the valve are integrally formed by a holding member. An interior light for a vehicle, wherein the holding member is provided integrally, and the holding member is integrally provided on the back side of the lens having a light transmitting property. 2. A valve for holding one end of a valve, a switching lever to which a pair of contacts are attached and which selectively contact these contacts with one base of the valve, and an elastic piece for holding the other base of the valve. A vehicular interior lamp, wherein the vehicular interior light is integrally held by a member, and the holding member is integrally provided on a rear surface side of a light-transmitting lens. 3. The vehicle interior light according to claim 1, wherein the contact and the elastic piece are respectively connected to the battery.
An interior light for a vehicle, wherein a bulb is turned on by operating a switching lever. 4. The vehicle interior light according to claim 1, wherein the lens is attached to the ceiling plate by an engaging claw and an elastic piece provided integrally with the lens. Vehicle interior lights.