JP7640840B2 - Vehicle interior components and vehicle interior lighting devices - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to interior components for vehicles and interior lighting devices using the same.

Conventionally, there is known a vehicle interior accessory that includes a lighting device that is attached to the door trim of a vehicle and a light shielding portion that is provided as part of the door trim and blocks light from outside the vehicle from reaching the lighting device (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

The vehicle interior accessory described in Patent Document 1 is said to make it easier to see the light emission state of the lighting device even when the outside light is strong, such as during the day.

JP 2018-16290 A

However, in recent years, in order to meet the diverse needs of users, there has been a demand for the development of vehicle interior components that allow the illumination range to be changed as desired, for example by shining illumination light onto an area that is easily visible to the user.

The vehicle interior member according to one aspect of the present invention has an opening for passing light and is fixed inside a vehicle cabin. The vehicle interior member includes a main body that defines the opening, a shielding member that is rotatable relative to the main body between a shielding position that shields the opening and an opening position that opens the opening, and a rotation mechanism that can adjust the rotation angle of the shielding member. The shielding member is formed in a rectangular plate shape that can shield the opening, and rotates around a shaft that is provided at the upper end of the shielding member .

According to the present invention, the illumination range can be changed arbitrarily by rotating the shielding member, for example, by irradiating the illumination light to a range that is easily visible to the user.

1 is a side view of a left door to which a vehicle interior member according to an embodiment of the present invention is applied, viewed from inside the vehicle compartment. 1 is a perspective view showing a vehicle interior member according to an embodiment of the present invention, the vehicle interior side of the vehicle. FIG. 2 is a side view showing a side of the vehicle interior member according to the embodiment of the present invention opposite to the vehicle interior side. 4 is a side view showing a state in which the opening is covered by the covering member on the vehicle interior side of the vehicle interior member shown in FIGS. FIG. 4 is a side view showing a state where an opening is opened by a shielding member on the vehicle interior member shown in FIGS. FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing the interior lighting device according to the present embodiment, and is a cross-sectional view taken along line VV in FIG. 3 of a vehicle interior member as a component of the interior lighting device. 1 is a front view of a vehicle showing the relationship between a shielding plate of an interior member for a vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention and a center console installed in the vehicle.

Below, an embodiment of the present invention (vehicle interior member and vehicle interior lighting device) will be described with reference to Figures 1 to 6. The vehicle interior member according to this embodiment is a member that performs its original role as an interior lining part, such as a door trim or roof lining that is attached inside the vehicle cabin, and also functions as part of a vehicle interior lighting device. The vehicle interior member according to this embodiment can be applied to various lighting devices installed inside the vehicle, but the following describes an example of application to a door trim.

Figure 1 is a side view of a left door 100 including a vehicle interior member (door trim 30) according to one embodiment of the present invention, as viewed from inside the vehicle compartment. In this specification, the front-rear direction, left-right direction, and up-down direction of a vehicle C are defined as shown in the figures (Figures 1 and 6), with the front-rear direction corresponding to the length direction of the vehicle C, the left-right direction corresponding to the vehicle width direction, and the up-down direction corresponding to the height direction of the vehicle C.

As shown in FIG. 1, the left door 100 includes a door body 10 made of a steel plate or the like, a side window glass 20 disposed on the upper side of the door body 10, and a door trim (vehicle interior member) 30 disposed on the interior side of the door body 10. The door trim 30 is a resin member formed to cover the door body 10 from the inside of the vehicle. The door trim 30 has an armrest 30b on its body 30a, the longitudinal direction of which is the fore-aft direction of the vehicle, and an opening X is formed below the armrest 30b. The door trim 30 will be described in detail below.

Figure 2 is a perspective view showing a schematic view of the interior side of a door trim 30 (vehicle interior member) according to one embodiment of the present invention. Note that the door trim 30 shown in Figure 2 is merely one example of the door trim 30 shown in Figure 1. The door trim according to this embodiment includes any type of door trim as long as it satisfies the configuration etc. described below.

The door trim 30 shown in FIG. 2 is an interior component for the vehicle cabin, and is originally a resin lining panel on the inside of the door, and is an interior component that constitutes the interior space of the vehicle. However, in addition to the above role, the door trim 30 in this embodiment is an interior component that also serves as part of the lighting device, as described below.

As shown in FIG. 2, the main body 30a of the door trim 30 is provided with an armrest 30b on which the occupant can place his or her hands or elbows. More specifically, the armrest 30b may be of a type that is simply fixed to the main body 30a, or of a detachable type that is attached to the main body 30a only when necessary.

An opening X for passing light is formed below the armrest 30b in the main body 30a of the door trim 30. The shape of the opening X shown in FIG. 2 is rectangular, but the shape is not limited to this and can be any shape that allows light from a light source described later to pass in a desired direction.

Figure 3 is a side view showing the opposite side of the door trim 30 shown in Figure 2 from the interior side of the vehicle, and Figure 4A (Figure 4B) is a side view showing the interior side of the door trim 30 shown in Figures 2 and 3, with the opening X blocked (open) by the blocking member 30c. In contrast, Figure 5 is a schematic diagram showing the interior lighting device 200 according to this embodiment, and is a cross-sectional view taken along line V-V in Figure 3 of the vehicle interior member (door trim 30) as a component of the interior lighting device 200.

In FIG. 5, the light source LS is embedded in the main body 30a of the door trim 30, but as described below, the light source LS is not a component of the door trim 30. Also, the shielding member 30c (P1) shown in FIG. 5 shows the shielded state shown in FIG. 4A, and the shielding member 30c (P2) shows the open state shown in FIG. 4B.

As shown in Figures 3, 4A, 4B, and 5, the door trim 30 includes a shielding member 30c that is rotatable relative to the main body 30a between a shielding position (Figure 4A) that shields the opening X and an opening position (Figure 4B) that opens the opening X, and a rotation mechanism 30d that can adjust the rotation angle of the shielding member 30c.

The shielding member 30c is formed as a plate-like member that is approximately rectangular when viewed from the front. More specifically, the shielding member 30c is formed to extend in the front-rear direction, has a shaft portion 30c1 that extends in the front-rear direction at its upper end, and is supported by the door trim 30 so as to be rotatable about the shaft portion 30c1. The shielding member 30c has a stepped cutout portion 30c2 on the outer surface (door trim 30 side) of the lower end, and the cutout portion 30c2 is provided in a portion other than the portion that shields the opening X.

Shielding member 30c can be a so-called resin flap. Shielding member 30c can have any structure as long as it can completely cover opening X in the shielded state shown in FIG. 4A. More specifically, shielding member 30c can be appropriately selected in terms of the front-to-rear dimension (longitudinal dimension), left-to-right dimension (thickness), and up-to-down dimension (transverse dimension) in the shielded state (FIG. 4A).

As shown in FIG. 3, the pivot mechanism 30d can be a mechanism that includes, for example, a motor M housed inside the door trim 30, a bar B driven by the motor M, and a connecting mechanism (not shown) that connects the motor M and the bar B. In the example shown in FIG. 3 (the same shielding state of the shielding member 30c as in FIG. 4A), the bar B is attached slightly above the vertical center of the shielding member 30c. The connecting mechanism (not shown) is, for example, composed of a gear train. From this state (i.e., the state shown in FIG. 4A), the motor M is driven to rotate the bar B via the connecting mechanism, so that the shielding member 30c rotates from the bottom to the top around the shaft portion 30c1, and enters an open state (FIG. 4B).

In response to this, the shielding member 30c is rotated from the open state shown in FIG. 4B to the reverse rotation of the bar B by driving the motor M in the reverse direction, so that the shielding member 30c rotates from top to bottom around the shaft portion 30c1 to close and return to the shielded state (FIG. 4A).

Next, an interior lighting device that uses the door trim 30 described above will be described. The interior lighting device according to this embodiment is a device that includes a light source LS and the door trim (vehicle interior member) 30 described above, and is intended to mainly illuminate the area around the feet of occupants with light that passes from the light source LS through an opening X formed in the main body 30a of the door trim 30.

The interior lighting device according to this embodiment may be a device (i.e., the interior lighting device 200 shown in FIG. 5) in which the light source LS is embedded in the body portion 30a of the door trim 30 when the door trim 30 is assembled to the door body portion 10 shown in FIG. 1. Alternatively, although not shown, the interior lighting device may be a type in which the light source LS in FIG. 5 is installed at a position outside the door trim 30, for example, on the opposite side of the shielding member 30c of the body portion 30a shown in FIG. 5. Thus, in this embodiment, the light source LS is not a component of the door trim (vehicle interior member) 30, but is a component that is a component of the interior lighting device together with the door trim 30.

The light source LS may be white light or monochromatic light, and may be, for example, an LED light. The light source LS may also be a combination of two or more different types of light sources.

With this type of interior lighting device 200, the above-mentioned rotational manner of the shielding member 30c makes it possible to arbitrarily change the illumination range, such as irradiating the illumination light to a range that is easily visible to the user.

In other words, by appropriately setting the angle θ from the shielding position P1 to the open position P2 of the shielding member 30c shown in FIG. 5, it is possible to realize lighting conditions appropriate to the various needs of the occupants.

For example, if a passenger drops an object on the floor and then wants to pick it up, the illumination can be focused on the floor, i.e., the angle θ shown in FIG. 5 can be made relatively small, allowing the passenger to quickly and accurately find and pick up the object.

In contrast, if it is not possible to determine whether an occupant has dropped an object on the floor or on the seat, the object can be picked up quickly and accurately by focusing the illumination on a wide area including the floor, i.e., by making the angle θ shown in Figure 5 relatively large.

Furthermore, according to the interior lighting device 200 shown in Fig. 5, as shown in Figs. 2 to 4B, the opening X is provided on the vertical lower side of the armrest 30b. Therefore, in consideration of the above-mentioned rotational manner of the shielding member 30c (opening from the bottom to the top around the rotation center CR in Fig. 3 and closing from the top to the bottom), the light from the light source LS is not blocked by the armrest 30b, and the area around the feet of the occupants can be efficiently illuminated.

In the interior lighting device 200 shown in FIG. 5, it is preferable that the longitudinal dimension (front-rear dimension) of the opening X shown in FIG. 2 is equal to or smaller than the longitudinal dimension (front-rear dimension) of the armrest 30b.

This configuration ensures that the opening X is shielded by the shielding member 30c, and can appropriately accommodate situations where the occupant does not need foot lighting or only needs lighting other than for the feet (e.g., lighting from the ceiling).

In addition, in the interior lighting device 200 shown in FIG. 5, it is preferable that the open position (P2) of the shielding member 30c is a position where the shielding member 30c does not contact the armrest 30b.

With this configuration, the light from the light source LS is prevented from reaching the occupant's eyes directly, without making the angle θ shown in Figure 5 excessively large, and the occupant can efficiently see what is at their feet.

In the interior lighting device 200 shown in FIG. 5, when the shielding member 30c is in the open position (P2), the light illuminates the lower surface of the shielding member 30c in the vertical direction. However, in the open position (P2), as shown in FIG. 6, it is preferable that the extended surface S (indicated by the arrow in FIG. 6) of the surface (lower surface) of the shielding member 30c on which the illumination light hits intersects with the center console CC located in the center of the vehicle when viewed from the front of the vehicle.

With this structure, as shown in FIG. 6, the light emitted from the light source LS passes through the opening X and enters the vehicle interior, and the subsequent illumination area is within the range of area α shown in the same figure, and in particular, the uppermost illumination position in the vertical direction falls within the range that intersects with the center console CC.

This reliably prevents light from the light source LS from reaching the eyes of the occupant P directly, allowing the occupant P to see his or her feet more efficiently.

According to this embodiment, the following advantageous effects can be obtained.
(1) A door trim (vehicle interior member) 30 of this embodiment has an opening X for transmitting light and is fixed inside a vehicle cabin ( FIG. 1 ). The door trim 30 includes a main body 30a that defines the opening X, a shielding member 30c that is provided rotatably with respect to the main body 30a between a shielding position P1 that shields the opening X and an opening position P2 that opens the opening X, and a rotation mechanism 30d that can adjust the rotation angle of the shielding member 30c ( FIG. 3 ).

With this structure, the illumination range can be changed as desired by rotating the shielding member 30c, for example, to irradiate the illumination light to a range that is easily visible to the user.

(2) An armrest 30b is provided on the main body 30a of the door trim 30, and an opening X is provided below the armrest 30b (Figs. 2 to 5). In view of the rotational manner of the shielding member 30c (opening from bottom to top around the rotation center CR in Fig. 3, or closing from top to bottom), the light from the light source LS is not blocked by the armrest 30b, and the area around the feet of the occupant can be efficiently illuminated.

(3) The longitudinal dimension of the opening X is equal to or smaller than the longitudinal dimension of the armrest 30b (Figure 2). This ensures that the opening X is shielded by the shielding member 30c, and can appropriately accommodate cases where the occupant does not need foot lighting or only needs lighting other than for the feet (e.g., lighting from the ceiling).

(4) The open position P2 of the shielding member 30c is a position where the shielding member 30c does not contact the armrest 30b (Figure 5). This prevents the light from the light source LS from reaching the occupant's eyes directly, without making the angle θ shown in Figure 5 excessively large, and allows the occupant to efficiently see the area around their feet.

(5) When the shielding member 30c is in the open position P2, the extension plane S of the surface of the shielding member 30c on which the illumination light hits intersects with the center console CC located in the center of the vehicle (Figure 6). As a result, the light emitted from the light source LS passes through the opening X and enters the passenger compartment, but the subsequent illumination area is within the range of area α shown in the figure, and in particular, the uppermost illumination area in the vertical direction falls within the range that intersects with the center console CC. This reliably prevents the light from the light source LS from reaching the eyes of the occupant P directly, allowing the occupant P to see his or her feet more efficiently.

The vehicle interior parts (and the vehicle interior lighting devices to which the vehicle interior parts are applied) shown above are examples of door trim, but other vehicle interior parts such as roof linings can also be used. This makes the technology according to the present invention useful as it can be applied to various lighting devices installed inside a vehicle.

10 Door body, 20 Side window glass, 30 Door trim (vehicle interior parts), 30a Body, 30b Armrest, 30c Shielding member, 30d Rotation mechanism, 100 Left door, 200 Interior lighting device, B Bar, C Vehicle, CC Center console, CR Rotation center, LS Light source, M Motor, P Passenger, P1 Shielding position (shielding state), P2 Open position (open state), S Extension surface, X Opening, α Area, θ Angle

Claims (8)

An interior component for a vehicle having an opening for passing light therethrough and fixed to a vehicle interior,
a main body that defines the opening, a shielding member that is rotatable relative to the main body between a shielding position that shields the opening and an opening position that opens the opening, and a rotation mechanism that can adjust a rotation angle of the shielding member ,
The shielding member is formed in a rectangular plate shape capable of shielding the opening, and is rotatable about a shaft portion provided at an upper end of the shielding member . The vehicle interior member according to claim 1,
An interior member for a vehicle, wherein an armrest is provided on the main body, and the opening is provided below the armrest. The vehicle interior member according to claim 2,
A vehicle interior member, wherein a longitudinal dimension of the opening is equal to or smaller than a longitudinal dimension of the armrest. The vehicle interior member according to claim 2 or 3,
The vehicle interior member, wherein the open position of the shielding member is a position where the shielding member does not contact the armrest. The vehicle interior member according to any one of claims 1 to 4,
In the open position, an extension of a surface of the shielding member on which illumination light strikes intersects with a center console provided in the center of the vehicle. The vehicle interior member according to any one of claims 1 to 5,
The vehicle interior member, wherein the rotation mechanism includes a motor. The vehicle interior member according to any one of claims 1 to 6,
The shielding member is configured to completely cover the opening when in the shielding position. An interior lighting device comprising: an interior member for a vehicle according to any one of claims 1 to 7; and a light source.

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