JP7742736B2 - Vehicle exterior parts - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to exterior vehicle parts.

For example, Patent Document 1 discloses an illumination grill equipped with a light source. In such an illumination grill, the illumination grill is illuminated by light emitted from the light source.

JP 2019-75283 A

The illumination grille disclosed in Patent Document 1 is used in the front grille area of large vehicles, where it is relatively easy to secure space for installing light sources, etc. However, in recent years, with the spread of electric vehicles, the number of front grilles that do not require openings in small vehicles has increased, making it possible to install light sources, etc. in the front grilles of small vehicles as well. For this reason, it is becoming more common to install illuminated vehicle exterior parts on small vehicles as well.

As these decorative vehicle exterior parts become more common, demands for the design of such vehicle exterior parts are also increasing. For example, decorative vehicle exterior parts are generally not illuminated during the day when external light is strong, but are illuminated only at night when the external light is weak. Furthermore, decorative vehicle exterior parts are generally not illuminated when the vehicle is parked for an extended period of time, such as in a parking lot. Therefore, if the decorative parts lack integrity with the surrounding parts during periods when they are not illuminated, the overall appearance of the vehicle may be marred. Therefore, it is preferable that vehicle exterior parts equipped with light sources be able to prevent marring of the vehicle's appearance even when the light sources are not lit.

The present invention was made in consideration of the above-mentioned problems, and aims to improve the appearance of vehicle exterior parts equipped with light sources even when the light sources are not lit.

The present invention employs the following configuration as a means to solve the above problems.

A first aspect of the present invention is an exterior vehicle component that is attached to a vehicle and includes a beam splitter film, a colored member having a decorative surface, a support member that supports the beam splitter film and the colored member so that the decorative surface forms an acute angle with the surface of the beam splitter film, and a light source unit that is positioned behind the beam splitter film.

A second aspect of the present invention is the first aspect, wherein the light source unit includes a printed circuit board arranged parallel to the back surface of the beam splitter film and an LED element mounted on the printed circuit board.

A third aspect of the present invention is the first or second aspect of the present invention, which further comprises a light diffusing member that diffuses and transmits the light emitted from the light source unit and is disposed opposite the back surface of the beam splitter film.

A fourth aspect of the present invention is the third aspect, further comprising a light source housing member that houses the light source unit and has an open end that is closed by the light diffusion member.

A fifth aspect of the present invention is the fourth aspect, wherein the inner wall surface of the light source housing member is a reflective surface that reflects the emitted light.

A sixth aspect of the present invention, in any one of the first to fifth inventions, employs a configuration in which a transparent embedded portion is provided that fills the space between the surface of the beam splitter film and the design surface of the colored member and is capable of transmitting light.

The seventh aspect of the present invention is the sixth aspect, in which the transparent embedded portion is used as the support member.

The eighth aspect of the present invention is any one of the first to seventh aspects, wherein the end of the beam splitter film and the end of the design surface of the colored member are connected.

In the present invention, light emitted from the light source unit passes through the beam splitter film and is emitted to the outside of the vehicle exterior part. Therefore, according to the present invention, it is possible to perform electrical installation by turning on the light source unit. Furthermore, in the present invention, when external light is reflected by the beam splitter film, it is incident on the design surface of the colored component. Furthermore, light returning from the design surface of the colored component is reflected by the surface of the beam splitter film and emitted to the outside of the vehicle exterior part. Therefore, according to the present invention, when the light source unit is not turned on, the design surface of the colored component is visible to outsiders when illuminated by external light. Therefore, according to the present invention, when the light source unit is not turned on, the light source unit is hidden from outsiders by the design surface of the colored component. Therefore, according to the present invention, it is possible to improve the appearance impression of a vehicle exterior part equipped with a light source unit even when the light source unit is not turned on.

1 is a front view of a vehicle equipped with an exterior illumination component for a vehicle according to a first embodiment of the present invention; 1A and 1B are schematic diagrams showing a schematic configuration of an exterior illumination part for a vehicle according to a first embodiment of the present invention, in which FIG. 1A is a front view, and FIG. 1B is a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA in FIG. 1A. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view showing a schematic configuration of a vehicle illumination exterior part according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

One embodiment of a vehicle exterior part according to the present invention will now be described with reference to the drawings.

(First embodiment)
1 is a front view of a vehicle 100 equipped with a vehicle illumination exterior part 1 (vehicle exterior part) according to this embodiment. The vehicle illumination exterior part 1 according to this embodiment is an exterior part that is illuminated and visible from the outside when a light source unit 3 (described later) is lit, and is integrated with the surroundings while preventing the light source unit 3 from being visible from the outside.

As shown in FIG. 1, the vehicle illumination exterior part 1 of this embodiment is provided in the front of the vehicle 100, and is positioned below the hood H and above the emblem E. The vehicle illumination exterior part 1 of this embodiment is an elongated member that extends linearly in the vehicle width direction (horizontal direction) of the vehicle 100.

Figure 2 is a schematic diagram showing the overall configuration of the vehicle illumination exterior part 1 of this embodiment, with (a) being a front view and (b) being a cross-sectional view taken along the line A-A in (a). As shown in these figures, the vehicle illumination exterior part 1 of this embodiment includes a light source housing container 2 (light source housing member), a light source unit 3, a light diffusion member 4, a half mirror film 5 (beam splitter film), a transparent embedded portion 6, and a colored paint layer 7 (colored member).

The light source housing container 2 is a container-shaped member that houses the light source unit 3 and is an elongated container that extends linearly in the vehicle width direction. As shown in Figure 2(b), the light source housing container 2 is formed with a C-shaped cross section and an open end 2a. The light source housing container 2 is fixed to the vehicle body B so that the open end faces forward and diagonally upward of the vehicle 100. In addition to the light source unit 3, the light source housing container 2 also directly or indirectly supports the light diffusion member 4, half mirror film 5, transparent embedded portion 6, and colored paint layer 7.

The light source unit 3 is turned on or off based on a control unit (not shown). This light source unit 3 includes a printed circuit board 3a and multiple LED (Light Emitting Diode) elements 3b. The printed circuit board 3a is a wiring board on which the LED elements 3b are mounted. In this embodiment, the printed circuit board 3a is arranged parallel to the back surface 5b of the half mirror film 5. Note that there may be a single printed circuit board 3a or multiple printed circuit boards 3a. In other words, a single or multiple LED elements 3b are mounted on the printed circuit board 3a.

Each LED element 3b is an element that emits light when supplied with drive power under the control of a control unit (not shown). In other words, the LED elements 3b convert the supplied power into light and emit the generated light as emitted light. These LED elements 3b are arranged at intervals in the vehicle width direction. In this embodiment, the LED elements 3b generate and emit white emitted light.

The light diffusion member 4 is a member that diffuses and transmits the light emitted from the light source unit 3, and is made of, for example, resin. The light diffusion member 4 is formed in a plate shape and is fixed to the light source housing container 2 so as to cover the open end 2a of the light source housing container 2. The light diffusion member 4 is also positioned so that the front surface 4a faces the outside of the vehicle and the back surface 4b faces the light source housing container 2 (inside the vehicle).

The light source housing container 2 and light diffusing member 4 form a closed space in which the light source unit 3 is housed. Because the light source unit 3 is housed in the closed space formed by the light source housing container 2 and the light diffusing member, the light source unit 3 is prevented from being exposed to rainwater or the outside air. This makes it possible to suppress deterioration of the light source unit 3.

The half-mirror film 5 is a film member positioned in front of the light source unit 3, with its front surface 5a facing the transparent embedded portion 6 and its back surface 5b facing the light diffusing member 4. In other words, the light source unit 3 is positioned behind the half-mirror film 5. This half-mirror film 5 is a beam splitter film that transmits part of the light and reflects the rest.

In this embodiment, the half-mirror film 5 is attached to the transparent embedded portion 6. The half-mirror film 5 is disposed opposite the light diffusing member 4 with the front surface 4a and back surface 5b in contact with each other. The half-mirror film 5 is disposed so as to cover the entire front surface 4a of the light diffusing member 4.

The half-mirror film 5 transmits a portion of the light emitted from the light source unit 3 and reflects the remainder. The half-mirror film 5 also transmits a portion of external light incident from the outside and reflects the remainder.

Here, if the intensity of the light emitted from the light source unit 3 that passes through the half mirror film 5 is assumed to be stronger than the intensity of the external light reflected by the half mirror film 5, an outsider will see the color tone due to the light emitted from the light source unit 3. On the other hand, if the intensity of the light emitted from the light source unit 3 that passes through the half mirror film 5 is assumed to be weaker than the intensity of the external light reflected by the half mirror film 5, an outsider will see the color tone due to the external light.

In other words, in places where the intensity of external light is weak, such as at night, the light from the light source unit 3 is clearly visible to outsiders. On the other hand, in places where the intensity of external light is strong, such as during the day, the light from the light source unit 3 is less visible to outsiders. For this reason, in places where the intensity of external light is strong, such as during the day, the light source unit 3 is generally turned off. However, it is acceptable to leave the light source unit 3 on in places where the intensity of external light is strong, such as during the day.

The transparent embedded portion 6 is a transparent member that fills the space between the half mirror film 5 and the colored paint layer 7 and extends linearly in the vehicle width direction. This transparent embedded portion 6 is made of, for example, acrylic resin. In this embodiment, the transparent embedded portion 6 functions as a support member that supports the half mirror film 5 and the colored paint layer 7.

The transparent embedded portion 6 supports the half-mirror film 5 and the colored paint layer 7 so that the angle α (arrangement angle) formed between the design surface 7a of the colored paint layer 7 (described below) and the surface 5a of the half-mirror film 5 is an acute angle (e.g., 45°).

The transparent embedded portion 6 has a half-mirror fixing surface 6a to which the half-mirror film 5 is fixed, and a paint layer fixing surface 6b to which the colored paint layer 7 is fixed. The surface 5a of the half-mirror film 5 is in close contact with the half-mirror fixing surface 6a. Furthermore, the design surface 7a of the colored paint layer 7 is in close contact with the paint layer fixing surface 6b.

These half mirror fixing surfaces 6a and paint layer fixing surfaces 6b are connected at an angle α formed by the design surface 7a of the colored paint layer 7 and the surface 5a of the half mirror film 5. In other words, by providing the half mirror film 5 and colored paint layer 7 on the half mirror fixing surface 6a and paint layer fixing surface 6b, which are connected at this angle α, the angle formed by the design surface 7a of the colored paint layer 7 and the surface 5a of the half mirror film 5 becomes the above-mentioned angle α.

Furthermore, if the rear end of the half mirror fixing surface 6a and the rear end of the colored paint layer 7 are connected, as shown in Figure 2(b), the front end of the half mirror fixing surface 6a and the front end of the colored paint layer 7 are separated. The transparent embedded portion 6 has a connecting curved surface 6c that connects the front end of the half mirror fixing surface 6a and the front end of the colored paint layer 7.

The connecting curved surface 6c is curved so that its vertical center bulges forward (the side opposite the connection between the rear end of the half mirror fixing surface 6a and the rear end of the colored paint layer 7). By curving the connecting curved surface 6c in this way, the transparent embedded portion 6 can be viewed from a wider angle than if the connecting curved surface 6c were flat.

This transparent embedded portion 6 is connected to the light diffusing member 4 via the half mirror film 5. Therefore, the transparent embedded portion 6 is supported by the light source housing container 2 via the light diffusing member 4. However, it is also possible to support the transparent embedded portion 6 by fixing it directly to the vehicle body B.

The colored paint layer 7 is a layer formed from colored paint. Such a colored paint layer 7 is formed, for example, by applying the paint that forms the colored paint layer 7 to the paint layer adhesion surface 6b of the transparent embedded portion 6 and then drying the paint. The surface of the colored paint layer 7 facing the paint layer adhesion surface 6b is the design surface 7a that is visible from the outside.

In this embodiment, the colored paint layer 7 is black, formed by black painting. In other words, the colored paint layer 7 has a black design surface 7a. Note that the design surface 7a of the colored paint layer 7 does not necessarily have to be black, and may be another color. Furthermore, a pattern or the like may be drawn on the design surface 7a.

The rear end of the colored paint layer 7 is connected to the rear end of the half mirror film 5. In other words, in this embodiment, there is no gap between the colored paint layer 7 and the half mirror film 5, and the colored paint layer 7 and the half mirror film 5 are directly connected.

In the vehicle illumination exterior part 1 of this embodiment, when light is emitted from the light source unit 3, the light is incident on the light diffusion member 4 from the back surface 4b of the light diffusion member 4. When the light is incident on the light diffusion member 4, the light is diffused inside the light diffusion member 4 and passes through the light diffusion member 4. The light diffused by the light diffusion member 4 is emitted in various directions from the entire surface 4a of the light diffusion member 4.

Emitted light that passes through the light diffusing member 4 enters the back surface 5b of the half mirror film 5 from the surface 4a of the light diffusing member 4. Part of the emitted light that enters the back surface 5b of the half mirror film 5 passes through the half mirror film 5, and the remainder is reflected by the back surface 5b of the half mirror film 5. Part of the emitted light reflected by the back surface 5b of the half mirror film 5 returns to the light source unit 3.

On the other hand, the emitted light that has passed through the half mirror film 5 passes through the transparent embedded portion 6 and is emitted to the outside from the connecting curved surface 6c of the transparent embedded portion 6. This emitted light is visible to outsiders, especially at night when the outside light is weak. As a result, outsiders perceive the entire surface 4a of the light diffusing member 4 as emitting white light.

In addition, in the vehicle illumination exterior component 1 of this embodiment, when external light enters the transparent embedded portion 6 from the connecting curved surface 6c, the external light that enters the transparent embedded portion 6 is incident on the surface 5a of the half mirror film 5. A portion of the external light that enters the half mirror film 5 is transmitted through the half mirror film 5, and the remainder is reflected by the surface 5a of the half mirror film 5. A portion of the external light that transmits through the half mirror film 5 proceeds toward the light source unit 3.

Meanwhile, external light reflected by the surface 5a of the half mirror film 5 travels inside the transparent embedded portion 6 and is incident on the design surface 7a of the colored paint layer 7. The external light that is incident on the design surface 7a is reflected by the design surface 7a and again enters the surface 5a of the half mirror film 5. The external light that returns from the design surface 7a is partially reflected by the surface 5a of the half mirror film 5 and emitted to the outside from the connecting curved surface 6c of the transparent embedded portion 6. This external light emitted from the connecting curved surface 6c of the transparent embedded portion 6 is visible to outsiders during the day when external light is strong or when the light source unit 3 is not turned on. As a result, outsiders can see the design surface 7a.

The vehicle illumination exterior part 1 of this embodiment as described above is attached to the vehicle body B. This vehicle illumination exterior part 1 of this embodiment includes a half mirror film 5 and a colored paint layer 7 having a design surface 7a. The vehicle illumination exterior part 1 of this embodiment also includes a transparent embedded portion 6. The transparent embedded portion 6 supports the half mirror film 5 and the colored paint layer 7 so that the angle α between the design surface 7a and the surface of the half mirror film 5 is an acute angle. The vehicle illumination exterior part 1 of this embodiment also includes a light source unit 3. The light source unit 3 is located on the back surface 5b side of the half mirror film 5.

In the vehicle illumination exterior part 1 of this embodiment, light emitted from the light source unit 3 passes through the half mirror film 5 and is emitted to the outside of the vehicle illumination exterior part 1 of this embodiment. Therefore, with the vehicle illumination exterior part 1 of this embodiment, it is possible to perform electrical installations, etc. by turning on the light source unit 3.

Furthermore, in the vehicle illumination exterior part 1 of this embodiment, when external light is reflected by the half mirror film 5, it is incident on the design surface 7a of the colored paint layer 7. Furthermore, return light from the design surface 7a of the colored paint layer 7 is reflected by the surface of the half mirror film 5 and emitted to the outside of the vehicle illumination exterior part 1.

For this reason, with the vehicle illumination exterior part 1 of this embodiment, when the light source unit 3 is not lit, the design surface 7a of the colored paint layer 7 is visible to outsiders when illuminated by external light. Therefore, with the vehicle illumination exterior part 1 of this embodiment, when the light source unit 3 is not lit, the light source unit 3 is hidden from outsiders by the design surface 7a of the colored paint layer 7. Therefore, with the vehicle illumination exterior part 1 of this embodiment, it is possible to improve the external appearance of the vehicle illumination exterior part 1 that includes the light source unit 3 when the light source unit 3 is not lit.

In addition, in the vehicle illumination exterior component 1 of this embodiment, the light source unit 3 includes a printed circuit board 3a arranged parallel to the back surface 5b of the half mirror film 5, and an LED element 3b mounted on the printed circuit board 3a. By arranging the printed circuit board 3a parallel to the back surface 5b of the half mirror film 5, the distance from the LED element 3b to each part of the half mirror film 5 is made uniform.

Also, the LED element 3b generally has a reflector in its internal structure, and emits light in a direction perpendicular to the surface of the semiconductor chip. In this embodiment, the back surface 5b of the half mirror film 5 is positioned so that it is perpendicular to the emission direction of the LED element 3b. This makes it possible to increase the transmittance of the emitted light through the half mirror film 5 compared to when the back surface 5b of the half mirror film 5 is inclined with respect to the emission direction of the LED element 3b. Therefore, the vehicle illumination exterior part 1 of this embodiment makes it possible to achieve a bright illumination effect with less power.

The vehicle illumination exterior component 1 of this embodiment also includes a light diffusing member 4 that diffuses and transmits the light emitted from the light source unit 3 and is positioned opposite the back surface 5b of the half mirror film 5. This diffuses the light emitted from the light source unit 3, making it possible to achieve an electric effect similar to that of surface emission.

The vehicle illumination exterior component 1 of this embodiment also includes a light source housing container 2 that houses a light source unit 3 and has an open end 2a that is closed with a light diffusing member 4. Therefore, the light source unit 3 can be protected by being enclosed, and deterioration of the light source unit 3 can be prevented.

The vehicle illumination exterior part 1 of this embodiment also includes a transparent embedded part 6. This transparent embedded part 6 fills the space between the surface 5a of the half-mirror film 5 and the design surface 7a of the colored paint layer 7. The transparent embedded part 6 is also light-transmitting. Therefore, the vehicle illumination exterior part 1 of this embodiment can prevent the surface 5a of the half-mirror film 5 and the design surface 7a of the colored paint layer 7 from becoming soiled by rainwater, dust, etc., allowing the vehicle illumination exterior part 1 to maintain its excellent design over a long period of time.

Furthermore, in the vehicle illumination exterior component 1 of this embodiment, the transparent embedded portion 6 is used as a support member that supports the half mirror film 5 and the colored paint layer 7. As a result, there is no need to provide any support members other than the transparent embedded portion 6, resulting in a small and lightweight vehicle illumination exterior component 1.

Furthermore, in the vehicle illumination exterior part 1 of this embodiment, the end of the half mirror film 5 and the end of the design surface 7a of the colored paint layer 7 are connected. This makes it possible to prevent light from leaking between the half mirror film 5 and the colored paint layer 7.

Second Embodiment
Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. In the description of this embodiment, the description of the same parts as those in the first embodiment will be omitted or simplified.

Figure 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the vehicle illumination exterior component 1A of this embodiment. As shown in this figure, in the vehicle illumination exterior component 1A of this embodiment, the light source housing container 2 of the first embodiment described above includes a container main body 21 and a reflective film 22.

The container body 21 is a container-shaped portion that houses the light source unit 3 and is an elongated container that extends linearly in the vehicle width direction. The container body 21 has a C-shaped cross section. The reflective film 22 is provided on the inner wall surface of the container body 21. This reflective film 22 reflects the light emitted from the light source unit 3.

In other words, in the vehicle illumination exterior part 1A of this embodiment, the inner wall surface of the light source housing container 2 is formed as a reflective surface that reflects the emitted light. With this vehicle illumination exterior part 1A of this embodiment, the emitted light emitted from the light source unit 3 and reflected by the back surface 5b of the half mirror film 5 can be reflected and directed back toward the half mirror film 5. Therefore, with the vehicle illumination exterior part 1A of this embodiment, it is possible to increase the utilization efficiency of the emitted light emitted from the light source unit 3.

The above describes a preferred embodiment of the present invention with reference to the accompanying drawings, but it goes without saying that the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment. The shapes and combinations of the components shown in the above embodiment are merely examples, and various modifications can be made based on design requirements, etc., without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

For example, in the above embodiment, a configuration in which the half mirror film 5 and the colored paint layer 7 are connected was described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and it is also possible to adopt a configuration in which the half mirror film 5 and the colored paint layer 7 are spaced apart.

It is also possible to roughen the connecting curved surface 6c of the transparent embedded part 6, for example, and use the connecting curved surface 6c to scatter emitted light and external light. By using such a configuration, it is possible to change the impression that outsiders receive. Similarly, it is also possible to roughen the paint layer fixing surface 6b.

In the above embodiment, the vehicle illumination exterior component is described as being installed in the front of the vehicle. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the component may be installed in any part of the vehicle.

Furthermore, in the above embodiment, a configuration has been described in which the LED element 3b generates and emits white emission light. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and a configuration in which LED elements that generate and emit emission light of different colors are provided may also be adopted.

1... Vehicle illumination exterior part, 1A... Vehicle illumination exterior part, 2... Light source container, 2a... Open end, 3... Light source part, 3a... Printed circuit board, 3b... LED element, 4... Light diffusion member, 4a... Surface, 4b... Back, 5... Half mirror film, 5a... Surface, 5b... Back, 6... Transparent embedded part, 6a... Half mirror fixing surface, 6b... Paint layer fixing surface, 6c... Connecting curved surface, 7... Colored paint layer, 7a... Design surface, 21... Container body, 22... Reflective film, 100... Vehicle, B... Vehicle body

Claims (9)

An exterior part for a vehicle to be attached to a vehicle,
a beam splitter film;
A colored member having a design surface;
a support member that supports the beam splitter film and the colored member so that an angle between the design surface and a surface of the beam splitter film is an acute angle;
a light source unit disposed on the rear side of the beam splitter film ,
a transparent embedded portion that fills a space between a surface of the beam splitter film and a design surface of the colored member and is capable of transmitting light;
The design surface of the colored member is disposed on the front surface side of the beam splitter film.
An exterior part for a vehicle. 2. The exterior vehicle part of claim 1, wherein the beam splitter film is a flat film. the colored member and the beam splitter film are arranged such that their front ends are farther apart than their rear ends;
The transparent embedded portion has a connecting curved surface that connects the front end of the colored member and the front end of the beam splitter film.
3. The vehicle exterior part according to claim 1 or 2. The light source unit is
a printed circuit board arranged parallel to the rear surface of the beam splitter film;
The vehicle exterior part according to any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising: an LED element mounted on the printed circuit board. The vehicle exterior part according to any one of claims 1 to 4, further comprising a light diffusing member that diffuses and transmits the light emitted from the light source unit and is arranged opposite to the back surface of the beam splitter film. The vehicle exterior part according to claim 5, further comprising a light source housing member that houses the light source unit and has an open end that is closed by the light diffusing member. 7. The exterior part for a vehicle according to claim 6 , wherein an inner wall surface of the light source housing member is a reflective surface that reflects the emitted light. 8. The vehicle exterior part according to claim 1, wherein the transparent embedded portion is used as the support member. The vehicle exterior part according to any one of claims 1 to 8 , wherein an end of the beam splitter film and an end of the design surface of the colored member are connected to each other.