Door mirror with turn lamp

This application claims priority from Japanese Patent Application No. 2006-277104, filed Oct. 11, 2006, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

The present invention relates to a turn lamp.

Recently, there has been provided a turn lamp (direction indicator) that is mounted on a door mirror of a vehicle and is lit in conjunction with turn lamps provided at the front and rear of a vehicle. The turn lamp is used to further direct people around the vehicle to the driving intention of a driver. In such a construction, as light sources, light-emitting diodes (LEDs) that are excellent in durability and have strong directionality are sometimes used.

Conventionally, in order to satisfy legal requirements, a proposed door mirror is constructed so that only an outer part in the left and right direction of a vehicle lights up (see Japanese Published Unexamined Patent Application No. 2000-103287, for example). However, in recent years where design properties are regarded as important, it has been demanded that a front part of a door mirror, in a direction opposite to the disposition part of a mirror of the door mirror, lights up across the entire area in the left and right direction. A proposed door mirror is thus constructed so that a front lower part thereof lights up across the entire area in the left and right direction (see Japanese Published Unexamined Patent Application No. 2004-291671, for example).

As well as requiring a large number of light-emitting diodes, the door mirror according to Japanese Published Unexamined Patent Application No. 2004-291671, however, has a complicated shape and structure. Not only is the number of components increased, but also an incorporating operation becomes troublesome and difficult, resulting in a high cost, wherein exists a problem to be solved by the present invention. The present invention also can achieve various other advantages.

The disclosure addresses an exemplary aspect in which a turn lamp includes a base housing; a light source unit incorporated with a light source and housed in the base housing; an inner housing provided with a long and solid light guide; a lens cover that covers the base housing; and a diffused reflection generator that is structured such that light from the light source leaks out long from the light guide.

In another exemplary aspect, the light source is disposed at, at least, one longitudinal end portion of the light guide.

In another exemplary aspect, the diffused reflection generator is constructed by forming a non-smooth surface on a surface of the light guide on a disposition side of the light source unit.

In another exemplary aspect, the diffused reflection generator is constructed by forming a reflection film on a surface of the light guide on a disposition side of the light source unit.

In another exemplary aspect, the diffused reflection generator is constructed by disposing the light source in an inclined manner with respect to a longitudinal direction of the light guide.

In another exemplary aspect, the diffused reflection generator is constructed by forming the light guide in a curved shape.

In another exemplary aspect, for the inner housing, integrally formed are the light guide and an extended portion that is extended in a direction orthogonal to a longitudinal direction of the inner housing.

In another exemplary aspect, for the light guide, a light scatteror is provided at, at least, one longitudinal end portion.

In another exemplary aspect, the light scatteror is constructed by forming a light entering portion in a spherical shape.

According to various exemplary aspects of the disclosure, a turn lamp excellent in visibility and design properties can be realized with a small number of light sources.

According to various exemplary aspects of the disclosure, the number of light sources can be reduced, and the construction can be simplified to contribute to a reduction in cost.

According to various exemplary aspects of the disclosure, processing can be simply and easily carried out.

According to various exemplary aspects of the disclosure, the construction can be simplified.

According to various exemplary aspects of the disclosure, a turn lamp excellent in design properties can be provided.

According to various exemplary aspects of the disclosure, a turn lamp further excellent in visibility and design properties can be provided.

Various embodiments of the invention will be described with reference to the drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1A is an overall perspective view of a vehicle, and FIG. 1B is an overall perspective view of a door mirror;

FIG. 2 is a side view of a turn lamp;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a base housing, a light source unit, and an inner hosing in an incorporated state;

FIG. 4A is an exploded perspective view of the turn lamp, and FIG. 4B is a longitudinal sectional view of a body portion of the inner housing; and

FIG. 5A is a pattern view for explaining a leaking state of a light guide of the body portion, and FIG. 5B is a longitudinal sectional view of FIG. 5A .

Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described based on the drawings. In FIGS. 1A and 1B , reference numeral 1 denotes a door mirror provided on a vehicle, and an opening portion is formed at a part (not shown) of a body 1 a of the door mirror 1 facing rearward, and in the opening portion, a rearward viewing mirror is fitted so as to be freely positioned. A part of the body 1 a facing forward is formed in a manner bulging out forward, and in a lower part of the bulging portion, a turn lamp 2 in which the present invention is carried out is integrally incorporated.

Although door mirrors 1 are ones that are symmetrical left to right and provided on left and right door bodies of a vehicle, a description here will be given of the door mirror 1 provided on the right side of a vehicle in accordance with the directionality as shown in FIG. 1A , and another description of the door mirror 1 on the left side will be omitted.

The turn lamp 2 to be incorporated in the door mirror 1 is set so as to be incorporated in the body 1 a as an assembly at the lower part of the forwardly bulging portion of the body 1 a . A base housing 3 of the turn lamp 2 is constructed with a body portion 3 a that is integrally molded from a non-translucent resin material, long in the left and right direction, and formed in a concave shape opened at the front and having a bottom surface at the rear. The base housing 3 also has a bent portion 3 b that is extended rearward from a left end portion of the body portion 3 a and is formed in a concave shape opened at the right and having a bottom surface at the left. In the base housing 3 , formed is a concave portion 3 c , communicated from the front to the right and having a bottom surface at the inside (from the rear to the left) of a front part of the body 1 a , formed so as to be long in the left and right direction.

Reference numeral 4 denotes a light source unit, which is constructed so as to be incorporated in a housed state in the concave portion 3 c that is formed at the front in the base housing 3 (see FIG. 2 ). The light source unit 4 is constructed with a plurality of (four in the present embodiment) first to fourth light sources 4 a , 4 b , 4 c , and 4 d and a member such as a substrate 4 e that supports and electrically connects these light sources 4 a , 4 b , 4 c , and 4 d . The substrate 4 e is set so as to be housed in the bent portion 3 b of the base housing 3 , and the first to third light sources 4 a , 4 b , and 4 c are disposed while being located at the disposition part of the substrate 4 e . Furthermore, a bus bar 4 f is extended leftward from the substrate 4 e , and in a state connected to the substrate via the bus bar 4 f , the fourth light source 4 d is connected to an extended front end portion of the bus bar 4 f , and the fourth light source 4 d is disposed so as to be located at a part opposing a left end portion of the base housing 3 . Although, in the present embodiment, light-emitting diodes (LEDs) are used as the light sources, lamps such as incandescent lamps may be used.

Reference numeral 5 denotes an inner housing in which the present invention is carried out, and the inner housing 5 is set so as to be incorporated to block the concave portion 3 c of the base housing 3 in which the light source unit 4 has been housed (see FIG. 2 ). The inner housing 5 is integrally molded from a translucent resin material in a curved shape in a plan view, long in the left and right direction, opened at the rear, and formed in a manner bulging out forward. And, the inner housing 5 is constructed with a body portion 5 a formed in a curved shape in a plan view, a step portion 5 b protruding forward at a left end portion of the body portion 5 a , and a bent portion 5 c extended rearward from the step portion 5 b , opened at the left, and formed in a manner bulging out rightward (see FIG. 3 ).

Furthermore, for the inner housing 5 , formed in a protruding and continuing state at intermediate portions in the up-and-down direction of the body portion 5 a , the step portion 5 b , and the bent portion 5 c , respectively, are a solid semicircular-shaped body portion light guide 5 d , step portion light guide 5 e , and bent portion light guide 5 f that are protruding from their respective outer surfaces (front surfaces, right lateral surfaces) outward (forward to rightward) and irradiated with light from the respective light sources 4 a , 4 b , 4 c , and 4 d . These light guides 5 d , 5 e , and 5 f are integrally formed long at the respective parts 5 a , 5 b , and 5 c correspond to a light guide R (see FIG. 4 ). In this manner, by forming the light guide R at the intermediate portion in the up-and-down direction of the inner housing 5 , provided is a state where extended portions F extended in a direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the light guide R are formed at upper and lower edge portions of the light guide R, and these extended portions F can cover the base housing 3 and light source unit 4 to be members located behind the light guide R.

And, a left end portion of the body portion light guide 5 d serving as one (left side) longitudinal end portion of the light guide R is constructed as a light entering portion 5 g , the light entering portion 5 g is formed in a spherical shape of a hemisphere further divided into two parts, and the spherical-shaped construction serves as a light scatteror of the present invention (see FIG. 5A ). And, as will be described later, it is set so that as a result of light from the fourth light source 4 d entering from the light entering portion 5 g , the light is made incident into the light guide R in a scattered state.

In addition, texturing is applied to surfaces (inner lateral surfaces) on the light source unit 4 side of the respective portions 5 a , 5 b , and 5 c of the inner housing 5 , that is, an inner lateral surface (rear lateral surface and left lateral surface) 5 h of the light guide R and extended portions F, whereby it is set so that the inner lateral surface 5 h is formed as a non-smooth surface in contrast to the an outer lateral surface (front lateral surface) constructed as a smooth surface, thereby constructing a diffused reflection generator of the present invention. And, it is set so that, when light that has entered the light guide R was made incident into the inner lateral surface 5 h , by diffusely reflecting the incident light by the inner lateral surface 5 h , the diffusely reflected light is efficiently leaked (radiated) from the entire longitudinal area of the outside (front, right) of the light guide R.

And, in an incorporated state of the base housing 3 , the light source unit 4 , and the inner housing unit 5 constructed as such, the first light source 4 a of the light source unit 4 is disposed while being located at a part to irradiate a right end part of the bent portion light guide 5 f of the inner housing 5 from the left (inside), and the second light source 4 b , at a part to irradiate a longitudinal intermediate portion of the bent portion light guide 5 f from the inside, and the third light source 4 c , at a part to irradiate a right end portion of the body portion light guide 5 d from the right direction, and the fourth light source 4 d , at a part to irradiate the left end portion of the body portion light guide 5 d from the left.

Also, reference numeral 6 denotes a lens provided in a sealing manner at the opening of the base housing 3 so as to cover the light source unit 4 housed in the base housing 3 and the inner housing 5 , and the lens 6 is integrally molded from a translucent resin material (see FIG. 4A ).

In the turn lamp 2 constructed as such, it is set so that, when power is fed to the first to fourth light sources 4 a , 4 b , 4 c , and 4 d of the turn lamp 2 to light up, the first and second light sources 4 a and 4 b irradiate the bent portion light guide 5 f located outward in the left and right direction of the turn lamp 2 , that is, a right end side as legally required, whereby the bent portion light guide 5 f leaks out light that satisfies legally required illuminance rightward.

Further, at this time, the third and fourth light guides 4 c and 4 d irradiate the left and right end portions of the body portion light guide 5 d from outward in the left and right direction, respectively, and light that enters the body portion light guide 5 d becomes a light long in the left and right direction as a result of leaking out from the entire longitudinal area of the body portion light guide 5 d based on the light scatteror and diffused reflection generator to be radiated forward, whereby it is set so that the light guide R leaks light from the whole from a right part to a front part thereof.

Here, description will be given of leakage of light from the body portion light guide 5 d via the light scatteror and diffused reflection generator by use of a pattern view of FIG. 5A .

Light from the third light source 4 c enters rightward in the drawing, and in this case, the light enters (is made incident into) the body portion light guide 5 d with a predetermined angle range based on directionality of the third light source 4 c . Therefore, of the light entering the body portion light guide 5 d , as shown by the arrows at a left side part of FIG. 5 , light reflected on an outer lateral surface of the body portion light guide 5 d is reflected on the inner lateral surface 5 h applied with a diffused reflection generator to leak out from an intermediate portion in the left and right direction of the body portion light guide 5 d , whereby leakage of light from the whole longitudinal area of the body portion light guide 5 d is promoted, so that a turn lamp 2 that is high in visibility at the body portion light guide 5 d can be provided.

In addition, as a result of light from the fourth light source 4 d being made incident into the body portion light guide 5 d via the spherical-shaped light entering portion 5 g in which a light scatteror is carried out, as shown by the arrows at a right side part of FIG. 5 , the light from the fourth light source 4 d is made incident at a wide-ranging incident angle, and leakage of light from the whole longitudinal area of the body portion light guide 5 d is promoted in conjunction with the diffused reflection generator, so that a turn lamp 2 that is high in the degree of visibility at the body portion light guide 5 d (from a forward part of the vehicle) can be provided.

Furthermore, since the body portion light guide 5 d is formed in a curved shape having a center on the inner lateral surface 5 h side, the light from the third and fourth light sources 4 c and 4 d does not pass therethrough to the opposing side and can be diffusely reflected on the inner lateral surface 5 h , and leakage of light from the whole longitudinal area of the body portion light guide 5 d is further promoted.

In this connection, in the present embodiment, for making light leak out from the whole longitudinal area of the body portion light guide 5 d , the light sources 4 c and 4 d are provided on both longitudinal end portions. However, it is not always necessary to provide the light sources on both end portions, and for example, even when only the fourth light source 4 d is provided, visibility from a forward part of the vehicle can be enhanced.

Furthermore, therein, the inner housing 5 , for which the extended portions F are formed on and under the light guide R that leaks light, is disposed so as to cover the front of the base housing 3 and the light source unit 4 , and the inner lateral surface 5 h of the inner housing 5 is applied with texturing and is thereby formed as a non-smooth surface. Thereby, it is set so that, even in a lighting condition where light leaks out forward from the light guide R of the inner housing 5 , the light source unit 4 and the base housing 3 behind the inner housing are not seen through.

In the present embodiment constructed as described, the turn lamp incorporated in the door mirror 1 can be, as a result of light leaking out, from the light guide R integrally formed on the inner housing 5 , long in the left and right direction not only toward an outer end part in the left and right direction legally required but also toward a forward part of the vehicle, provided as a turn lamp 2 that can enhance visibility of the vehicle from the front and is excellent in design properties. In this case, it is not necessary to provide a large number of light sources to irradiate the light guide R of the turn lamp 2 as in the conventional art. The light sources can be carried out by a small number of light sources (first to fourth light sources 4 a , 4 b , 4 c , and 4 d ). As a result, the shape of the inner housing 5 can be simplified, and furthermore, the construction can be simplified, and the incorporating operation becomes easy to contribute to a reduction in cost.

Furthermore, it is sufficient to provide the light source to leak light from the whole longitudinal area of the body portion light guide 5 d at, at least, one longitudinal end portion of the body portion light guide 5 d . It thus becomes possible to reduce the number of light sources, so that the construction can be further simplified.

Also, therein, as the diffused reflection generator, the inner lateral surface 5 h of the light guide R is processed by texturing or the like and is thereby formed as a non-smooth surface, so that processing can be simply and easily carried out.

Further, therein, as the diffused reflection generator, since the body portion light guide 5 d is formed in a curved shape, while the inner lateral surface 5 h of the body portion light guide 5 d is formed as a non-smooth surface, the effect based on the diffused reflection generator can be further enhanced. Leakage from the body portion light guide 5 d is further promoted regardless of having a small number of light sources (third and fourth light sources 4 c and 4 d ), so that a turn lamp 2 that is further excellent in visibility and design properties can be provided.

Moreover, therein, the light guide R is integrally molded on the inner housing 5 , and the base housing 3 and the light source unit 4 are covered by the extended portions F of the inner housing 5 . Thus, the members behind the light guide R such as the light source unit 4 are not exposed, and the design ability is further improved.

Also, therein, the light entering portion 5 g of the body portion light guide 5 d is formed in a spherical shape, and light from the fourth light source 4 d is made to enter the body portion light guide 5 d in a scattered manner. Leakage of light from the body portion light guide 5 d is further efficiently carried out, and visibility and design properties become further excellent.

The present invention is as a matter of course not limited to the above embodiment. As the diffused reflection generator, the inner lateral surface of the inner housing to be a surface on the light source unit side can be processed into frosted glass, a reflection film can be coated (sputtered) on the inner lateral surface, and furthermore, a reflection tape can be adhered. Moreover, the light sources can be constructed so as to make light enter the light guide from a direction inclined with respect to the longitudinal direction thereof.

Also, as the light scatteror provided on the light entering portion of the light guide, it is also possible to form an uneven portion on the light entering portion.

Furthermore, it is also possible to make light from the light source incident from one longitudinal end portion of the light guide while forming a diffused reflection surface applied with a diffused reflection generator at the other longitudinal end portion, and to make the light entered from the one end portion reflect via the diffused reflection surface.