Indirect light-emitting front grill

Provided is an indirect light-emitting front grill including: a front grill 22; light-emitting members 4, 14; and illuminated members 1, 11 disposed along the design portion. The illuminated members 1, 11 have reflecting portions 2, 12 that reflect light emitted by the light-emitting members 4, 14. The reflecting portions 2, 12 are visible via the front grill viewed from the front, and have a black or dark color or the same color as or a similar color to the front grill 22. This front grill has openings 3, 13 through which currents of air introduced from outside the vehicle are further introduced into the inside of the vehicle, the openings being located nearer to the outer edges of the front grill 22 than to the reflecting portions 2, 12.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to an indirect light-emitting front grill provided in a vehicle such as an automobile.

BACKGROUND ART

Recently, in order to specify a car manufacturer by the shape of a front grill provided on a front part of the vehicle body as of an automobile, the front grill has been used as icon. Therefore, in order that the shape of the front grill used as icon be more conspicuous, the peripheral edges of the front grill are garnished with plated molding.

However, in a dark place as at night, the shape of the front grill is not conspicuous even with the plated molding garnishes. Therefore, in order to make the shape of the front grill conspicuous even in a dark place as at night, a front grill illuminated by light emitted by lamps provided around the front grill is known.

For example, Patent Literature 1 discloses a vehicular body front part structure including: a front grill forming a design surface of the vehicular body front part and having grill openings used for guiding a current of air into an engine chamber; and lamps provided on the vehicle body rear side of the front grill, in order to emit light ahead of the vehicle body from the grill openings.

Additionally, Patent Literature 2 discloses a decoration method of a vehicle body in which molded light guides are arranged along the edge parts of decorated bodies, the decorated bodies being arranged inside and outside a vehicle body so as to be visible, and in which a plurality of LED light sources are arranged at predetermined intervals from which positions these light sources can emit light to the molded light guides. Patent Literature 2 describes, as examples of a decorated body, an emblem, and a wing-shaped component disposed between the front bumper and the front grill of the vehicle body.

CITATION LIST

Patent Literature

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

Technical Problem

However, in the technique described in Patent Literature 1, lamps provided on the vehicle body interior side of the front grill cover the opening of the front grill. Therefore, the area of the front grill opening, which is an air guide opening, decreases by the amounts corresponding to the lamps. Therefore, the function of taking outside air into the engine chamber, which is the original purpose of the front grill, is marred. That is, engine cooling may be adversely affected.

In the technique disclosed in Patent Literature 2, the molded light guides are visibly arranged in the opening of the front grill, which is a body to be decorated. Therefore, in a place as in daytime, the molded light guides are seen from the opening of the front grill. As a result, the appearance of the front grill may be marred. Moreover, since the molded light guides are located in the opening of the front grill, these molded light guides cover the opening of the front grill by amounts corresponding to them. Therefore, as with the technique described in Patent Literature 1, the function of taking outside air into the engine chamber is marred and, consequently, engine cooling may be adversely affected.

In view of the foregoing problems, the object of the present invention is to provide an indirect light-emitting front grill having the following advantageous effects: (1) a front grill serving as an icon is made conspicuous even in a dark place as at night by the providing light-emitting member, whereas when light are off as in daytime, the lighting member is rendered less conspicuous, thus enhancing the design of the front grill; (2) the design of the front grill is enhanced without marring the air guide function of the front grill, which is its original purpose.

Solution to Problem

In order to solve the foregoing problems, an indirect light-emitting front grill according to the present invention includes: a front grill having a front disposed on a vehicle front part and having a design portion, and a back on the opposite side to the front, back to back, and facing a vehicle interior; a light-emitting member disposed on the back side and opposite to the design portion, back to back; and an illuminated member having plate-like shape and located further inside the vehicle than the light-emitting member and disposed along the design portion, wherein the illuminated member has a reflecting portion that reflects light emitted by the light-emitting member, wherein the reflecting portion is visible via the front grill viewed from the front, and has a black or dark color or the same color as or a similar color to the front grill, and wherein the indirect light-emitting front grill has an opening through which currents of air introduced from outside the vehicle is further introduced into the inside of the vehicle, the opening being located nearer to the outside edges of the front grill than to the reflecting portion.

In this configuration, the light-emitting member is invisible from outside the vehicle viewed from the front because the light-emitting member is disposed on the back of the design portion. Accordingly, the design of the front grill can be enhanced by preventing the appearance of the front grill from being marred by the light-emitting member that would otherwise be visible.

Additionally, the illuminated member is disposed in places visible from outside the vehicle viewed from the front. When lights are off as in daytime, the inside of the front grill is dark as light does not reach it easily. Accordingly, the inside of the front grill cannot easily be seen usually. Accordingly, the illuminated member located inside the front grill is not easily visible.

In the indirect light-emitting front grill according to the invention, the illuminated member has a black or dark color or the same color as or a similar color to the front grill. Therefore, in a case where the illuminated member has a black or dark color, this color is assimilated into the darkness in the front grill. Accordingly, even where the illuminated member is disposed in visible places, this member is rendered less easily visible.

Meanwhile, in a case where the illuminated member has the same color as or a similar color to the front grill, the illuminated member is viewed as parts of the front grill. Accordingly, the color of the illuminated member is inconspicuous. That is, when lights are off as in daytime, the illuminated member do not mar the design of the front grill. Conversely, in a dark place as at night, the illuminated member enhances the design of the front grill.

Additionally, the indirect light-emitting front grill according to the invention has the opening through which currents of air introduced from outside the vehicle is further introduced into the inside of the vehicle, the opening being located nearer to the outer edges of the front grill than to the reflecting portion. Accordingly, currents of air introduced into the front grill can efficiently be sent into the engine chamber without being intercepted. Therefore, the design of the front grill can be enhanced without marring the light guide function of the front grill, which is its original purpose.

Advantageous Effects of Invention

As described above, the indirect light-emitting front grill according to the invention has the following advantageous effects: (1) the front grill serving as an icon is made conspicuous even in a dark place as at night by providing the light-emitting member, whereas when lights are off as in daytime, the lighting member is rendered less conspicuous, thus enhancing the design of the front grill; (2) the design of the front grill can be enhanced without marring the air guide function of the front grill, which is its original purpose.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

Referring toFIGS. 1 to 4, preferred embodiments of an indirect light-emitting front grill according to the present invention will be described below. InFIGS. 1 to 4, front and rear, right and left, and upper and lower are directions viewed by an occupant of a vehicle, such as an automobile, in an advancing direction of the vehicle. In the drawings, identical members are labeled with identical signs and explanations thereof are omitted. The embodiments of the present inventions are described as especially useful forms to be realized, and the present invention is not limited thereto. Additionally, matters required to practice the present invention, which have not been described in this specification, should be understood as matters included in design made by those skilled in the art based on a known technique in this field. The present invention can be realized on the basis of contents disclosed herein and on the basis of common general knowledge in this field.

First Embodiment

As shown inFIGS. 1 to 4, an indirect light-emitting front grill A according to a first embodiment includes: a front grill22, light-emitting members4,14, illuminated members (left-side illuminated member1and right-side illuminated member11), and openings (left-side opening3and right-side opening13).

The front grill22is an exterior member having vents5cthrough which outside air is taken into an engine chamber8in a vehicle. Additionally, the front grill22has a design portion provided on a vehicle front part. As shown inFIGS. 1 and 2, a front5aof the front grill22, which faces the vehicle exterior, composes a design portion, whereas a back5bon the opposite side to the front5a, back to back, faces the vehicle interior (engine chamber8).

The front grill22is disposed between the left and right front lamps9(the right front lamp is not shown) of the vehicle front part. The front grill22is an approximate rectangle symmetrical on the left and right sides with respect to a center line as viewed from the front, and has the shape of a bobbin winder spindle narrowing towards the inside in a position slightly above the middle in a vertical direction orthogonal to the direction of vehicle width (sideways direction).

Additionally, the front grill22has a three-dimensional shape curved like a bow so as to bulge in the direction of the vehicle front toward a narrow part located slightly above the middle from the upper and lower ends.

A radiator (not shown) is disposed behind (on the rear side of) the front grill22, and the engine chamber8is provided behind the radiator. An engine (not shown) is accommodated in the engine chamber8.

As shown inFIG. 4, the front grill22includes a frame body21serving as an outer edge portion and an air guide body5surrounded by the frame body21. The frame body21has the shape of the outer edge of the front grill, thus composing a design portion. The frame body21is integrally formed by, for example, press working a metal material or injection molding a resin material. The frame body21is formed from a left frame part6, right frame part16, upper frame part26, and lower frame part36. In the frame part21, the upper end of the left frame part6is connected with the left end of the upper frame part26; the lower end of the left frame part6is connected with the left end of the lower frame part36; the upper end of the right frame part16is connected with the right end of the upper frame part26; and the lower end of the right frame part16is connected with the right end of the lower frame part36. The design portion in the present embodiment means the left frame part6and right frame part16, which exhibit distinctive features among the upper, lower, left, and right frame parts composing the frame body21. The left frame part6and right frame part16are symmetrical on the left and right sides.

The air guide body5has a honeycomb form having vents5cfor introducing outside air into the engine chamber8. The air guide body5is integrally formed by injection molding a resin material.

The light-emitting members4,14are disposed on the back5bof the front grill22and on the opposite side to the frame body21, composing the design portion, back to back. Therefore, the light-emitting members4,14are invisible from outside the vehicle viewed from the front. The light-emitting members4,14include light guide bodies and light sources.

The light guide bodies include a left-side light guide body43disposed on the back of the left frame part6composing the frame body21, and a right-side light guide body46disposed on the back of the right frame part16.

The left- and right-side light guide bodies43,46are cylindrical bodies of circular cross-section, and extend from upper to lower ends along the shapes of the corresponding frame parts on which they are disposed. That is, the left- and right-side light guide bodies43,46are linearly symmetrical with respect to the center line.

Each of the left- and right-side light guide bodies43,46is integrally formed by injection molding a light-transmitting resin material (e.g., acrylic resin, polycarbonate resin, or the like).

The light sources use LEDs (Light Emitting Diodes). The light sources include a left upper end light source41, left lower end light source42, a right upper end light source44, and a right lower end light source45.

In a vertical direction of the left-side light guide body43, orthogonal to the direction of vehicle width (sideways direction), the left upper end light source41and left lower end light source42are disposed at the upper end and lower end respectively so as to be located opposite each other. The left upper end light source41and the left lower end light source42emit light into the left-side light guide body43.

In a vertical direction of the right-side light guide body46, orthogonal to the direction of vehicle width (sideways direction), the right-side upper end light source44and right-side lower end light source45are disposed at the upper end and lower end respectively so as to be located opposite each other. The right upper end light source44and the right lower end light source45emit light into the right-side light guide body46.

Each light source emits light by its being supplied with power by a battery (not shown) via a harness (not shown) or light source drive circuit (not shown).

Light emitted by the left upper end light source41and left lower end light source42disposed at the upper and lower ends, respectively, of the left-side light guide body43is made incident on the inside of the left-side light guide body43, using the upper and lower end faces of the left-side light guide body43as incident faces, and is guided in the left-side light guide body43in the lengthwise direction thereof. The light thus guided is emitted out of the light-transmitting left-side light guide body43from a side of the left-side light guide body43.

Light emitted by the right upper end light source44and right lower end light source45disposed at the upper and lower ends, respectively, of the right-side light guide body46is made incident on the inside of the right-side light guide body46, using the upper and lower end faces of the right-side light guide body46as incident faces, and is guided in the right-side light guide body46in the lengthwise direction thereof. The light thus guided is emitted out of the light-transmitting right-side light guide body46from a side of the right-side light guide body46.

The illuminated members are reflecting materials for reflecting light from the light guide bodies. These illuminated members include the left-side illuminated member1and right-side illuminated member11. Each illuminated member is a plate body integrally formed by injection molding a resin material. The left-side illuminated member1has a shape following the shape of the left frame part6, and the right-side illuminated member11has a shape following the shape of the right frame part16. Additionally, the left-side illuminated member1and left frame part6are integrally formed by injection molding. The right-side illuminated member11and right frame part16are also integrally formed by injection molding.

Reflecting portions include a left-side reflecting portion2and right-side reflecting portion12. Reflecting faces include a left-side reflecting face2aand right-side reflecting face12a. The left-side illuminated member1has the left-side reflecting portion2with the left-side reflecting face2athat reflects light from the left-side light guide body43. The left-side reflecting portion2is located on the air guide body5side of the left-side illuminated member1, and is disposed in a place where the left-side reflecting portion2is visible via the air guide body5of the front grill22as viewed from the front. The right-side illuminated member11has the right-side reflecting portion12with the right-side reflecting face12athat reflects light from the right-side light guide body46. The right-side reflecting portion12is located on the air guide body5side of the right-side illuminated member11, and is disposed in a place where the right-side reflecting portion12is visible via the air guide body5of the front grill22as viewed from the front.

As shown inFIGS. 1 and 4, the left-side illuminated member1is located further inside the vehicle than the left-side light guide body43(i.e., in the rear inFIG. 1), and disposed along the shape of the left frame part6. Additionally, the left-side illuminated member1is disposed at an angle in a sideways direction such that the left end1aof the left frame part6is located further inside the vehicle (i.e., in the rear inFIG. 1) than the right end1bof the air guide body5in a widthwise direction (i.e., in a sideways direction inFIG. 1) orthogonal to its lengthwise direction. That is, the left-side illuminated member1is disposed such that light reflected by the left-side reflecting face2ais emitted out of the vehicle along the left frame part6, which is nearer to the outer edge of the front grill.

As shown inFIGS. 2 and 4, the right-side illuminated member11is located further inside the vehicle (i.e., in the rear inFIG. 2) than the right-side light guide body46, and disposed along the shape of the right frame part16. Additionally, the right-side illuminated member11is disposed at an angle in the sideways direction such that the right end11aof the right frame part16is located further inside the vehicle (i.e., in the rear in the figure) than the left end11bof the air guide body5in a widthwise direction (i.e., in a sideways direction inFIG. 2) orthogonal to its lengthwise direction. That is, the right-side illuminated member11is disposed such that light reflected by the right-side reflecting portion12is emitted out of the vehicle along and nearer to the right frame part16.

Therefore, light along the left-side light guide body43, emitted to the left-side illuminated member1, is reflected by the left-side reflecting face2aand, thereby, an observer outside the vehicle can view the shape of the left frame part6composing the design portion. Similarly, light along the right-side light guide body46, emitted to the right-side illuminated member11, is reflected by the right-side reflecting face12aand, thereby, an observer outside the vehicle can view the shape of the right frame part16composing the design portion. That is, the observer outside the vehicle can view the respective shapes of the left and right frame parts6,16, which are symmetrical on the left and right sides.

Each reflecting face has a rough face7. The rough face7of the reflecting face is formed by a known method such as embossing. The reflecting face is able to diffuse light from the light guide body more widely by virtue of the rough face7of the reflecting face. Accordingly, an observer is able to view light reflected from the reflecting face, from a wider range of positions outside the vehicle. Therefore, the design of the front grill is advantageously improved.

Additionally, the rough faces7of the reflecting faces make it difficult for the light-emitting members4,14to be shown on the corresponding reflecting faces even in a bright place as in daytime. Accordingly, the light-emitting members4,14can be prevented from being shown to an observer via the corresponding reflecting faces. That is, the design of the front grill is not marred. Therefore, the design of the front grill can be improved even in a bright place as in daytime.

Each reflecting portion has a black or dark color or the same color as or a similar color to the front grill. A “dark color” herein can be specified by a Munsell color system (color specification according to their three attributes, in Japanese Industrial Standard (JIS) Z 8721) and can be determined by a comparison with, for example, a standard color chart based on the JIS Z 8721. A “dark color” indicates a color with lightness lower than 5 for example.

Preferably, it is a color with lightness lower than 3.

Additionally, a “similar color” herein means a color with a color difference of 20 or smaller in the L*a*b* color system prescribed in the JIS Z 8729. Preferably, it is a color with a color difference of 7 or smaller.

The openings are the left-side opening3and right-side opening13, and they introduce currents of air, introduced from outside the vehicle, into the inside of the vehicle. The left-side opening3is located nearer to the left frame part6than the left-side reflecting portion2. In this embodiment, the left-side openings3is provided in the left end1aof the left-side illuminated member1. The right-side opening13is located nearer to the right frame part16than the right-side reflecting portion12. In this embodiment, the right-side opening13is provided in the right end11aof the right-side illuminated member11.

Now, the operation of the indirect light-emitting front grill A according to the first embodiment will be described. When a power source is turned on by an operator, power is supplied to the light sources. When power is supplied to the light sources, the upper light source41disposed at the upper end of the left-side light guide body43emits light. Light emitted by the upper light source41is emitted to the outside of the vehicle from sides of the left-side light guide body43while being guided in the left-side light guide body43in a lengthwise direction thereof (in a vertical direction in the figure), using the upper end face of the left-side light guide body43as an incident face.

Similarly, when power is supplied to the light sources, the lower light source42disposed at the lower end of the left-side light guide body43emits light. Light emitted by the lower light source42is emitted to the outside of the vehicle from sides of the left-side light guide body43while being guided in the left-side light guide body43in a lengthwise direction thereof (in a vertical direction in the figure), using the lower end face of the left-side light guide body43as an incident face. In this way, the left-side light guide body43emits light.

When light emitted from the left-side light guide body43reaches the left-side reflecting portion2of the left-side illuminated member1, this light is reflected by the left-side reflecting face2aof the left-side reflecting portion2. The left-side light guide body43is inclined in the direction of vehicle width such that the left end1ais located on the vehicle interior side (i.e., on the rear side inFIG. 1) and the right end1bis located on the vehicle exterior side (i.e., on the front side inFIG. 1). Additionally, the left-side reflecting face2aof the left-side reflecting portion2is located so as to be visible via the air guide body5of the front grill22as viewed from the front. Furthermore, the left-side illuminated member1has a shape following the shape of the left frame part6. Therefore, light emitted from the left-side guide body43is reflected by the left-side reflecting face2aof the left-side illuminated member1and, thereby, an observer outside the vehicle can view the shape of the left frame part6composing the deigned portion. That is, even in a dark place as at night, an observer can view the shape of the left frame part6composing the design portion.

As with light reflected by the left-side illuminated member1to thereby make the shape of the left frame part6visible, light emitted from the right-side light guide body46is reflected by the right-side reflecting face12aof the right-side illuminated member11and, thereby, an observer outside the vehicle can view the shape of the right frame part16composing the design portion. That is, even in a dark place as at night, an observer can view the shape of the right frame part16composing the design portion.

As described above, the indirect light-emitting front grill A according to the present embodiment makes it possible for an observer outside a vehicle to view, even in a dark place as at night, the symmetrical shapes of the left and right frame parts6,16composing the design portion. Accordingly, the design of the front grill22in a dark place as at night can be enhanced.

Now, the advantageous effects of the indirect light-emitting front grill A according to the present embodiment will be described. In the indirect light-emitting front grill A according to the present embodiment, the light sources and light guide bodies are not disposed in the air guide body5of the front grill22, but they are disposed in places that are invisible from outside the vehicle viewed from the front. That is, the vents5cof the front grill22are prevented from being blocked. Accordingly, the function of introducing outside air into the engine chamber8, which is the original purpose of the front grill22, is prevented from being marred. Additionally, since light sources and light guide bodies are invisible when the lights are not on as in daytime, the appearance of the front grill22is prevented from being marred. Accordingly, the design taking into account a dark place as at night can be enhanced. Therefore, the design of the front grill22can be enhanced without marring the air guide function of the front grill22, which is its original purpose.

When the lights are off as in daytime, the inside of the front grill22is dark as light does not reach it easily. Accordingly, the inside structure of the front grill22cannot usually be seen with ease. Therefore, although the reflecting portions of the illuminated members are disposed in visible places viewed from the front, these reflecting portions cannot easily be seen from outside the vehicle as they are located inside the front grill22. Additionally, the reflecting portions of the illuminated members have a black or dark color or the same color as or a similar color to the front grill. Therefore, in a case where the illuminated members have a black or dark color, this color is assimilated into the darkness in the front grill22. Accordingly, even where the illuminated members are disposed in visible places, these members are rendered less easily visible.

Meanwhile, in a case where the illuminated members have the same color as or a similar color to the front grill22, the illuminated members are viewed as parts of the front grill22and are therefore inconspicuous. That is, when the lights are off as in daytime, the illuminated members do not mar the design of the front grill. Conversely, in a dark place as at night, the illuminated members enhance the design of the front grill.

The indirect light-emitting front grill A according to the present embodiment has the left-side opening3and right-side opening13on the front grill outer edge sides of the illuminated members. Accordingly, outside air guided from the outside of the vehicle to the inside thereof can be passed into the engine chamber8through the left- and right-side openings3,13without being intercepted. That is, the air guide function of the front grill22, which is its original purpose, is prevented from being marred. Therefore, the design of the front grill22can be enhanced without marring the air guide function of the front grill22, which is its original purpose.

In the indirect light-emitting front grill A according to the present embodiment, the respective reflecting faces of the reflecting portions of the illuminated members have rough faces. By virtue of these, the reflecting faces are able to further diffuse light from the light guide bodies toward the outside of the vehicle. Accordingly, the design of the front grill22in a dark place as at night can be further enhanced.

An indirect light-emitting front grill according to one embodiment of the present invention has been described above. However, the indirect light-emitting front grill A according to the present invention is not limited to the foregoing embodiment.

For example, the air guide body5of the front grill22according to the present embodiment may have, instead of a honeycomb form, a form of horizontal or vertical grill louver, or a form of vertical and horizontal grill, oblique grill, fret, net, or the like.

The light emitting members4,14and illuminated members according to the embodiment are provided on the left frame part6and right frame part16of the frame body21. However, the light-emitting members may be provided in correspondence with all the outer edges of the frame body, including the upper and lower frame parts26,36as well.

Instead of the shape of the front grill22according to the present embodiment, the front grill may have a shape such as a trapezoidal shape in which the upper frame part26is longer than the lower frame part36in the direction of vehicle width; a shape in which two ellipses long in the direction of vehicle width are arranged side by side; and a semicircular shape having an arc in a lower position.

The light-emitting members4,14according to the present embodiment emit light to the illuminated members1,11respectively by use of the light guide bodies43,46respectively. However, without using the light guide bodies43,46, the illuminated members may be illuminated by disposing a plurality of light sources on the back of the frame body21.

Each illuminated member according to the embodiment is disposed in an inclined manner such that light from the light guide body is reflected to the corresponding outer edge of the front grill. Instead of this, the reflecting face of the reflecting portion, which is part of the illuminated member, may have an inclined flat face (FIGS. 5A and 5B) or curved face (FIGS. 5C and 5D). In this case, the illuminated members do not have to be sideways inclined but may be disposed parallel to the air guide body5.

The reflecting portions according to the present embodiment have the same color as or a similar color to the front grill22. For example, if the color of the frame body21or air guide body5of the front grill22is silver, it is preferable that the color of reflecting portions be silver, gray, or the like. Alternatively, if the color of the frame body21or air guide body5of the front grill22is white, it is preferable that the color of the reflecting portions be white, cream, or the like.

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST