Lighting device for vehicle

A lighting device includes a light source, an elongated panel member, an elongated light guide member provided to the panel member, a first light transmission portion provided in the panel member and through which the light from the light guide member transmits toward the first portion to be illuminated, and a second light transmission portion provided in the panel member to be farther away from the light source than the first light transmission portion and through which the light from the light guide member transmits toward the second portion to be illuminated, the second light transmission portion and the second portion extending along a longitudinal direction of the light exit portion. The light guide member and the second portion are provided to be closer to each other as they are farther away from the light source.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to a lighting device for a vehicle.

BACKGROUND ART

A lighting device for a vehicle that illuminates utility parts mounted to a vehicular interior part is known (for example, as described in Patent Document 1). A lighting device for a vehicle described in Patent Document 1 includes a light source, and an elongated light guide member that guides light from the light source. The light guide member extends along a switch base and also extends along an inner handle (an inside handle). With this configuration, the light exiting from the light guide member illuminates the switch base and the inner handle. With such a light guide member, two portions can be illuminated by one light source.[Patent Document 1] Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2010-70116

Problem to be Solved by the Invention

However, in the configuration including the light source and the light guide member, light exiting from the light guide member becomes darker (brightness of the light is lowered) as is farther away from the light source. Therefore, the light exiting from a portion of the light guide member that is far from the light source is darker than the light exiting from a portion of the light guide member that is close to the light source. With this configuration, the light exiting from the portion of the light guide member far from the light source cannot be brighter than the light exiting from the portion of the light guide member close to the light source. Accordingly, in the configuration including the light source and the light guide member, illumination effects obtained in the lighting device for a vehicle are limited and this may deteriorate a design of the device.

To illuminate two different portions of the vehicular interior part, it has been known that a light source is arranged in each of two positions or a light guide member that is branched into two is used. In such configurations, brightness of the light illuminating each of the two portions of the vehicular interior part can be adjusted. However, this increases the number of light sources and complicates the configuration of the light guide member.

DISCLOSURE OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

The present invention has been made in view of the aforementioned circumstances. An objective of the present invention is to provide a lighting device for a vehicle that improves its design.

Means for Solving the Problem

A technology described herein relates to a lighting device for a vehicle provided to a vehicular interior part to illuminate a first portion and a second portion of the vehicular interior part that are to be illuminated. The lighting device includes a light source, a panel member formed in an elongated shape and configuring a part of the vehicular interior part, a light guide member formed in an elongated shape and provided to the panel member and including a light entrance portion and a light exit portion. Light from the light source enters the light entrance portion. The light exit portion extends in a longitudinal direction of the panel member and the light entering the light entrance portion exits from the light exit portion. The lighting device further includes a first light transmission portion provided in the panel member and through which the light exiting from the light exit portion transmits toward the first portion to be illuminated, and a second light transmission portion provided in the panel member to be farther away from the light source than the first light transmission portion and through which the light exiting from the light exit portion transmits toward the second portion to be illuminated. The second light transmission portion and the second portion extend along a longitudinal direction of the light exit portion. The light guide member and the second portion are closer to each other as they are farther away from the light source.

According to the present technology, light from the light guide member illuminates the first portion and the second portion to be illuminated. The light guide member and the second portion are arranged to become closer to each other in the compartment inner-outer direction as they are farther away from the light source. Therefore, a portion of the second portion that is far from the light source can be illuminated by brighter light than a portion of the second portion that is close to the light source. According to the present technology, with a configuration including only one light source, the first portion that is close to the light source and the second portion that is far from the light source are illuminated by bright light. Namely, the configuration of the present technology can provide same effects as the configuration in which a light source is arranged to correspond to each of the first portion and a apportion of the second portion that is far away from the light source (the configuration including two light sources). Accordingly, a design of a lighting device for a vehicle is improved with a simple configuration.

In the above configuration, the panel member may have a projected wall portion projecting to a vehicular compartment inner side, and the projected wall portion may extend along the longitudinal direction of the light guide member and may be projected such that a projected end is inclined toward a vehicular compartment outer side as is farther away from the light source. The light guide member may be provided on a vehicular compartment outer side of the projected wall portion, and the light guide member may extend along an extending direction of the projected wall portion so as to be closer to the vehicular compartment outer side as is farther away from the light source.

In the present technology, the light guide member may be curved and inclined toward the compartment outer side and to be closer to the second portion to be illuminated as is farther away from the light source. Accordingly, the light guide member and the second portion become closer to each other in the compartment outer-inner direction as they are farther away from the light source. The projected wall portion extends to be projected such that the projected end is inclined toward the compartment outer side as is farther away from the light source, and therefore, if the light guide member is arranged along the extending direction (a curved shape), the light guide member is easily curved.

The second portion may be provided on a lower side of the light guide member and may be an inclined surface that is inclined to be closer to be closer to the compartment inner side as is closer to a lower side. The inclined surface of the second portion may be inclined at an inclination angle with respect to a horizontal direction, and the inclination angle may decrease as is farther away from the light source.

According to the present technology, the inclination angle of the second portion with respect to the horizontal direction decreases as is farther away from the light source. In the present technology, the second portion is the inclined surface that is inclined to be closer to the compartment inner side as is closer to a lower side. With such a configuration, as the inclination angle with respect to the horizontal direction is smaller (close to be horizontal), the light exiting from the light guide member reflects off the second portion toward the compartment inner side is likely to be directed upward. Therefore, if passenger's eyes are located on an upper side from the second portion, the light reflecting off the portion of the second portion that is far from the light source (having a smaller inclination angle with respect to the horizontal direction) is likely to reach the passenger's eyes. Accordingly, the passenger can see the portion of the surface far from the LED61with higher brightness. As a result, a passenger can see a portion of the second portion that is far from the light source with bright light.

The second portion to be illuminated may be provided on a lower side of the light guide member and may be an inclined surface that is inclined to be closer to the compartment inner side as is closer to a lower side. The second portion may have an upper edge that is at a constant height along the extending direction of the second portion. The second portion may have a lower end edge that is sloped to be closer to the light guide member as is farther away from the light source.

According to the present technology, the upper edge of the second portion is provided at the constant height along the extending direction of the second portion, and the lower edge of the second portion is sloped to be closer to the light guide member as is farther away from the light source. Namely, the second portion is formed such that an upper-lower direction length decreases as is farther away fro the light source. With this configuration, the passenger can see the portion of the second portion far from the light source (having a smaller length in the upper-lower direction) with brighter light than the portion of the second portion close to the light source (having a greater length in the upper-lower direction). The portion of the second portion that is far from the light source can be illuminated by brighter light.

Advantageous Effect of the Invention

The present technology provides a lighting device that improves its design.

MODES FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

One embodiment of the present technology will be explained with reference toFIGS. 1 to 6.FIG. 1is a front view of a main portion of a vehicular door trim10(a vehicular interior part) to which a lighting device for a vehicle40according to the present embodiment is mounted. The door trim10is an interior part that is mounted on a compartment inner side of an inner panel (not illustrated), and the vehicular door trim10and the inner panel configure a vehicular door.

The door trim10improves visual quality and comfort of a vehicle compartment. The door trim10includes a trim board11. As illustrated inFIG. 1, the trim board11includes at least a main body12and an upper board13that is provided on an upper side of the main body12. The trim board11is not necessarily configured by separate parts including the main body12and the upper board13but may be configured by one part that is integrally formed.

The main body12and the upper board13are connected to each other in a following method, for example. A mounting boss (not illustrated) is provided on one of the main body12and the upper board13and a mounting hole (not illustrated) is formed in another one of them, and the mounting boss is inserted to the mounting hole. Then, a distal end portion of the mounting boss is welded by welding means such as welding by ultrasonic waves. The main body12and the upper board13may be connected to each other by various connecting methods using screws or projection fitting.

The trim board11is formed from a synthetic resin such as polypropylene or a material obtained by mixing a synthetic resin and natural fibers (such as kenaf fibers). A skin15(seeFIG. 3) is adhered to a part or an entire area of a vehicle compartment inner side of the trim board11.

As illustrated inFIG. 1, the main body12includes an armrest14that is used as an armrest for a passenger. The armrest14is projected to a vehicular compartment inner side. An upper surface14B of the armrest14extends along a horizontal direction. An opening14A is formed on the upper surface14B of the armrest14so as to be open upwardly. The opening14A is used as a pull handle (not illustrated). A passenger puts his/her fingers in the pull handle to open and close the vehicular door.

An handle housing portion30is provided adjacent to a connection portion of the upper board13that is connected to the main body12. An inside handle31(a holding portion31A of the inside handle31) is housed in the handle housing portion30. The inside handle31is operated to open and close the vehicular door. A switch base16having a switch operation portion (not illustrated) is provided on a portion of the upper surface14B of the armrest14that is located on a lower side of the handle housing portion30.

As illustrated inFIG. 3, the handle housing portion30is mainly configured with an inside handle bezel32, an inside handle cover37, and a decoration panel41(a part of the vehicular interior part) that is provided on an upper side of the inside handle bezel32. In the following, the inside handle bezel32will be referred to as a bezel32, and the inside handle cover37will be referred to as a cover37.

As illustrated inFIG. 3, the bezel32is formed to be open toward the compartment inner side. The bezel32has a mounting projection (not illustrated) and is mounted to the trim board11via the projection. The cover37is provided to cover an inner wall of the bezel32from the compartment inner side. The cover37configures the inner wall of the handle housing portion30.

The vehicular lighting device40of the present embodiment illuminates the handle housing portion30and the main body12(a surface to be illuminated22of the main body12). The vehicular lighting device40includes an LED61(a light source), a light guide member63(a light exit member) that guides light emitting from the LED61, and the decoration panel41(a panel member). The LED61and the light guide member63are provided on a compartment outer side of (a rear side of) the decoration panel41.

As illustrated inFIG. 2, the LED61that is mounted on an LED board62is housed in a casing70and the casing70is mounted to the decoration panel41. The LED61is connected to a power source (not illustrated) such as a battery that is mounted to a vehicle.

The light guide member63is formed to have substantially a circular cross section and configured with an elongated light guide material having flexibility and a bar-like shape. The light guide material is a material having light transmission property such as an acrylic resin and that guides light therein. The light guide materials described in Japanese Patent Unexamined Publication No. 2005-306233 and Japanese Patent Unexamined Publication No. 6-75120 may be used as the light guide material in the present embodiment.

As illustrated inFIG. 2, one end of the light guide member63in its longitudinal direction (an end close to a vehicle front side) is attached to the casing70and an end surface63A of the one end (close to the LED61) of the light guide member63faces a light emission surface61A of the LED61. Accordingly, the end surface63A of the one end is a light entrance surface (a light entrance portion) that the light emitted from the LED61enters. InFIGS. 1 and 2, a left side corresponds to a vehicle front side and a right side corresponds to a vehicle rear side.

The casing70is configured with separate parts of an LED housing member71that houses the LED61and a light guide member fixing member81that fixes the one end of the light guide member63. The LED housing member71is formed in substantially a box shape and the light guide member fixing member81is formed in a plate-like shape. The light guide member fixing member81is provided to cover a vehicle rear side surface of the LED housing member71. The one end (the LED61side end) of the light guide member63is inserted (fitted) to a cylindrical portion82of the light guide member fixing member81and positioned with respect to the LED61. In the present embodiment, the LED61, the light guide member63, and the casing70configure an LED unit60.

The light guide member fixing member81includes a projection portion83that projects toward the decoration panel41(specifically toward a lower panel50that will be described later). The projection portion83is inserted through a through hole51B that is formed to be through an upper end portion51of the lower panel50in a vehicle width direction. Accordingly, the casing70is positioned with respect to the decoration panel41in the vehicle front-rear direction. The casing70(the LED housing member71and the light guide fixing member81) has a projection (not illustrated) and the projection is fitted to a mounting hole (not illustrated) formed in the lower panel50. Accordingly, the casing70is fixed to the lower panel50.

An outer peripheral surface63D (a side surface) of the light guide member63is coated with fluorine resin. This accelerates the light guided through the light guide member63to exit outside. Total reflection of the light entering the end surface63A of the light guide member63is repeated within the light guide member63to be guided through the light guide member63. Then, the light exits from an entire area of the outer peripheral surface63D. Accordingly, the whole light guide member63functions as a linear light source and illuminates its surroundings. Namely, the outer peripheral surface63D of the light guide member63is a light exit surface (a light exit portion) from which the light entering the end surface63A and guided into the light guide member63exits outside.

In the present embodiment, as illustrated inFIG. 1, the LED61(the casing70) is arranged in the vehicle front side portion of the decoration panel41. The inside handle bezel32(the handle housing portion30) and the surface22to be illuminated in the main body12are arranged in the vehicle front-rear direction. The light guide member63extends along the extending direction of the decoration panel41(along the vehicle front-rear direction) so as to extend over an entire length including the handle housing portion30and the surface22to be illuminated. Accordingly, the light exiting from the light guide member63illuminates the handle housing portion30and the surface22to be illuminated over their entire length. The surface22to be illuminated is a compartment inner side surface (a light receiving portion) of the main body12that the light from the vehicular lighting device40(the light guide member63) is illuminated.

Next, a configuration of the decoration panel41will be explained. As illustrated inFIGS. 3 and 4, the decoration panel41is provided on an upper side of the inside handle31and the surface22of the main body12. A lower end portion13A of the upper board13is recessed (projected) toward the compartment outer side to form a step, and an upper end portion32A of the bezel32is recessed (projected) toward the compartment outer side to form a step. With this configuration, the lower end portion13A and the upper end portion32A overlap each other to form a housing portion (a portion at which the upper board13and the bezel32are connected to each other). A part of the decoration panel41is housed in the housing portion.

As illustrated inFIG. 1, the decoration panel41extends in the vehicle front-rear direction and is configured with separate parts of an upper panel42and the lower panel50. The upper panel42configures an upper portion of the decoration panel41and the lower panel50configures a lower portion of the decoration panel41. As illustrated inFIG. 3, the upper panel42is curved and inclined to the compartment outer side (the right side inFIG. 3) as is close to the upper side. The lower panel50is arranged between the upper panel42and the bezel32(or the surface22of the main body12).

As illustrated inFIG. 3, a flange43extends from a compartment outer side surface of the upper panel42, and a cylindrical mounting boss44is formed to be projected from the flange43toward the compartment outer side. An insertion hole13B is formed through a lower end portion13A of the upper board13so as to be through in the vehicle width direction. An insertion hole32B is formed through an upper end portion32A of the bezel32so as to be through in the vehicle width direction. An insertion hole51A is formed in the upper end portion51of the lower panel50so as to be through the vehicle width direction.

The mounting boss44is inserted through the insertion hole51A, the insertion hole43B, and the insertion hole13B. A screw mounting hole44A is formed in the mounting boss44so as to extend along a center shaft of the mounting boss44. The screw mounting hole44A is open to the compartment outer side. The mounting boss44is inserted through the insertion hole51A, the insertion hole32B, and the insertion hole13B from the compartment inner side in this order, and then, the screw45is inserted to the screw mounting hole44A from the compartment inner side. Accordingly, the decoration panel41(the upper panel42and the lower panel50) is mounted to the upper board13and the bezel32. The mounting bosses44and the insertion holes51A,32B,13B are formed along the vehicle front-rear direction.

As illustrated inFIG. 4, the mounting boss44and the insertion holes51A,13B are also provided on the upper side of the surface22of the main body12. An insertion hole21A is formed in an upper end portion21of the main body12. The mounting boss44is inserted through the insertion hole21A. The mounting boss44is inserted through the insertion hole51A, the insertion hole21A and the insertion hole13B from the compartment inner side, and then, the screw45is inserted into the mounting boss44from the compartment outer side and the mounting boss44is fixed.

The lower panel50includes an upper wall portion52, a side wall portion53, and a lower wall portion54. The upper wall portion52extends horizontally from the lower end of the upper end portion51toward the compartment inner side. The side wall portion53extends downwardly from the compartment inner side end portion of the upper wall portion52. The lower wall portion54extends from the lower end portion of the side wall portion53toward the compartment outer side.

The distal end portion52A (a portion of the upper wall portion52that is on the compartment inner side than an upper wall portion43D of the bezel32), the side wall portion53and the lower wall portion54of the upper wall portion52configure a projected wall portion55. The projected wall portion55is formed to be projected to the compartment inner side than the upper wall portion32D of the bezel32. The projected wall portion55is formed to be open toward the compartment outer side and have substantially a U-shaped cross section. The projected wall portion55extends along the vehicle front-rear direction. The elongated light guide member63is housed in a space within the projected wall portion55(a space surrounded by the projected wall portion55) so as to extend along the extending direction of the projected wall portion55. Namely, the outer peripheral surface63D (the light exit surface) of the light guide member63is elongated along the longitudinal direction of the lower panel50.

Specifically, the light guide member63is provided on a compartment outer side surface of the projected wall portion55(provided at the projected end of the lower panel50). The side wall portion53is provided to cover the light guide member63from the compartment inner side and configures a compartment inner side surface of the decoration panel41. The lower wall portion54configures a lower surface of the decoration panel41and is provided to cover the light guide member63from the lower side. A portion of the lower wall portion54that is provided on the vehicle front side configures the handle housing portion30with the bezel32.

As illustrated inFIG. 3, a light guide member fixing member58(a light exit member fixing member) is attached to the lower panel50. The light guide member fixing member58presses the light guide member63from the compartment outer side and fixes it. The light guide member fixing member58is attached to a mounting boss (not illustrated) that is provided on an upper end portion of the lower panel50.

The light guide member fixing member58is formed in substantially a plate shape and an end portion of the light guide member fixing member58close to the compartment inner side is a contact portion58E that is in contact with the light guide member63. The light guide member fixing member58(the contact portion58E) extends along a longitudinal direction of the light guide member63(in the vehicle front-rear direction), and presses an entire length of the light guide member63from the compartment outer side.

A recess58F is formed on a surface of the contact portion58E that faces the light guide member63. The recess58F is recessed to correspond to an outer peripheral surface63D of the light guide member63. A part of the light guide member63is fitted to the recess58F and this surely fixes the light guide member63. As is explained above, according to the present embodiment, the decoration panel41(the upper panel42and the lower panel50), the light guide member63, and the light guide member fixing member58are integrally assembled and configured as a unit.

The lower wall portion54of the lower panel50includes an inclined portion54A and a light transmission portion54B. The inclined portion54A is inclined such that an end portion extends downwardly to be close to the compartment outer side. The light transmission portion54B extends substantially horizontally from the compartment outer side end of the inclined portion54A (a lower end of the inclined portion54A). The light exiting from the light guide member63passes through the light transmission portion54B toward the handle housing portion30and the surface22of the main body12. The light transmission portion54B is provided on the wall portion (the lower wall portion54) of the projected wall portion55that faces the inside handle31(or the surface22of the main body12).

In the present embodiment, the lower panel50is configured with a base member57A and a light blocking layer57B. The base member57A is made of a synthetic resin material having high light transmission or high transparency such as acrylic or polycarbonate. The light blocking layer57B covers a surface of the base member57A that faces the compartment inner side. No light blocking layer57B is formed on the light transmission portion54B, and the base member57A corresponding to the light transmission portion54B does not include the light blocking layer57B. Accordingly, the light transmits through the light transmission portion54B towards the handle housing portion30(and the surface22of the main body12). Namely, at least a part of the compartment outer side end portion of the decoration panel41is formed of a material having high light transmission and forms the light transmission portion54B. The light transmission portion54B is integrally formed with the lower panel50.

The light blocking layer57B is formed by coating the surface of the base member57A with a material having a light blocking property or adhering a film having a light blocking property to the surface of the base member57A. The light blocking layer57B may be formed by coating with plating and this improves design. However, examples of the light blocking layer57B is not limited thereto and the light blocking layer57B may be formed with any other methods as long as it has a light blocking property.

As illustrated inFIG. 3, the light guide member63is provided in the lower panel50and provided on the compartment inner side than the light transmission portion54B in the vicinity of the handle housing portion30. The light guide member63and the inside handle31are provided so as not to be shifted from each other in a vehicular compartment inner-outer direction (a left-right direction inFIGS. 3 and 4).

The light transmission portion54B is formed to extend along the front-rear direction of a vehicle. The light transmission portion54B is provided on the upper side of the handle housing portion30and the surface22of the main body12and extends over an entire length of the handle housing portion30and the surface22of the main body12. With this configuration, the linear light that is exited from the light guide member63and passes through the light transmission portion54B can illuminate an entire length of the inside handle housing portion30and the surface22of the main body12.

The light transmission portion54B includes a first light transmission portion54B1and a second light transmission portion54B2. The light exiting from the light guide member63(the outer peripheral surface63D) passes through the first light transmission portion54B1to the handle housing portion30(first portion to be illuminated). The light exiting from the light guide member63passes through the second light transmission portion54B2to the surface22of the main body12(a second portion to be illuminated). InFIGS. 1 and 3to5, the light exiting from the light guide member63and passing through the first light transmission portion54B1to the handle housing portion30is illustrated by a light ray L1and the light exiting from the light guide member63and passing through the second light transmission portion54B2to the surface22is illustrated by a light ray L2and a light ray L3.FIG. 4is a cross-sectional view of the vehicle front side portion of the surface22(taken along a B-B line inFIG. 1), andFIG. 5is a cross-sectional view of the vehicle rear side portion of the surface22(taken along a C-C line inFIG. 1).

In the present embodiment, as illustrated inFIG. 1, the LED61(the casing70), the handle housing portion30, and the surface22of the main body12are provided in this order from the vehicle front side. Therefore, the second light transmission portion54B2is arranged farther away from the LED61than the first light transmission portion54B1in the vehicle front-rear direction (in the longitudinal direction of the outer peripheral surface63D of the light guide member63).

As illustrated in a plan view seen from the above as is inFIG. 6, the projected wall portion55(the decoration panel41) is formed such that a projected end (a lower end portion inFIG. 6) is projected further to the compartment inner side than the lower end top23of the surface22. A projection amount of the decoration panel41in the compartment inner-outer direction decreases as is closer to the vehicle rear side (the right side inFIG. 6) or as is farther away from the light source. Namely, the projected wall portion55extends such that a projected end portion is inclined toward the compartment outer side and becomes closer to the surface22as is farther away from the LED61.

The light guide member63is formed to be curved or inclined to be closer to the compartment outer side and also closer to the surface22along the extending direction of the projected wall portion55as is farther away from the LED61. Accordingly, the light guide member63and the surface22become closer to each other in the compartment inner-outer direction as they are farther away from the LED61(as are closer to the vehicle rear side), as illustrated inFIGS. 4 and 5. Namely, a minimum distance between the light guide member63and the surface22becomes shorter as is farther away from the LED61.

As illustrated inFIG. 4, the second light transmission portion54B2is provided to cover the light guide member63from the lower side. As illustrated inFIGS. 4 and 5, the surface22of the main body12is located below the light guide member63(the light transmission portion54B) and is an inclined surface that is inclined toward the compartment inner side as is closer to the lower side. The surface22is inclined with respect to the horizontal direction at an inclination angle (D1, D2inFIGS. 4 and 5) and the inclination angle decreases as is farther away from the LED61. Namely, the inclination angle D2inFIG. 5is smaller than the inclination angle D1inFIG. 4.

As illustrated inFIG. 1, the surface22is formed in a rectangular shape extending along the vehicle front-rear direction and the lower end edge23is sloped upwardly (toward the light guide member63) as is farther away from the LED61. An upper end edge24of the surface22(an upper end of the second portion to be illuminated) extends straight at a constant height along the vehicle front-rear direction (the extending direction of the surface22).

The surface22area is formed such that a length thereof in an upper-lower direction decreases as is closer to the vehicle rear side. InFIG. 4, the length of the surface22in the upper-lower direction (a distance between the upper end edge24and the lower end edge23) is represented by T1. InFIG. 5, the length of the surface22in the upper-lower direction is represented by T2and the length T2is smaller than the length T1.

Next, advantageous effects of the present embodiment will be explained. In the present embodiment, the light exiting from the light guide member63illuminates the handle housing portion30and the surface22of the main body12. Accordingly, inside of the handle housing portion30can be easily seen and the design of the surface22is improved. In the present embodiment, the light guide member63and the surface22get closer to each other in the compartment inner-outer direction as they are farther away from the LED61. Therefore, the portion of the surface22that is far from the LED61(for example, the portion illustrated inFIG. 5) is illuminated by brighter light than the portion of the surface22that is close to the LED61(for example, the portion illustrated inFIG. 4).

Generally, the light exiting from the light guide member63becomes darker (the brightness becomes lower) as is farther away from the LED61. Therefore, in the configuration that the LED61, the handle housing portion30and the surface22are arranged in this order like the present embodiment, the brightness of light reaching the respective portion generally changes as follows. The brightness of light reaching the handle housing portion30is highest, and the brightness of light reaching the surface22far from the LED61is lowest, and the brightness of light reaching the surface22close to the LED61is middle.

In the present embodiment, the brightness of light reaching the handle housing portion30and the portion of the surface22far from the LED61can be greater than the brightness of light reaching the portion of the surface22that is close to the LED61. The effects obtained by the configuration in which one light source is arranged for each of the handle housing portion30and the portion of the surface22far from the LED61(the configuration having two light sources) can be obtained by the configuration having only one light source (the LED61). This achieves the lighting device40for a vehicle having improved design with a simple configuration.

In the present embodiment, the decoration panel41has the projected wall portion55that projects toward the compartment inner side. The projected wall portion55extends along the longitudinal direction of the light guide member63and is projected such that the projected end portion is inclined toward the compartment outer side and also becomes closer to the surface22as is farther away from the LED61. The light guide member63is arranged on the compartment outer side of the projected wall portion55. The light guide member63extends along the extending direction of the projected wall portion55and is curved and inclined to be closer to the compartment outer side and also closer to the surface22as is farther away from the LED61.

The light guide member63is curved and inclined to be closer to the compartment outer side and the surface22as is farther away from the LED61. With this configuration, the light guide member63and the surface22become closer to each other in the compartment inner-outer direction as they are farther away from the LED61. The projected wall portion55extends such that the projected end portion is inclined toward the compartment outer side and to be closer to the surface22as is farther away from the LED61. With this configuration, the light guide member63is arranged along the extending direction of the projected wall portion55(along the curved shape) and the light guide member63is easily curved.

The surface22is located below the light guide member63and is an inclined surface that is inclined toward the compartment inner side as is closer to the lower side. The surface22is inclined with respect to the horizontal direction at the inclination angle and the inclination angle decreases as is farther away from the LED61.

In the present embodiment, the inclination angle of the surface22with respect to the horizontal direction decreases as is farther away from the LED61. In the configuration of the present embodiment in which the surface22is inclined toward the compartment inner side as is closer to the lower side, the light exiting from the light guide member63and reflecting off the surface22toward the compartment inner side is likely to be directed upward as the inclination angle with respect to the horizontal direction is smaller (closer to be horizontal). As a result, if passenger's eyes are located on an upper side from the surface22, the light reflecting off the portion of the surface22that is far from the LED61is likely to reach the passenger's eyes. Accordingly, the passenger can see the portion of the surface far from the LED61with higher brightness.

In the present embodiment, the upper end edge24of the surface22extends straight at a constant height along the vehicle front-rear direction (the extending direction of the surface22). The lower end edge23of the surface22is sloped to be closer to the light guide member63as is farther away from the LED61. Namely, the length of the surface22ranging in the upper-lower direction decreases as is farther away from the LED61.

With this configuration, the passenger can see the portion of the surface22far from the LED61(having a smaller length in the upper-lower direction) with brighter light than the portion of the surface22close to the LED61(having a smaller length in the upper-lower direction). The portion of the surface22that is far from the LED61can be illuminated by bright light.

Other Embodiments

The present invention is not limited to the embodiments as described above with reference to the drawings. For example, the present invention may include following embodiments.

(1) In the above embodiment, the vehicular door trim10is an example of the vehicular interior part to which the vehicular lighting device40is mounted. However, it is not limited thereto. For example, a quarter trim or a deck side trim may be an example of the vehicular interior part.

(2) The panel member is not necessarily the decoration panel41. For example, the upper board13may used as the panel member.

(3) In the above embodiment, the handle housing portion30is an example of the first portion to be illuminated, and the surface22of the main body12is an example of the second portion to be illuminated. However, it is not limited thereto. Any part that can be mounted to the vehicular interior part is used as the first portion to be illuminated and the second portion to be illuminated and a switch base or a door pocket may be an example thereof.

(4) In the above embodiment, the LED61is used as the light source. However, it is not limited thereto. For example, various kinds of light sources such as a filament lamp (bulb), a fluorescent tube, and a halogen lamp may be used as the light source.

(5) In the above embodiment, a part of the decoration panel41(the lower panel50) has a high light transmission property to be the light transmission portion54B (the first light transmission portion54B1and the second light transmission portion54B2). However, the configuration is not limited thereto. The light transmission portion54B may have any configuration as long as the light exiting from the light guide member63can pass therethrough to the handle housing portion30and the surface22of the main body12. For example, a through hole may be formed in the lower panel50through which the light passes and used as the light transmission portion.

EXPLANATION OF SYMBOLS

10: Vehicular door trim (Vehicular interior part),22: Surface to be illuminated (Second portion to be illuminated),23: Lower end of the surface to be illuminated (Lower end of the second portion to be illuminated),24: Upper end of the surface to be illuminated (Upper end of the second portion to be illuminated),30: Handle housing portion (First portion to be illuminated),40: Lighting device for a vehicle,41: Decoration panel (Panel member),54B1: First light transmission portion,54B2: Second light transmission portion,55: Projected wall portion,61: LED (Light source),63: Light guide member,63A: End surface of the light guide member (Light entrance portion),63D: Outer peripheral surface of the light guide member (Light exit portion), D1, D2: Inclination angle of the second portion to be illuminated with respect to horizontal direction