Abstract:
A light device for a vehicle improves viewability by giving variations to the appearance at the time of lighting without increasing the light quantity. The light device includes first light sources oriented to an irradiation direction of the light device, second light sources oriented opposite to the irradiation direction, a first base plate that mounts the first light sources and a second base plate that mounts the second light sources, and a lens that allows irradiation light of the first light sources and the second light sources to permeate therethrough. The base plates are disposed perpendicularly to the irradiation direction of the light device. A reflector reflects the irradiation light of the second light sources to the irradiation direction and an extension section surrounds the first light sources and stands so as to be oriented to the irradiation direction.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    The present invention generally relates to a light device for a vehicle, and more specifically relates to a light device for a vehicle improving viewability by the way of leading the irradiation light of a light source. 
         [0003]    2. Description of Related Art 
         [0004]    A light device for a vehicle is known that improves viewability at the time of lighting by devising the way of leading the irradiation light of a light source. 
         [0005]    In JP-A No. 2007-035499, a configuration is disclosed in which, in a head light that is a light device having the light source of LEDs (light emitting diode), LEDs having the vertical upward irradiation direction and LEDs having the vertical downward irradiation direction are provided on the rear side of LEDs having the irradiation direction of the vehicle body forward direction, the irradiation light of these LEDs are reflected to the vehicle body forward direction by reflectors, and thereby the light quantity of the irradiation is increased without increasing the number of LED viewed from the outside. 
         [0006]    However, the technology described in JP-A No. 2007-035499 is for improving viewability by increasing the irradiation light to the vehicle body front direction, and the devisal for improving viewability without increasing the light quantity itself has not been studied. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0007]    The present invention is directed toward providing a light device that addresses the problems of the above related art and improves viewability by giving variations to the appearance at the time of lighting without increasing the light quantity. 
         [0008]    In accordance with the present invention, a light device for a vehicle includes first light sources oriented to an irradiation direction of the light device for a vehicle; second light sources directed opposite to the irradiation direction; a base plate of a tabular shape that mounts the first light sources and the second light sources; and a lens that allows irradiation light of the first light sources and irradiation light of the second light sources to permeate therethrough, in which the base plate is disposed perpendicularly to the irradiation direction of the light device for a vehicle. The light device is further includes a reflector that reflects the irradiation light of the second light sources to the irradiation direction; and an extension section that surrounds the first light sources and stands so as to be oriented to the irradiation direction. 
         [0009]    Because the base plate is disposed perpendicularly to the irradiation direction of the light device for a vehicle and the reflector that reflects the irradiation light of the second light sources to the irradiation direction and the extension section that surrounds the first light sources and stands so as to be oriented to the irradiation direction are provided, when the light device is lit, the irradiation light of the first light sources is kept inside the profile formed by the extension section and the irradiation light of the second light sources is emitted outside the profile formed by the extension section, and therefore the inside and the outside of the extension section come to be viewed so as to be separated from each other. In other words, such a visual effect can be secured that, in the front view of the light device, the extension section comes to appear so as to emphasize the profile thereof within the irradiation range of the light device. Thus, viewability of the light device for a vehicle can be improved with a simple structure without increasing the light quantity itself. Also, reduction of the light quantity of the light emission section by the first light sources can be prevented by preventing the irradiation light of the first light sources from leaking sideways by the extension section. 
         [0010]    In further accordance with the present invention, the extension section extends to a position adjacent to the rear surface of the lens. Because the extension section extends to a position adjacent to the rear surface of the lens, separation by the profile formed by the extension section is emphasized, and viewability of the light device for a vehicle can be improved further. 
         [0011]    In further accordance with the present invention, the extension section is arranged in the base plate that mounts the first light sources. Because the extension section is arranged in the base plate that mounts the first light sources, the extension section surrounding the first light sources can be formed easily by bending the end of the base plate toward the irradiation direction. 
         [0012]    In further accordance with the present invention, the base plates include a first base plate that mounts the first light sources and a second base plate that mounts the second light sources, and a second extension section that surrounds the second light sources and stands in the opposite direction of the extension section is arranged in the second base plate. Therefore, the irradiation light of the second light sources can be prevented from leaking sideways, and reduction of the light quantity reflected by the reflector toward the irradiation section can be prevented. Thus, the inside and outside of the extension section can emit the light with uniform light quantity. 
         [0013]    In further accordance with the present invention, the second extension section and an outer periphery section of the reflector are configured to overlap with each other in the irradiation direction. Because the second extension section and the outer periphery section of the reflector are configured to overlap with each other in the irradiation direction, the dimension in the irradiation direction of the light device can be made small, and the light device can be made compact. 
         [0014]    In further accordance with the present invention, a recess that corresponds to the inside of the extension section is formed in the lens by increasing the thickness of a periphery section that corresponds to the outside of the extension section. Because the recess that corresponds to the inside of the extension section is formed in the lens by increasing the thickness of the periphery section that corresponds to the outside of the extension section, the difference in viewability between the inside and outside of the extension section can be enlarged further. 
         [0015]    In further accordance with the present invention, an outer lens that covers the lens is arranged at a position on the irradiation direction side of the lens. Because the outer lens that covers the lens is arranged at a position on the irradiation direction side of the lens, without generating unevenness in the outer lens that constitutes the profile of the light device, only the visual effect by arranging the recess in the lens on the inner side thereof can be secured. 
         [0016]    In further accordance with the present invention, the reflector extends to the vicinity of the side of the second light sources on the irradiation direction side of the light device for a vehicle. Because the reflector extends to the vicinity of the side of the second light sources on the irradiation direction side of the light device for a vehicle, even when an extension section is not arranged in the side of the second light sources, the irradiation light thereof can be reflected toward the irradiation direction by the reflector without leaking sideways. 
         [0017]    In further accordance with the present invention, the extension section is formed into a cylindrical shape, and the end thereof is configured to abut on the rear surface of the lens. Because the extension section is formed into a cylindrical shape and the end thereof is configured to abut on the rear surface of the lens, manufacturing of the extension section becomes easy, a ring-like profile comes to be viewed so as to be emphasized at the time of lighting the light device, and high visual effect can be secured. Also, reduction of the light quantity of the light emission surface can be prevented by preventing the irradiation light by the first light sources from leaking sideways. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0018]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the light device for a vehicle in relation with an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0019]      FIG. 2  is a plan view of the light device. 
           [0020]      FIG. 3  is an exploded perspective view of the light device. 
           [0021]      FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view taken from line IV-IV of  FIG. 2 . 
           [0022]      FIG. 5  is a front view of the light device. 
           [0023]      FIG. 6  is a front view of the light device for a vehicle in relation with the second embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0024]      FIG. 7  is a perspective view of the light device. 
           [0025]      FIG. 8  is a cross-sectional view taken from line VIII-VIII of  FIG. 6 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0026]    Below, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail referring to the drawings.  FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a light device  1  for a vehicle (hereinafter shown merely as a light device) in relation with an embodiment of the present invention.  FIG. 2  is a plan view of the light device  1 , and  FIG. 3  is an exploded perspective view of the light device  1 . 
         [0027]    The light device  1  has the light source of an LED (light emitting diode), and is a light device applied as a blinker device for a motorcycle, for example. The light device  1  has a configuration of accommodating base plates  4 ,  5  that mount the light sources and a reflector  7  in a space formed between a housing  2  and a lens  3 . The housing  2  is formed of a black resin and the like, and the lens  3  is formed of a colorless transparent or colored transparent resin. The reflector  7  that engages the inside of the housing  2  is formed of a resin and the like, and a reflecting surface by plating, metal vapor deposition and the like is arranged thereon. 
         [0028]    In the light device  1  in relation with the present embodiment, the base plate mounting the light sources is formed of the first base plate  4  that mounts the first light sources  8  and the second base plate  5  that mounts the second light sources  11  (refer to  FIG. 4 ). Both of the first base plate  4  and the second base plate  5  are formed into a bottomed cylindrical shape, and are fixed to a support column  6  arranged in the reflector  7  using a fastening member  10 , such as a screw, with the bottom surfaces thereof abutting on each other back to back. Thus, the bottom sections of the first base plate  4  and the second base plate  5  are fixed so as to be oriented to the direction perpendicular to the irradiation direction A of the light device  1 . 
         [0029]    The first light sources  8  and the second light sources  11  are mounted on the bottom sections of the first base plate  4  and the second base plate  5 . Therefore, the light axis of the first light sources  8  comes to be oriented to the same direction as the irradiation direction A, and the light axis of the second light sources  11  comes to be oriented in a direction opposite to the irradiation direction A. 
         [0030]      FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view taken from line IV-IV of  FIG. 2 . Also,  FIG. 5  is a front view of the light device  1 . The first base plate  4  mounts the first light sources  8  of eight pieces in total at equal intervals in a ring shape in a copper foil section  12  arranged on the bottom section of the bottomed cylindrical shape thereof. An extension section  4   a  corresponding to the side face of the bottomed cylindrical shape stands toward the irradiation direction A side so as to surround the first light sources  8  by bending the end of the first base plate  4 . 
         [0031]    The extension section  4   a  is extended to a position adjacent to the rear surface side of the lens  3 , a projection section  9  of a ring shape abutting on the extension section  4   a  is formed on the rear surface side of the lens  3 , and therefore the extension section  4   a  abuts on the rear surface side of the lens  3 . Thus, irradiation light  8   a  of the first light sources  8  is prevented from leaking sideways, and reduction of the light quantity of the light emitting section by the first light sources  8  can be prevented. 
         [0032]    With the configuration described above, when the light device  1  is lit, as shown in the front view of  FIG. 5 , a portion where the extension section  4   a  exists comes to appear clearly as a profile R 1  of a ring shape. In other words, the light emitting section by the first light sources  8  and the light emitting section by the second light sources  11  are separated from each other clearly by arranging the extension section  4   a . Thus, a peculiar visual effect is given by a simple structure and viewability of the light device  1  is improved without increasing the light quantity itself. 
         [0033]    Also, in the present embodiment, the second base plate  5  is also formed into a bottomed cylindrical shape having a diameter equal to that of the first base plate  4 , and the second light sources  11  of eight pieces in total are mounted at equal intervals in a ring shape in a copper foil section  13  arranged on the bottom section thereof. A second extension section  5   a  corresponding to the side face of the bottomed cylindrical shape stands toward the opposite side of the irradiation direction A so as to surround the second light sources  11  by bending the end of the second base plate  5 . Thus, irradiation light  11   a  of the second light sources  11  comes to be reflected to the irradiation direction A side by the reflector  7  without leaking sideways, and generation of the difference between the light quantity of the irradiation light  11   a  and the irradiation light  8   a  can be prevented. Also, by being formed of a resin that hardly reflects the irradiation light and being coated with low reflectance ratio on the surface, the extension sections  4   a ,  5   a  can prevent reflection to the side and can improve directivity to the irradiation direction A. 
         [0034]    Further, the edge on the outside in the radial direction of the reflector  7  may be formed into a shape same to that of the outer peripheral part of the housing  2  as shown in  FIGS. 1-3 , and may be configured to be stored in the inside of the joint of the housing  2  and the lens  3  as shown in  FIG. 4 . In the example shown in  FIG. 4 , an offset amount B is arranged between the front ends of an outer edge  7   a  of the reflector  7  and the second extension section  5   a , which means that the front ends of the outer edge  7   a  of the reflector  7  and the second extension section  5   a  are configured to overlap with each other in the irradiation direction A, thereby the dimension in the irradiation direction A of the light device  1  is made small, and the light device  1  is made compact. 
         [0035]    Although the light device  1  has a feature that the profile R 1  clearly appears by lighting both of the first light sources  8  and the second light sources  11 , it is also possible to light either one of the first light sources  8  or the second light sources  11 . Therefore, an operation of blinkering the ring section by the second light sources  11  while the small circle section by the first light sources  8  emits the light and so on is possible. In this case also, because the small circle section and the ring section are clearly separated from each other in emitting the light, high viewability can be secured. 
         [0036]      FIG. 6  is a front view of a light device  30  for a vehicle (hereinafter referred to merely as a light device) in relation with the second embodiment of the present invention. Also,  FIG. 7  is a perspective view of the light device  30 , and  FIG. 8  is a cross-sectional view taken from line VIII-VIII of  FIG. 6 . 
         [0037]    The light device  30  applied to a tail light device of a motorcycle is configured to accommodate a base plate  34  that mounts the light sources and a reflector  39  in a space formed between a housing  31  and a lens  33 . The housing  31  is formed of a black resin and the like, and the lens  33  is formed of a colorless transparent or colored transparent resin. In the present embodiment, a colorless transparent or colored transparent outer lens  32  is arranged outside the lens  33 . Also, the reflector  39  that engages with the inside of the housing  31  is formed of a resin and the like, and a reflecting surface by plating, metal vapor deposition and the like is arranged thereon. 
         [0038]    In the light device  30 , first light sources  36  and second light sources  38  are mounted on the front and rear surfaces of the single base plate  34 , respectively. The base plate  34  formed into a bottomed cylindrical shape is fastened along with the reflector  39  to the housing  31  using a fastening member  37 , such as a screw. Thus, the bottom section of the base plate  34  is fixed so as to be oriented to the direction perpendicular to the irradiation direction A of the light device  30 . 
         [0039]    The first light sources  36  and the second light sources  38  are mounted on the front and rear surfaces of the base plate  34 . Therefore, the light axis of the first light sources  36  comes to be oriented to the direction same to the irradiation direction A, and the light axis of the second light sources  38  comes to be oriented to the direction opposite to the irradiation direction A. 
         [0040]    The base plate  34  mounts at least two pieces of the first light sources  36  at equal intervals in a ring shape in a copper foil section  40  arranged on the bottom section of the bottomed cylindrical shape thereof. An extension section  34   a  corresponding to the side face of the bottomed cylindrical shape stands toward the irradiation direction A side so as to surround the first light sources  36  by bending the end of the base plate  34 . 
         [0041]    The extension section  34   a  is extended to a position abutting on the rear surface side of the lens  33 . Thus, irradiation light  36   a  of the first light sources  36  is prevented from leaking sideways, and reduction of the light quantity of the light emitting section by the first light sources  36  can be prevented. 
         [0042]    Also, in the present embodiment, the edge of the reflector  39  is extended toward the irradiation direction A side, and extends to a position adjacent to the side of the second light sources  38 . Thus, irradiation light  38   a  of the second light sources  38  is reflected to the irradiation direction A side by the reflector  39  without leaking sideways. Also, the lens  33  is supported by a cylindrical cover  35  that is fixed to the housing  31  side. This cylindrical cover  35  is formed of a resin colored in an optional color and so on, and has a function of preventing the base plate  34  and the like from being viewed from the outside in addition to preventing the irradiation light  38   a  of the second light sources  38  from leaking sideways. 
         [0043]    With the configuration described above, when the light device  30  is lit, as shown in the front view of  FIG. 6 , a portion where the extension section  34   a  exists comes to appear clearly as a profile R 2  of a ring shape. In other words, the light emitting section by the first light sources  36  and the light emitting section by the second light sources  38  are separated from each other clearly by arranging the extension section  34   a . Thus, a peculiar visual effect is given by a simple structure and viewability of the light device  30  is improved without increasing the light quantity itself. 
         [0044]    Also, in the present embodiment, by increasing the thickness of an edge  33   b  of the lens  33  corresponding to the outside of the extension section  34   a , a recess  33   a  of a cylindrical shape is formed inside the extension section  34   a . Thus, the difference in viewability between the inside and outside of the extension section  34   a  is enlarged further. Also, a wave-like lens cut is arranged on the rear surface side of the recess  33   a , and variation in the appearance is further given to the light emitting section inside the extension section  34   a.    
         [0045]    In the present embodiment, the unevenness is not arranged in the outer lens  32  outside the lens  33 , and it is configured to obtain only the visual effect by arranging the recess  33   a  without giving variation in the smooth profile of the light device  30 . 
         [0046]    As described above, according to the light device for a vehicle in relation with the present invention, because the base plate supporting the LED light sources is disposed perpendicularly to the irradiation direction of the light device and the extension section surrounding the first light sources and standing so as to be oriented to the irradiation section is arranged, the irradiation light of the first light sources is kept inside the profile formed by the extension section and the irradiation light of the second light sources is emitted outside the profile formed by the extension section, and therefore such visual effect can be secured that the inside and outside of the extension section are viewed separately and the profile of the extension section appears so as to be emphasized within the irradiation range of the light device. Thus, viewability of the light device for a vehicle can be improved by a simple structure without increasing the light quantity itself. 
         [0047]    Also, the shape and structure of the light device for a vehicle, the use and lighting method of the light device, the shape and structure of the base plate and the extension section, the form, disposal position and number of pieces of the light source, the shape of the lens and the housing, and so on are not limited to the embodiments described above, and various alterations are possible. For example, the extension section of the base plate can be configured so as to be integral with or separate from the bottom section of the base plate, and can be formed into a polygonal shape or an optional shape in the front view of the light device. The light device for a vehicle in relation with the present invention can be applied to various light devices such as a head light, tail light device, position light and the like in addition to the blinker device. 
       REFERENCE SIGN LIST 
       [0000]    
       
           1 ,  30  . . . Light device for a vehicle (light device) 
           2 ,  31  . . . Housing 
           3 ,  33  . . . Lens 
           4  . . . First base plate (base plate) 
           5  . . . Second base plate (base plate) 
           34  . . . Base plate 
           7 ,  39  . . . Reflector 
           8 ,  36  . . . First light sources 
           11 ,  38  . . . Second light sources 
           4   a ,  34   a  . . . Extension section 
           5   a  . . . Second extension section 
           8   a ,  36   a  . . . Irradiation light of first light sources 
           11   a ,  38   a  . . . Irradiation light of second light sources 
           33   a  . . . Recess 
           33   b  . . . Edge 
         A . . . Irradiation direction 
         R 1 , R 2  . . . Profile