Patent Description:
Vehicle logo assemblies capable of emitting light are being used more and more in motor vehicles, in order to present a unique and attractive appearance.

For example, a light-emitting logo system is known from the document <CIT>; this comprises a light-emitting device and a logo. The light-emitting device includes a polyvinyl chloride (PVC) plate and a light source device; the bottom of the PVC plate has a cavity for accommodating the light source device, the light source device comprises an LED and a power source, and the logo is attached to a surface of the PVC plate. When the light source device emits light, a light beam shines into the PVC plate and diffuses through it, thereby illuminating the logo attached to the surface thereof. A prior art example of a logo assembly corresponding to the preamble of claim <NUM> is disclosed in <CIT>.

An object of the present application is to provide a vehicle logo assembly and a vehicle having the vehicle logo assembly, which can achieve a good display effect of the vehicle logo assembly in a cost-effective manner and with a simple structure.

According to one aspect of the present application, the object is achieved as follows: the vehicle logo assembly has a lens, a light source and a support, the light source being arranged in a space enclosed by the lens and the support, and a vehicle logo pattern being formed in the lens, wherein the lens comprises an outer lens and an inner lens superposed one on top of the other, a first coating is applied to that side of the outer lens which faces the inner lens, a second coating is applied to that side of the inner lens which faces the outer lens, and in an assembled state of the outer lens and inner lens, a light-transmitting part in the form of the vehicle logo pattern is formed between the first coating and the second coating. By arranging the vehicle logo pattern on coordinated contact faces of the inner lens and the outer lens, it is possible to prevent corrosion of component parts of the vehicle logo pattern, in particular made of metal, due to the influence of the external environment, e.g. moisture. In addition, this solution can also effectively protect the vehicle logo pattern, to prevent it from being scratched, and has a particularly good visual effect.

According to the invention, a depression is formed on that side of the outer lens which faces the inner lens, with the first coating being applied in a region other than the depression; and a protrusion is formed on that side of the inner lens which faces the outer lens, with the second coating being applied to a surface of the protrusion, wherein the depression and the protrusion are shape-fitted to each other, and the inner lens and the outer lens are in a close fit. This can ensure the precise positioning of the outer lens relative to the inner lens, and further simplifies assembly. In addition, in this embodiment, when applying the coating to the outer lens, a coating material can be effectively prevented from entering the depression undesirably by merely inserting a corresponding mold into the depression, thus enabling cost-effective manufacture.

The first coating is a paint layer, e.g. a black paint layer; the second coating is a water-electroplated layer, e.g. a silver-colored metal layer. The vehicle logo pattern itself is prominently presented due to the obvious color difference between the coatings. When the light source is lit, the light source penetrates and passes through the light-transmitting part, and this presents a good visual effect.

According to the present invention, the inner lens is a two-component injection-molded member, wherein a portion that forms the protrusion of the inner lens is formed of acrylonitrile butadiene styrene copolymer (ABS) or a mixture of ABS and polycarbonate (PC), and other portions are formed of other light-transmitting plastic (e.g. PC, polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA)). This is particularly suitable as the second coating applied to the protrusion is a water-electroplated layer; this material selection can ensure a good coating adhesion result.

According to the invention, the second coating is a metal plated layer, such as a metal chromium layer or a metal aluminum layer. In the case of a metal chromium layer, it is appropriate to select trivalent chromium, in order to meet environmental protection requirements.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the first coating gradually becomes thinner in a direction toward the depression. This further prevents the incursion of coating material into a wall part forming the depression during the coating process.

According to an embodiment of the present application, a light diffusion plate is arranged between the light source and the lens. This is conducive to a uniform light output effect in all directions, especially when the light source is a point light source.

According to an embodiment of the present application, multiple light sources are provided, being arranged on a common printed circuit board. The light source may be a light emitting diode, and the color thereof can be freely selected according to needs, e.g. white, red, yellow or other colors.

According to an embodiment of the present application, a heat sink for the light source is provided, to further facilitate the dissipation of heat from the light source.

According to an embodiment of the present application, the thicknesses of the first coating and the second coating are <NUM>-<NUM>.

According to another aspect of the present application, a vehicle is proposed, having the vehicle logo assembly described above.

The present application is expounded further below with the aid of the accompanying drawings. In the drawings:.

Embodiments of the present application are explained demonstratively below. As those skilled in the art should realize, the embodiments explained may be amended in various ways without departing from the concept of the present application. Thus, the accompanying drawings and the Description are in essence demonstrative and non-limiting. In the following text, identical drawing reference labels generally indicate functionally identical or similar elements.

<FIG> shows schematically an exploded view of the vehicle logo assembly according to the present application. The vehicle logo assembly <NUM> mainly comprises a lens <NUM>, a circuit board assembly <NUM> and a support <NUM>, which are stacked in an assembled state. A vehicle logo pattern is provided in the lens <NUM>. The circuit board assembly comprises a light source <NUM> and a printed circuit board <NUM> accommodating the light source, the circuit board assembly is arranged in a space enclosed by the lens <NUM> and the support <NUM>, and mounted on the support <NUM>.

The light source <NUM> may be an LED light source, e.g. a white LED or an LED of other color. Here, multiple light sources may be arranged on the printed circuit board. For lighting up the light source, a driver <NUM> is provided, being connected to an on-board power supply.

To facilitate the dissipation of heat from the light source, the vehicle logo assembly additionally has a heat sink <NUM>, which is arranged between the printed circuit board and the support. Here, the light source is alternatively arranged on the heat sink <NUM> directly; this further facilitates heat dissipation.

A recess( not shown) for accommodating the driver <NUM> may be provided in the support <NUM>, in order to achieve as compact a structure as possible. A through-hole <NUM> for electrically conductive components is also provided in the support <NUM>.

Optionally, a light diffusing element, not shown, may be arranged between the light source and the lens, in order to achieve a uniform light output effect in all directions. The light diffusing element may be formed of a light-transmitting plastic matrix and diffusing particles mixed in the matrix. For example, the light diffusing element is a PC diffusing plate, the required transmittance of which can be achieved by selecting the content of diffusing particles therein. In general, a smaller number of diffusing particles results in higher transmittance and lower haze, whereas a higher content of diffusing particles results in lower transmittance and higher haze.

The lens <NUM> comprises an outer lens <NUM> and an inner lens <NUM>, which are both made of a plastic with high light transmission, wherein the course of an inside surface of the outer lens is matched to the course of an outside surface of the inner lens, thereby ensuring a close fit between the outer lens <NUM> and inner lens <NUM>. Here, the vehicle logo pattern is achieved through corresponding structural processing of the inside surface of the outer lens <NUM> and the outside surface of the inner lens <NUM>; this will be expounded in detail below.

The outer lens <NUM> shown in <FIG> substantially takes the form of a shroud and has a light output side <NUM>, with an opening thereof being covered by the support <NUM>. Alternatively, the support <NUM> may be basin-shaped, having a recess for accommodating other elements of the vehicle logo; here, the outer lens <NUM> may take the form of a plate. A first coating <NUM> is applied to that side of the outer lens <NUM> which faces the inner lens <NUM>, i.e. that side which is opposite the light output side <NUM>, wherein the first coating <NUM> does not cover the whole inner side of the outer lens <NUM>, i.e. the inner side of the outer lens <NUM> has an uncoated part, as shown schematically by the dotted-line region in <FIG>; here, the uncoated region takes the form of a combined pattern of an approximate V-shape and a ring shape. Light cannot pass through the first coating <NUM>, which is a paint layer, such as black paint or a paint layer of another color. Thus, light can pass out through the uncoated part.

A second coating <NUM> is applied to that side of the inner lens <NUM> which faces the outer lens <NUM>. The course of an outer contour of the second coating is matched to the course of an outer contour of the uncoated part of the outer lens <NUM>, but a gap exists between the adjacent outer contours. Light is likewise unable to pass through the second coating <NUM>. The combined pattern of an approximate V-shape and a ring shape can be seen in <FIG>.

In an assembled state of the outer lens <NUM> and inner lens <NUM>, a light-transmitting part <NUM> in the form of the vehicle logo pattern is formed between the first coating <NUM> and the second coating <NUM>.

In order that the vehicle logo pattern can present a good metallic texture and have good electrical, thermal and corrosion-resistant properties, the second coating <NUM> may be an electroplated layer, in particular a water-electroplated layer. Compared with vacuum plating, which involves a complex technological procedure and high environmental and equipment requirements, water electroplating is more cost-effective.

The second coating <NUM> is preferably a metal plated layer, e.g. a metal plated layer formed by water electroplating, such as a chromium layer or aluminum layer. In the case of a chromium layer, trivalent chromium is preferred, in order to meet environmental protection requirements. Depending on needs, the metal plated layer is for example high-gloss silver-colored, dull silver-colored, grey-silver-colored, gunmetal-colored, gold-colored, black-chrome-colored, semi-gloss chrome, etc..

Here, in order to guarantee good light transmission and good second coating adhesion, the inner lens <NUM> is be formed of a two-component material by injection molding; for example, that region of the inner lens which is coated with the second coating <NUM> is formed of ABS or a mixture of ABS and PC. Other regions of the inner lens are formed of PC, PMMA or other suitable light-transmitting material. Especially in the case that the outer lens and the other regions of the inner lens are formed of PC, as PC has approximately the same linear expansion coefficient as ABS, it is possible to ensure that the lens as a whole is substantially not adversely affected by temperature while guaranteeing good light transmission and a good coating effect.

Preferably, referring to <FIG>, a depression <NUM> is formed on that side of the outer lens <NUM> which faces the inner lens <NUM>, with the first coating <NUM> being applied in a region other than the depression <NUM>. A protrusion <NUM> is formed on that side of the inner lens <NUM> which faces the outer lens <NUM>, with the second coating <NUM> being applied to a surface of the protrusion <NUM>. The depression <NUM> and protrusion <NUM> are shape-fitted to each other, and the inner lens and outer lens are in a close fit. The protrusion <NUM> may be formed of the abovementioned material which has good adhesion to the second coating. In this design solution, through the fitting of the corresponding depression and protrusion of the outer lens and inner lens, it is possible to achieve precise positioning of the outer lens and inner lens relative to each other. Here, the outer contour of the second coating <NUM> is separated from an edge of the protrusion <NUM> by a predetermined gap, which forms the light-transmitting part <NUM>.

In order to apply the first coating <NUM>, a mold can be inserted into the depression <NUM> of the outer lens <NUM>; here, a portion of the mold that is inserted into the depression <NUM> has an outer contour precisely matches with an inner contour of the depression, so as to prevent a coating material from undesirably entering a wall part forming the depression during the coating process. It is appropriate for the first coating <NUM> to gradually become thinner in a direction toward the depression <NUM>, and the thinnest region thereof should satisfy the minimum thickness for the condition that light cannot pass through.

In order to apply the second coating <NUM>, in particular in order to form the light-transmitting part <NUM>, that region of the inner lens which does not need to be coated may for example be stuck with adhesive paper. When coating is complete, the corresponding adhesive paper may be removed.

The thicknesses of the first coating and second coating are <NUM> - <NUM>. A top view of the assembled vehicle logo assembly can be seen in <FIG>. When the light source is energized, light can be transmitted out through the light-transmitting part <NUM> located at the periphery of the second coating, and thereby present the desired display effect. Preferably, the second coating <NUM> on the inner lens can have an obvious color difference relative to the first coating <NUM> on the outer lens, e.g. the second coating is a high-gloss silver-colored coating, and the first coating is a black paint layer, thereby achieving exceptionally prominent display of the vehicle logo pattern. Of course, other coating colors can also be set as required.

The present application further relates to a vehicle having the vehicle logo assembly described above.

Claim 1:
A vehicle logo assembly (<NUM>), having a lens (<NUM>), a light source (<NUM>) and a support (<NUM>), the light source being arranged in a space enclosed by the lens (<NUM>) and the support (<NUM>), and a vehicle logo pattern being formed in the lens (<NUM>), characterized in that the lens (<NUM>) comprises an outer lens (<NUM>) and an inner lens (<NUM>) superposed one on top of the other, a first coating (<NUM>) is applied to that side of the outer lens (<NUM>) which faces the inner lens (<NUM>), a second coating (<NUM>) is applied to that side of the inner lens (<NUM>) which faces the outer lens (<NUM>), and in an assembled state of the outer lens (<NUM>) and inner lens (<NUM>), a light-transmitting part (<NUM>) in the form of the vehicle logo pattern is formed between the first coating (<NUM>) and the second coating (<NUM>), a depression (<NUM>) is formed on that side of the outer lens (<NUM>) which faces the inner lens (<NUM>), with the first coating (<NUM>) being applied in a region other than the depression (<NUM>); and a protrusion (<NUM>) is formed on that side of the inner lens (<NUM>) which faces the outer lens (<NUM>), with the second coating (<NUM>) being applied to a surface of the protrusion (<NUM>), wherein the depression (<NUM>) and the protrusion (<NUM>) are shape-fitted to each other, and the inner lens and the outer lens are in a close fit,
characterized in that the first coating (<NUM>) is a paint layer, the second coating (<NUM>) is a water-electroplated layer and in that the inner lens (<NUM>) is a two-component injection-molded member, wherein a portion that forms the protrusion (<NUM>) of the inner lens (<NUM>) is formed of acrylonitrile butadiene styrene copolymer (ABS) or a mixture of ABS and polycarbonate (PC), and other portions are formed of PC or polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA).